Chapter four
Gabrielle's POV
I walked down the hall with a stack of documents in my arms, feeling the weight of the day starting to lift. After my little encounter with Matthew drinking blood—blood, for God’s sake!—I was determined to finish my work quietly, without any more surprises. But luck was not on my side.
Just as I rounded the corner near Matthew's office, I heard a heated argument. I paused, recognizing the voices immediately. Julian's sharp, sarcastic tone was unmistakable, as was the deep, controlled fury behind Matthew's.
“You had one job, Julian!” Matthew's voice was a low, menacing growl. I’d never heard him like this before—it sent chills down my spine.
Julian’s laughter echoed, but it sounded forced. “Oh, come on, Matthew. It was just a little oversight. No need to turn into the big bad vampire over it.”
My heart skipped a beat. Julian, what the hell are you doing? The tension in the air was palpable, like a storm about to break. I carefully peeked around the corner, trying to keep out of sight.
Matthew stood behind his desk, eyes glowing with that familiar dangerous crimson hue. He looked ready to tear Julian apart. And Julian—well, he looked like he was either the bravest man alive or the stupidest. He was standing there, arms crossed, with a smirk that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Matthew’s fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white. "You think this is funny?" he hissed.
Julian opened his mouth, probably about to say something witty and reckless. But before he could get the words out, Matthew vanished from behind his desk. In a split second, he reappeared right in front of Julian, inches from his face.
I gasped, nearly dropping the stack of papers in my hands. One moment, he was across the room; the next, he was nose to nose with Julian. I’d never seen anyone move that fast.
Julian flinched, his smirk faltering as he instinctively stepped back, almost stumbling. His confidence wavered for a split second—a rare sight.
"Do you think I’m playing games, Julian?" Matthew's voice was low, barely a whisper, but it cut through the air like a knife. His eyes were a fiery red, a stark contrast to his pale face, and the veins around his eyes pulsed with fury. I’d never seen him look so deadly.
Julian swallowed hard, his bravado crumbling under Matthew's intense gaze. "No, Matthew," he said, his voice strained. "I didn’t mean to—"
"Didn’t mean to what?" Matthew snarled. "Undermine me in front of my employees? Make a mockery of me?"
My hands were shaking as I watched the scene unfold. The air felt thick, almost suffocating. I wanted to step in, to say something, but I was rooted to the spot, terrified of what might happen if I made a sound.
"Matthew," Julian said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. "You know I was just joking. I didn't think—"
"That's your problem, Julian. You never think," Matthew spat. He grabbed Julian by the collar, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. Julian dangled there, his feet a few inches above the floor, like a rag doll in Matthew’s iron grip.
"Matthew, stop!" The words left my mouth before I could think them through.
Both of their heads snapped in my direction. Julian’s eyes widened in shock, and Matthew's expression twisted from rage to something unreadable. He slowly lowered Julian to the ground, but he didn't let go of his collar.
"Gabrielle," Matthew said, his voice icy cold. "What are you doing here?"
I stepped forward, swallowing hard. "I—I was bringing these documents for you," I stammered, holding up the stack as if it were a shield. "And I heard shouting... I thought something was wrong."
Julian, still in Matthew’s grip, gave me a weak smile. "Always the heroine, aren’t you, Gabrielle?"
Matthew shot him a warning look, then released him with a shove. Julian staggered back, straightening his clothes with a wince.
"Get out," Matthew ordered, his eyes still glowing with that eerie crimson light.
Julian hesitated for a moment, glancing at me as if he wanted to say something. Then he gave a curt nod and slipped past me, his usual confident stride looking a bit shakier than usual.
The office fell into silence as Matthew turned his attention back to me. The red glow in his eyes faded slowly, replaced by the usual deep blue. He ran a hand through his hair, looking more human—more vulnerable—than I’d ever seen him.
"What did you hear, Gabrielle?" he asked, his voice softer now but still edged with frustration.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. "I just... heard you arguing," I admitted. "It sounded serious."
He let out a bitter laugh, sinking into his chair. "It was. Julian has a habit of pushing my buttons. Today, he pushed too far."
I nodded, stepping closer and setting the documents on his desk. "I see that," I said carefully. "But you didn't need to... you know, throw him around."
Matthew glanced up at me, the tension in his face easing slightly. "You’re not afraid of me?" he asked, sounding almost surprised.
I bit my lip, considering my answer. "I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t," I admitted. "But I also know you wouldn’t hurt me. At least... not like that."
He stared at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he leaned back, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're braver than most, Gabrielle. Foolishly so, perhaps."
I gave a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "It’s a gift," I quipped, though my heart was still racing.
He chuckled softly, the sound almost pained. "You should stay away from me, Gabrielle. I’m not a good man."
I stepped closer, surprising even myself. "I don’t believe that," I said firmly. "You might be... different. But I don’t think you’re as bad as you want people to believe."
Matthew’s eyes met mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something vulnerable in them. He quickly looked away, taking a deep breath. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Maybe not," I conceded. "But I’m willing to find out."
He looked up at me again, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his gaze. "You really are something else, Miss Gabrielle."
I shrugged, offering a tentative smile. "You hired me, remember?"
Matthew let out a low, tired laugh. "Don’t remind me." He rubbed his temples, the anger from earlier seeming to drain away, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. "Get back to work, Gabrielle. And please... don’t mention what you saw to anyone."
"Your secret’s safe with me," I promised.
I turned to leave, but as I reached the door, I glanced back at him. He was staring at the documents on his desk, but his expression was distant, as if he were a thousand miles away.
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to leave him with a parting word. "Matthew... whatever it is you’re going through, you don’t have to handle it alone."