Shay spun the globe.

And... nothing bad happened because--

The door opened, so as a matter of course, Shay awkwardly skipped back to the couch, sitting down with her hands in her lap.

Real smooth.

Tyvan stepped into the office... walked toward the globe and stopped its spinning. Then, he reached down to twist something before sitting at his desk-- tightening a screw, maybe?

“Sorry,” Shay said with a shy smile.

Tyvan gave a slow and thoughtful nod, “I’m pleased to see you are well, Miss Yan.”

Was he? He didn’t look pleased.

Well... maybe the side of his lip was curled up-- just a little bit? It was cute, of course. It suited his mature demeanor. It wasn’t anything like a smile, though--

Or... was it?

“Did you bring your resume?” he asked.

“Uh.”

She did not. She wasn’t actually looking for a job. She just came to give Tyvan his snake pin back.

--err... and also to hunt for vampires, but mostly to return the pin.

But... saying any of that out loud leaned more toward ‘saying something stupid’ than ‘saying something smart’ or... saying nothing at all.

Shay twirled her right ponytail with her finger... “So... um-- the truth is--”

The back door opened again, Raia entering, carrying a tray. She placed one drink on the desk then a plate of cookies and a second drink on the coffee table.

Shay stared at her drink: brown and milky.

It wasn’t tea like she asked for.

It was coffee.

...That. bitch.

“Refreshments are served~!” Raia sang.

She ran her hand up Tyvan’s arm, adding, “Thank you SO much for buying me lunch, Boss. And you even got the DeLuXe toppings for me? MmmMm, the flavored egg was soOo good!!”

She even turned up her nose, looking down at Shay with a smug, arrogant expression.

“I’m glad,” Tyvan said simply. “Thank you, Briar Rose. Leave us for now.”

“Got it, Boss.”

Raia left the room, but not before shooting one last glare at Shay as she closed the door.

Shay stood up and leaned over the desk.

“I need this job and you need me,” she declared.

Tyvan leaned back slightly, “Is... that so?”

“It is so,” Shay nodded.

Tyvan narrowed his eyes-- just a tiny bit.

“I’d like to ask about your home life,” he said.

Shay giggled awkwardly.

There was nothing good to say.

Her mom had passed away. Her dad had to move because of work-- and she made the stupid decision of not moving with him.

Her aunt and uncle... it hadn’t gotten worse over the years, but it certainly hadn’t gotten better.

She half-stood up, balling her fists, “I-- I don’t wanna talk about it.”

She didn’t notice when, but Tyvan had walked around and to her side. He sat down on the couch, gesturing to the cushion beside him.

Shay heard the ‘boof’ing sound of her heart pounding in her ears as her legs went weak and she plopped down.

--or was she supposed to sit on the floor?

N-no! Tyvan clearly pointed out the spot right next to him!

She sat back on the couch.

She scooted away so she could breathe properly.

Tyvan grabbed her iced coffee and offered it to her.

Shay didn’t want to accept it. Girls were supposed to like coffee. She did not. But looking into those hazel eyes, she felt obligated to... at least try it.

She braced herself... and took a sip.

And...

“This... is actually really good?”

“It’s different from usual coffee,” Tyvan said, sipping his own glass. “Cold brew. Less acidic.”

Shay took a longer drink. The coffee taste was still there, but it seemed to add to the flavor, not detract from it.

“It’s sweet, too...”

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“I had Briar Rose mix yours to how she prefers it,” Tyvan nodded. “It seems you have similar palates.”

Shay made a face. She didn’t want to have anything in common with that woman.

--not that she’d mind being more confident.

--or dressing however she liked without worrying about what anyone would say.

--or getting a few cool piercings and tattoos.

Tyvan sat against the back of the couch, crossing his legs-- ankle over knee. The bottom of his pants slid up to reveal his ankle.

OoOh. Scandalous.

His dark socks looked really soft (and were probably really expensive.) She wanted to touch the fabric-- but she kept that sinful desire to herself.

Shay sat back too, crossing her legs to match... bouncing her foot a little bit out of nervousness.

Oh! Tyvan had a cookie. He snapped it in two, offering her half.

--holding it in front of her mouth.

Huh? Was that-- that was... wasn’t that something married couples did? Shay accepted the offer, nibbling on the cookie like a hamster.

