She was transferred to a gloomy city, where she met the love of her life. However, a disturbing revelation emerged: he was not like the others. He was special, a vampire, whose presence turned her world upside down and led her to confront her darkest desires. What will be the outcome of this forbidden romance?
Chapter 1 1
"Sophie, your transfer is complete!" A bulky folder full of documents collapsed on Sophie's desk, tearing her from her thoughts. The notion of leaving her comfort zone filled her with trepidation, even without having anyone in that big city where she worked. The mere thought of moving to Charleston sent shivers down his spine.
"What if I turn down the offer? What would happen then?" Sophie challenged her boss defiantly.
"When you signed your contract, you accepted the possibility of traveling. In addition, you have two options: become unemployed or accept the transfer. In Charleston, there are opportunities that match your profile, but not here." His boss's voice sounded brusque and distant. The company I worked for as an assistant was on the verge of bankruptcy, and managers were managing the relocation of staff. Sophie had been lucky, being one of the few who still had her job.
To his regret, however, he had to move to the darkest and most desolate part of the country. But what did it matter?
Sophie packed her meager belongings and the next day boarded a train bound for her new destination. Charleston stood like a small city among the mountains, shrouded in dense forest and caressed by cold, foggy weather. The city was home to a rich and enigmatic history, replete with tales of vampires and supernatural beings.
This was what troubled Sophie most: the possibility that such legends were true. He couldn't imagine being preyed upon by a horde of vampires, and that his body would lie cold and dry in some unknown corner. That wasn't a death she longed for herself.
Sophie, a fair-skinned, dark-brown-haired twenty-five-year-old, possessed large, expressive hazel eyes and a shy smile that rarely appeared. She was an intelligent and diligent woman, with a reserved but inquisitive personality.
The remainder of his salary was used to secure a stay at an inn during his time in Charleston. This inn was an old and majestic mansion, with several rooms available to outsiders. Maria, the landlady, had assigned him a beautiful room on the recommendation of her boss, one that offered views of the dark mountains.
"Little girl, here's your room key. You will have access to the kitchen and the common bathroom, but your showers cannot exceed ten minutes, or you will leave the rest without hot water. Keep your food and belongings in your room, because here I am not responsible for anything," Maria declared firmly as she handed the key to Sophie.
"I appreciate the warning. I'll try to eat fast foods. Could you tell me where the big factory is? I have to report there for work tomorrow," Sophie asked.
"In the big factory? What will you do there, girl?" Mary asked in confusion, her eyes reflecting palpable fear.
"I'll be an administrative assistant," Sophie replied resignedly. "Why that panicked expression? Is there anything I should know?"
"No, just a recommendation. Whatever you see, keep quiet. In this city, rumors circulate about paranormal phenomena. I don't know if they're true, but be careful," Maria warned. Hearing her landlady's words, Sophie felt a chill run down her spine, but she preferred to think it was all mere fantasy.
As night fell, from her room, Sophie looked out over the towering mountain. At the top, I could see a beautiful mansion, dimly lit, that looked more like an old, modernized castle than anything else.
She fixed her eyes on that dark place and felt a strange fascination take hold of her. He closed his eyes, and suddenly the image of a handsome but pale man with icy skin and red eyes crossed his mind, accompanied by a Machiavellian white smile. She slammed her eyes open and, panicked, ran to close the curtains on her window.
"This can't be real," he repeated over and over again. Although his first night hadn't been the quietest, he got up early to fulfill his responsibilities. She needed to work to feed herself and pay for her mother's asylum, who had lost her mind when Sophie was just a child, leaving her alone with one more burden on her shoulders.
Even though the clock struck eight o'clock in the morning, the cold of Charleston penetrated to the bone. Now he understood why it was called that and why its inhabitants looked so pale. Sunlight seemed to be a luxury of which she would soon be deprived.
When he arrived at the large factory, he realized how luxurious the place was, much more so than his old job. The building, a grayish hue that blended seamlessly with the city, had huge, tinted windows and metal doors. As she walked through the entrance, a shiver ran through her from head to toe. It was something he would have to get used to.
"Good morning, miss. How can I help you?" The receptionist, a pale-faced, dark-suited young woman, greeted her courteously, but she did not differ much from the other inhabitants of the city, except for a red handkerchief that adorned her neck.
"Hi, I'm the new administrative assistant, my name is Sophie Robinson," Sophie introduced herself politely.
"Oh yes, we were waiting for her. Follow me, please," the receptionist replied. "Their duties will be the same as in their old workplace, but here we are completely modernized. He already has all the information he needs in his office."
As they walked to her office, the receptionist explained her tasks to Sophie. The workstation was beautiful, with a sleek desk, a state-of-the-art laptop, and everything you need to keep your sanity in that cold place.
A week later, Sophie had gotten used to her new routine. He had only been related to GlorÃe, another employee who was becoming something of a friend.
"Sophie, shall we eat? I'm starving," GlorÃe proposed.
"Thank you, Glorie. Come on, this cold is making me feel like I want to eat a whole elephant," Sophie replied with a smile.
They both waited for the elevator, which came from the top of the skyscraper. It was rumored that on the top floors was the office of the superior chief, and for some reason, no one approached him.
When the elevator doors opened, Sophie was petrified. In front of them stood a tall, blond man with gray eyes and red lips, dressed in an elegant dark suit and an exquisite fragrance that filled the place. It was the same man she had seen in her vision's days before, but dressed differently.
"Good morning, ladies," the man greeted in a deep voice.
"Good morning, Mr. Von Strudel," replied GlorÃe. Meanwhile, Sophie, surprised, stared at him as if bewitched.
"Sophie, are you okay?! We must go, Sophie!" Glorie's cry roused Sophie out of her thoughts. She joined her friend in the elevator, but as she passed Valentin, a strange sense of panic came over her. I didn't understand why I was experiencing this strange pressure.
Upon reaching the first floor, Valentin simply disappeared, while they continued with their plans to go to lunch.
"Who is that man?" asked Sophie of GlorÃe.
"Like whom is it? He is the great CEO of the factory. You were quite rude to him, but luckily, he doesn't talk much. I've been working here for several years, and he's always been just as mysterious. There's a lot of rumors about him, but you know how he is in a small town, rumors fly," GlorÃe explained.
"What rumors?" asked Sophie, fearful. The last thing he wanted was to hear that his boss was a vampire.
"They say that Valentin Von Strudel is a member of an ancient and powerful vampire family that has been established in Charleston for centuries. Rumor has it that he has had many passionate encounters with humans over the years. Their presence in the city has been instrumental in maintaining the balance between vampires and humans. But, in my ten years here, I've never seen a single vampire," GlorÃe said with a shrug.
"It can't be true, can it?" asked Sophie, hopefully.
"I don't think so, my dear. They must just be rumors. Come, let's eat, I'm starving," GlorÃe replied.
Sophie was completely confused. He couldn't even enjoy his meal leisurely. Valentin's gaze had been impregnated in her, a man enveloped in an almost extraterrestrial divinity, you could say hellish. The idea frightened her in an inexplicable way. She was far from imagining who this mysterious man who had appeared to her before really was.
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