Chapter 41: Plans With Another Man

The following day, Esme was back at work, looking fresh from a shower, face full of natural-looking make up, and hair falling down in waves around her face from her half-up hairstyle. The claw mark was gone, and she was completely healed. She kept to a basic long-sleeved black dress and heels, though she could still feel eyes looking at her longer than necessary.

This time instead of heading straight to the VIP room, Esme greeted Leo and Rory behind the bar, making herself a quick coffee before leaving for the start of her shift. As her heels clicked against the floors, exiting the bar, Leo called out from behind her, reminding her to meet outside after work to go to the battle bar.

"You lucky git!" Rory whisper-shouted none the wiser that Esme could still hear him down the hallway. "You have a date with Es!?"

Esme halted, her hand near the golden door handle to Gabriel's VIP room. She wanted to hear Leo's response to determine how the evening might go and her attitude towards him. She wasn't as foolish as she was in the past, understanding that a handsome face and charismatic attitude didn't mean anything; he could still be a jerk underneath it all. Esme knew what men could be like.

"Calm down. It's not a date; we are just hanging out," Leo replied calmly. Esme suddenly felt bad for thinking the worst of Leo; she should have known from their conversation on the phone that he would not banter with Rory about how he would get laid or something.

Opening the door to the VIP room, Esme got straight to work, glancing in Gabriel's direction once as he spoke to a few vampires all wearing suits of the highest qualities before setting up glasses of ready to pour some blood into. Even now, she struggled to keep a straight face squeezing the blood from its pouch and into the tumblers. While she did so, Esme started to ponder over the term friend and what that meant with a vampire.

Esme knew she started to stare at Gabriel's side profile, but she couldn't help it. Last night was strange; she felt so close to him, even relaxing by his side, and now he felt so far away and untouchable. He was intimidating and imposing even at this distance; his emotions kept off his face as he listened to the other nobles (or so she guessed) about the imprisonment of a Duke. But even now, Esme wasn't paying attention to their conversation.

It was absurd for a vampire and a werewolf to be friends, but then she thought of Niko in the same light without any issue. Maybe it was more absurd because Gabriel wasn't just any vampire but the first vampire to ever exist. The Vampire King.

What ever did he see in her to become friends? All she seemed to do was give him attitude..

"Penny, for your thoughts?" Luther interrupted her deep thinking and leaned into the bar, his handsome face now obstructing her view.

"Make it 4K, and I'll tell you," Esme smirked but became dumbfounded when Luther pulled out a cheque book. Her response quietened the group of vampires; it wasn't the first time she had stopped conversations because of her commentary. She was, after all, a werewolf working in a vampire bar and in the King's VIP room, no less.

With a dazzling smile, he asked, "What's your last name?"

Esme's jaw went slack, and her lips parted at the vampire's ease to write her first name on the paper. His writing is neat and cursive from years of perfecting.

"You should have said 10K!" Isana whisper-shouted in her mind, almost drooling at the idea. Esme refrained from rolling her eyes at her wolf's comment.

"And if I told you my thoughts were as simple as doing my laundry this evening, would you still write me that cheque?" She questioned while throwing the blood bags into the bin before looking up to meet Luther's green eyes.

"I asked what you were thinking; if that was truly what you were so deep in thought about then, I have no issue with writing you a cheque. Money is of no concern to me," Luther replied, staring at her in amusement. Her gaze shifted from the blonde-haired vampire and to the men behind him, who did not bother to stop staring, almost purposefully trying to make her feel uncomfortable.

The thing was, she didn't care about their staring and more of their impression of her. She didn't want to leave any trace of herself behind where vampires might talk about an outspoken werewolf. It would attract unwanted attention. Esme returned Luther's stare and smiled, "Do not waste your wealth on such useless things. If you must know, I will be doing my laundry tonight, but I shan't take your money for it." Esme walked around the bar and grabbed the golden tray she left the glasses of blood on and turned to place them on the coffee table for the vampires.

After her comment, they did not bother themselves any further with the she-wolf working under Gabriel. She was of no importance, and Gabriel's lack of interest in her appearance made it clear she was not worthy of remembering. Which was precisely what she needed. Whether he did it on purpose or not, she was grateful either way, even if she still felt slightly detached from him after feeling a little closer to him from the previous night.

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Returning to the bar, Luther was called over by Gabriel as they discussed the next successor for this dukedom. It was all bizarre listening to such things, especially after coming from a werewolf's world or pack and rogue culture. Tuning them out, Esme lowered herself down and reached in her bag for her phone. She didn't usually check it, but lately, she seemed to be more sociable and have friends.

Flipping the device open, there were two unread messages, one from Leo and the other was from an unknown number. Straightening up, she leaned onto the bar, the phone in her hands as she frowned and tapped the button to open the message.

[ 11pm Message from Unknown]

[ 11pm This is my new number – Gabriel ]

Esme slowly looked up from the screen and stared at Gabriel. Did Niko give him her number? This was the second time now! Her anger dissipated quickly though, Gabriel was Niko's boss and the King, so she would let it slide. At that moment, Gabriel looked up at her and showed the first sign of emotion since seeing her, his brow was furrowed, but he quickly relaxed his features and replied to Luther, still staring at her.

Esme held his gaze, wondering what the vampire was thinking, but his eyes snapped back to the company he was keeping, and she lowered her gaze before her heart rate would increase and all of the vampires would hear it. She saved the new number under Gabriel's name; it might be helpful in the future, then she opened the message from Leo, who sent it earlier, most likely on his break.

[ 2pm Message from Leo ]

[ 2pm I see we both finish at the same time :-) did you want to get some food first? They do some fantastic meals as well! x]

Esme could feel Leo's excitement over their evening even through his messages. She wouldn't lie; she was excited at the idea of all the games, especially the knife throwing.

[ 5:15pm Sounds good to me. See you soon.]

Esme flipped the phone shut and ignored Gabriel's gaze. It seemed to be burning two holes into her head; was her text messaging really loud? Her phone wasn't like a smartphone with a touch screen, so everyone could probably hear her pressing the buttons. She shrugged and put her phone away, busying herself for the next 45 minutes of her shift.

When it was almost 6pm, the meeting had wrapped up, and only Luther and Gabriel were left, sitting, arms resting on the back of the sofa, sharing a bottle of whiskey between them. Did they ever do anything other than drink? Though she couldn't really question it. After double-checking the bar and surrounding areas, she picked up her bag and started to set off towards the double doors.

"Are you returning to your apartment tonight?" Gabriel asked, halting her from leaving. He sounded a little disgruntled, but she could not understand why.

Esme swivelled her head in Gabriel's direction, whose back was still facing her as he looked at the tumbler in his hand. She glanced briefly at Luther, who seemed to be watching them in amusement. "I will be," Esme replied and watched as Gabriel tipped the glass at his mouth. She strode forwards again, believing that to be the end of their conversation.

"Did you not want to drink with us?" Luther asked. Esme stopped again and smiled in his direction, her hand now on the doorknob.

"I would, but I have plans with a friend. Another time maybe?" Luther nodded and looked back at Gabriel when the doors closed behind the little she-wolf.

The glass in Gabriel's hand shattered into pieces cutting his skin and wetting his hand with his blood.. The vampire didn't so much as blink as the blue flames in his eyes were set ablaze at the idea of his little wolf having fun with another man.

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