Sexiest Vampire Alive (17 page)

“I’m having a great time!” Madison grinned as she sat down. “Dr. Phang is a wonderful dancer.”

“You’re pretty hot yourself.” Phineas winked at her. “You make the other chicks look half dead.”

Madison laughed, then beamed a smile at her sister and Gregori. “I’m glad you two are getting along. Dad will be so relieved.”

“Be sure and tell him that,” Gregori said with a smile that only wavered slightly when Abigail nudged him harder in the ribs.

“I’m going to get something to drink,” Phineas said. “Anybody want something from the bar?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” Abigail murmured.

“Me too.” Madison took a long drink from her martini.

“I’ll take another Bleer,” Gregori said.

Phineas nodded and strode toward the bar.

Madison set her martini glass down and gave him a confused look. “Did you say beer?”

“Bleer. Half blood, half beer,” Gregori explained. “It’s part of Vampire Fusion Cuisine. We call it VFC for short.”

“VFC?” Madison’s eyes lit up. “Oh my gosh, that’s like KFC, but for vampires.” She giggled. “You guys are so funny.”

Gregori smiled. “We aim to please.”

Abigail turned toward him an inquisitive look. “Is there a lab that comes up with this stuff?”

He nodded. “Romatech Industries.”

Her eyes widened. “The lab that invented synthetic blood?”

“Yes. That’s where I work.”

She blinked. “You have a job?”

He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “You think I spend my entire life partying?”

“So are all the Vamps here drinking Bleer?” Madison asked as she peered around the room.

“They could be drinking a number of things,” Gregori explained. “Straight synthetic blood in their favorite blood type or something like Chocolood, chocolate-flavored synthetic blood.”

Madison grinned. “Oooh. If I was a vampire, that’s what I would drink.”

Gregori smiled. “It’s very popular among the ladies. And for those who overindulge, we can help them shed a few pounds with Blood Lite.”

Madison laughed. “You guys are so cute.” She gulped down the rest of her martini.

“Dietetic blood?” Abigail asked.

He nodded. “It has an extremely low blood sugar and cholesterol count. And then there’s Bubbly Blood: half blood, half champagne, for those special vampire occasions.”

Madison laughed. Even Abigail looked amused.

“And there’s a new one, a favorite among the Scottish vampires—Blissky. Half blood, half—”

“Whisky?” Madison guessed.

Gregori winked at her. “You got it, Sweetcakes.”

Madison giggled, then leaned toward her sister. “A vampire called me Sweetcakes.”

Abigail grimaced. “I can hit him, if you like.”

“Why?” Madison asked as she reached for her sister’s neglected martini.

“It’s embarrassing,” Abigail muttered.

Madison took a sip. “It is?”

“I wasn’t embarrassed,” Gregori said. When Abigail shot him an irritated look, he smiled and squeezed her shoulder.

Madison drank some more and licked her lips. “Tell me some more funny vampire drinks.”

“We’re introducing a new one in a few weeks. Blardonnay: half blood, half—”

“Chardonnay!” Madison lifted her arms like she’d score a touchdown, then burst into giggles.

Gregori grinned. “You got it, Toots.”

Abigail shuddered. “
Toots
?”

Her sister giggled some more, then hiccupped.

Abigail winced. “Maybe you should stop drinking.”

Madison waved a dismissive hand. “I always get loopy at nightclubs. It doesn’t matter. Josh won’t let anything bad happen to me.” She lifted her martini glass and saluted the Secret Service man who was watching her carefully from a short distance. “Love you, Josh!”

An angry look flashed over the guard’s face before it returned to its usual deadpan expression.

Gregori felt a surge of sympathy for the two Secret Service men. They were babysitters just like he was.

“What do you do at Romatech?” Abigail regarded him with a hopeful look. “Are you a chemist?”

Damn, he hated to disappoint her. Again. “No. I’m vice president of marketing.”

“Oh.” She fiddled with her glass.

“Here’s your Bleer.” Phineas slid one across the table to him, then sat on the booth opposite Madison. “Cheers.” He clinked his glass against Madison’s martini glass.

“Bottoms up!” Madison downed the rest of her drink.

Abigail turned toward him again. “If Romatech manufactures Vampire Fusion Cuisine, then it’s operated by vampires?”

Gregori nodded. “My boss is a vampire. And a brilliant scientist.”

Her eyes widened. “Roman Draganesti?”

“You’ve heard of him?”

“Every scientist in the world has heard— Oh my gosh, he’s a vampire?”

Gregori nodded. “And a really nice guy. Lovely wife, two beautiful children.”

Her mouth dropped open. “He . . . fathered children?”

“Like I said, he’s a brilliant scientist. He figured out a way.”

“How fascinating.” Her eyes gleamed with excitement. “Is it possible to meet him? I would love a tour of the labs.”

At last, something he could do that would impress her. “I’d be happy to arrange it for you. How about tomorrow night?”

She nodded, smiling. “Yes. Thank you.”

Excellent
. Gregori took a long drink. The more he thought about it, the better he liked the idea of taking Abigail to Romatech. This nightclub might have won Madison over to the Vamp cause, but Abigail needed to see smart, hardworking Vamps like Laszlo. She needed to meet Roman, whose invention of synthetic blood saved thousands of mortal lives every year.

His Droid vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out to check the text message. Maggie and Gordon had finished filming two new versions of the Blardonnay commercial and wanted him to see them.

He took a sip of Bleer. “Would you guys mind if I left for about ten minutes? I need to teleport to DVN—”

“What’s that?” Madison asked.

“The Digital Vampire Network. It’s a television studio. Vamps have their own shows to watch. Soap operas and such.”

