Chapter 16
Serenity
First introductions at New Nebraska Breaking News were cordial. Though there was a noticeable tension around the main floor of offices as Bryce explained I’d come to redesign some of the visuals shown to the public.
He talked about sprucing them up, not broaching any Temple issues.
Bryce had slipped on black calfskin gloves just before our limo ride, but he still didn’t get near anyone or shake hands.
Almost every employee fawned over him and it made me a bit sad to see his walls go up and the polite yet guarded manner he maintained.
Not even the station’s super glamorous lead anchorwoman seemed to wear down Bryce’s professionalism and deeply ingrained barriers.
What did make an impression on me though was the sheer beauty of the woman.
I’d seen her on TV a few times, but she was far more gorgeous in person.
Hair a silky, platinum blonde and eyes sky blue, she looked angelic in a slinky, designer pantsuit of flawless white silk.
Her perfume, a delightful blend of coconut and mild tropical fruits, sidled effortlessly from her wrists as she shook my hand.
A smug crinkle of disdain tainted her pearly smile.
My guess was she had to be an ice elemental.
Not only from her hair and eyes, but the coolness of her fingertips as they touched my skin.
I got the impression she’d pulsed them extra frosty to make my acquaintance, but I couldn’t be sure.
I’d met so few ice elementals in New Nebraska—it wasn’t like I’d been out of the den very long, and they were relatively uncommon anyway—but everything about her came across as cold. Well, icy, really.
I didn’t like to make immediate judgements about people, but her personality seemed nowhere near as divine as her appearance.
Looking me up and down with scrutinizing eyes, she seemed to fixate on the vamp marks peeking out from under my skirt, showing through my pantyhose. Thank God my sweater covered my neck.
“Ms. Dawson, this is one of our lead anchors on the broadcast team, Ms. Glenmore,” Bryce said.
“Oh, Monique, please, sir. We’ve known each other so long.
” Her smile dripped syrup as she ran her eyes over Bryce’s handsome figure.
I was quickly learning that it seemed most every woman was drawn to Bryce’s good looks, position of power or wealth—or all three—no matter how he tried to keep his distance.
Bryce said nothing, just nodded and stayed super professional.
He got called away to one of the offices for a phone call, excusing himself and saying he’d be back soon.
As soon as he was down the hall, she sneered, folding her arms, looking down on me—she must have been over six feet in her heels—saying, “Human, eh? I don’t think we’ve ever had a human at the station before.
” Playfully grazing a now glowing blue fingernail down the length of my arm, she continued, “And one with such interesting marks too. You must be very experienced in all kinds of things.” She leaned closer, as station employees milled back and forth to the tune of phone rings and clicking keyboards.
Her perfume was starting to overwhelm me as she whispered into my ear, her breath laced in spearmint.
“I wouldn’t have hired a human, personally.
Not after the Agreement and all its unpleasantness. ”
Nothing I could say would’ve changed her mind or helped the situation. So, I remained silent and took a large step back, giving her a frosty look of my own. Thankfully Bryce soon strolled back toward us.
She straightened up, her tone turning chirpy. “I’m sure you’ll be just fine here though.” She turned to Bryce, giving him a wide smile. “Perhaps we could talk privately soon, sir?”
“Oh, you and I will be doing plenty of talking. Don’t worry,” Bryce responded.
“Wonderful. Thank you, I—”
“But you might not like everything I have to say.”
Her eyes briefly changed color, coated in a film of frost. Yep, ice elemental. And a stuck-up one too, frankly.
Thankfully, she slinked off, after wishing Bryce a good day in a smarmy voice and briefly glancing at me to do the same.
Bryce said quietly, “Let’s meet the new reporter I mentioned. Someone who I can guarantee isn’t a Temple member. And we can trust a lot more than Monique.”
We strolled a little down the hall, then he knocked softly on the door of a small office before entering, and my head jerked back at who was sitting behind the desk.
It was Sebastian! Looking sharp in a pink and blue plaid dress shirt, a pair of black rimmed glasses sliding down his nose as he looked up from his computer.
I should’ve realized the new reporter was him.
But I hadn’t known, or given much care to which news station he was joining or when.
Smiling, he pushed up his glasses, rose from his chair and nodded his head in respect at Bryce.
“Mr. Harding. Good morning. What a pleasant surprise.” He turned to me, his eyes shining with pleasure.
“And Serenity. How lovely to see you got the job after all. Congratulations!” He reached over to shake my hand, his smile growing wider, his fangs peeking out.
I inched back a step.
“Oh, I forgot—” He let his arm fall to his side.
I reminded myself I had nothing to fear from any vamp at the moment, I was with Bryce. I leaned forward and held my hand out.
Sebastian’s smile was quivering, but he slowly extended his hand again.
His half-vamp hand was smooth, much warmer than I would’ve expected.
And despite my strong aversion to blood suckers, the warmth of his handshake, and Bryce standing beside me, put me somewhat at ease.
Then something else happened, freaking me out slightly, causing me to clasp the corner of Sebastian’s desk, to steady myself. I heard flashes of words enter my mind.
Thank the Fates. She’s… so kind. Luckiest guy.
I shook my head, thinking I must have drunk my coffee too quickly. Or was I having some sort of hallucination? I said nothing but smiled politely. I didn’t need my new boss seeing me acting weird, even if we were friends.
“I enticed—some might say poached—young Seb here from a local news station in New Lincoln,” Bryce said with pride. “And I’m so glad I did. Not only is he as trustworthy as they come and a little workhorse, but he’s about as keen on the Temple as I am.”
Sebastian’s cheeks pulsed scarlet reminding me further that he wasn’t a pure breed vamp, and also of his modesty on the night he’d helped save Rico’s life. “You’re too kind, sir. Just doing my job. I’m really glad to see Serenity here though. Someone who won’t be full of any pro-Temple nonsense.”
Bryce’s smile broke wide. “No fear there. Not unless there’s some bizarre human faction we don’t know about.” Sebastian and I laughed, and genuinely too, not just to massage the boss’s ego.
“Anyway, I’m so glad you guys already know each other. I was hoping I could have you two work together on this design clean-up,” Bryce said.
More words fluttered through my mind.
So lucky.
Were they really coming from Sebastian? Or was I have a mental health emergency?
Bryce… best boss.
I jerked back. The words really did seem to be Sebastian’s thoughts.
Best day ever. Get to work… my mate.
I flinched. Mate? What or who was he thinking about?
Breathing deeply and battling to keep up a calm facade, I motioned to reach out and touch Bryce’s shoulder, but abruptly stopped myself before I said, “Oh, I didn’t tell you, Bry—Mr. Harding?
” Dammit, I needed to stop making that slip.
“Guess I didn’t, since I didn’t realize you knew each other.
Sebastian was the one who kept that poor kid Rico alive at the shelter. He saved the boy’s life.”
“Did he indeed?” Bryce gave Sebastian an impressed look.
Sebastian glanced back and forth between us.
How close are they?
Was Sebastian wondering about my relationship with Bryce?
“Well then, that makes me only more grateful I hired him,” Bryce said.
“We need a bit more diversity around here, but more than that”—he clunked the office door shut and pulled down the window blind—“we need people who give a damn about others. Who really care. Sounds like my first impressions were more than correct.”
Sebastian raked a hand through his umber hair, eyes dipping to the desk. “Thanks, sir.”
Looking at his gentle features and remembering everything I knew about him so far, I found myself warming to a surprising admission. My prejudices against Sebastian may well have been incorrect.
But why the hell was I hearing his thoughts in my head?