Chapter 2: Vamp and the Handsome
It was a long day for Elena as she went home but loving every minute of her work reading and finding the best story, learning the styles, characters, and inspirations created by various authors. Elena took a long cold shower feeling the water dripping down her beautiful cold-blooded skin, and all of a sudden she remembered Jeff. The way he looks at her, the way he talks, and about asking her to meet him during the weekend. She cannot really understand what that true feeling is even though she knows deep down that she is attracted to him.
She gets out of the shower and hears a woman arguing in the apartment above hers with a man. The voice of the woman is recognizable as the landlady. She put on her dark blue silk nightgown and takes a pen and paper. She sits on the bed and starts drawing things that flow to her head. Elena has a strong memory power incomparable to a human, especially in literary work. She recalled an author's name and wanted to find out more books and details about that author. Elena did not have a way to access the internet since has a mobile phone that has no features to access the internet and only a basic mobile phone just to communicate when necessary.
The next morning Elena got up from her bed wrapped a housecoat and went out of the apartment and to the lobby area. The cleaning lady is busy mobbing the lobby and Elena walks up to her greeting with a soft voice "Good morning to you!" The old cleaning lady is someone hired by the landlady who cleans the windows and entrance door of the lobby, mobs the floors, and cleans the staircases. Elena was kind to her bringing her food and children's books for her grandchildren whenever she can when she worked at the book shop.
The woman turned around and as soon as she saw Elena she had the brightest smile on her face.
"Oh good morning to you missy! I am so happy to see you, how are you?
Elena responded "I am fine, thank you! I want to borrow your phone for a minute."
The woman put her hand into the apron pocket saying "Oh anything for you dearest… here you go!" Handing over her phone with a slightly cracked screen. It was nothing of the latest models but definitely a better one than Elena that had internet access. Elena went into a shopping website and ordered herself a new phone that had internet facilities and selected cash on delivery option. She handed over the phone to the old lady thanking her politely and went back to her apartment.
She had a box in her little wardrobe that says "For emergencies" and kept it on the bed to open the box. She took the role of money bundled in a rubber band. She counted the money and kept a few dollars on the bed and the rest she folded into two keeping it on the bedside table next to the big black candle. As she took the money on the bed she heard the landlady banging on the door shouting "Hello… "Banging on the door "Miss Vincent…It's been two weeks and you haven't paid last month's rent yet! Do you hear me, young lady?" Banging the door continuously. Elena rolled her eyes muttering "She is such a pain in the arse!" walking to the door and saying sarcastically "Maybe I should show my fangs a little!" Softly giggling as she opened the door. The woman was about to shout at her again and Elena gave her the money and apologized calmly "I am sorry for the delay… Hope you have a great day!" Giving a cold smile she closed the door before the woman could say a word. The woman was shocked and confused looking at the money in her hand Elena just gave her, glanced at the door one more time, and went away.
It was 2.00 pm and Elena was having a shower to get ready since she will be picked up in an hour to meet Jeff. She blow-dried her hair within a second and opened the wardrobe. She took out a pair of black jeans, a dark grey sleeveless blouse, and a pair of black sandals. Elena looked sexy and completely stunning with hair down and some eyeliner brings out her perfect dark eyes with a light purplish lipstick. She was putting out some new candles from a huge box underneath her bed that was filled with packed candles, she heard the cell phone ringing and she answered the phone and a rough voice spoke from the other end saying "Is this Elena?" "Yes"
He spoke in a formal tone "I'm Mark, Mr. Rollin's driver and I am here to pick you up to take you to my boss's residence."
She replied "Yes! Give me a second I will come down." She vanished and appeared between the entrance door and the wall, where nobody could see her sudden appearance.
Elena walked out towards the black SUV parked outside the building and a full-built man with a black suit was standing next to the back door of the car. The man was looking surprised while he opened the door starring at Elena and greeted her with a sarcastic comment "A second indeed Ms. Vincent!" Elena grinned and got into the car as Mark closed the door and got into the driving seat.
