Life and Love with a Billionaire Vampire

Chapter 1

​This is a bad idea.

​For the umpteenth time, that sentence echoed in my head. A hint of regret slipped into my heart for refusing Oliver's offer to drive me home.

​Well, actually, it was mostly my pride that prevented me from accepting. We had just ended our relationship two weeks ago. After two years together, a woman finally showed up at my apartment a few weeks back and slapped me across the face before screaming at me to stay away from Oliver.

​She claimed to be Oliver's girlfriend and said they had been dating for over a year.

​Damn Oliver. He wasn't even that handsome. But the bastard had been cheating on me for over a year.

​I turned back for the third time while my feet kept moving. My instinct told me something was following me-or someone.

​This was all because Mr. Newman had forced several staff members to work overtime for the past three days. And today was the worst of it; we were only able to leave at eleven-thirty at night. Me, Oliver, and a few other staff members.

​Unfortunately, no buses were operating this late, and waiting for a taxi would take even longer. So, stupidly, I decided to walk.

​"This is a really bad idea, Ella," I muttered to myself. I should have been patient and just waited for a taxi.

​I had passed this way a few times before because it was the fastest walking route to my apartment. The street was lined with shops selling food and goods from Mexico, which I remembered always being crowded during the day. Sadly, the daytime atmosphere was a stark contrast to tonight.

​Every shop had ceased operations and was closed tight. I could only see light from a few storefront windows and street lamps. The rest was pitch black.

​The sound of my heels-which weren't very high-sounded faint as they tapped against the pavement. For some reason, the fine hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I entered this cursed street.

​I forced my eyes to look straight ahead; only a hundred meters left until I emerged from this terrifying road. I promised myself I would never pass through here again at night.

​Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence around me, causing my steps to halt in place. The sound was agonizing, as if the owner of the voice was in true pain.

​It was a sharp contrast to the silence I had heard before.

​Every hair on my body stood on end as the instinct in my head screamed for me to run. But a part of my conscience told me to turn back and help.

​This is one of humanity's weaknesses: trusting conscience over the brain. If this were a horror movie, I'd definitely be the first to die a gruesome death.

​My heart pounded hard in my chest as I turned back. No matter how loud the instinct screamed in my head, I stepped toward the source of the sound.

​The place where the voice came from was an alley. It fell silent again.

​I narrowed my eyes toward the dark alley, hoping to see more clearly. This alley wasn't very big-exactly like the alleys in horror movies where Jack the Ripper emerges from the shadows with a bloody knife after butchering his victim.

​With my hands still trembling slightly, my fingers pressed 911, and then from the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow moving in the darkness.

​"Hello?" suddenly a man's voice echoed in the alley, nearly making me drop my phone in shock.

​I looked up to see the silhouette of a man walking toward me. This time I followed my instinct; my feet stepped back a few meters.

​The man wore a white shirt with a black leather jacket and jeans. He clearly didn't look like Jack the Ripper.

​"Are you okay?" the man asked with a small smile. The smile on his face looked a bit strange, so I stepped back again.

​"What was that sound?" I asked with a slightly panicked voice. My heart was racing so fast I could almost hear it in my ears.

​The man stopped a few meters in front of me, right under a street lamp. The light illuminated his face clearly.

​His slightly long black hair touched the collar of his shirt. His strange black eyes stared at me. He fell into the category of handsome.

​Or very handsome, if we had met in a normal situation.

​But there was something strange-something wrong about him. The man smiled again when he saw my expression.

​"What sound did you hear?" He tilted his head slightly to the right; his deep voice sounded almost pleasant.

​My mouth opened to answer, then I closed it again. If he was a killer, then telling him wasn't a good idea. I gripped my phone tightly.

​"Ummm, I think I misheard," I murmured, preparing to turn around.

​"Wait a moment, Miss." The voice sounded commanding as it called out to me, making me freeze in place again.

​"Is someone following you?" he asked in a worried tone while glancing behind me.

​Reflexively, I turned my head back to look, but there was nothing there.

​"Ah, I guess I miscalculated." Suddenly the voice sounded very close, making my heart leap in my chest. When I turned back, he was already right in front of me.

​"Tsk. Sweet lady, I'm a bit sorry I have to hurt you." He said it with a lazy voice before smirking slightly; a pair of fangs appeared from behind his lips.

​His hand moved just as my mouth opened to scream. And in just one second, his warm, wet lips touched my neck.

