Gabrielle POV

Gabrielle was having one of those mornings ,you know the kind where you spill coffee on your favorite blouse ,step into a puddle , and realizing your phone battery is dead before even reaching the office. But none was compared to what awaited her at the Gorvell enterprises.

As she walked into sleek, glass building , she couldn't help but feel like a deer caught in the headlights. The lobby was buzzing with the kind of energy that screamed money, and there he was Matthew Gorvell the infamous CEO everyone whispered about - tall , brooding and with a gaze that could freeze the lava!.

"Gabrielle, the new assistant" she reminded trying to herself to muster some confidence . She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and straightened her blazer , only to realize she looked like she was auditioning for "what not to wear" episode.

"Welcome " a voice dripped with sarcasm from behind a mahogany desk. Matthew didn't even look up from his laptop "Try not to trip your way to my office. I prefer not to clean after clumsy mortals ".

Great! The legend lived up to his reputation. The truth is when I got a job offer at Gorvell enterprises I was offered a contract it specified that the CEO had special situation , as if dodging a bloodsucking CEO was my job, I rolled my eyes.

" Did you just roll your eyes at me mortal? " A chilling voice boomed in the office.

" Damn , how did i forget I was Infront of the century old vampire "I internal scold myself

I stepped forward my fear rising and I was shivering from intensity of his voice" I'm sorry sir I... I was just... "

" Save it! And do what you are here for! Bring my coffee! "He cut me his voice tinged with anger and authority

" Yes sir! I'll go now" I quickly stormed out of his office my breath caught in my throat.

Damn! Is this how I'm going to survive the cold blood sucking vampire!. I went to the girl I found outside his office at her cube to ask about the pantry to make coffee.

" Hey girl! I'm the new assistant Gabrielle and I was asking where the pantry is? "I asked the girl, but what did the girl do? She freaking rolled her eyes at me!! What did I do to her!

She stood up and glared at me " the second door from here, you can go and don't waste my time newcomer you won't last here just like the other! "

Great! On my first day I managed to piss off the CEO and I just got my first ever enemy!. I sighed and went to the pantry to make a coffee and proceed to his office.

I entered the office which at first I didn't notice, damn! He has such a gorgeous office warm unlike his personality, while I was in my world thinking about his office a cold voice boomed pulling me out of my daydream.

"Did you knock, miss Gabrielle? Or this your fucking bedroom to enter whenever you please, mortal?"

I cursed inwardly then responded "no sir I'm sorry I was not con...." I didn't even finish before he cut me again! How will I survive this damn vampire I wish I could beat his ass to my satisfaction!

"Get out! Knock again!" He snapped, his veins popping out of his neck his eyes turned slightly red. I was nearly shitting my skirt, he was controlling himself from sucking my blood and killing me on spot!.

In second I was out of his office standing outside his office door, I took a long breath then knocked once and I was met with silence, I knocked again and he muttered an enter. I entered the office and put his black coffee on his desk Infront of him, he looked at the coffee then turned his eyes at me, his brow furrowing.

"Did I not specify a bloodred espresso, miss Gabrielle?" He asked

Bloodred espresso? What's that? I asked myself internally

"You didn't sir! By the way what is bloodred espresso sir? I never heard of it"? I cautiously ask the brooding and fuming vampire Infront of me.

He pressed the intercom and yelled "Clara, in my office now!!" Be then turned to me "you're lucky this is your first day or else you would need a blood transfusion this instant, get out!"

I bolted out of the office my breath came ragged, I stood Infront of the elevator and pressed furiously and the door opened revealing a young man stepping out of it. I wanted to enter but he caught my hand and pulled me back.

"Hey what's wrong?" He asked softly . He had emerald green eyes contrary to Matthew Ocean blue eyes. Ugh! Why am I thinking of him now

"I'm fine it's just that it's my first day and my boss is giving me a hard time" I said

He sighed "which department are you in? I can talk to your boss"

"You would talk to boss? No you wouldn't!" I exclaimed.

