Leery Stares

True to his words, the driver rang my doorbell at eight and false to my sayings, I was dressed and ready to get this over with.

I was actually stoked to see how this would turn out and then I would go back to cursing and hating him.

My pepper spray was safely tucked in my purse and my nunchucks were strapped to my back.

Just kidding about the nunchucks

I locked my apartment door and followed the driver and slipped into the car through the door he held open, the leather seat feeling cool against my clammy skin.

I hated it but I had no choice. At least I got to eat the free food. And he hadn't commanded me to be mannerly.

The driver started the car and I felt my stomach roll alongside the tyres as memories of the last stunt he had pulled came flooding into my mind.

The man he had brought me to meet was old enough to be my father in the human sense and his eyes didn't go off my breast for the whole of the sordid dinner.

His eyes had looked like pincers and every time he had smiled, I literally had to hold my breath to keep from puking on him. Yep, none of that fancy Cinderella shit.

"Miss, we're here", the driver announced and my gaze snapped up to study my surroundings. He was right.

A valet was coming towards the car and I got that as my cue to step out. I hauled in a deep breath, praying to the stars that someone didn't get murdered this night.

I smoothened my dress as the valet smiled at me. I looked around the street, noting it was the popular street that was lined up with the fancy class restaurants.

Of course, anything for my sperm donor to show off.

I had never been to a place like this and I squeezed my hands against my sides, staving off my insecurity.

Thankfully, I had covered my tattoos with this long ass dress. Wouldn't want daddy dearest to keel over staring at the demons on my skin.

I took a bold step into the crowded restaurant, dodging people passing through.

Wow, crowded was an understatement to what I was seeing. The place was stacked full, I had no chance of finding them on my own.

A waiter walked up to me, with a smile highlighting his face. "Good evening, miss. I'm afraid all our down floor tables are full".

Great, I sighed.

"I believe I already have a reservation", I said, glancing around.

"Ohh", the waiter mouthed, proceeding to look around with me before saying, "If I could just have the name under which you're booked".

I gritted my teeth. I hated calling his name. "Earl Langford".

The waiter's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, Miss Carmichael. Your guests have been expecting you".

With that, he led the way, not looking back to see if I was following.

We passed by people, the ones laughing together, the ones grimacing over their meal, the ones looking like they wanted to be anywhere else. I guess I fit into that category perfectly.

The waiter led me through past a demarcation and into a dimly lit and sensual cove. The kind of setting you see in romantic movies, the ones with the haloing lights and a hanging chandelier glittering as a centerpiece. It was breathtaking.

Then the stomach roll came when I realized why I was here.

I spotted my father's unruly mop of dark hair before the waiter glided down the row where their table was.

I took my time behind the young lad, studying the prospect I was about to face. My father was dressed in one of his absolutely ridiculous trench coat suits.

He smiled at something his companion said, the smile ending at the tilt of his lips. My father never genuinely smiled and all he ever did was for show.

We reached them and my father's eyes snapped up, his blue irises taking in what I was wearing.

Of course, I wouldn't disgrace you, papa dearest. I wouldn't want to end up dead.

"Miss Carmichael", the waiter announced me and I felt like clubbing him at the back of the head.

No, correction, I felt like clubbing them all and running away into the night.

I didn't like the chilliness creeping up my skin. I didn't like my father's companion:s eyes either. He was staring at me like I was his next meal.

Typical, I thought and stared down at him in disgust, wondering if this was all worth it. Was this unsalvageable relationship worth this senile assessment and demeaning looks?

My father stood, probably thinking I looked okay to be introduced. He pulled out the chair between him and his friend, his eyes telling me not to disgrace him.

I sat with clenched fists and ratted off my order to the waiter. I stared at my father as the silence took over our table.

In his eyes, I saw every reason my mother fell for him. The dark brooding look was always every girl's fantasy. But you could have done better than this, Ma.

"Alan, this is Sacha. Sacha, Alan", my sperm donor introduced.

The creep didn't have a bad name, surprisingly.

With that, I turned to him, maintaining my blank stare as I assessed his features.

His green eyes twinkled and I wondered what was amusing.

Did I look funny?

"Nice to meet you, Sacha", Alan smiled, exposing his fangs. Of course, he was a vampire. Why had I expected something else?

"I've heard a lot", he said sensually and I stifled the urge to wretch. Well, I can't say the same, bozo.

Gosh, I really wished I was anywhere else. I could foretell that this was going to be a very long night.

Very long.

"Alan is from the fifth house of pure blood", my father cut in with that piece of information.

Undoubtedly, it was always about status for him.

Not surprised in the least. Like I cared.

