AN: Thank you for a wonderful feedback. Please, enjoy this update :)

Big thanks to keiman and kei for beta-reading for me.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters.

Chapter 4

Hello You

EPOV

I quickly closed a folder I was holding when the door to my office opened and Pam walked in, scowl firmly on her face.

"He is bad for business," she hissed. I didn't have to ask whom she meant. "We are supposed to be unapproachable and intimidating and this asshole is telling fucking knock-knock jokes!"

I refrained from rolling my eyes. Pam's hatred directed at Ben Flynn was deep and raging. If I had to be honest - it was not so trivial a problem. Many times I've noticed her trying to rile him up, simply by acting rude and disrespecting her elder. My child's actions were making me more and more agitated. So far, Flynn was ignoring Pam's attempts to humiliate him, but I knew it wouldn't last forever. Two days ago she stopped him and demanded from the older vampire that he "properly entertain a particularly generous patron".

Before Ben jumped at her and killed my only child, I called Pam to myself and ordered her to apologize. Suggesting to a vampire that he act like a free consort for a fangbanger was, in my opinion, this thin line that would send our bartender off on a killing spree. I didn't like him and the fact that he had disrespected me not registering at the time, I had to be honest with myself- Ben Flynn was not trying to step out of line while he was serving at my bar. He followed orders, mixed drinks and called me Sheriff while bowing. He didn't brag that he had fooled me and as far as I noticed, he has tried to become almost invisible.

Fangtasia has been open for three weeks and the popularity of the establishment was beyond my wildest dreams. Every night the line of patrons waiting for an entrance ended at the end of the block. Tourists and vampire fans (as the fangbangers called themselves) proved themselves to be a real gold mine.

Ben Flynn has been working for me just as I ordered him to. I was watching him carefully, but as I said before, he was silent, humble and efficient. He was good at mixing drinks and entertaining customers. Hence, he was doing it in a style that was angering Pam, but he was trying nonetheless. Ben Flynn was acting so human that most of our customers thought him to be one. I had my fans who were worshipping me for my looks (obviously); Pam had hers who cherished her dismissing mannerism and some were in love with Flynn. He was offering a smile and a flirt to almost everyone, easing nervous humans. When someone was a newbie at my vampire bar, he or she usually ended up next to him at some point – and they always came back later.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong with him though and other vampires clearly shared my opinion. They were avoiding coming closer to him and were acting cautiously around Ben. True, it wasn't unusual behavior for vampires to be careful with someone new to them, but it was almost like they were afraid to approach him. The only exception was Thalia, but she had always been an eccentric. I caught her once whispering with Flynn in Greek - they were speaking very quietly and very fast. Fast and quiet enough for me to be having problems with understanding what they were saying.

"Pam," I said patiently standing up and putting on a suit jacket, "leave him be and please, try to ignore him."

"I can't - he pisses me off!"

"Pam!" I growled at her and she jerked a little. "I am heading out and if he gets pissed off, you're on your own. I warned you – we know nothing about him except the fact that he is older and stronger than me. So, obviously, he is far more powerful than you. He's been acting immaculately and submitting to your provocations, but you never know... As far as I'm concerned, he can snap at one point and go off on a killing spree. You saw Thalia doing this a couple of times." My child lowered her gaze, no doubt remembering how unpredictable some ancients can be. "I know that you want to believe that I am invincible, my child, but please, be cautious. If you anger Flynn and he attacks you, I'll have to rush to help you out and then…" I shrugged and watched Pam's eyes filling with fear.

"I will restrain myself, Master," she vowed.

"Good," I said and slicked back my hair. Pam had cut it a few days ago and I had to admit that the look suited me. Short hair also suited my case.

"May I ask why you are… wearing those?" my child murmured when I put the glasses on my nose. I smirked and turned to her.

"Looking human?" I waggled my eyebrows and my child smirked.

"Like a hot professor looking for a student to spank. Had no idea that you were into such a kink..." Pam teased and I snorted.

"I have some business to attend to. Close the bar…"

"Well, have fun!" Pam told me when I passed her. I had given her one more smirk before I ran out and hit the sky.

I had a pet to meet.

"Mister Erikson?" I looked up from a newspaper and smiled at the young woman who was watching me with awe. She was somehow pretty with gentle features and big dark eyes standing out from her almost milky skin. I would gladly fuck her later if I wasn't on this mission.

"Yes, Miss…?"

"Willa." She cleared her throat. "Willa Burrell, sir. Miss Stackhouse will be with you in a moment. Please, follow me."

I stood up and gave her one more smile, causing the blood to run to her cheeks. She was quite lovely indeed.

"Not a problem. I am grateful that she was able to meet me at this hour. I understand that not many businesswomen stay at work as late as eight," I offered, adding some of my accent and following the girl down the hall.

"Oh no… Miss Stackhouse works late very often." She shook her head, laughing quietly. "I swear she almost doesn't sleep."

If Ben fucking Flynn has been feeding her his blood for the last fifteen years, it's quite possible. I thought bitterly.