"Who's your boss then?" He asked his eyes narrowing down at me

"The CEO" I muttered gently

He coughed furiously "CEO? as in Matthew? You're the new assistant?"

I nodded

He scratched his nose "damn! I'm sorry I'm Julian his personal secretary and his best friend as well as his brother from another mother "he winked

" Oh! Nice to meet you Julian , I'm Gabrielle "I introduced myself

He nodded " let's go and reprimand this stupid CEO, don't worry I can handle him " he said and I was having a hard time believing that because Matthew nearly sucked dry my blood!.

He seemed to see my confused face he quickly put his hands around my shoulder and whispered in my ear " he's afraid of me don't worry, I once kicked his eyes"

Before I could respond to his sentence a cold ruthless voice boomed behind us "is that the truth?"

We turned to find the voice and met with Matthew cold face that could freeze our ass off

Julian cursed softly "damn I forgot he has sharp hearing, stupid damn vampire!"

"I CAN STILL HEAR YOU JULIAN" his voice boomed across the hallway.

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Gabrielle's POV

I managed to escape Julian's determined dragging and ducked into the restroom to catch my breath. My heart was still pounding from the confrontation with Matthew earlier.

Bloodred espresso? I laughed at myself, staring at my reflection. What kind of twisted coffee was that? But in the back of my mind, I knew-this was no ordinary job, and my new boss was no ordinary CEO.

I straightened my blazer and slapped my cheeks lightly. "You got this, Gabrielle," I muttered. "He's just a brooding, centuries-old vampire. No big deal."

I stepped back out into the hallway, trying to ignore the curious stares from other employees who had obviously overheard the shouting match between Julian and Matthew. I needed to get back to work, but the pit in my stomach wouldn't let me forget that terrifying glare he gave me when his eyes turned red.

Snap out of it, I scolded myself. I made my way toward Matthew's office, clutching a new cup of coffee in hand-just a regular black coffee this time, no weird orders.

I paused at the door, took a deep breath, and knocked. There was no response. That's odd. I knocked again, louder this time, and was met with silence. My heartbeat quickened as I slowly turned the knob and peeked inside.

The sight that greeted me made me freeze.

Matthew was lounging casually in his leather chair, his feet propped up on the desk. He held a delicate wine glass, swirling the deep red liquid inside. For a moment, I thought it was just wine. But as he brought it to his lips and took a sip, I realized it wasn't wine at all.

The thick crimson liquid left a trail down his sharp jaw, and he licked it off slowly, savoring it with a satisfied sigh. My breath hitched. He's drinking blood.

His eyes snapped to me, those deep ocean-blue irises turning a dangerous shade of crimson. "Enjoying the show, Miss Gabrielle?" he drawled, his voice low and mocking.

My hands trembled, and I nearly dropped the coffee cup. I couldn't look away from the glass in his hand, the blood swirling like a dark secret.

"I-uh..." I stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating through the room. "You mortals are always so predictable. You stumble upon a vampire's meal, and suddenly your brains turn to mush." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. "Tell me, Gabrielle, are you frightened?"

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. "I-I'm not frightened," I lied. "Just... surprised, that's all."

Matthew's lips curled into a smirk. He set the glass down on his desk, the blood sloshing against the sides like wine. "Surprised? How cute." He stood up, moving towards me with the grace of a predator. "You're in my territory now, Gabrielle. You should be very afraid."

I backed up instinctively, but the door was already closed behind me. I was trapped. My heart pounded in my chest like a drumbeat, and my hands gripped the coffee cup so tightly I thought it might shatter.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" He was inches away from me now, his cold breath tickling my skin.

"I-uh, I just brought your coffee, sir," I managed to squeak out, holding up the cup like a peace offering.