"Oh how nice", I said, sarcastically as the waiter came back with our orders.

My plate of grilled salmon and Dill sauce was placed in front of me. The spring rolls were placed at the center of the table along with the bread.

When the setup was finished, the waiter left as quietly as he came.

My stomach groaned with hunger and I dug in immediately, not caring about the opinion of the two men facing me.

I had stressed baked and I hadn't eaten a lick of it.

I looked up after a minute to find the two men watching me, one in disgust (my father of course) and the other one in leery silence.

I dropped the spoon when I knew I was satisfied.

Truth be told, I was done being a spectacle.

They could both go to hell.

I pushed back my chair and I felt my father's eyes widen.

"I would like to use the lady's room", I said with a smile, clinging onto my purse like it was a lifeline.

My father nodded and I smiled in response as I lifted myself off the seat and ventured in the direction that I thought looked like where the restroom would be.

My neck pricked as I walked past the tables.

Someone was watching me. I had sensed it from the first time I had slipped into dad's table.

I held the taser tightly as I found the bathroom door signs.

I opened the door and stepped in, taking in a deep breath as I closed the door behind me.

I needed out of here, I thought to myself as I stared into the mirror.

I needed to come up with something that would make him not want to see me again. The shit was getting out of control.

And maybe I shouldn't have dyed my hair blue...it was probably causing all these problems.

The highlight contrasted so badly against my bland brown eyes. The silver piercing on my nose glinted in the light and I smoothed a finger over it.

I had to get out there and face the music and for my stalker...I would talk to Kane about it.

"Get yourself together. Don't let him control you", I said to myself.

I took in a breath, reapplied my gloss and went back to the table.

I sat back down, my senile smile in place.

"Alan", I said with a false cheery voice. "I'm not sure daddy dearest told you of my strong revulsion for the vampire race".

Alan's eyes widened as his glance went from me to my dad who was probably steaming by my side. I refused to face him though.

"But you're a dhampir", Alan said, his surprise slipping out with his tone.

"She is", my father said immediately, "and she will undergo the change".

"I don't plan on doing that so don't get your hopes up", I winked at Alan. My father faked a laugh, "She was always bad at making jokes".

I felt his glare and I shrugged, hiding my smile behind my innocent expression.

I took a sip of soup that had arrived as I had come from the restroom. Eewwww.. onion dip?

The silence settled and I knew the seed of doubt had settled in Alan's head. At least, the leery glare at my chest had stopped.

I cleared my throat, "I detest blood too and your lot is icky", I waved my hand towards him in a gesture. My father was going to skin me alive now.

"I mean, how old are you?" I blurted out. "Imagine how the sex would be".

Alan's eyes narrowed on me, "I can promise you I won't be lacking in that department".

Eww...Creep

"But I would be most definitely lacking", I countered. "In my head, I would be envisioning you as an old geezer like my sper...dad"

Alan frowned and I knew I was getting somewhere.

I didn't care about the murderous glare from my dad but my neck was still pricking like crazy.

"What?" Alan raged.

"You see", I began shyly, leaning in "I don't think I can 'get it up' with someone of your..", I paused and cleared my throat, "someone of your years".

Alan's face grew red with mortification and he stood abruptly. "I won't stay here and have this chit insult me, Langford".

With that he stalked off and my dad blubbered something under his breath, his face red in embarrassment as he rushed off after his friend.

Well, good riddance, I sighed and leaned back into my seat. I took a sip of the wine, enjoying my hard work.

"I wonder if you'll be able to 'get it up' with me", a sensual voice said and the hairs on my body stood ramrod straight.

I turned in the direction of the voice and my breath caught.

He couldn't be real, was my first thought as I stared into green soulsucking eyes.

"Hmm tongue tied?" "I must have gotten it up then", he winked at me as he leaned down, levelling his face with mine.

He smiled as I tried to kickstart my brain to say something.

His golden brown hair was smoothed back from his face in the known Herculean hairstyle and my words tangled in my mouth.

His nose was pointed to the perfect p and his cheekbones were high against his face and I wondered if I had not somehow dreamed him up.

But then he talked again and I snapped back to my senses.

"I always have that effect on people", he breathed in my ear. "But if I were you, I would be thinking about how to confront the sperm donor".

My eyes widened at his profile as he stood to his full height and walked away.

Fucking hell, my heart rate tripled as I stared at his perky behind.

True to his words, my sperm donor stalked into the cove immediately the mystery man walked out, his face red like a charging bull.

"You", my father raged as he saw me. I stood, ready to face the music.

"If you cost me this alliance, you're going to wish you weren't brought into this world".

I carefully picked up my purse and stared at him.

"I already do that".