Primrose stares at herself in the mirror, the blush on her face becomes more visible with each minute passing by. Today is the day that she is attending her company's event with Caleb. The raven head has anticipated this day to come, part of her wants to deny the fact that she is looking forward to this event.
Caleb texts her in the morning, telling her that he is still at the hospital and will return home by 4:00 p.m. The man's schedule is nothing but surgery after surgery stacking on each other, looking at it makes her head spin. Even Lilian, her best friend, is finding herself doing overtime due to a lack of labor.
However, exhaustion doesn't stop the brunette from playfully teasing her about the date she has with Caleb. To that, Primrose immediately denies it, stating that she just follows her advice and that there is nothing between the vampire lord and her. But she is known to be a horrible liar and Lilian can not hold back when it comes to poke fun at her best friend and the budding connection she has with the dashing surgeon, Caleb Vator.
"It's almost 4:00 p.m…" she checks her phone again, no new messages from Caleb "Does this mean…?"
Shaking her head violently, Caleb would never do that. He is a man of his word, a noble and gentleman who would never leave his date hanging. She is just worried too much, that's all…
With each minute passing by, Primrose grips her phone tighter. The little voice inside her head is entertained by the idea that Caleb might do the same thing he did to her years ago, that she is naïve to give him a chance, and that she deserves to be treated like that if she can not learn from her past mistakes.
Covering her ears, Primrose mumbles to herself, saying how none of this is true and that she trusts the young lord, knowing he will keep the promise. She has had the answers she needs, the ones that reflect Caleb's own turmoil when he left her without a word. She is able to see a side of him that she never knew existed and he has shown his efforts to make amends many times. Primrose should not succumb to her anxiety. She should learn to trust him more.
Her phone vibrates with a lively ding rings in the stale air of her apartment. It's Caleb's message…
He will be ready in 15 minutes…
For a brief moment, Primrose feels bad for having such negative thoughts about him. She knows that her guarded heart is trying to help her, it doesn't mean any harm. But how she can go back to that dark place just because Caleb hasn't texted her to follow up with their plan about going to the event together makes the water mage disappointed in herself. She needs to learn to trust him more and trust her choice more…
But now that is settled, she should focus on making herself pretty. She is Azure Rose's assistant after all, or at least, that is how her editor told her to introduce herself. After fighting back and forth about not revealing her true identity as the face behind Azure Rose, her team decides on the idea that she comes to the event as the assistant of the author. Not only does it bring more exposure to her works but also able to answer questions from other peers within the industry. They all want to know who Azure Rose is behind the pen name.
The bell to her apartment rings and the water mage comes to open it immediately, almost too excited to see the person behind this door. Standing in front of her is Caleb wearing a deep maroon suit with a dark tie, his hair is slicked back with a few strands falling down onto his forehead, shiny leather shoes and a watch on his wrist make his appearance even more classy and sophisticated.
Looking at him right now makes her wonder if she is underdressed or he is overdressed...
"Hello there…"
"H-hello…"
Another awkward silence fills the air but Caleb doesn't mind. His silver eyes are staring at the lovely raven head in front of him, admiring the view. Primrose is wearing her blue dress with a ribbon resting on her neck in the shape of a bow, adding a touch of fun to her outfit. Her hair is held in a classic braid with floral pins and just enough makeup that bring out the depth of her beautiful onyx orbs.
"Shall we go now, my lady?"
She nibbles on her bottom lips nervously and accepts his offer, laying her hand on his as Caleb walks them to the elevator to go down to the garage. Despite the silence between them growing louder, the warmth in which they share in a hand-holding gesture is enough to convey the unspoken feelings. Primrose's eyes are on anything but Caleb, her face is painted with a lovely shade of red that almost matches the color of his suit and the vampire almost can not hold back his chuckle.
How adorable…
The ride from their apartment building to the event destination is long yet comfortable. Caleb attempts to break the ice and speaks up about his work at the hospital, how one patient was too scared to the point she almost fainted on the surgical table, how another patient's family member brought him and the staff cookies as a thank you for treating their loved one, how Lilian was teasing him about taking Primrose to the event and many more. His stories capture her attention as she makes small comments about them, particularly about Lilian and her never-ending teasing.