He looked at the cup and then back at me, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "You think I need coffee, Gabrielle?" He chuckled, the sound sending chills down my spine. "I have a much more... satisfying beverage." He lifted the glass of blood slightly, smirking at my horrified expression.

I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment and fear. "Well, I thought I'd try," I muttered, feeling foolish.

Suddenly, the amusement vanished from his face. He leaned closer, his nose almost brushing my cheek, inhaling deeply. "You smell... delectable," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "Maybe I should have a taste?"

I froze, my breath caught in my throat. Was he serious? My entire body tensed as his hand reached out, gently trailing a finger down my neck. The touch was cold, like ice, and it sent shivers racing across my skin.

"Relax, Gabrielle," he whispered. "If I wanted to drain you dry, I would have done it already."

I forced a nervous laugh. "That's... reassuring," I said, taking a step back. "I'll just leave this here." I set the coffee cup on his desk, avoiding his gaze.

As I turned to leave, he called out, "Miss Gabrielle."

I paused, my hand on the door handle. "Yes, sir?"

"Close the door behind you," he said, lifting the glass of blood to his lips. "And next time, knock before you enter."

I nodded quickly, opening the door and slipping out without another word. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. I leaned against the wall outside his office, trying to steady my breathing.

What the hell just happened? I pressed a hand to my racing heart, feeling the cold sweat on my skin.

This job was going to be the death of me-if Matthew didn't kill me first.

As I stumbled back to my desk, I couldn't shake the image of him with that blood-filled glass. The way he looked at me, like I was something he wanted to devour. I shuddered, rubbing my arms.

And yet, despite the fear, a tiny part of me was intrigued. What the hell is wrong with you, Gabrielle? I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. This was not the time to develop a weird fascination with a vampire boss.

Julian appeared from around the corner, a smirk on his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost," he teased.

"Not a ghost," I muttered. "Something much worse."

He raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Oh, what did our dear Matthew do this time?"

I hesitated, then shrugged. "Let's just say... I caught him enjoying a special 'beverage.'"

Julian's eyes widened in realization, and he let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, you poor thing. Welcome to Gorvell Enterprises, where the boss has... unusual tastes."

"Unusual is an understatement," I grumbled.

Julian grinned, clapping me on the back. "Don't worry, Gabrielle. You'll get used to it. Or die trying." He winked.

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks for the pep talk."

"Anytime," Julian said with a chuckle. "Now come on, let's get you a proper coffee before you faint. You'll need it to survive the rest of the day."

I sighed and nodded, following him down the hallway. It was only my first day, and I already had more than I bargained for.

Gabrielle's POV

I started my day with a headache and a throbbing sense of dread. Not exactly surprising after yesterday's debacle with Matthew Gorvell. Who knew my dream job would turn into a scene from a horror movie on the first day? I should have seen it coming when the contract mentioned his "special situation."

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. Today would be different. I’d avoid pissing off the CEO, dodge the daggers Clara was sure to throw at me with her eyes, and maybe, just maybe, not make any enemies. Wishful thinking, but a girl can dream.

As I stepped into the elevator, I found myself next to Julian. He flashed me a grin, looking far too chipper for 8 a.m. "Hey, newbie! Survived your first day, I see."

"Survived is a generous word," I mumbled, clutching my bag like a lifeline.

Julian chuckled. "Matthew's tough, but he’s not that bad once you get used to him. Well, sort of."

"That's comforting," I said sarcastically. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to the executive floor. My nerves spiked immediately. Julian gave me a reassuring pat on the back before heading off.

"Good luck, newbie!" He sang over his shoulder.

I took a deep breath and made my way to Matthew’s office, my heels clicking on the polished marble floors. I stopped outside his door, hesitating as I remembered his chilling words from yesterday. With my hand poised to knock, I felt the door swing open, almost as if it had sensed my fear.

"You're late," Matthew’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

I swallowed hard. "I'm actually early, sir. It's 8:55."

