MY SUGAR MUMMY IS A BEAUTIFUL VAMPIRE

"While that would be awfully satisfying considering he is someone that has connived against our lord, I'd advice against it. Remember, we will only make our presence felt when it's necessary. The rumours as it is around our lord is enough," Randal, more level headed than Gunther stated.

"Hmmm," Gunther groaned, not exactly pleased with the call that Randal made but saw reasoning in it. Despite being blinded by rage and undying thirst for utter destruction of anyone whom crossed Rose's path, he too could recognize that doing nothing equally translated to doing something, sometimes.

Josh stood at Tessa's door with a crate of beer in hand, a casual grin on his face as he greeted her.

"Hey there. Thought I'd swing by and check up on you. You haven't been picking up your calls, and I figured you could use some company." Josh said, entering the house, he exuded an aura of nonchalance, as if he belonged there.

Tessa went to drop the crate of beer on the center table in her living room, shifting her remote controls to create space for the crate. Meanwhile, Josh made himself feel much at home.

He approached her work table, skimming through her papers with feigned interest, his brows furrowing in mild disinterest. With a careless shrug, he made his way to the living room, flicking on the television as if it were his own home.

Feeling relief at his presence, God knows how long she had been waiting for someone to talk to about her recent burdens.

"Josh," she began, her voice tinged with apprehension, "about those men who came to my house..."

But before she could finish her sentence, Josh interrupted her with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"Hey, forget about all that for now," he interjected, his tone light and casual. "Let's just relax and enjoy the evening. Which movie would you like to watch? I'm thinking of a Disney one. How about Frozen?"

Tessa's heart sank as she realized Josh had no intention of entertaining her suspicions. She watched helplessly as he settled onto the couch, his attention already diverted to the television screen.

Tessa watched him with a mixture of frustration and unease, her eyes darting between Josh and the scattered papers on her table. "Josh, please," she implored, her voice tinged with anxiety. "I need you to take this seriously. Those men who came to my house... I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong."

But Josh merely waved off her concerns with a dismissive laugh, his lips curling into a playful smirk. "Relax, Tess. You're just overthinking things," he reassured her, sauntering over to where she stood. With a bold move, he pulled her into his arms, planting a kiss on her lips.

"Trust me, babe. All you need is to unwind a bit," he murmured, his breath warm against her skin. "How about a massage? I can take care of that for you." He winked suggestively, his intentions clear.

Tessa's frustration boiled over as she pushed him away, her eyes flashing with anger. "No, Josh!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with emotion. "I don't want a massage. I don't want to forget about what happened. I need you to listen to me!"

As Tessa tried to voice her concerns, Josh's actions spoke louder than his words. Ignoring her pleas for attention, he continued to pepper her face with kisses, his lips trailing along her jawline as if her worries were mere background noise.

"Josh, stop," Tessa protested weakly, her attempts at resistance faltering under his persistent affection. "This is serious. I need you to listen to me. Those men, I see them almost everyday,"

Josh only chuckled softly, brushing off her concerns with a dismissive remark. "Come on, Tessa," he quipped, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Maybe you should see what's right in front of you, right now," Josh said, referring to himself. But he saw how unimpressed Tessa was with that joke so he had to double back.

"Or maybe you just need to take a break from all this detective work. I mean, seeing therapists is totally normal, right?"

Josh went on, seemingly determined to drown her with his kisses, his hands roaming freely over her body as if seeking to distract her from her thoughts. Squeezing her breasts and her ass like a hungry dog, he was basically exploring her for hidden treasures at that point.

Each touch ignited a conflict within Tessa, torn between her desire for his comfort and her frustration at his dismissive behavior.

With a frustrated sigh, Tessa pushed him away, her eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and hurt. "I said stop," she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "I need you to hear me out."

Josh recoiled slightly at her sudden change in demeanor, his expression shifting from amusement to mild irritation. "Tessa, come on," he protested, his tone tinged with impatience. "All these detective work is starting to get to your head. You're seeing things that aren't there."

His words carried a subtle hint of condescension, bordering on insinuation that she was not in her right senses. But he quickly masked it with a reassuring smile, attempting to smooth over the tension.

"I'm sorry, Tessa," he apologized, his voice softening. "I didn't mean it like that. I just want you to relax and enjoy the moment, you know?"...

... "Why don't we just forget about all of this and focus on us for a while?"

Tessa's heart sank at his words, the weight of her suspicions pressing down on her with renewed force. As Josh leaned in for another kiss, she turned away, her resolve hardening with each passing moment.

She shook her head, her resolve hardening as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Josh, but I really need you to leave. I appreciate your concern, but I'm not in the mood for fun or... anything else."

Josh's expression shifted from annoyance to mild disbelief, as if he half-expected her to cave and take back her words. He hesitated for a moment, then sighed, realizing she was serious.

"But Tess..." he started, his voice trailing off as Tessa pointed at the beer crate he had brought with him.

"Take the beer with you too. Not in the mood for a drink," Tessa said in a firm and unwavering tone.

For a brief moment, Josh looked taken aback, as if he hadn't anticipated this outcome. But then, with a resigned nod, he picked up the crate and headed towards the door.

"Fine," he muttered, his annoyance palpable. "I'll leave. You know where to find me when you need me,"

With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving Tessa alone in her living room.

Tessa stood at the same spot for a minute. "He actually left me?.. he left..." She said to herself.

Frustration boiled over within her, and in a fit of anger, she kicked out at the couch, only to have her toe collide painfully with its wooden frame. She toppled over, clutching her throbbing foot, a string of curses escaping her lips.

"Fuck..fuck...fuck!!!," she muttered to herself, berating herself. Not for allowing Josh to dismiss her concerns.

She hobbled over to the fridge on her one good leg, grabbing a bottle of beer and popping the cap with a sharp hiss. She took long, desperate gulps, the cool liquid offering a fleeting escape from her tumultuous thoughts.

She knew she had just turned down a beer and then proceeded to go get one from her own fridge and in the end, achieving absolutely nothing.

Over the next hour, she drank herself into a stupor, the empty bottles accumulating around her like silent witnesses to her inner turmoil.

As the effects of the alcohol began to blur her senses, doubt crept in. "Perhaps I was too harsh on him," she mumbled to herself, her words slurred with intoxication. "He's going through all of this because of me. Should I call him back?"

Fumbling for her phone, she dialed Josh's number, her heart pounding in her chest with a mixture of hope and trepidation. But there was no answer, only the incessant ringing that echoed in the empty room. Annoyance flared within her, fueling her frustration even further.

"Why do I even bother?"

Her toe throbbed with pain, but it was nothing compared to the ache in her chest as she grappled with the feeling of helplessness that had settled over her like a suffocating shroud.