The records that I had found on Sookie Stackhouse were very few, although I learned a couple of interesting things. First, she was a vice-president of a company called 'Bring Antics'. Why someone would have called a company this name I had no clue, but this somehow ridiculously sounding firm was holding a power over several businesses across the states of Louisiana and Texas. They owned a few restaurants, many apartment and office buildings and a big part of the docks. The company was known for keeping their investors identities' secret. I could have smelled Supes from a mile away. 'Bring Antics' was only a small fraction of a giant corporation called 'Sky Enterprises' which was as powerful as it was secretive. Wherever my people went to gather some intel on 'Sky Enterprises', they were stopped by a stock of confidentiality agreements and threats of law suits. To sum it up, Ruben had found out flying shit about it and it only strengthened my belief that Ben Flynn is even more powerful that he seems. It was clear to me that all the businesses were owned by him while Sookie Stackhouse and other faceless pawns were just a trick designed to fool humans.

I had spent many nights thinking of how to approach Flynn's pet. When I learned that she is mostly left on her own – running a successful business at the age of twenty two - I started to doubt her pet status. She was something more than just eye candy and definitely more than a brainless slave. I had heard about vampires that were spending years on training a perfect companion for themselves. They were picking a human and teaching him everything that the Master would find useful. If the information that I had received from Ruben was correct, Ben Flynn had appeared in Sookie's life over fifteen years ago. Plenty of time to train an obedient machine for his services.

Something in this situation made me angry... No, actually, it made me furious. The fact that Ben had taken a hold on a child and had programmed her to his own desires made me want to stake him on the spot. Even though Sookie Stackhouse was a cheerful and happy young lady (at least according to Bon Temps residents), I knew it to be an illusion. She knew no freedom, hence, she was unable to taste any true happiness.

When she was eight, her parents and brother had moved to Pennsylvania. Her custody was handed to her grandmother and the woman was supported by her distant relative – Mister Benjamin Flynn. He was listed as a cousin of Michelle Stackhouse, Sookie's mother. He moved to the States from England shortly after the Stackhouses had relocated. I checked out Benjamin Flynn and I was impressed by the meticulousness with which the documents were forged. He was good at hiding his tracks.

Sookie has been living with him officially since she had turned eighteen, taking over her parents' residence. The house was not only warded by magic, but also equipped with a high tech security system. The girl was in possession of many nice things, two cars and a bank account with several zeros on her bank statement. She was treated like a princess. I had already tried approaching her grandmother, but the woman's house was guarded and Adele Stackhouse rarely left her house at night. Last week, I sent Alcide Herveaux to check her house, but the werewolf was stopped at the edge of her property by no one else but Hot Shot's werepanthers. Obviously, and it's a quote: "Miss Stackhouse doesn't like ramblers on her land."

The wolf had no other recourse except to apologize that he had accidentally trespassed and turned back. To say that I was furious would have been an understatement. I wanted to smash something when I realized that I can't get closer to the girl or any of her relatives.

My plan was simple, truly – approach Sookie at her workplace pretending to be a human investor, glamor her into doubting Ben and plant an idea of chasing me. Her interest in me will develop slowly, without any suspicious behavior which might have angered her Master.

I was giving her a month. In a month's time, all that Sookie Stackhouse would be thinking of would be me.

Miss Burrell gestured for me to sit in the elegant waiting room, but I couldn't have any of it. I caught her eyes in the glamor and asked to be allowed inside Sookie's office. Willa, unsurprisingly agreed.

I smiled when the girl opened the door and invited me to walk in. She offered me refreshments and I politely declined, looking around Sookie's office. It was just like her – bright and lightly colored. I took an offered seat and focused my attention on the photographs sitting on Sookie's desk. One showed her and her grandmother sitting in the garden while the second made me snicker. It was a picture of her and Ben Flynn standing in front of a fireplace. The vampire was embracing the girl and she had her head tilted, looking up at him with eyes full of almost childish adoration. I barely refrained from throwing the offensive piece of décor at the wall.

I turned when I heard a distant click of heels moving closer to the office. I also could have smelled a gentle scent of Sookie Stackhouse and I smirked. She stopped in the hall, speaking to her assistant.

"Who's waiting?"

"Mister Leif Erikson, this Swedish guy, I told you about that kept calling. Some really big investment…"

"Couldn't Claude take care of him?" Sookie asked and she sounded almost annoyed.

"He insisted on you…"

"Fine," Sookie said. "And Willa?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"That's the last time that you allow someone into my office while I'm not here. Do it again and I will ship you back to the idiot that you called a father."

"But Miss…"

"In pieces," Sookie growled and I raised an eyebrow. Look at this – the Southern Belle can be a real bitch.

"I apologize…" Willa whispered and the scent of her fear could be smelled even in the office.

Another piece of a puzzle called Sookie Stackhouse was in place.

I stood up when the door opened and the object of my obsession walked in. And what an object it was! The tight white dress had no cleavage and was reaching few inches below her knees. Truly, it was a poor attempt to hide her figure. The material of the dress was fitting her like a glove, making her full breasts and curvy hips perfectly visible.

