The polished lobby of the corporate building blurred as Nandini rushed through it, adjusting the cuffs of her crisp white shirt. Her heart pounded, a frantic rhythm against her ribs that had nothing to do with being a vampire, and everything to do with being late. On her first day, no less. She mumbled a string of curses under her breath, a habit she’d picked up from her human roommate, as she jabbed impatiently at the elevator call button.

“Come on, come on,” she muttered, tapping her foot. For a fleeting second, the thought of simply teleporting upstairs crossed her mind, but she dismissed it just as quickly. Blending in meant no flashy displays, no revealing her true nature.

When the elevator finally dinged open, she stepped inside, pressing the button for the twentieth floor. Just as the doors began to close, they hissed open again, and a tall, imposing figure in black stepped in. Nandini’s eyes darted up, taking in his striking features, the ivory skin stark against the dark fabric. He was handsome, undeniably so, but her focus quickly shifted to the watch on her wrist. Ten minutes late. Her internal monologue of self-reproach was abruptly cut off as the elevator began its ascent. And then, it hit her.

A scent. A rich, potent aroma that made her senses swim. It was blood, yes, but unlike any she had ever encountered. It filled the small, enclosed space, overwhelming her, calling to the deepest, most primal part of her being. Her grip tightened on her bag, her knuckles white. Blood. Blood. The thought pulsed through her mind, a relentless drumbeat. She fought it, fought the urge to lunge, to taste, but her body had a will of its own. Before she even fully registered her actions, she was standing a single step behind him, her fangs already elongating, a dangerous hunger consuming her.