Page 16 of The Donor’s Dilemma

Well, I guess we aren’t going to be friends either.

Verity turned away from the cold vampire and headed for the door, knocking twice before opening it slowly in case Theo lurked on the other side again. He wasn’t, and when she popped her head inside, she found him sat at his desk, fingers dancing across the keyboard. She stepped in, closing the door before hanging her coat on a chair and taking a seat. Waiting. Not wanting to disturb his flow.

He looked tired. Face a little drawn, circles under his grey eyes.

Verity didn’t like it.

“Right, Miss Harper,” he said, standing with a tight nod. “Any complications since your last visit?”

Miss Harper? What the fuck happened to Mr Call-Me-Theo?

“Erm, no. Everything’s fine.”

He nodded, bringing her a glass of water and taking the seat opposite her. Their eyes only met for a second, but the coldness of his gaze stung.

Had he heard about the meeting? Did he blame her for everyone hating her? Or maybe it had been an act before. Being nice to get fed.

Or maybe… oh gods. Maybe, he had smelt how turned on she was. He knew and now he wanted to make sure she knew her place. Verity wanted to curl up in a ball and die. Mortification stained her cheeks. This wasn’t fair. It wasn’t her fault, she didn’t do it on purpose.

“Ready?” he asked, holding a hand out.

She shoved her hand in his and turned her face away, lips pursed and eyes stinging. How fucking dare he? There was no doubt in her mind that he knew after the first appointment. Had Stella mentioned it? Had they discussed her?

The slow breath she pulled through her nose wasn’t enough to quell the embarrassment that was shifting into anger.

He held her wrist, staring at it, watching the blood thrum through her veins.

Theo sighed. “Why are you here?”

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“Why are you here? Donating?”

“I told you, I need the money.”

“So, you’re not writing another article?”

“What?” Her face snapped to his as she yanked her hand out of his grip.

“I looked you up,” he said, voice even, emotionless. “Seems odd for someone who hates vampires to join the exchange.”

“Oh, yeah? Did you even read the article?” she snapped.

“I’ve got more important things to do than spending my weekend searching for a redacted article, but I hear it was pretty scathing.”

“Yeah, it was. Humans were dying in factories in Stonehaven because the owners, who just so happened to be vampires, couldn’t be bothered to update safety equipment.” She stood, grabbing her coat from the chair. The tears she had been fighting won and she let them roll down her cheeks. Let him see how lost and desperate and angry she was. “I don’t hate vampires. I didn’t write about all vampires. I wrote about them. But if you think that a few rich vampires’ pockets are more important than the lives of humans...”

Was this her life now? Only holding down a job until someone looked her up? Maybe she would be stuck with her parents forever. Theo seemed different, acting like he wanted to get to know her, but at the end of the day he was a vampire. She didn’t hate vampires, but the division in wealth, in opportunities and lifestyle was undeniable, and that would never sit right with her.

She marched toward the door, but Theo was in front of her before her hand could find the handle. His speed made her stumble but he caught her before she careened straight into him.

“No,” he said, as she pushed out of his hands and walked back toward the desk, needing distance from him. “No, of course I don’t think that.”

“I lost everything for that fucking article. That, Lord Chapel, is why I’m here, because no one else will have me.”

He flinched when she called him Lord. Good! Those tired eyes turned pleading as he followed after her, before snagging on her shaking hands as she gripped her coat.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry, Verity. I couldn’t find the article and assumed the worst. I should have asked you.”