Sookie hesitated for a fraction of second in the entrance and I noticed her eyes roaming over my body quickly. Something appeared in her eyes and disappeared immediately. Was it shock?

"Good evening, Mister Erikson," she greeted, offering me a soft smile and moving closer to me. I was almost embarrassed of the way I was watching her. I was sure that my eyes were hungrily evaluating her and the tightness in my pants would be no doubt visible in a moment. We have to sit down as quickly as possible.

"Miss Stackhouse," I gave her a smile of my own, outstretching hand to greet her. Not typical behavior for a vampire, but one – she thought that I was a human and two – I desperately wanted to touch her. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

When I touched her small warm hand, I swear that I felt an electric shock running through my body.

"Oh no," she whispered, her eyes shining. "The pleasure is all mine." Her statement, somehow cryptic, sent a satisfying shiver over my body. Sookie passed me, her body so close to mine that her hip brushed me gently. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked, stopping at the bar and taking out two glasses.

"No thank you, Miss Stackhouse."

"Never mind…" she murmured. "I haven't anything for you." Sookie turned and smiled broadly. "I believe that you have an offer to make to me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and I nodded. I focused on her eyes, willing my glamor to move to her, but… Nothing happened. Her eyes didn't become glassy or unfocused. She was just watching me with a challenging gaze. I tried again, but again- nothing! Is it possible that Ben Flynn had done something to make his pet immune to glamor?

I needed to regroup. I needed to buy some time.

"Yes, my company is interested in purchasing a few acres along the Eastern part of the docks," I said smoothly, hiding my surprise.

"Your company… 'NE Norr Holdings'? Swedish?" She tilted her head and licked her lips.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that somehow she knew…

"Do you have something against doing business with foreigners?" I asked, trying to decide what to do with her.

"I have nothing against working with foreigners, but I have plenty against working with liars."

"Excuse me?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow and challenging her. Miss Stackhouse took a sip of her drink and walked behind her desk. My gaze was fixed on her hypnotically moving hips. I forced myself to focus on her face and I was slightly taken aback by the almost excited smile that she was wearing.

"I can tell that Ben doesn't like you. Oh boy, he definitely doesn't! I just wasn't aware that the feeling is mutual, Sheriff Northman."

Well, fuck. I saw no reason to carry on my charade.

"It's puzzling. You're the first pet I have ever met who seemed to be so… well-informed. Not even mentioning – immune to glamor – Ben's doing I assume? Did Flynn tell you about me?" I took off my glasses and put them on her desk.

"Told me, shown me… My father doesn't like being unprepared. He will find it highly amusing that you decided to pose as a human just to get closer to me." She sat at the desk directly in front of me. When she crossed her legs, her dress moved up just a little, showing her very shapely knees." Why would you even want to get closer to me?" she whispered, tilting her head and smiling.

I could hear that she was talking, but I couldn't focus on it. I took a deep breath and then one more. What I smelled, it couldn't be…

I swear that she smelled innocent… A fucking virgin.

"Mister Northman?" she asked, a bit of anxiety visible on her face this time. It was my time to smirk devilishly.

Ben Flynn had appeared as a guardian in her life when she was eight. He hadn't posed though – he TRULY had helped to raise her. She called him her father. She had her job and freedom to order weres around and to run a company. Finally, he didn't fuck her… I bet he didn't feed on her either.

I stood up and moved in front of her at vampire speed. She gasped quietly when I appeared in front of her. Now that I was standing, she had to tilt her head back to look at my face. Sookie was surprised but not scared. Of course she wasn't – she had the protection of a powerful vampire. A vampire that clearly was treating her like a daughter.

A daughter, not a lover.

"Because I was intrigued, Miss Stackhouse," I whispered, leaning closer to her. It didn't escape my attention that her breath accelerated. "I saw you and I wanted you."

She gulped audibly but remained calm. "I will have to tell Ben of your little visit," she threatened me quietly.

"Now, why would you do that? Am I doing something wrong?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow. Sookie gritted her teeth.

"I am under his protection and you have no right to approach me and…"

"Now, that's pure bullshit." I laughed. "We both know that you are not claimed."

"I am his and…"

"You are not!" I growled. She was not his and he had no right to call her his. Ben can pamper her and hold her as a human man would hold his child, but he had no claim over this little angel.

"I think that you should leave!" Sookie hissed at me, standing up and taking a defiant step forward. Her body was almost completely touching me and I was sure that she was able to feel my arousal. The blush that appeared on her cheeks was a testimony to this.

"You are probably correct…" I smiled and reached for her hand. I didn't leave her gaze when I raised it and planted a lingering kiss on her wrist. "I am looking forward to seeing you again."

"We will be not seeing each other again," Sookie growled angrily.

"Oh, but we will." I gave her one more kiss, this time on her palm and turned around to leave.

I couldn't tell how I knew it but I did – I knew that she would say nothing to Flynn. Not only will she not say anything, but soon, she will be mine.

AN: I'll explain Sookie/Willa situation in chapter 5. Also, next time you can count on some Pam/Warlow interaction.

So, what do you think? How did Eric do? Please, leave a review and let me know what you think.