His icy blue eyes narrowed at me. "Early is on time. On time is late. And late is unacceptable, Miss Gabrielle."

"Noted," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. He stared at me for a long, uncomfortable moment before finally gesturing me inside.

I placed his coffee on the desk and watched as he inspected it, swirling the cup and taking a sip. He winced. "Did I ask for burnt battery acid in a cup? No. I asked for a bloodred espresso." He leaned back in his chair, his gaze pinning me in place.

I felt my face flush. "I'm sorry, sir. I still don’t know what that is."

He sighed dramatically, like he was dealing with a child. "Clearly, mortals are incapable of understanding even the simplest requests."

"Or maybe it's because nobody serves drinks named after blood," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that, Miss Gabrielle?" He leaned forward, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.

"Nothing, sir! I'll get it right next time," I quickly amended. He waved me off with a flick of his hand, already dismissing me.

I scurried out of his office, bumping into Clara, who stood by her desk, glaring at me. She looked like she was ready to bite my head off.

"Mess up already, newbie?" She asked, her lips curling into a sneer.

I forced a smile. "Just getting started."

Her eyes flicked past me to the office door, then back at me. "Watch your back. I’ve seen dozens of assistants come and go. You won’t last."

Her words stung, but I refused to let her see it. I simply nodded and made my way to the staff pantry, where I spent the next few minutes frantically searching through coffee supplies, trying to guess what a 'bloodred espresso' could be. I settled on a double-shot espresso with a splash of red velvet syrup. It seemed like a decent guess, given Matthew's penchant for dramatic names.

Returning to his office, I knocked—twice this time—before entering. Matthew was leaning back in his chair, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when I placed the cup on his desk. He took a sip and then narrowed his eyes at the coffee.

"It’s… acceptable," he said begrudgingly.

Relief washed over me. "Glad to hear it, sir."

"Don't get used to praise," he added, setting the cup down. "Now, sit. We need to go over your tasks for the day."

I quickly perched on the edge of the chair, pulling out a notepad and pen. He rattled off a list of meetings, emails, and things to prepare for. As he spoke, I realized I would be juggling ten different tasks at once. Matthew worked at a pace that felt impossible to keep up with, but I forced myself to stay focused.

"Also," he added with a smirk, "I expect a comprehensive report on all client files by the end of the day. No mistakes."

My hand froze mid-note. "The end of the day? But there are dozens of files—"

"And?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"

"No, sir," I muttered, my confidence plummeting.

"Good. Now get to it," he said, waving me off as if I were a pesky fly.

I left his office, clutching my notepad like it was a lifeline. I hurried to my desk and started sorting through the mountain of client files. The workload was insane, but I refused to let him see me struggle. I would prove I could handle it, even if it killed me.

As I was elbow-deep in paperwork, Julian appeared, leaning against my cubicle wall. He whistled low when he saw the stack of files. "Yikes. He’s really putting you through the wringer."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, not looking up.

"Want some help?" he offered with a charming smile.

"I thought you were his personal secretary?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Julian shrugged. "I am, but I’m also a sucker for damsels in distress."

I snorted. "I’m not in distress."

He leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. "Sure you’re not. But just so you know, Matthew only acts this way when he’s interested. It’s his weird, twisted way of testing you."

"Interested?" I echoed, my mind drawing a blank.

"Not like that, Gabrielle," Julian laughed, shaking his head. "Though, now that I think about it, your feisty attitude is probably driving him crazy. He’s not used to mortals talking back."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "I’m just trying to do my job."

"And you’re doing great," Julian winked. "Let me know if you need any pointers. I’ve got some vampire survival tips."

I gave him a grateful smile as he walked off. For the first time today, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe I could survive this job. Maybe I could survive Matthew Gorvell.

Just as I was thinking that, Matthew’s voice crackled over the intercom. "Miss Gabrielle, in my office. Now."

So much for hope. I sighed, grabbing my notepad and heading back into the lion’s den.