Page 47 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“You just remember that you didn’t listen to me. You’re a fucking disgrace,” Harris spat, straightening his jacket and storming off.

Theo walked back in and slammed the door, resting his head on the cool wood. Deep breaths, deep…

“Sir?” Stella’s voice interrupted from the intercom. “Mr Wilson has been waiting a while…”

He ran shaking hands through his hair, over his face and neck.

Deep breaths. In through the nose. Out through the mouth.

Moving around his desk, Theo scooped up Harris’s reports and dumped them in his bottom drawer.

Deep breaths.

He rolled his neck, trying to clear his throbbing head.

“Send him in.”

Chapter Fourteen

Moonlight shone off the slick marble steps as Verity ran up to the town hall. Mother Nature had won the battle between wind and umbrella the moment she got off the bus, and more than a few suit-clad vampires watched her as she trudged through the foyer, heading for the staircase that would take her to Theo.

Smoothing her wet hair back, she rounded the corner to see two other people already waiting for him. He had told her to come whenever she wanted, but she didn’t want to disrupt his day.

Stella looked up as she approached, eyes widening. “Verity!” She started flicking through sticky notes and checking her computer. “I haven’t got you in today.” No smile or sneer, no smart arse comments, just a messy desk and lights flashing on her intercom.

“He told me to come whenever, but I can…”

“Did he now? Does he realise how busy he is?” she snapped, pointing at a woman waiting by the door, attempting to ignore them.

The door opened and two men and a woman walked out, vampires who walked straight up to Stella as if Verity didn’t exist. “You’re to get us the quarterly energy forecast for renewables.”

Stella slapped a sticky note on the desk. “Write down what you want. I’ll have it to you by Monday.”

“But the mayor said…” the vampire started, but Stella was already making for the office.

“You’ll have it Monday!” she snapped, marching in and slamming the door.

Good gods. Verity only wanted to discuss the lie she was going to have to tell Cora, she could wait.

Stella stormed back out, the door banging and rattling on its hinges. “Go on. Chop chop,” she said to Verity and the woman by the door stood.

“She doesn’t even have an appointment! I’ve been waiting…”

“She’s his donor,” Stella replied. “Maybe he’ll be more generous on a full stomach.”

Even for Stella it felt a slightly vulgar thing to say but Verity ignored it, offering the woman a sympathetic look and saying, “I’m sorry, we’ll be quick,” as she slipped into the office.

Moonlight spilled across the vast room, illuminating the mayor sat at his desk, collar loose, back hunched, massaging his temples. Spotting Verity, he straightened, trying to smile until she said, “Don’t bother.”

The poor attempt at a smile fell at her words. She walked past her normal chair, made her way around the desk and took his hand in hers. “What’s going on?” she asked. His eyes were on the hand she held, perhaps trying to decide if he should pull it back or not. “I can wait. If I’d realised you were so busy…”

“No,” he murmured. “You needed to see me.”

“Are you hungry?” He shouldn’t be, but his eyes were dark and he wasn’t mad, just… drained.

She shrugged off her coat and rolled up a sleeve.

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m fine. Just got a lot on my plate.”