“Oh my God,” Madison breathed. “That is so awesome.”

Gregori adjusted his tie. Maybe this would impress Abigail. “I produce all the commercials for Romatech. I’m having a new one made to advertise Blardonnay.”

Abigail’s eyes widened, but she remained silent.

“It stars Simone, the famous model,” Gregori continued.

“I know who she is!” Madison bounced on her seat. “Oh my God, do you think I could meet her? That would be so cool!”

Gregori inclined his head. “I can arrange it.”

Phineas grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. “Gregori’s da man! He knows all the hot vampire chicks.”

Abigail scoffed. “I bet.”

He gave her an annoyed look and whispered, “Still jealous,
Toots
?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t call me Toots.”

“You prefer Sweetcakes?”

“If we were alone, I’d slap you.”

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “If we were alone, I’d give you a good reason to slap me.”

Phineas choked on his Bleer.

“Are you all right, Dr. Phang?” Madison asked.

He nodded and slanted an amused look at Gregori.

So he had heard. Gregori scooted down the booth. “If you guys will excuse me, I’ll be on my way.”

“But I want to go!” Madison jumped to her feet and clasped her hands together as if she were begging. “Please! I want to see the television studio!”

Gregori stilled. “I-I’m teleporting there. I’ll be back soon.”

“But I want to go,” Madison whined. “Please!”

“Is it far away?” Abigail asked quietly, her cheeks still flushed from his last verbal poke at her.

“Brooklyn,” Phineas said. When Gregori shot him an angry look, he shrugged. “We gotta keep them happy, bro.”

“Yes!” Madison squealed. “It would make me so happy!”

Gregori sighed. Phineas was right. They had to keep the girls happy, no matter what. “Very well. We’re all going to DVN.”

“I
t’s complicated,” Gregori whispered to Maggie and Gordon thirty minutes later at DVN. “But if you want to help us avoid the Vampire Apocalypse, you’ll let these girls do whatever they want. We have to keep them happy.”

“All right,” Maggie agreed. “I recognize the blonde. She’s the president’s daughter.”

“They’re both the president’s daughters.” Gregori glanced at them across the recording studio. “Madison is the one gushing all over Simone. Abigail’s the other one.”

Abigail and Josh were looking curiously about. Charles had driven them to the Digital Vampire Network using Gregori’s directions. Upon arrival, he had decided the entire location needed to be checked, so he was running about while Josh remained with the girls.

“I didn’t know there was a second daughter,” Maggie whispered.

“She’s a bit of a mystery,” Gregori said as he watched Abigail. He still didn’t know why she kept herself so carefully hidden from the public eye, but he suspected it had something to do with her mother. Or maybe her job as a biochemist. The mission she planned to do in China was certainly being kept secret. What on earth could she want in China?

He could understand their desire for secrecy. If she traveled there as the president’s daughter, it would become a media event, and her every move would be scrutinized by journalists and the Chinese government. Obviously she wanted to see something that the Chinese were reluctant to show her. Or she planned to take something without their knowledge.

Maggie tugged at his sleeve, drawing his attention. “Gregori, Gordon said your name three times. You didn’t hear.”

“Oh, sorry. Lot on my mind lately.”

Her eyes twinkled as she glanced at Abigail. “I can see that.”

“Do you want to watch the commercials?” Gordon asked.

“Yes, of course.” Gregori walked over to the monitor with Maggie and Gordon.

“You must see me acting!” Simone motioned for her new entourage to follow her to the monitor. “I was brilliant!”

“Oh, I’m sure you were.” Madison rushed after her.

Abigail and Josh followed after them.

“Both commercials have potential,” Gordon explained as he punched some buttons. “But we may need someone with a stronger presence than Pennington to pull them off.”

“
Mais oui
.” Simone waved a dismissive hand. “That Pennington is too weak.” Her gaze settled on Josh. “Oh,
mon Dieu
, don’t you look nice and strong.” She sidled up close to him, and he stepped back.

“Simone.” Gregori shook his head and gave her a warning look.

She huffed. “
Pourquoi pas?
You want him for yourself?”

He cursed silently and clenched a fist, wishing he had a stress ball.

The commercials started. Pennington did his lines, then Simone came onscreen.

“That’s me!” Simone pointed at herself.

Gregori watched amazed as Simone completed both commercials without falling over or injuring herself.

Maggie turned to Gregori when the commercials were done. “Well, what do you think?”

“I like them! You did a great job, Maggie.” He gave her a high five. “Thank you.”

“I did well, too!” Simone cried.

He smiled at her. “Yes, you did. I was very impressed.” He looked around the studio. “Is Pennington still here?”

“We told him he was done for the night,” Maggie said. “We’ve been debating whether we should try another guy.”

“I think you’re right,” Gregori admitted. “He didn’t quite pull it off.”

“I know who could do it!” Madison grabbed Phineas’s arm. “Dr. Phang! He would be excellent.”

Everyone turned to look at Phineas.

He shrugged.

“And I want to do it, too!” Madison clasped her hands together. “Please! I’ve always wanted to be in front of a camera.”

What a surprise, Gregori thought. He caught Gordon’s attention and nodded his head.

“Why, yes, of course.” Gordon smiled at Madison. “We would be delighted to have you in a commercial.”

“Wheeee!” Madison bounced for joy. “I’ll do the first one with Dr. Phang, and Abby can do the second one with Gregori!”

Abigail gasped. “What?”

“Oh, come on, Abby.” Madison leaned against her sister and gave her a soulful look. “It’ll be fun. When’s the last time you ever had any fun?”

“Good question,” Gregori muttered. Abigail scowled at him, but he simply lifted an eyebrow. “I’ll do it if you’ll do it with me.”