​A pair of sharp fangs tore into the skin of my neck painfully. My mouth was open to scream, but no sound came out.

​The last thing I remember was the bright light from the street lamp and the sound of a terrifyingly loud gulp.

​(6 months later)

​"I've already asked Oliver to book a plane ticket for you, Eleanor." Mr. Newman's voice sounded final. I could only look at my manager with a look of despair.

​He returned his gaze to his desk, a silent signal to dismiss me from his office politely.

​I stood up from my chair quietly. Regardless, I wasn't going to be childish and beg Mr. Newman again. Once was enough.

​Without looking at him again, I walked out of his room and headed toward Oliver's desk.

​Oliver Sheldon Wright was my ex-boyfriend and the assistant manager at the accounting firm where I worked. I remembered the first time I met him, when I was still an intern and Oliver was a junior accountant.

​I once thought I truly loved this man, before his mistress came to my apartment and slapped me.

​That bastard. What a jerk!

​I clenched both my fists tightly and stopped in front of the assistant manager's desk. Oliver was focused on his computer screen; a few strands of his light brown hair fell onto his furrowed brow. Then, slowly, he looked up at me and gave a small smile.

​"Is there something I can help you with, Els?"

​Els. He always called me by that annoying name when we were dating.

​"Mr. Newman said you're the one handling my plane tickets." I tried to force my voice to sound as neutral as possible.

​We had ended our relationship more than 6 months ago. Although I still wanted to punch his face every time I saw him, I had to remain professional at the office.

​He took an envelope from his desk drawer and handed it to me, still smiling. "Sorry, Els. Actually, Mr. Newman asked me to go, but I can't, so you're forced to replace me. Well, have fun-I heard there's a big festival in Manhattan."

​I grabbed the envelope from his hand and didn't even bother to look at his face before turning back toward my desk with a muttered "thanks."

​I wasn't going to be childish anymore. Oliver's words, after I told him about the woman who came to my apartment and slapped me, echoed back in my head:

​'You're being too dramatic, Els. Don't be childish.'

​I opened the envelope in my hand angrily. Inside were two tickets and a hotel reservation. My eyes stared at the departure date and the destination: Manhattan.

​I hate Manhattan.

​I put the tickets back into the envelope and took a deep breath. As an auditor, I actually didn't mind business trips like this.

​It was just that usually Mr. Newman sent a team. If he only sent one auditor like this, the job was guaranteed to be annoying. Work like this usually took at least 2 weeks, depending on the size of the company being audited.

​I exhaled again. I hate going alone. To be precise, since 6 months ago, I've hated being alone. My thoughts went back to that night-the quiet street and the scream of pain that suddenly shattered the silence.

​The fine hairs on my neck stood up again. Although I didn't clearly remember the man's face, I still remembered his voice. And I remembered those strange black eyes.

​My stomach felt nauseous thinking about it again. I couldn't remember what happened after the man approached me, but strangely I woke up the next morning in my apartment as usual.

​The only sign that convinced me it wasn't a dream were two red dots and a bruise on my neck; even now, that mark hasn't completely disappeared.

​"Eleanor? Want to grab lunch?"

​I looked up at Christine, who was standing in front of my desk with her wallet tucked under her arm, her hand busy typing something on her phone. One corner of her mouth was chewing on the tip of her blonde hair.

​"Oh, okay," I replied before taking my wallet and walking beside her. Christine put her phone back in her pocket.

​"Mr. Newman assigned you alone?" Christine asked suddenly. I groaned at the question.

​"Ouch. I thought he would give that task to Oliver," she continued. We stopped in front of the elevator.

​"He was supposed to, but Oliver dumped it on me," I replied, folding my arms across my chest. "I don't even know who the client is yet."

​"You don't know? Shaw & Partner. I heard Mr. Newman and Paul talking about it. They specifically refused a team and requested just one auditor. I think Shaw & Partner wants to do a confidential audit," Christine replied, shrugging her shoulders.

​I groaned again. "Is the company big?" I asked as I stepped into the empty elevator.

​Christine turned to me with a furrowed brow. "You don't know Shaw & Partner?" Well, I was only familiar with the names of banks and financial firms, so I shook my head at her.

​She rolled her eyes. "You need to watch the news more often. Are you sure you've never heard the name Nicholas Shaw? Gregory Shaw?"

​I shook my head again.

