Page 12 of Darkness Tempt Me (Bloody Desires #7)

I’m practically running now, fear pushing me forward.

Missing the elevator could mean riding the next one with my potential stalker.

Would I finally be able to identify the source of this unsettling chill in my blood?

Maybe put a face to this constant state of paranoia.

What if it’s my ex? Would I be willing to drop everything I’ve built here in New Vernon? Would I be willing to run, again?

At the last second, a hand catches the door in time, and I’m able to frantically make my way into the crowded metal box. A group of people follows me inside, causing us to shuffle around and make room. By the time I spin back around, I see a man in a navy suit walk in shortly after me.

A lump forms in my throat. Drake walks onto the elevator, eerie blue eyes almost sparkling. What the fuck is he doing here?

My mind scrambles for answers as I try to piece together everything I’m seeing.

Does he even work in this building? Is he the man following me?

I knew he looked familiar, but have I actually seen him in this building before?

I don’t think so. My heart races as I study the back of his head and his curly brown hair.

As if sensing my stare, he looks back at me, a small smirk on his face, before he faces forward again. I press myself against the far wall, hoping to hide within the crowd. I pull out my phone and send a text to Mavik. Something about texting him my location makes me feel better.

Fuck. I sound crazy, but wouldn’t it be better if he knew where I was, and if, for some reason, I didn’t show up, maybe he’d come looking for me?

Peyton: I’m in the elevator, sir. I’ll be in your office in a minute.

I swear the message symbol takes forever to indicate it’s sent. Fucking metal box blocking my signal. Relief feels me when I see Mavik’s reply.

Mavik: See you soon.

My gaze flickers back over to the navy suit.

We arrive on the fourth floor, and several people shuffle out, but Drake stays put.

Every time the doors open, I pray for him to get out, but the higher the elevator climbs, and the more people leave, I’m almost afraid that we’ll be the only two people left.

The elevator arrives on the floor, just one stop away from mine.

He steps through the door and exits, his fancy dress shoes clicking on the marble floor.

He places his cellphone up to his ear and turns out of sight.

All the tension leaves my body. I glance around the almost empty elevator and spot a few friendly faces, but no one else seems to make my alarm bells go off.

Did I just imagine Drake following me?

I’m only four steps past the silver doors when Mavik appears by my side, causing me to jump.

The remaining people behind me leave the elevator.

Where the hell did he come from? Was he on the elevator the whole time?

And why didn’t he say anything? Suspicion clouds my mind.

His jaw is in a tight line as he watches me, just waiting. Not saying a damn word.

Mavik’s fingers circle around mine as our gazes lock.

Those dark brown eyes are so penetrating and direct, they make me shiver.

Confused, I’m momentarily distracted until I realize he wants his Americano.

Of course he does. My desk phone chooses that moment to ring, shattering the spell between us.

Sighing, I hand him his coffee and rush to answer it.

“Thank you for calling Blackwood Investments. Peyton speaking, how can I help you?” Cradling the phone, I take off my peacoat and get settled into my seat.

Mavik’s gaze bores into me, almost willing me to look up at him.

When I don’t comply, he walks past me and into his office.

The tension leaves my shoulders. I’ve always been so damn attracted to Mavik’s dominance and mystery, but after all my paranoia this morning, it’s just too much right now.

I feel stripped raw and just want to get back to some sense of normalcy.

“Hi, Peyton. This is Peggy, Mr. Sinclair’s assistant,” she says in a clipped tone. “I just got off the phone with Mr. Sinclair. It looks like he’s free next Tuesday. Are you and Mr. Blackwood available next week?”

Shifting my mouse, I wake up my computer and pull up Mavik’s schedule. He has a few important things that day, but I can shift things around and even move some of them to today. “Looks like we’re free in the morning,” I reply, not wanting to miss this opportunity. “Does ten a.m. work?”

“That’s fine. He’ll meet you both there at Blackwood Investments. Have a good day.”

She hangs up before I can get another word in.

“Well, that’s a pleasant surprise,” I murmur to myself as I add the meeting to Mavik’s online calendar.

Every time we’ve tried scheduling things in the past, Mr. Sinclair always insisted we meet him at some random location, not that any of those meetings actually occurred.

It’ll be nice to have him potentially come to us, because let’s be honest, at this point, I’ll be surprised if we finally get to meet this mysterious Daniel Sinclair.

Over the next fifteen minutes, I dive into work, getting lost in my tasks.

I organize Mavik’s schedule like a game of Tetris until it clicks into place.

Shifting the calendar may seem easy to an outsider, but it requires significant thought and a lot of planning because of the types of tasks and meetings involved.

