Chapter 11: Morning Meetings

*VICKY* I stepped out of the cab onto the busy sidewalks of Newtons City just in front of the Kingsland Hotel and took a long, deep breath. I had no idea why Leon couldn't just accept my resignation. But then again, I had no idea why I came. What was I hoping for? I didn't want our bond—and even if I did, Leon was not the type I could get close to. However, my body didn't seem to care, and before I could register it, I was already standing in front of his office door, knocking. I could already smell his Blood Perfume through my nose plugs. Thank god I took a tranquillizer already. "Come in." My body tensed at his voice. Fucked. I was utterly fucked. I opened the office door and was greeted instantly by Leon's smell. I tried to ignore it, but it was so blissful…I just wanted to breathe it in all day. His eyes lifted from the paper he was reading as I entered; I swore I saw a small flicker of light in them. "Vicky, please. Sit." He gestured to the chair across from him, and I followed his instruction. The power he had over me was indescribable. I needed to move this along. I don't know how much longer I could hold out. "Sir—I…" "Why are you quitting?" His abruptness caught me off guard. He cared…? Leon chuckled, which surprised me even more. It seemed…genuine, and his smile was absolutely breathtaking. "I care, Vicky. Just because I keep my head down doesn't mean I don't have a heart under it all. So, tell me, what happened? You only just started." Did he just—? How? I shook my head. I must be losing it. "I'll be honest, sir…" "That's all I ask," he interjected, leaning back in his chair. Fuck. "As much as I love the opportunity you and the staff here have given me…I realized that I need to make do with my life, and again, being honest, relationship drama is the last thing I need to be in the center of." "Ah…" Leon hummed. "So it was about yesterday. I figured." When I nodded, he continued. "I called you here today to not only talk about your resignation but also to apologize for Osip's behaviour yesterday." Apologize? What was happening? His eyes narrowed in on me as he interlocked his fingers together. "I'm letting you know that if you stay, that incident would be the last." For some reason, I highly doubted that. "I-I appreciate that, chef—" "Please," he interjected. "Call me Leon." "Leon…" I started, his name feeling weird in my mouth. I had never been so informal with a boss before. But then again, my boss had never been my Blood Bond. "What is that?" he asked. I cocked my head to the side. "What is what…?" "A Blood Bond." What the actual fuck? There was no way he'd know anything about it unless he could read my mind. "I can," he said, capturing my attention. "Can…what?" I asked, even though I knew the answer. Leon took a sip of the water on his desk and flippantly shook his hand in the air. "Read your mind." I paused and then laughed. But when Leon didn't follow suit, it slowly died out. "You can't be serious." I've heard of Kindred and other supernatural creatures being able to read minds, but humans? That's not normal at all. "It's not normal; you're right." My eyes widened and then grew even more the longer I thought about all of the things I had been thinking around him—like how strong his smell was…how his scent made my head feel…how I wanted more than anything to be near him despite my reservations. "Is this…Blood Bond…also one of the reasons you wanted to leave?" I didn't know how to answer, so I nodded. "So, are you going to tell me what it is?" I shook my head. Not yet. "Alright, well, what about this new position Osip offered you? As a personal chef? Are you going to take it?" "I—I want to, sir. I just…I don't think I can." Leon looked at me. His grey eyes were piercing mine, and I swore I could almost see my reflection in them. "Why not?" I inhaled. The scent was getting stronger. "I don't want to be indebted to her…I don't know if I can be around someone like that, sir." "Alright," Leon began. "That's fair enough. I know what it's like feeling trapped by your decisions." Was he alluding to his relationship right now? "In that case, I'm prepared to offer you a counter-deal." "A counter deal?" Leon nodded. "I want you to go to this party…but as the chef for Kingsland Hotel. You'd be representing the company and wouldn't be in debt to anyone. And I'll pay you double. Then, when you're ready, you're welcome to continue your position here." I didn't understand. The Leon Knightly that I had heard of was stern, quiet, and incapable of feeling besides when it came to his food. But the one in front of me now, was offering to hold my position for me, despite my sudden resignation. Had I really impressed him that much? Leon smirked again. His body was the most relaxed I had seen in my time knowing him. I wanted to give in—fuck, I wanted to. The smell was beyond intoxicating; it was downright orgasmic. I could feel it tickling the inside of my nostril in spite of my nose plugs. "I-I'll come back…" I began before I even knew what I was saying. God, the Blood Perfume was really working its magic. I felt like I was high. "But I have one condition." "And what's that?" Leon asked, his voice much softer than I had ever heard. I put my fists into my lap and balled them together. It was taking everything in me to hold myself back. "I don't want to be a part of any drama. I just want to come here, do my job, and enjoy my remaining life—" I reached up and covered my mouth before I finished speaking. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. Leon's muscles turned rigid, but his gaze remained on me. This time, however, it was only full of empathy. "What did you say?" he asked. "What happened to you?" I shook my head. "Nothing." Leon raised an eyebrow but didn't press it any further. If anything, I respected him for it and internally thanked him, knowing full well he had heard me. "I lost my mother," he continued. "When I was twenty." I felt my heart contract. I was a mix of surprise and pain for someone else's loss. I knew what it was like to lose someone—my parents have been gone so long that I've almost forgotten what they've looked like. "I'm sorry, sir," I whispered. I had no idea what else to say. "It's alright," he nodded. "I've come to terms with it. But, I was moreso sharing because she told me something when she was sick, that's kind of stuck with me. She said: 'Make the most of whatever you have, small or large.' For you, I think that that means doing whatever makes you happy." I paused. He was being so open…and the scent—his perfume—was entirely a part of me at this point. I couldn't escape it, and I didn't want to anymore. "I–I think staying would make me happy." Leon smiled gently. His tone was velvet—like we were both high on the same drug. "It would make me happy too. And I know Frank is just itching for your help." At this, I laughed. Imagining Frank needing anyone was just as hysterical as this conversation. Leon's grin grew as he watched joy take me over. He stood and walked from around his desk, sitting on the chair beside me. One of his hands outstretched and touched my shoulder. "You're a good cook, Vicky. Don't let anyone take that away from you." Oh god. He was so close; I could smell every inch of sweat on his body, pouring the Blood Perfume. My hands began shaking in my lap, and the hair on my neck raised. "T-Thank you, sir…" I basically whispered. His hand was on me, and I could almost see myself reflected in his gaze. "What did I say about calling me anything but my name?" he basically purred. Velvet. Pure velvet. I corrected myself. "Leon…" It was so…liberating. I felt so alive. And that's what also scared me the most. The air in the room suddenly stilled as we stared at each other. Leon's eyes scanned my features as if they were searching for the answer to what was about to happen. I braced myself—I wanted him; there was no denying it anymore. Gradually, he moved in. Our faces got closer and closer until, finally, our lips touched.