​"Of course, I forgot your taste is on Oliver's level," Christine grumbled. "He and his brother are lawyers. They founded Shaw & Partner. In recent years their company has skyrocketed; now Nicholas and Gregory Shaw are lawyers for several giant companies in America. They are billionaires, Els."

​"Maybe. But the two of them are very..." Christine paused for a moment, as if searching for the right word, "Very yummy."

​My brow furrowed slightly at her description. "Yummy" sounded disgusting to me.

​"But you should stay away from Nicholas Shaw. Some tabloids say he's gay; he's never been seen with a woman. Very different from his brother, Gregory," she continued.

​I rolled my eyes as I heard it. I never cared about someone's sexual orientation; besides, most likely I wouldn't even meet them.

​An auditor only deals with the finance manager and their ilk. Not the boss. And I really didn't care if this client was incredibly handsome; work is work.

​One thing I knew for sure: the job waiting for me in Manhattan was going to be very annoying.

​NEXT CHAPTER

Chapter 2

​My hands stuffed the last of the clothes I brought into my suitcase, then closed it. My flight leaves in three hours, which means I have to be at the airport in an hour and a half. I opened my suitcase again and threw a book inside.

​"I've already called a taxi." A blonde head appeared from behind the door. I smiled while zipping up my suitcase. "Thanks, Lana."

​She came into my room and jumped onto my bed, her long legs dangling gracefully off the edge. "Are you sure all of that is enough for two weeks?" she asked, staring at my small suitcase.

​I shrugged. "I'll be back on the weekend." Even though it was exhausting, I didn't want to spend two weeks alone in a city I didn't know.

​I plopped down next to Lana. We share a two-bedroom apartment. I've known Lana since the beginning of college; even though we work at different companies now, we still rent together. She's 23, a year younger than me, though we graduated at the same time.

​Lana comes from a wealthy family-very wealthy. In college, she lived with her father and a stepmother who changed every five years. Her biological mother passed away long ago, and Lana has no other siblings. As for me, well, I have no parents or siblings left. I guess that's what has made us as close as sisters all this time; we are both lonely. Lana has never gone home once since we started renting together; she has a bad relationship with her father.

​"You can take mine, Ella. All of that won't be enough," she muttered, pointing at my suitcase. She stood up and disappeared through the door.

​Lana always said her father was the reason her mother died. Because I didn't want to make her sadder, I never asked what she meant.

​Maybe Lana knew I still had to pay off my expensive tuition loans-which I have to pay for another year-so she gave me full access to her closet. Since then, I haven't bought clothes anymore. Not because I couldn't afford it, but because Lana would get mad at me if I bought new clothes. If she caught me staring at a new blouse or dress in front of a boutique, the next day she would buy it and give it to me.

​If I refused, Lana would use all sorts of excuses until I accepted. Since then, I've tried to train my eyes not to stare randomly into boutique windows whenever I'm with her.

​"Is this enough?" Lana asked herself as she moved my clothes into her suitcase. Satisfied, she nodded to herself and closed the suitcase. "I put some of my heels in there; yours are almost broken," she grumbled, folding her arms across her chest.

​I looked at her and smiled. "Okay, Mom."

​Lana just responded by rolling her bright blue eyes. "So you're going to audit Shaw & Partner?" she asked suddenly before plopping down beside me, her eyes staring at the ceiling.

​"You know about that company?" I asked. Lana's family has incredible connections in the business world; almost all CEOs and company leaders know her father. Even before Lana went to college, her father tried to set her up with his acquaintances.

​"I've met one of them." Lana's voice sounded a bit choked, and she swallowed hard before continuing, "Gregory Shaw... I met him once."

​"Oh? Your father set you up with him?" I asked, starting to get interested.

​Lana laughed softly and shook her head. "My father? No, I met Gregory Shaw at a conference. Remember that conference I attended back in college?"

​"I met him there. Only for a moment," she continued, shrugging indifferently. But the distant look in her eyes said otherwise.

​"Is he that handsome?" Christine had the same look when she mentioned the Shaw brothers.

​Lana turned and laughed again. "Well, he's decent. But not my type."

​I've known Lana long enough to know she was lying, but before I could ask further, a car horn sounded from outside.

​"Taxi!" Lana shouted.

​We both jumped off the bed. I grabbed my suitcase and my shoes from under the bed and followed Lana, who had already walked out ahead.

​The first thing I realized upon stepping foot in the Manhattan airport was that I didn't bring my phone. After fifteen full minutes of tearing through my handbag three times, I gave up.

