Sweet Revenge With My Billionaire Vampire

Evelyn blinked, taken aback by the woman’s attitude. "Jeez," she muttered under her breath.

The woman’s fingers paused mid-keystroke and looked up at her. "What did you just say, girl?"

Evelyn raised her hands defensively, waving them frantically and forcing a polite smile. "Nothing, nothing! The names! The people I’m looking for are Adeline Smith and..." She paused, snapping her fingers as she tried to recall. "And Enzo... Laureati!"

The woman sighed dramatically, irritated, but nonetheless began clicking through her system. After about a minute, she stopped, leaning forward to squint at the screen. "Adeline Smith, eh? What’s your relationship with her?"

"She’s my best friend!" Evelyn answered immediately. "I just want to see how she’s doing."

The woman’s expression didn’t change as she shook her head very slowly. "Can’t do that. You’ll need to come with a family member of hers if you want to see her."

Evelyn’s face took on a look of displeasure, her forehead creasing in irritation as her eyebrows pinched together. "What?!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. "You couldn’t have said that from the start? Seriously? Since when is that a thing? I’ve never heard of such a rule before."

The woman, unbothered by Evelyn’s growing irritation, shrugged nonchalantly. She picked up a cup of tea from beside her keyboard and took a long, deliberate sip, as if to punctuate her indifference. Setting the mug down, she said with a condescending tone, "It’s always been a rule. I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of it. You don’t look like the smart type."

Evelyn’s mouth fell open, her eyes growing wide. "Excuse me?!" she sputtered, staring at the woman in utter shock.

The woman didn’t flinch, simply returning her focus to the computer screen.

Evelyn let out a baffled scoff, pointing a finger at her. "Listen here, old lady. I’ve been trying to talk to you in the calmest way possible, but clearly, you’re looking for a fight. And I’ve got no problem giving you one because—"

Before she could finish, the old woman slammed her hand down on the desk with surprising force. Her frail hand trembled slightly as she pointed a bony finger at Evelyn, her voice quivering with anger. "You insolent child! How dare you speak to me like that!"

Rolling her eyes, Evelyn crossed her arms across her chest. "Oh, put your hand down before your bones start rattling. And for the record, I wouldn’t have been rude if you hadn’t been first, so don’t try to play the victim now."

With a huff, the woman snatched up a random file from her desk and began waving it in the air like a weapon. "Why, you little twerp! Someone ought to teach you some respect! You ought to be disciplined right here, right now! You hear me?!"

Evelyn watched as the woman flailed the file around and sighed, shaking her head. "You know, for someone who works in a hospital, you don’t exactly give off a ’healing vibes’ sort of energy."

The old woman ignored her, continuing to yell, her voice growing hoarser with every word. With how weak her voice was, Evelyn probably wouldn’t be able to hear her at all if she took a few steps back.

Having heard enough, Evelyn raised her hands in surrender and exhaled heavily, her shoulders sagging as she stepped back from the desk, putting some distance between herself and the desk.

"You know what? Forget it. I’ll figure out where Adeline is without your help. You can keep yelling at the air for all I care."

As she turned to walk away, the sound of the file slamming down against the desk caused her to freeze mid-step, her body jolting slightly.

"Come back here, you little brat!"

"You should really watch your blood pressure, Granny. This can’t be good for you," Evelyn warned before resuming her walk.

She ignored the insults the woman kept throwing at her, too busy scanning the hallway. At least now she knew that Adeline was there.

Continuing down the hallway, her eyes darted in every direction, scanning for a familiar face. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted someone—Andrei. She’d seen him before, always standing like a shadow behind Enzo. Maybe he knows where Adeline is. But just as she was about to make her way toward him, she glanced back and saw the old lady from the front desk rising from her chair.

The woman pointed a trembling finger at Evelyn and hollered. "She’s not supposed to be here! Get her out of here!" The granny’s voice carried down the hallway, drawing the attention of a nearby nurse.

Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat as she saw the nurse rushing toward her, waving her hands. "Miss! Please stop!" the nurse called politely. "You’re not allowed to cross this area without permission!"

Evelyn turned back toward the hallway, her fight-or-flight instincts kicking in. Without wasting another second, she bolted down the hall, ignoring the startled gasps of patients and staff as she sprinted forward.

Andrei, oblivious to the commotion, stood a short distance away, scrolling lazily through his phone. As she neared him, she skidded to a stop, slamming into him with a soft thud.

Andrei barely flinched, looking down at the smaller young lady clinging to his arm with wide, panicked eyes. Evelyn craned her neck to look up at him, panting. "Where’s Adeline? Is she okay? I need to see her!"

Andrei raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion passing over his face. Although he had seen her before, he didn’t recognize her immediately. "Who are you to Miss Adeline?"

Evelyn’s heart raced as she turned her head and saw the nurse closing the distance between them. She was running out of time. Turning back to Andrei, she gripped his arms tighter and shook him with all the strength she could muster. "I’m her best friend, dammit! Just take me to her! I need to see her!"

"I can talk to her. If she agrees, I’ll bring you in."

"There’s no time for that!" she said, shaking him again, though Andrei didn’t budge. "They’re going to kick me out of here!"