"She should mind her own business…" the raven head mumbles.
"She is just worried about you, you don't find people like her who care more about her friends than herself these days…"
"And you sound like an old man by saying that."
Primrose's comment draws a chuckle out of him. With his eyes still on the road, he smiles.
"Well, I'm technically almost 300 years old, so…" stealing a glance at her surprised face, Caleb continues "It hurts my pride a bit to hear that, but you can call me an old man…"
She stares at him, baffled at the revelation of his age. She knows that vampires are immortal creatures of the night, but to hear his real age coming from him is still a surprise to her. It's not every day that she meets someone who's been alive for almost three centuries.
Almost all supernatural creatures have a long lifespan while living on the same planet as the human. Primrose and her family, while they are considered to be humans, are also mages. The magic bloodline that flows inside blesses them with a longevity life, longer than the average human, probably hundreds of years if they stay healthy.
Then she thinks about and Marlin, despite their youthful appearance, they are already the age where one is considered to have grandkids, and yet, they only seem to get stronger each day. But Lumera never wants anyone to know their age, it's a little secret that she chooses to share only with her pupils. There are times when Marlin suggests the immortal potion to turn themselves into immortal beings but his wife seems to be hesitant at the idea.
The immortal potion is one of the most difficult concoctions of the magic community. Not only the ingredients are hard to find, but the cost to even get their hands on one of the herbs is outrageously high. When Primrose hears about this, she always wonders if it is really worth it to sell a whole fortune just to become immortal.
"We're almost there."
Primrose raises her head, noticing the tall skyscraper in front of them. There is the destination…
Caleb stops the car in front of the grand entrance, immediately drawing the attention of nearby attendees who begin to admire the luxury car and its sophisticated designs. He walks out first, handing the keys to a valet, and walks to Primrose's side. Like a gentleman, he opens the door for her as she gracefully accepts his offered hand.
The moment she steps out of his car, Primrose can hear whispers about them already. The discussion of the handsome man, how refined his suit is, how the car he drives must be worth more than a hundred thousand dollars, and yet, how normal-looking his date is. The raven head immediately is taken back at the not-so-subtle insult, but Caleb knows better and rests his hand on her back, guiding the young mage inside.
His action catches the attention of many, some admire how protective he is, and others are jealous at how Primrose has such a handsome date. None of their words seem to affect him and the raven head realizes that she should also learn his nonchalant way of answering to these reactions.
"It must be a blessing to live hundreds of years, you know how to handle people well."
"Ah, I will take that as a compliment."
Their light banter comes to an end when Primrose's editing lady spots them walking through the door and immediately comes up to them. They exchange a few greetings and she can not help but stare at Caleb, who is wearing the soft and charming smile of a gentleman.
"That is quite an entrance you gave us there, Primrose."
"I'm not happy…" sighing, she pinches the bridge of her nose "Anyway, why are we here again?"
"Aw come on, you're not gonna introduce him to us? Your date is making every head turn everywhere he goes." a lighthearted compliment coming from her editor makes Primrose blush.
"H-he is a…" stealing a glance at Caleb, she mumbles under her breath, just loud enough that the editor and he can hear "He is a family friend."
The editor only gives her a knowing look while the vampire lord nods in agreement. Anything Primrose says is what he will accept as true, for now…
"Come, we have a lot of people waiting for us. They can't wait to see the assistant of the great Azure Rose."
Some come to her and ask about the progress of the new book, praising the author for the amazing work and heart-wrenching masterpieces. Member of different editing teams boldly asks if she knows the face behind the pen name Azure Rose, but she remains professional and tells them to respect the choice of the author to stay out of the spotlight.
Other authors want to meet her and ask how she feels working with a popular writer like Azure Rose, how the working environment feels, and if the author is a strict person when it comes to manuscripts and stuff. They even inquire how Azure Rose draws inspiration and if she is going to venture out into other genres besides romance novels.
Primrose, while acting as the assistant, kindly accepts all questions and answers them with grace. She knows her audiences, how her writing captivates the hearts of many readers, and how each story she writes leaves a strong impression in their minds. She is prideful when it comes to her writing.