​Dragging my suitcase, I walked to the nearest payphone booth and called Lana to tell her I could only contact her after I bought a new phone.

​The trip to the hotel took over an hour due to traffic. Even though my flight was only two hours, exhaustion hit me as soon as I reached the airport. Partly because I didn't want to be here, partly because I had worked overtime the night before.

​After checking in, I closed my hotel room door tight and spent the rest of the day sleeping.

​The street in the business center was filled with shop buildings ranging from Starbucks and Ladurée to designer boutiques. Almost everyone walking on this block wore the same thing I did-formal work attire and a grumpy face. Ha. It seemed I wasn't the only one who hated Manhattan.

​After walking for five full minutes, I realized I didn't know which direction the Shaw & Partner building was, or the bagel shop I was headed to. I stopped next to a black SUV parked on the side of the road, looking around for a street sign. Should I use GPS? Oh damn, I didn't bring my phone.

​My eyes were still searching for a street sign when I caught my reflection in the window of the SUV next to me. The glass was pitch black so I couldn't see inside, but parked cars are usually empty, right?

​I checked my hair tie in the reflection and wiped some lipstick from the corner of my lip with my finger. I stared at my serious reflection for a moment. My reflection looked quite plain; the only thing I could be proud of were my amber eyes. Lana said the first thing she remembered about me were my eyes, which are quite rare.

​The rest... if compared to Lana, maybe a score of 7/10?

​Feeling silly for comparing myself to my best friend, I smiled at my reflection and checked my watch. There were still about 35 minutes to find that bagel shop. I continued walking past the long row of shops.

​Ten minutes later, I found it: a small blue restaurant that sold bagels, exactly as Lana described. The place didn't even have a name. I stepped inside, read the menu, and ordered Avocado Salmon and coffee. A few minutes later, a man delivered my order, placing it on my table with a smile. I thanked him and smiled back. It was these little things I liked about visiting small shops compared to fancy restaurants.

​"I'll give you an extra for free next time, Miss...?"

​I reached out my hand to him. "Eleanor."

​"Ah, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman." He wiped his hands on his apron before shaking mine. "You can call me Julio."

​I nodded. "Thanks for the bagel, Julio. Is this place yours?"

​"Mine and my wife's. Well, enjoy, Eleanor," he replied before moving to greet other customers.

​I unwrapped the bagel; the smell of smoked salmon and seasoning filled the air, making me even hungrier. I hadn't eaten since arriving in Manhattan yesterday afternoon.

​I finished my bagel while looking out the window, and my eyes caught that same SUV. The SUV stopped at an office building not far from the bagel restaurant.

​A man got out of the back passenger door and walked into the building; I could only see his back from this distance. Seconds later, the car drove away and disappeared around a corner. I checked my watch; I had 15 minutes to find the Shaw & Partner building.

​After asking Julio, it turned out that building was the one the man from the SUV had entered.

​The building security gave me a guest tag and let me go up to the 15th floor. He told me I would meet Mrs. Lynch in finance and Dave in HR to get a temporary employee tag.

​Although Shaw & Partner owned the building, they only occupied the top 5 floors; the rest were leased to other companies. I couldn't imagine how wealthy the Shaw brothers were to own an office building in the center of Manhattan's business district.

​A minute later, the elevator stopped on the 15th floor and opened. The Shaw & Partner logo was clearly engraved near the reception desk.

​"Welcome to Shaw & Partner," I muttered to myself as I stepped out.

​It turned out all my initial assumptions were wrong. Mrs. Lynch, the head of finance, only asked me to audit the finances from the last 6 months. She thought there was a slight markup being done by her staff, but she didn't have time to prove it because it was close to the year-end audit. So she hired an independent accountant.

​I didn't understand why she didn't just let it go rather than bothering to hire an outside accountant; usually, leaks like this aren't that big.

​Mrs. Lynch gave me a temporary office; although small, at least I had privacy.

​My spirit returned in an instant seeing my new desk; I figured I could finish this in a week if I worked late almost every night. I put down my bag and turned on the laptop.

​"Miss Heather?" Mrs. Lynch's voice caught my attention.

​"Yes?" I looked up.

​Mrs. Lynch walked in, her brown bob swaying slightly. Her face reminded me of Anna Wintour, complete with a cold expression.

