Only Sera felt the weight of the wrongness. Only Sera saw the truth behind the smiles, the hunger in his eyes, the spell woven so tightly no one else even sensed its chains.
And as William moved among them, claiming hearts and bodies with his touch, his smile, his whispered words - the fire of his charm burned through the room, leaving only Sera untouched.
Her heart raced as he approached, the rhythm wild, unsteady - like drums beating for a battle she hadn't chosen. Every step he took toward her seemed to heat the air, to thicken it, to pull at the threads of her control.
His naked form, his confident stride, the glow of his skin - it all filled her vision. His scent reached her first: warm, musky, intoxicating, like something forbidden, something primal.
And with it came thoughts she didn't want.
What would it feel like… to be in those arms?
What would his skin feel like, burning against mine?
What would his mouth taste like on my neck, on my lips… lower?
Her breath hitched, her body betraying her as heat bloomed low in her belly, as her thighs pressed together with a need she hadn't asked for, hadn't welcomed. Her skin tingled, her pulse roared in her ears.
And still he came closer, his smile gentle, inviting - the smile of a man who promised pleasure, who offered safety and sin in the same breath.
Her body screamed at her to move forward, to let go, to fall into him as the others had. Her hands trembled at her sides, fingers itching to reach out, to feel the strength in his arms, the heat of his chest.
She wanted it.
God, she wanted it.
And that terrified her most of all.
He opened his arms, his eyes soft, as if he was offering salvation, as if this was the moment she was meant for.
Her body leaned - just the smallest tilt - and her breath caught in her throat, caught between longing and fear.
One step more… just one step…
But then, like a lightning strike through her haze, her mind snapped back.
NO.
Her heart pounded with new purpose.
She felt the wrongness like ice water pouring down her spine. The illusion cracked, and behind his smile, she saw it - the predator, the hunger, the trap.
And just as his arms would have closed around her, she stepped back.
Small.
Firm.
Refusing.
And in that moment, Sera knew - she had done what no one else had. She had seen the truth… and survived his touch.
A small movement - but it rippled through him like a shock. His smile didn't falter, but his eyes narrowed for just a heartbeat. How?
No woman resisted him. No woman ever pulled away.
But he stayed smooth, stayed calm. He moved past her, as if her refusal meant nothing, though inside his mind turned, curious, intrigued.
He reached Nancy, and she, like the others, rose into his embrace with joy, his hands claiming her as easily as the air he breathed.
And all the while, Sera watched, her skin cold with unease. Why can't they see?
When he finished his speech, William stood tall, his voice rich with promise.
"And remember, my dears… should you ever find yourselves struggling with your duties - don't think of quitting. There is always another way to please me, to stay." His smile widened, wicked and warm. "Simply let me fuck you, make me happy, be my woman - and all will be well."
The room burst into claps, cheers, laughter - as if he'd offered them the sweetest deal. Like they enjoyed hearing it from him.
Sera sat stunned, frozen, her mind a storm of disbelief. Is no one hearing what I'm hearing?
The hours dragged. There was no work - just time to "adjust," as they called it. But Sera could not adjust to this nightmare in disguise.
Needing air, needing space, she slipped into the ladies' room, leaned on the sink, tried to steady her shaking hands.
The door opened.
William entered, dressed now at last. His presence filled the room, the air growing heavy as he stepped behind her.
His arms wrapped around her waist, firm, commanding - pulling her back until she felt the hard wall of his chest, the heat of him seeping through her thin blouse, branding her, claiming her.
His hands rose, slow at first, as if savoring every inch, until they found her chest - bold, possessive, his fingers spreading wide, cupping the softness as if it belonged to him, as if he had every right.
Sera's body stiffened, but traitorously, her skin shivered beneath his touch. Her heart pounded in her ears, loud enough she thought the whole office might hear.
His breath came warm, almost tender, as he lowered his lips beside her ear. The sweetness of it was a lie - beneath it, she felt the coiled hunger, the dark pull of something not human, not kind.
"You are a vampire, aren't you?"
The words were a caress and a blade, soft yet sharp, curious yet dangerous.
"How do you hide your aura so well?"
His whisper slid down her spine like silk and ice.
Sera's breath stopped - caught in her throat like a scream she couldn't voice.
Vampire?
Her mind raced. No, no - I'm not… But even as she denied it, fear wrapped around her tighter than his arms. Because in his voice, in that dark edge of knowing, she heard something terrifying:
He wasn't guessing.
He wasn't asking.
He believed it.
And if he believed it, if he saw her as one of his kind - what would he do next?
His hands lingered, his thumbs brushing slow, lazy circles that made her knees weak despite the terror in her veins.
She wanted to pull away - to run, to hide. But his grip was steel beneath velvet, holding her firm, holding her his.
Sera's mind screamed, Don't give in! Don't fall under his spell!
And somewhere deep, deeper than fear, deeper than desire, a strength flickered.
She took a shaky breath, trying to find her voice, trying to steady the storm inside.
"Y-you're mistaken…" she whispered, though the words sounded hollow even to her.
William's lips curved into a smile against her skin - she felt it, felt the dark amusement, the thrill of the game.
"Am I?" he breathed. "Then why do you resist me, little one? Why do you see what no one else can?"
His hands began to slide lower -
-and just then, Sera gathered her will, the last of it, and jerked free.
She stumbled forward, heart racing, breath ragged, turning to face him.
His eyes gleamed - not with anger, but with interest. With hunger. With the promise that this was far from over.
And Sera, trembling, knew the game had only just begun. And now she began to suspect the truth:
William Moro wasn't just a predator of women.
He was something far older. Far darker.
And for the first time, Sera felt true danger - and knew she was standing at the edge of something she didn't yet understand.
But most importantly why am I thinking like I'm watching someone else's story…?