A VAMPIRE IN PARIS
“Good Evening, Mr. Ramsey,” Celeste, Braedon’s secretary cooed.
“Celeste, sweetheart, how are you this fine evening?” He smiled, flashing his signature gleaming white teeth. Reaching for her hand, he brought the delicate palm to his lips and gave her a soft kiss.
She giggled. All of twenty-four, blonde, creamy white skin, and light blue eyes, she showed all the qualities Ramsey liked in his women.
“Ramsey, you are such a naughty vamp. Mr. Delaney is expecting you. Go on in.”
“One night you’re going out with me,” he said, turning the knob to Braedon’s office door. He blew her a kiss and winked as he gave her a teasing grin.
She giggled again. “Maybe, maybe not.”
He had tried for two years to get Celeste to go out with him, but her complete dedication remained with one man—Braedon Delaney. On more than one occasion, she expressed to Ramsey she would never go out with any other man. Unfortunately for Celeste, Braedon Delaney married the company and most likely never would take her out. The boss man had told Ramsey as much. Poor Celeste, she’d never get her dream vamp, but he’d promised to be there for her when the pieces of her heart fell apart. Then she’d find her way to his bed. He smiled inwardly knowing, yeah someday. All the young ones eventually fall into my arms.
Tapping on the door first, he hesitantly opened it, “Braedon,” Ramsey said.
“Come in, Ramsey, thanks for getting here quickly. Sorry to disrupt your holiday.” Braedon stood behind his large mahogany wood carved desk.
Ramsey regarded Braedon as a formidable man, standing a few inches over six feet, broad shoulders, bulky thighs and arms, an overall big man. Braedon had no problems defending himself in a fight, hand to hand, or in a sword battle. He was over eight hundred years old, a vampire of ancient years compared to Ramsey, who only turned in the early 1800’s. Ramsey continued to come up with new ways to coerce the exact age out of his boss. Except, no matter how hard he tried to pry it out, Braedon side-stepped the topic.
“Yes, sir, don’t worry. The interruption was a welcome reprieve because I wasn’t doing much. What’s this about, a new assignment?”
“Paris.”
“Really? I thought you wanted me off any jobs outside London for a few more months following last time’s small misunderstanding.”
“I did. But Paris is a short flight compared to Hong Kong or Miami. Are you up to it?”
“Absobloodylootely. Paris I can always handle.”
“Hmm, this is a relatively short assignment to find a kidnapped heiress.” Braedon tossed the dossier across the desk toward Ramsey. “Take this. The file should tell you everything you need to know—addresses, phone numbers, names, your cover, and where you’ll stay during the day.”
“Perfect. When can I leave?”
“Will tonight fit your plans?”
“Not a problem. Who’s the client?”
“The wealthy businessman’s daughter, a young heiress apparently abducted by an alleged cult group leader. According to her father, they have demanded no police involvement or they will kill her. He has hired us because he heard of our special abilities, and he did not mean our investigative skills. We need to quietly take care of this problem. Personally, this sounds more like a bad boyfriend relationship gone sour, but the money pays well, so I took it on and did not ask too many probing questions. That’s your job to get to the bottom of the crime. Find her, bring her home safely, and make everyone happy.”
“Hmm. Sounds like a piece of cake. My fee?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“Euros, Sterling or Dollars?”
“Pounds.”
“Certainly works for me.”
“And, of course, the client is picking up the expense of the round trip flight. Business class.”
“The least they could do at such short notice, right?” A husky, deep chuckle along with a wink to his boss went unappreciated.
“You’re one of my best investigators Ramsey. You also like the young lady detail jobs, so I called you in on this one, reluctantly.”
“Oh thanks, boss. Am I that transparent and a problem for you?” Yes, he was, but Ramsey made no attempts to disguise his weakness for the fairer sex. He loved women and charming them for their blood and sex made for good sport. At any rate, taking these types of assignments made them more interesting. No strings attached made for cleaner breaks when the jobs were complete. Play the role of the knight in shining armor and he’d have the heiress swooning in his arms for one night. Just the way I like my women.
“You be on your best behavior Ramsey. No fraternizing with the clients. I can’t keep bailing you out of trouble with our human clients every time you want to get involved physically with them. As I’ve said, you’re one of my best men, but don’t keep fucking up. Your behavior makes me look bad as well as the company. The last time you had one of these indiscretions, the entire job cost me a week at my summer home on Ibiza for the client and a loss of income.”
“Okay, but that wasn’t my fault Braedon. I think I was set up, or at least you were. They wanted to get a nice vacay out of the deal.”
“Whatever. The incident still cost me. Don’t let another dalliance happen with this human female. Do we have an understanding?”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist boss. I won’t get involved with the young lady, I promise. I’ll rescue her from these so-called kidnappers and be done with her and the family.” He glanced at Braedon with a mischievous look then said, “Do you know if she is a looker, at least?”
Braedon raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t ask the father. Her appearance wasn’t a prerequisite to take the job.”
“Hey, just asking boss.” He snickered. “I’ll be back in a fortnight,” Ramsey said with assurance and a smile.
“Your arrogance is going to get you into trouble one day. Make it a week and no more. This isn’t a holiday trip.”
“You don’t think I could stretch it a tad?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I could take a side trip to the Riviera for a little R and R.”
“No, I highly recommend you don’t test me. You report back here in a week,” Braedon said sternly, lowering his head and returning to paperwork piled on the desk. “You may leave, Ramsey.”