The questions then fall onto Caleb and his connection to the author. Many other female authors are mesmerized by his good looks and gentlemen-like behavior, praising him for being so kind and considerate to everyone around him. Upon seeing this, the raven head removes herself from the circle and steps aside, watching the whole scene unfold in front of her.
"You should stay by his side instead of retreating like this."
"What do you mean?" she looks at her lead editor lady, confused at her words.
"Are you acting silly on me, Primrose? Your knitting brows are quite obvious…" pointing at her own brows, the editor continues "He seems to know a lot about Azure Rose but something tells me he doesn't know you are the face behind that pen name."
The raven head nods her head, agreeing with the observation.
"You should steal back your date, Primrose. God knows what will happen if one of those ladies decides to make a move."
The comment is unsettling as she watches her editor join another group, socializing and expanding the reputation of Azure Rose. She admires how open the woman is at talking with everyone, just to bring more exposure to her new book. But the way she talks about Caleb unnerves her as Primrose looks at Caleb, who is still surrounded by all the ladies, something itches in her heart.
She doesn't like what she is looking at right now…
But before she can call out his name, Caleb holds onto her hand when she reaches out, returning to her side in front of many disappointing eyes. It's like he knows exactly what she is thinking and is planning to do the same thing. She can sense jealousy filling the air but Primrose remains calm as she moves away from the crowd, away from all the prying eyes.
"It seems like a lot of people are interested in Azure Moon and her work." Caleb comments "You must have been proud to be her assistant, Primrose."
"I, I guess so…" her hands tangle together, sighing "I'm surprised that you are a fan of her work."
"I am."
His answer, short and simple, is an unwavering confirmation. Caleb doesn't take a second to think about his response and the thought of it makes Primrose's face turn red. She wishes to ask him more about what he likes about her work, what is his favorite book, what he thinks about her writing and many more. But she holds herself back, it's too soon to reveal that Azure Rose is her pen name. Only those whom Primrose shares a deep connection with know about this little secret of hers.
"I'm hungry..."
"Do you want me to get you food?" Caleb looks at her, silver eyes searching for something else "Or you want to go home and eat?"
There is an underlying tone in his words and for a brief moment, she considers saying no. But the way he looks at her, tender and longing, almost as if he wants to spend more time with her in private makes the young mage bite her tongue and nod, agreeing to come home with him. They are only been here for less than an hour, and leaving now will cause people to talk about them, but she digresses.
Telling her editor that she will go home, Primrose's face turns bright red when the other woman winks at her playfully, singing suggestively about how they should enjoy their time and walking away.
"Let's go." Caleb holds her hand as if it's something that happens to them naturally "Watch your step."
"I'm not a kid…" she scoffs at his comment, yet finds it endearing as well.
"I know. I just want to make sure."
His nonchalant way of responding to her retort makes her heart beat faster. With one hand on her chest, Primrose feels the thumping sound echo in the still air, her eyes never once leave his back.
The elevator comes to a stop with its signature ding, opening the door as Primrose and Caleb walk out together. The air around them becomes warm, filled with a sense of tranquility as the pair walk side by side, returning to their home.
Primrose is deep in her thoughts, thinking about how and when she becomes so comfortable around Caleb. Their conversation last week was filled to the brim with emotions, the revelation of his past actions gave her the peace of mind she deserves and along with that, a new seed was planted.
This seed, small yet mighty, serves as their first step to see the future together. The seed is watered with Caleb's determination to make amends for his mistakes and Primrose's resolve to not let the past dictate her feelings no more.
The small interactions are light and warm, filling their mundane lives with hopes and a spark of affection. His kind and gentlemanly demeanor, along with the protectiveness that is only meant for her slowly peels away the layers of wall Primrose builds around her heart. Each interaction shines a light on it and the raven head, despite her hesitation, accepts it with grace.
The connection that is thought was gone slowly lights up…
Primrose stands in front of her apartment door, ready to go inside and call it a day. But she can not shake off the nervousness inside her when she meets Caleb's eyes. Those silver orbs shine a light of longing and behind that is something more intimate, there is desire in the depth of his eyes.
Desire to spend more time with her, to get to know her more, to make up for the time of their separation, and so much more that she can not tell.
Caleb opens the door to his apartment, moving away from it a little bit, an invitation to her.