They drove for about fifteen minutes reaching a large black gate as it opened when the car got close to enter the premises. It was a large garden with beautiful oak trees with a landscape full of grass and well maintained. Elena was asked to wait in the massive living area with a large black sofa and the interior designed with contemporary ornaments and furniture. She heard footsteps of a man's shoes from the opening of the corner on the front end corner.
Jeff appeared with a casual shirt with folded sleeves showing his masculine arms and a grey trouser with pair of casual leather shoes to match the attire. He was wearing an expensive branded wristwatch on the same hand he held a small bundle of papers walking towards Elena giving a friendly smile. "Hi Elena, sorry to keep you waiting! May I offer you a drink?" Elena responded calmly "No thank you." He sat on the single-seated right next to Elena seated on the long designer sofa. She could feel his strong and unique perfume as he keeps the papers on the coffee table and correcting the sequence reading the content.
"I got some of the research reports I have purchased from a few research faculties. We could get a good insight into the usage records of usage online and offline markets. I wanted to discuss with you our plan to expand with e-book publishing service for Focus House."
She took the research report and read the figures and charts carefully saying "wow! This is some useful information, and I never thought there is such a demand for reading things online"
Jeff asked surprised "Don't you use e-book or reading materials available on the internet?"
"Well... No, not really. You can call me old school but I prefer the smell and feel of the paper!" He slightly smiled accepting her point and took another set of papers underneath the research data uttering "Actually, before we shift to anything digital I want to expand our reader base." Jeff took another set of papers saying "I want you to take a look at these and let me know what you think!"
There were three separate types of manuscripts in three different genres of poetry, historical fiction, and an academic journal. While she picked up the journal manuscript saying "Knowledge and academics is a necessity isn't it?
Jeff responded at once "Yes!
She explained in a soft yet formal tone "This is a brilliant idea! I think it is a great way of promoting The Focus House to the top ranking of a different market. The use and awareness through academic institutes and universities."
Jeff said curiously "Explain it to me!"
Elena looked at Jeff as she explains confident and clear in her calm voice saying "People will need access to sources that definitely require to their readings more than what they read in their spare time. If we identify the triggers in the top demand of academic professionals and their work expecting to publish is the key to access to our readers, which also means the current students and the best future academic audience…I suggest we should expand our genres to textbooks and academics in a way it can be easily available."
Jeff was looking impressed and said "I love your input and the way you see things, Elena! I know this is not related to business but tell me about you… What are the things you like to do?
Elena responded, "Well I like to read, write and sketch most of the time!"
"Okay! Anything else?" He asked with a curious face to hear more.
"I like working at the Focus House!"
Jeff answered with a wide smile "Well I am very pleased to hear that!"
He asked with a calmer voice "I hope you don't mind me asking this … Are you single or are you seeing someone at the moment?"
She looked at him with a slight smile on her face and replied sarcastically "Is that a new genre to our conversation Mr. Rollin? No… I am not dating anyone and I highly doubt if I would find the right one."
"Well… why on earth would you think that?" He asked curiously waiting for her answer.
Elena replied in a calm voice "I guess finding someone who would understand our own uniqueness is a rarity." She looked around the house and said "You have a beautiful home, Mr. Rollin!"
Jeff responded with a pleased smile "Thank you, Elena, would you like a tour?"
"Of course, that would be lovely!"
Jeff stood up and holding out his hand to take her, and she slowly reached out and held his as he took her under his arms and placing on his upper arm. She felt his strong muscle through his shirt and looking at her as she joins him to take the tour. He took from every the kitchen to the massive TV room, visitors rooms and went up the stairs passing his beautiful bedroom and the balcony overlooking a breath-taking view of trees and mountains with a road that's behind the tall wall. They went back into the hallway upstairs and there was another staircase that leads to the corridor downstairs. The entire house was beautifully decorated with white and black designer pieces from the décor to the furniture. As they got downstairs she saw a large painting of a white and grey werewolf with blue eyes that had a sharp and a frowned look. She heard a phone ring in a room in the corridor and Jeff said to her with a pleasant voice "Please excuse me for a minute, Elena, I will be right back!" She looked at him and slightly nodded and watched him walk into a door in the corridor. She couldn't stop but notice the painting of the werewolf and its sharp look that felt familiar and was feeling that her mind is fully attached to it.
