Page 71 of The Donor’s Dilemma

He hummed before asking, “You met his brother yet?”

Verity shook her head. Theo had mentioned him a few times, mainly about him digging for information. She imagined a man like Theo but a little older with glasses and a nose in other people’s business. Not that she’d ever seen a vampire with glasses.

“You meet Jesse, then tell me I’m wrong.” He straightened his hat then grabbed her hand and planted a kiss on it before she could yank it back. “It was good to see you again sweet Verity, and my offer still stands. If there is anything I can do to change your mind, please let me know.”

Cora and Kim were saying their goodbyes too, and Abe nodded to the women, holding the door open for Kim as she left before throwing one last grin over his shoulder for Verity before leaving. The vampires across the street watched throughout, staring at Verity before following their charge.

“Was that Adam?” Cora asked at her side, making Verity jump.

“No,” she replied. “It wasn’t.”

“Who was he? He's gorgeous.”

Verity didn’t bother trying to come up with an answer as she untied her apron and found her coat.

“Is he single?” Cora asked, following her into the back. “Wouldn’t mind a piece of that.”

“No, he isn’t single. Serial cheater,” she told her friend.

Cora pulled a face. “I’ll pass then.”

Verity hugged her before running for the door.

“Gotta go babe. Late for donation.”

“Have fun!” Cora called but Verity was already gone.

Chapter Twenty

“If there is anything I can do to change your mind, please let me know.”

The prim vampire shook Theo’s hand and nodded once, curt enough to know that she wouldn’t be changing her mind.

The moment the door clicked shut Theo’s head fell into his hands. She wouldn’t even give the city her three months’ notice. Two weeks, that’s all she offered. How, in Phoenar’s name, was he supposed to find a new Director of Housing in two weeks?

A light rap at the door and Stella popped her head in.

“Did she…?”

Theo nodded, unable to look up. “Two weeks,” he grumbled.

There were few people he would allow to witness him in such defeat, but Stella had stood at his side for decades. Never complaining, never demanding more. No, that wasn’t true. She complained plenty, but Theo liked that about her. At least he knew where he stood.

She closed the door, leaning against it. “Her assistant seems competent,” she mused. “I can call him in for a meeting? See if he can hack it while we check out alternatives?”

Theo nodded. When had the job become so hard? It had always been a lot, but in recent months it was one trial after another. “Anyone applied for the Conservation Officer role?” he asked.

“I’ll call the assistant,” Stella replied, her avoidance answer enough.

She slipped out and Theo returned to the paperwork strewn on his desk, trying to remember what he had been doing before the impromptu meeting.

Donor numbers.

He sighed, finding the report he was cross-referencing. It was the kind of busy work he would normally give to Stella, but she had enough on her plate.

A number of key pieces of information were redacted, most irritatingly, the username of the person who supposedly printed the damning spreadsheet.

The numbers didn’t match. Every donor listed on the mystery document was in the Ashhaven database, but many of the ones on the Ashhaven register failed to appear on the new log. The Stonehaven log, for despite much of the identifying information being missing, that was indeed the crest of Stonehaven’s council in the top right corner.