After saving the updated version, I forward an email to Mavik, notifying him I had made changes and adjusted the next two weeks to accommodate our meeting with Mr. Sinclair.

My computer dings, alerting me that he’s already replied.

[email protected] :

Good work, Peyton. Thank you for maneuvering everything around. Please get the files ready for today’s staff meeting, then email the marketing team to meet us in the conference room before lunch.

[email protected]:

Thank you, sir. On it. I just sent you the notes for today’s meeting, as well.

A giddy sensation fills me when I hit send.

I glance through his open door and notice the small smirk that tips his lips as he reads my email.

God, I’m such a praise slut. One little compliment from Mr. Blackwood, and I’m already feeling better.

Not only am I proud of myself, but I love working for someone who seems to appreciate my hard work, too.

All that paranoia from earlier really must have just been in my head.

Mavik probably just didn’t see me, or assumed I was in the other elevator, and it was just a coincidence that Drake was there too.

Didn’t I think he looked familiar? That’s probably why.

Even though Blackwood Investments owns this building, smaller companies occupy the lower floors, so he likely works for one.

Still buzzing from a job well done, I answer the next work call without glancing at the caller ID.

“Thank you for calling Blackwood Investments. Peyton speaking, how can I assist you today?” I say cheerily, cradling the phone to my ear.

“Peyton,” a familiar voice drawls. “Transfer me to your boss. This is Hunter Rose.”

My body tenses up, and my good mood flies out the window, vanishing instantly.

Hunter is the only person besides Mavik’s mom who can get transferred to Mavik immediately and without question.

Three years of working here, and I still don’t know what Hunter is to Mavik.

According to all the gossip articles I’ve read, the two handsome men are close, but not related.

Memories of Mavik answering the phone while another man was moaning in the background come to mind. Could it have been Hunter with him that day?

Despite his special privileges, the jealous bitch inside of me decides to question Hunter anyway. “And can I ask what this is about? Mr. Blackwood has several important business meetings today, and he’s currently preparing for one.”

“No. You may not ask what this is about. Transfer the call, Mr. Chase.” He chuckles darkly. “And you might want to cancel all of his meetings for the day.” There’s humor in his voice, like he’s amused at my defiance. Or maybe he’s getting off on bossing me around.

I hesitate. Who the hell does he think he is? There’s no way I’m going to cancel everything I jammed into today. It’s planned out so well that if I shift one thing, it will screw up our whole week.

“Excuse me?” I snap a little too loudly.

Mavik and a few co-workers glance my way.

Iris’ head pops up from her computer, and she arches a brow at me.

My face heats under all the curious eyes, and I lower my voice.

“You don’t work here, Mr. Rose. I work for Mavik, and only he can tell me to change his day around. ”

“Mavik, hmm? Don’t you mean Mr. Blackwood?”

I straighten in my seat, cheeks flaming hotter with rage and embarrassment.

My gaze bounces over to my boss, and he’s still watching me, looking ready to storm over here like a dark knight in shining armor.

He starts to stand, probably to come over here and check on me.

I give him a sharp shake of my head, and without another word, I transfer the call, too fucking angry at the audacity of this Hunter guy.

Yeah, I’m totally fucking jealous, and I need to get my emotions under control.

Mavik’s smooth voice comes through the line. Unlike me, he must have seen the caller ID, because he immediately knows who it is. “Hunter, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Instead of hanging up like I should, I focus on Mavik and the small smile on his face and stay on the line. I’ve never done anything like this before, and I’m not entirely sure what Mavik would do if he found out I was listening in, but this asshole has me feeling all kinds of ways.

“We have an emergency.”

Mavik leans forward, smile dropping. “Then why did you call this phone?”

“Not that kind of emergency,” Hunter replies easily.

Mavik’s shoulders relax.

“Well,” Hunter teases. “Not entirely.”

Mavik growls. “Get to the damn point, Hunter. What’s this about?”

“It’s about your uncle. And the company.”

I gasp. The line grows deadly silent.

Mavik’s furious gaze locks with mine. I’ve never seen him look at me like that. Heart racing with fear, I hang up the phone as quietly as possible, placing the receiver down gently as if I wasn’t just caught listening in.

My heart continues to pound at a frantic pace as I just sit there like a naughty child caught in the act. Mavik’s unwavering, angry gaze stays fixed on me as he talks with Hunter. Am I in trouble? Mavik nods a few times and lets out a sigh.

“Peyton!” Mavik shouts suddenly, causing me to jump. “Cancel all my meetings for today. Now.”

Fuck me. Guess I’ll be playing Tetris all damn week.