Jeff walked out of the door and walked towards Elena as she was distracted looking at the painting. He approached Elena and held her hips from the back as she slightly turned her head towards Jeff. He buried his face in her soft dark hair and felt the sweet perfume on her neck. Elena was turned on and heavily breathing feeling his warm breath and the feeling of the touch of his skin through her dress and his face on her neck. Jeff asked Elena "What if you find the right one, Elena?" She turned around and got her lips close to his and said "I will hypnotize him with my heart to never go away!" Jeff couldn't resist the feeling of her body against his and seeing her seductive lips close to his lips. He thought she would kiss him right now, but to his surprise, she stepped away from him and walked calmly through the corridor.
Jeff turned around standing in front of the werewolf painting and asked her with a deep voice "Then why are you running away?" He walked up to her as she was watching with a surprised face as she never expected that response from him. He reached out his hand saying "Come with me… I want to show you my little reading room!" She took his hand graciously and he took her to the room opening the white spray-painted hardwood door in front of the door he walked in to get the phone. The room was narrow and long with shelves and shelves filled with books from the ceiling to the floor. She was amazed to have such a huge library of books and said "Even the book shop I worked at before didn't have such a huge amount of books!" She felt like she was in a paradise and said "You are luckiest to have such a large collection of books at your home. Do you own all these books?"
Jeff responded laughing "I wouldn't bother borrowing so much!" They both were softly laughing as he stopped and kept admiring her beautiful charming smile. She noticed he was looking at her and she stopped smiling looking deep into his eyes. He got close and her from her slender arms and pushed her slowly trapping her between him and the bookshelves behind her. He kept looking into her eyes as she could look away no how hard she tried. She said in a soft voice "I am not like any other girl Jeff! I am not the person you think to…." Before she could finish what she was about to say he kissed her softly on the lips for about ten seconds and whispered to her ear "I know exactly who you are!"
He stepped away and walked past her and selected a book from a shelf and said "Take this…I want you to read it! It's about a girl who fell in love with a beast." She took the hardcover book and read the title of the book saying "The Beauty and the Beast. One of the good old fairy tales we all have read as children!" Jeff smiled and responded calmly "Yes it is… but sometimes we got better stories to build in our own way and life!"
She looked at him smiling and said like announcing a name of a brilliant new novel "The Vamp and The Handsome!"
He laughed and said in a sarcastic voice "There you go… That's a good start!"
She knew the title of a vamp and a handsome man matches what is real, and did not have the slightest doubt that he didn't know what she actually meant. But Jeff seemed to look very comfortable and casual with her unique title but she also does not know the title is more of the vamp and the beast.
She looked at Jeff and asked in a calm voice "Is this a date, Mr. Rollin?"
Jeff looked at her with a slight and flirting smile "Maybe…but it could be a meeting to start a great chapter too!"
Elena walked up to him placing her palm on his chest saying "Then let's see how the first page goes!" Jeff was looking at her surprised and overwhelmed wanting to kiss her again. She gave a kiss on his cheek and said in her soft and sweet voice "See you on Monday, Mr. Rollin."
He walked out with her and to the car as Mark opened the door for Elena and Jeff asked her in a formal tone saying "I hope you took all the research report and the manuscript you selected Elena!"
She responded calmly "Yes Mr. Rollin and thank you for giving a tour of your house!" Jeff responded with a pleasing look "It was my pleasure!" She got into the car and Jeff stepped back from the car letting Mark close the door and drive away through the beautifully landscaped garden and the gates.
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