"Beloved…"
Her voice hitches at the endearing nickname, her face is painted with a lovely shade of red. Holding the keycard in her hand, Primrose swallows the big lump in her throat. After a brief moment of consideration, she takes in a deep breath, chooses to step away from her apartment door, and moves towards Caleb's side.
She has a choice, she can either go back to her apartment and continue with her mundane life, or she can come to his place. Who knows what is going to happen next…? And Primrose chooses the latter.
The moment he closes the door behind them, her heart beats faster and the redness on her face becomes more visible. Caleb turns on the light, just enough to brighten up the room but still keep the intimate air around them. Taking off her heels, she sighs in contentment when the torture devices finally leave her feet and slips on the house slipper.
"Sorry for the intrusion…"
Her voice is soft and quiet, almost too shy to speak louder. Caleb makes his way to the kitchen, preparing food for them. While his vampire nature doesn't require the consumption of food, his lovely raven head is not as blessed as he is when it comes to hunger.
As Primrose is waiting for the vampire lord to do his thing, she takes leisure in unbraiding her hair. With a small tissue lying on her thigh, she takes off the hairpins carefully and lets her hair down. The braid does a lovely trick of making her hair wavy, like waves cascading down her shoulders. She combed her hair with delicate fingers, detangling the black strands before putting the hairpins on his coffee table.
When the young mage is finished, she begins to look around, admiring his personal space. Their apartments have the same layout and yet, his place has a sophisticated air with minimalistic yet classic pieces of furniture and décor, a stark contrast to the romantic vibe of her place. She then pays attention to the bookcase filled with books and journals. Some of these books include history, philosophy, politics, and many other advanced topics that she can hardly grasp.
But that is not the only thing that captures her attention. Tugging away from the obvious eyes are two rows of books under the name Azure Rose, they are her books…
"I see that you have discovered my little secret."
His warm voice makes her jump as she turns around, surprised to see how close he is to her right now. Primrose knows how modest her height is, but seeing Caleb up close like this makes her realize that her 5-foot-1 stature is nothing compared to this man. He might be even taller than her younger brother, Nathaniel and that boy is 6 feet tall.
Just how tall is this guy?
"I-I never knew that you have this many books of Azure Rose…" she speaks up, hoping to ease the stale air between them.
"I told you that I'm a fan of her work, yeah?"
"You did, but…" she turns her attention to the books again, delicate fingers touching the covers "You did not tell me that you have all of her books."
Somehow she is flattered after seeing this. Not only does he have all the books she has written so far, but he has them in hardcover, which is more expensive than the regular paperback. The thought of him enjoying her work this much brings a smile to her face.
"True. I find solace in her works. Her way of writing resonates with me a lot, especially when it comes to the topic of love." Caleb picks out a book and hands it to her "Especially this one…"
Onyx eyes are wide open at the name of the book. It can't be…
Of fragile heart and benevolence soul
"It's a story of a long-lost love. The way she writes this story pulls my heartstrings, each line is crafted with the most beautiful words that capture the depth of emotions, longing and the pain of separation." he smiles fondly "It's like seeing a reflection of my heart. Never in my life have I seen anyone who can mirror my feelings perfectly like the story in this book."
She stares at him, onyx orbs twinkle a light he can't seem to put his finger on, her face is bright red as she holds onto the book tightly. There is hesitation in her eyes as if she is afraid to tell him something.
Caleb observes her carefully, the dusty blush adds a touch of color to her porcelain skin, the wavy locks stream down her small shoulders, and her surprised gaze never leaves him. Primrose is always adorable in his eyes, but there is something more than that. Something more intimate, as if she is wishing to share a secret with him.
And each puzzle piece comes together, fitting like a glove as the young vampire lord finally grasps the situation.
Why does Primrose act surprised when he tells her that Azure Rose is his favorite author?
Why is she baffled when she sees his book collection?
Why does her face turn bright red when he praises the work of Azure Rose?
Why is the stunned expression when he mentions the story as a reflection of his heart?
They don't add up at all, unless…
"Primrose…" she flinches at her name as a hand holds onto her shoulder. Caleb draws closer, leaving just enough space with the book to act as a divider "Are you…Are you Azure Rose?"