​"Before you start further, I want you to detail the cash inflows received from Bank Rotterdam." Her eyes stared straight at me. "And you must report it directly to me."

​I nodded, trying to smile. "Just Bank Rotterdam?"

​She nodded once before turning back. I checked my calendar, marking exactly one week from now as the deadline, then continued my work.

​In the end, I was forced to skip lunch to meet today's deadline. Besides, I had no lunch companions since I didn't know anyone here yet. The only person I knew was Mrs. Lynch. And auditors aren't always welcomed by a client's employees, which is why I preferred working in a team.

​But fortunately, I liked my job, and before I knew it, the clock on the wall showed 5:30 PM. I decided to call it a day and head back to the hotel; I still had to buy a new phone and contact Lana immediately.

​I packed my things and walked toward the elevator. By the time I got out, some employees had already left, and the elevator was quieter than this morning.

​Only a few meters away from the Shaw & Partner building, I remembered my flash drive was still plugged into the office laptop. I turned around and crossed back while the light was still red.

​Of course, one stroke of bad luck wasn't enough for me; one of my heels got stuck in a drainage grate on the street next to the sidewalk.

​"Oh damn," I muttered, trying to pull my foot. The light turned green as I bent down to pull my shoe; several cars passed me closely while others just honked.

​The heels I wore today belonged to Lana, so I couldn't just leave it stuck there. Lana's cheapest shoes could equal my salary for a month, and I didn't know how much these cost.

​I tried to pull again with all my strength, but the more I moved, the deeper the heel got stuck.

​Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a silver car speeding toward me, and it hadn't slowed down at all. I could see the driver looking at a phone in his hand, unaware of me.

​My body froze, too panicked to move. It seemed I wouldn't be able to dodge it. My brain felt as frozen as my body.

​When it was only a few meters away, suddenly a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me. A split second later, the car crushed one of Lana's shoes and sped away.

​My heart beat a hundred times faster; I could hear it thumping in my ears. My eyes stared straight at the white shirt inches from my face, my body still tense from shock.

​"Are you okay?" a deep, soothing baritone voice whispered in my ear. His voice was punctuated by his heavy breathing, as if he had just been running.

​I looked up at my savior. A pair of the darkest, bluest eyes were looking at me, clear worry visible in his gaze.

​I nodded slightly, my brain still too shocked to answer. The man was still holding my waist, and I was still clinging to him. One of my hands gripped his shirt tightly, while the other held his firm shoulder.

​"Are you sure?" he repeated after observing my face, dropping his formal tone. I could smell musk and mint from this close, a pleasant scent that made my brain thaw. His dark brown, slightly arrogant eyebrows furrowed.

​I still hadn't answered, but my gaze hadn't shifted from his face. His dark brown hair was combed back, though a few strands were messy. I could see the strength in his face, his sharp jawline...

​Awkwardly, I released one hand from him. But being on one foot made me lose balance; the man's hands immediately went back to my waist.

​"I-" I swallowed to wet my dry throat, "I'm okay. Thank you for..." My next sentence stopped in my throat as his deep blue eyes stared at me with an intensity that made my heart race again, as if he were studying me intently, as if I wasn't the only one currently entranced.

​After a few long seconds, I looked away at our surroundings to hide my heating face. Several people were watching us as they walked by.

​Slowly, as if he didn't want to let go, he pulled his hands away. I stood awkwardly and took off the remaining heel so I could stand more balanced.

​"I saw the license plate; you can report him to the police after this." His deep voice made my stomach feel strange.

​I smiled at him. "No need, that was my fault." I replied, pointing to Lana's shoe now stuck deeper in the grate.

​Oh, damn it. I'd have to drain my savings to replace it.

​"I'll report it anyway. He was driving while using a phone," he said, pulling the corners of his mouth down before scanning me from my face down to my feet, making me feel even more awkward. "Your foot is injured, Miss...?"

​"Eleanor... Heather," I answered. He looked at me again, a faint smile gracing his handsome face.

​"Queen Eleanor." Gumamnya pada dirinya sendiri.

​Some of my professors used to call me Queen Eleanor when they first heard my name. My name is a bit old-fashioned.

​"Erik." The man next to me replied, then opened the passenger door of an SUV. "I won't be able to sleep peacefully until I make sure you're okay, Miss Heather." He said, gesturing for me to get in. I looked at him in surprise.

​"I-I'm fine. Just a little scratch." I replied.

​His intense blue eyes met mine. "Erik akan mengantarmu pulang." His commanding voice left no room for argument.

