Carmilla didn't know what to think when she entered the building where she was expected to work for the next year.

What a terrifying experience... Delving head first into a world she knew nothing about and where she knew no one. How was she to survive?

But she had to.

There was no one to provide for her and her mother. Her father had paid all the debts off before dying, leaving them penniless but, thank god, debt-free.

Let's do this, she told herself one final time before approaching the door that was looking so dangerous. She didn't believe Joshua would hurt her, not physically at least. Emotionally though? He could wreck her.

She just had to steel herself against his charms. The playboy he had become was nothing like the gentle sweet boy he had once been.

She found no trace of her childhood friend in his face.

“Good morning,” she greeted proudly as she entered the office.

He didn't look up, not immediately at least.

When he did, his piercing midnight blue eyes took her in appraisingly and she felt naked under his stare. To say she had dressed demurely would be putting it mildly, but it seemed to have backfired.

"Aren't you looking nice today, Miss Lenoir!" He said in teasing.

“Thank you,” she flashed him a smile – a tight forced one.

“So, let's get down to business,” he said cheerfully. He rose to his feet, and she had to hold back the gasp that threatened to leave her lips.

God, he was handsome! The devil wore a suit that was obviously tailored for him... and god, it suited him! She had never taken the time to appreciate his attire. But now that she did, she couldn't help but feel the spark of desire in her womb as her secret entrance clenched on nothingness.

"First things first," he then said, the hint of a smirk stretching his lips. "You are to sort out the folders, whichever way seems more appropriate as long as I can have them in hand at the drop of a hat. That would be your first task."

"Understood,” she agreed readily, her face an impassible mask. “How much time do I have?"

“Ooh, scary!” His eyes twinkled with mirth as her eyes narrowed at him. He was showing her a side that was so different from what he had shown her a few days ago. She didn't know what to think. Was he bipolar by any chance?

"You have one hour," he shrugged at her, before pointing an angry finger at the folders.

And heavens help her, there were a lot of them!

When she started working on said folders, she couldn't help but sigh and huff and puff, much like a petulant child. Sure, the task wasn't of the manual kind per se, it was more like something she had to organize well. The task close to being mathematical.

When she was finished with her job, she believed she had done it well. She couldn't help but believe she might be suited for the job after all, experience be damned.

"Ooh, who's the new babe?" A deep voice startled her as she was putting the last folder in place and she almost dropped it.

"Hello?" She feigned innocence, as if she hadn't heard the man.

“I never saw you here before. Are you new?”

“Yes. I am Mr. King's new secretary.”

“Ain't he a lucky man!” The man mused out loud.

And that's when Carmilla looked at him. Like really looked at him.

He was almost as tall as Joshua but had a bit of je-ne-sais-quoi that made him look that much friendlier.

She smiled at him hesitatingly.

"I'm Joshua's long college friend, Noah Jones," he extended his hand and she obliged by putting her significantly smaller one in his.

She had been expecting a handshake but received a kiss on the back of her hand instead.

She couldn't help the blush that crept under her skin.

"I'm Carmilla," she said simply.

"Like the vampire?" He asked jokingly, a joke she had suffered from too often.

"Yeah, the one and only," she laughed. "My mother was obsessed with the book, it would seem."

"Having the time of your life, I see?" Resounded Joshua's icy tone.

"Not yet." Noah shook his head.

Joshua glared at him and told him briskly, "Could you wait for me in the office? I have to a few tasks to discuss with Miss Lenoir."

It was barely a request. A badly disguised order at best.

And Noah waved goodbye at Carmilla who focused her attention back on her boss.

"Something wrong?"

"Everything is wrong," he nodded seriously and she almost flinched. He approached her desk, and she wanted to scoot back but couldn't. Her pride wouldn't allow her. His hand touched the side of her face. "Just so you know, Miss Lenoir, you're not allowed to be anyone's but mine."

And with that absurd demand, he kissed her. He kissed her possessively, ferociously. As if he had never kissed before, or had waited too long to kiss her, she didn't know. But she felt the weight of his claim in that short kiss.

"We'll talk more in length about your seductive ways later," he promised her darkly once he released her mouth. "Is that clear?" He trailed his thumb across her lower lip, and she couldn't help but open her mouth in a startled gasp. He took the opportunity to insert his finger inside.

She licked tentatively at his thumb, enjoying how his eyes darkened and reveling in the groan that left his mouth.