Page 19 of Dear Mr. Vampire

“I don’t ah.” Chanel muttered. “I.”

“She, her.” I offered. I wanted to help her out.

“Are you straight or bi?” Natasha abruptly inquired. There was no way I was going to share Chanel with any man or woman. Natasha needed to back off.

“Straight.” Chanel offered a single word. She was completely taken aback by the question, respectfully, of course.

Natasha poked her lips out and rolled her eyes. “Too bad for me. You are very beautiful, very sexy.” Natasha raised an eyebrow as she chewed her bottom lip.

“Th, th, thank you.” Chanel stumbled over her pleasantries. Was this the first time she was hit on by a woman? I found that hard to believe.

Before a wave of discomfort took over, I decided it was time to leave the room. I had to get away from the Russian temptress. She had a way with women and bedded more babes than me. Iwasn’t jealous, but I think her Chechen accent really turned women and certainly man on.

“Zand, there was a call for you from someone named Gillian. I didn’t recognize that voice or the number.”

“Gillian.” I didn’t mean to repeat the name, but I was a bit taken aback.

“Da.” She confirmed in German.

Gillian, a name I hadn’t heard in a long time, and I wished it had been longer. My face twisted as I tried to keep all my emotions in check.

“Zand.” Natasha called to me.

“Yes.” I snapped back into the moment.

“Is this someone I should know?”

“No, not at all. But he isn’t someone I would call a friend.”

“So what do I do if he calls back?”

“Send the call to me immediately.”

“Da.” Natasha’s eyes left me to rest on Chanel. “We can discuss this at a later date?”

“Yes, we can.” I appreciated her ending this conversation. Just the mention of Gillian rattled me and sent a barrage of questions directly to my brain.

I seized Chanel’s wrist and pulled her into the hallway. After a few more stops, I lured her into my private office.

“This is the manager’s office.” I closed the door when we were both inside the spacious room. “It has a lot of amenities.” I waved my hand to the right. “Its own private bathroom with a bathtub and shower, a small kitchen with appliances.”

“Nice. Where’s the manager?”

“There are a few managers. Someone manages the bar, the events. Natasha manages security, the grounds, the maintenance.”

“Who manages the entire place?” She was thinking about it. I could tell by the inquisitive look in her dark eyes. “Is it okay that we’re in his office?”

“It’s cool. I know the owner.”

“You do?”

“Yes, we go way back. He’s a recluse that lives alone, in a basement apartment, just a few blocks away. Some people think he’s quite bizarre.”

I took a seat in the huge black leather chair behind the glazed marble desk.

“Zand.” Her eyes squinted as they focused on me. “You own The Castle?” Disbelief marred her voice but didn’t stop her from asking.

“I do.” I let my words sink in. Her face didn’t change, and that I took as a good sign. “Please take a seat.” Chanel stepped into the plush chair on the opposite side of the marble desk. Her descent into the chair was elegant. Seeing her move was a sight to behold. She was graceful like a dancer. I couldn’t be the only one under her spell.

---