​The man named Erik glanced at us and smiled at me before looking forward again.

​I looked at my scratched foot and then back at the man. "Okay." I nodded and got into the SUV. He closed the door before I could even thank him, and the car drove off, leaving him standing on the sidewalk.

​His gaze followed the car until we turned a corner.

​I hadn't even asked his name.

​NEXT CHAPTER

Chapter 3

​After treating my scrapes, soaking in the tub, and ordering Chinese food delivery, I sat on my large hotel sofa alone. The sky outside had turned very dark, and rain began to fall.

​I tied my slightly loose bathrobe and stared blankly at the TV across from me. For the last hour, my head had been busy trying to guess who my savior was. Well, since I couldn't guess his name, at least I could guess his profession.

​With his firm, intimidating voice and face, he was likely a young banker. He didn't look much older than me-maybe in his 30s? But there was something in those blue eyes that made him look like he wasn't just in his 30s.

​I bit the corner of my lip, furrowing my brow, until a knock interrupted my thoughts. I walked to the hotel room door and opened it. A bellboy stood there holding my delivery and a black box. I gave him the money for the delivery along with a tip, then took the Chinese food I had ordered.

​"Miss Heather? This is for you as well," he said, handing over the black box he was carrying.

​"For me?" I stared at the box hesitantly. It looked like an expensive Godiva chocolate box, only larger and without a label. "I didn't order this."

​"A man delivered it twenty minutes ago, Miss." He then handed me a paper tucked behind the box. A small envelope with a wax seal.

​I thanked the bellboy and closed the door. My curiosity immediately shifted to the black box. I sat back on the sofa and opened the envelope.

​I hope this one fits you. See you tomorrow, Queen Eleanor.

​My heart skipped a beat as I read the note. He knew where I was staying. My eyes shifted to the black box, and I opened it with trembling hands.

​Inside was a pair of black heels-the exact same ones I had lost today. My mouth hung open as I touched the smooth leather of the shoes. I checked the size: it was exactly my size.

​How did he know my size? And how did he know which hotel I was staying at?

​I set the note on the table and stared at the shoes. I should have been afraid, but instead, I felt a strange warmth in my chest.

​The next morning, I woke up feeling much fresher. I wore the new heels-which fit perfectly-along with a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. I felt like a different person.

​I arrived at the Shaw & Partner building ten minutes early. This time, I didn't stop at the reception desk and went straight to the 15th floor.

​"Good morning, Miss Heather. You look beautiful today," Mrs. Lynch greeted me with a small smile-the first smile I had seen from her.

​"Thank you, Mrs. Lynch," I replied, trying to hide my surprise.

​"Mr. Shaw wants to meet you in his office on the 20th floor. He wants a direct report regarding the audit progress," she continued, her eyes scanning my appearance.

​My heart started racing. "Mr. Shaw? Which one?"

​"Mr. Nicholas Shaw. He is the CEO of this company."

​I nodded, trying to stay calm. Nicholas Shaw. The man Christine said was gay. Well, at least I didn't have to worry about him being "yummy."

​I took the elevator to the 20th floor. The atmosphere here was much quieter and more professional than on the 15th floor. The walls were made of glass, providing an incredible view of Manhattan.

​A female secretary greeted me and asked me to wait for a moment. I sat in a comfortable leather chair, my eyes scanning the room. Everything here looked very expensive and modern.

​"Mr. Shaw is ready to see you now, Miss Heather."

​I stood up and smoothed my skirt before walking toward the large door at the end of the hallway. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

​The room was very large, with a desk facing the window. A man was standing with his back to me, looking out at the view.

​"Good morning, Mr. Shaw. I am Eleanor Heather, the independent auditor for-"

​"I know who you are, Eleanor."

​That voice.

​The man turned around, and my heart almost stopped. It was him. My savior from yesterday.

​He wore a dark blue suit that fit his body perfectly. His blue eyes stared at me with that same intensity, a small smile playing on his lips.

​"You..." I stammered, my brain unable to process what was happening.

​"I believe I haven't officially introduced myself." He walked toward me, stopping just a few inches away. "Nicholas Shaw."

​He reached out his hand, and I reflexively took it. His hand felt warm and strong against mine.

​"You're Nicholas Shaw?" I asked, still in disbelief.

​"In the flesh." He smiled wider, his eyes scanning my face. "And I see the shoes fit you perfectly."