“Celeste, sweetheart, how are you this fine evening?” He smiled, flashing his signature gleaming white teeth. Reaching for her hand, he brought the delicate palm to his lips and gave her a soft kiss.
She giggled. All of twenty-four, blonde, creamy white skin, and light blue eyes, she showed all the qualities Ramsey liked in his women.
“Ramsey, you are such a naughty vamp. Mr. Delaney is expecting you. Go on in.”
“One night you’re going out with me,” he said, turning the knob to Braedon’s office door. He blew her a kiss and winked as he gave her a teasing grin.
She giggled again. “Maybe, maybe not.”
He had tried for two years to get Celeste to go out with him, but her complete dedication remained with one man—Braedon Delaney. On more than one occasion, she expressed to Ramsey she would never go out with any other man. Unfortunately for Celeste, Braedon Delaney married the company and most likely never would take her out. The boss man had told Ramsey as much. Poor Celeste, she’d never get her dream vamp, but he’d promised to be there for her when the pieces of her heart fell apart. Then she’d find her way to his bed. He smiled inwardly knowing, yeah someday. All the young ones eventually fall into my arms.
Tapping on the door first, he hesitantly opened it, “Braedon,” Ramsey said.
“Come in, Ramsey, thanks for getting here quickly. Sorry to disrupt your holiday.” Braedon stood behind his large mahogany wood carved desk.
Ramsey regarded Braedon as a formidable man, standing a few inches over six feet, broad shoulders, bulky thighs and arms, an overall big man. Braedon had no problems defending himself in a fight, hand to hand, or in a sword battle. He was over eight hundred years old, a vampire of ancient years compared to Ramsey, who only turned in the early 1800’s. Ramsey continued to come up with new ways to coerce the exact age out of his boss. Except, no matter how hard he tried to pry it out, Braedon side-stepped the topic.
“Yes, sir, don’t worry. The interruption was a welcome reprieve because I wasn’t doing much. What’s this about, a new assignment?”
“Paris.”
“Really? I thought you wanted me off any jobs outside London for a few more months following last time’s small misunderstanding.”
“I did. But Paris is a short flight compared to Hong Kong or Miami. Are you up to it?”
“Absobloodylootely. Paris I can always handle.”
“Hmm, this is a relatively short assignment to find a kidnapped heiress.” Braedon tossed the dossier across the desk toward Ramsey. “Take this. The file should tell you everything you need to know—addresses, phone numbers, names, your cover, and where you’ll stay during the day.”
“Perfect. When can I leave?”
“Will tonight fit your plans?”
“Not a problem. Who’s the client?”
“The wealthy businessman’s daughter, a young heiress apparently abducted by an alleged cult group leader. According to her father, they have demanded no police involvement or they will kill her. He has hired us because he heard of our special abilities, and he did not mean our investigative skills. We need to quietly take care of this problem. Personally, this sounds more like a bad boyfriend relationship gone sour, but the money pays well, so I took it on and did not ask too many probing questions. That’s your job to get to the bottom of the crime. Find her, bring her home safely, and make everyone happy.”
“Hmm. Sounds like a piece of cake. My fee?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“Euros, Sterling or Dollars?”
“Pounds.”
“Certainly works for me.”
“And, of course, the client is picking up the expense of the round trip flight. Business class.”
“The least they could do at such short notice, right?” A husky, deep chuckle along with a wink to his boss went unappreciated.
“You’re one of my best investigators Ramsey. You also like the young lady detail jobs, so I called you in on this one, reluctantly.”
“Oh thanks, boss. Am I that transparent and a problem for you?” Yes, he was, but Ramsey made no attempts to disguise his weakness for the fairer sex. He loved women and charming them for their blood and sex made for good sport. At any rate, taking these types of assignments made them more interesting. No strings attached made for cleaner breaks when the jobs were complete. Play the role of the knight in shining armor and he’d have the heiress swooning in his arms for one night. Just the way I like my women.
“You be on your best behavior Ramsey. No fraternizing with the clients. I can’t keep bailing you out of trouble with our human clients every time you want to get involved physically with them. As I’ve said, you’re one of my best men, but don’t keep fucking up. Your behavior makes me look bad as well as the company. The last time you had one of these indiscretions, the entire job cost me a week at my summer home on Ibiza for the client and a loss of income.”
“Okay, but that wasn’t my fault Braedon. I think I was set up, or at least you were. They wanted to get a nice vacay out of the deal.”
“Whatever. The incident still cost me. Don’t let another dalliance happen with this human female. Do we have an understanding?”
“Don’t get your knickers in a twist boss. I won’t get involved with the young lady, I promise. I’ll rescue her from these so-called kidnappers and be done with her and the family.” He glanced at Braedon with a mischievous look then said, “Do you know if she is a looker, at least?”
Braedon raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t ask the father. Her appearance wasn’t a prerequisite to take the job.”
“Hey, just asking boss.” He snickered. “I’ll be back in a fortnight,” Ramsey said with assurance and a smile.
“Your arrogance is going to get you into trouble one day. Make it a week and no more. This isn’t a holiday trip.”
“You don’t think I could stretch it a tad?” He wiggled his eyebrows. “I could take a side trip to the Riviera for a little R and R.”
“No, I highly recommend you don’t test me. You report back here in a week,” Braedon said sternly, lowering his head and returning to paperwork piled on the desk. “You may leave, Ramsey.”
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