It took a few seconds. She was too shy to place her lips too close to his fingers-- but she did end up holding his hand with both of hers. Still, she left a fifth or so of the cookie uneaten. He popped that into his mouth with zero hesitation!

Oh, her heart...

But that gave her brain the strangest thought.

“Have we ever kissed?” she asked-- OUT LOUD.

“No, not to your memory.”

“I’m not trying to be weird!” Shay squeaked, “I just-- I dunno why I asked that!”

Tyvan narrowed his eyes-- definitely and undeniably so.

“Do you have a predilection for kissing every young gentleman you meet?”

“WhAAaaaT?!” Shay said, “No! That-- no! I-- I’ve never kissed anyone before!”

She looked seriously into his hazel eyes, “I’m a virgin.”

Tyvan... stared back... silently... his expression, unchanging.

Shay stood up, “I... ah! I mean--”

She crouched down on the floor, covering her head.

Mission FAILED!

The MISSION to avoid saying something HORRIBLY STUPID was an EXPLOSIVE, VIOLENT, FaiLuRrrrRrre~!

And she was the single casualty.

She was dead.

Dead.

She didn’t even know what she was trying to say!

That-- that she was a kissing virgin? That wasn’t a thing. No one said that like that!

“Worry not,” Tyvan said, trying to assure her. “That has no bearing on the hiring process.”

Shay hid her face in her palms.

She knew that! But still, the thing that she said shouldn't have been blurted out loud!

She grabbed her collar and exposed her neck.

“Kill me. Please.”

Tyvan smiled politely-- and by that, he pursed his lips just a bit.

“I’d rather not,” he said. “You haven’t done anything to deserve it, as of yet.”

He got up, gently grabbing her waist and lifting her back onto the couch.

He sat back down. He fixed her collar for her.

All the while, he said nothing.

Shay felt his care... his compassion. But for some reason, she still felt embarrassed and hurt.

“Why do you want to know about my home life?” she asked.

“You’re desperate,” he said. “Tell me why.”

“I-- I don’t even want this job,” Shay admitted. “I just came-- I only came here to return your pin.”

She fumbled at her bag.

Her vision was getting blurry.

Oh, no-- she was going to cry.

No-- she couldn’t cry... not in front of Tyvan!

A strong, gentle hand covered her own.

“Keep the pin,” he said.

“I can’t,” Shay argued. “It’s important to you, isn’t it?”

She tried to pull away, but he caught her, gently squeezing her hand with his thumb.

Shay shook her head She knew as soon as she looked into Tyvan’s eyes, she’d give up. That was the secret! All she had to do was not look into his gorgeous, mesmerizing, hazel eyes.

But Tyvan--

That wonderful... beautiful... horrible man.

He leaned forward. His lips brushed against her hair. A thousand tiny shocks of electricity ran up and down her spine.

“I must insist,” he whispered into her ear.

“Oh. Okay,” Shay nodded.

She took a deep breath.

His hair or cologne or aftershave... something smelled like cool, clean, earthy sandalwood. It made her thoughts swim in a muddle of everything. And so her stupid mouth sinned again.

“My home life sucks,” she said. “My whole life sucks.

“I don’t have any friends. My relationship with my aunt is pretty much nonexistent. All I do is study or tutor spoiled kids or pick up dog poop or clean the house or clean up my uncle’s messes.”

Shay tried to stand up and walk away, but Tyvan grabbed hold of her wrist.

She turned back.

“I’m useless! There! I said it! And-- and I’m stupid and I talk too much and I don’t know what I really want to do in life!!”

Tyvan raised his chin, “Right now... just for right now, what is it you want?”

Shay’s voice caught in her throat...

“I... I really want to kiss you.”

“I refuse,” Tyvan said. “Second wish, please.”

“Well... I really want to give you your snake pin back.”

“That is non-negotiable,” Tyvan replied, his voice and gaze slightly sharper than before.

“And why is that?!” Shay snapped.

“That is... because all of my employees are to wear a pin,” Tyvan explained. “It’s appropriate. Please accept it.”

Oh.

Shay sat back down.

“...So I can work here? For you? M-mister Tyvan?”

Oh, she did not like the sound of ‘Mister Tyvan.’

Eggghhh.... But it just didn’t seem right to just call his name so casually!

“You may continue referring to me as Tyvan,” he said. “You start on Monday. Bring two forms of identification.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Also... keep private, that you informed me of your chastity.”