​I looked down at my feet, then back at him. "How did you know my size? And how did you know I was staying at that hotel?"

​He laughed softly-a deep, pleasant sound. "I have my ways, Eleanor. Now, shall we talk about the audit?"

​He gestured toward the chairs in front of his desk. I sat down, trying to regain my professionalism. But it was hard to focus when he was sitting right across from me, his gaze never leaving my face.

​"I've started detailing the cash inflows from Bank Rotterdam, as Mrs. Lynch requested," I said, my voice trembling slightly.

​"Good. I want you to be very thorough. I suspect there's something more than just a simple markup going on," he replied, his expression turning serious.

​We talked about the audit for the next hour. He was very sharp and knowledgeable, asking pointed questions that showed he knew exactly what was going on in his company.

​"I think that's enough for today," he said eventually, leaning back in his chair. "I have a lunch meeting, but I'd like to continue this over dinner tonight."

​"Dinner?" I asked, surprised.

​"Yes. I'll pick you up at your hotel at seven."

​"I-I don't think that's a good idea, Mr. Shaw. I'm here to work, and-"

​"It's just dinner, Eleanor. And I'm the one who hired you, so I think I'm allowed to take you to dinner," he interrupted, his voice commanding yet gentle.

​I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. Seven o'clock."

​"I'll see you then, Queen Eleanor."

​I spent the rest of the day in a daze. I couldn't believe I was going to dinner with Nicholas Shaw-the billionaire, the "gay" CEO, and the man who had saved my life.

​I finished my work early and headed back to the hotel. I spent an hour choosing what to wear, finally settling on a simple navy blue dress that Lana had given me. It was elegant but not too flashy.

​At exactly seven o'clock, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Nicholas standing there, looking even more handsome than he had this morning.

​"You look stunning, Eleanor," he said, his eyes filled with admiration.

​"Thank you. You don't look too bad yourself," I replied, feeling a bit more confident.

​He laughed and led me to the elevator. A black SUV was waiting for us in front of the hotel. He opened the door for me, and we drove off into the Manhattan night.

​The restaurant he took me to was small and intimate, hidden away in a quiet corner of the city. There were no signs outside, and the interior was lit only by candles.

​"I hope you like Italian food," he said as we sat down.

​"I love it," I replied.

​We ordered a bottle of wine and started talking. Not about work, but about our lives, our interests, our dreams. He was easy to talk to, and I found myself opening up to him in a way I never had with anyone else.

​"So, why did you become an auditor?" he asked, leaning forward.

​"I like numbers. They're reliable. They don't lie or cheat," I replied, thinking of Oliver.

​His expression softened. "I'm sorry about what happened with your ex-boyfriend."

​I looked at him in surprise. "How do you know about that?"

​"I told you, I have my ways. And I think he was a fool for letting you go."

​I felt my face heating up. "Thank you."

​We finished our dinner and were just about to leave when I remembered something. "I still owe you for the shoes, Mr. Shaw. Let me know how much they were, and I'll-"

​"Forget the shoes, Eleanor. Consider them a gift from a grateful client."

​"I can't accept them. They're far too expensive, and I'm an auditor-it could be seen as a bribe."

​He laughed. "I assure you, I'm not trying to bribe you. I just wanted to replace what was lost."

​"Still, I'd feel better if I paid you back." I wouldn't be able to buy shoes that expensive, I added in my heart.

​When he didn't reply, I opened the menu in my hand and started browsing the items. No prices were listed, which meant only one thing: everything was expensive.

​I bit my lip, guessing which item was the cheapest. "Have you ordered?" I asked, glancing at him. He was quieter this time, making me even more nervous.

​He just nodded. "Are you ready to order?" he asked, raising his hand to call the waiter. Two seconds later, a waiter appeared beside our table. "Ready, Sir?"

​"Eleanor." His voice broke through my thoughts. I looked up at him again. "What are you thinking about?"

​Without realizing it, I was still biting my lip. "Oh, nothing. Just work. So, are you ready to tell me your name?"

​"I don't know where you work yet."

​I don't even know your name yet!

​I mentioned the name of the accounting firm where I worked. "But I'm currently auditing a client's company. Shaw & Partner," I added.

​A look of surprise crossed his face, and then he furrowed his eyebrows. "You work for me?"

​Huh? My feeling of nervousness slowly turned into a slight unease. "I'm sorry, what..."

​NEXT CHAPTER