Chapter 285

Tessa’s POV

I stared at the portfolio with my mouth hanging open. They wanted me to investigate, interview, and write about Joseph? I couldn’t just turn down this assignment because it would make me look bad and I certainly wasn’t going to get fired on my first day.

I couldn’t just come right out and tell them that I was actually engaged to Joseph Evergreen. I wasn’t prepared to answer all the questions they’d asked me. There wasn’t much for me to do other than to agree to work on this assignment.

The portfolio contained some of Joseph’s work and some of the stuff that Megan already knew about him, which wasn’t much. I already knew that Joseph was a very private person and he worked hard to keep his identity private over the years. I understood why though; if humans got too close to knowing Joseph, they would eventually find out his secret and I couldn’t let that happen.

They also wanted a picture of him.

My heart was racing in my chest as I went through the portfolio.

I had no idea what I was going to do.

Megan thinks I’m researching to find him so I can get started on this assignment, but jokes on her because I already knew where he was. The problem was, I didn’t think I was going to be able to complete this assignment without upsetting him in the process, or without revealing my relationship with him.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my contacts until Joseph appeared. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the “call” button and put the phone to my cheek, waiting with a racing heart for him to answer.

“Hey. It’s not really a good time,” Joseph said on the other end; he sounded stressed, and my worry level increased greatly.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, unable to hide the worry from my voice.

He was quiet for a moment, and I heard some papers shuffling from the phone.

“I don’t really know, I was just notified about something and I’m not sure how to take it,” Joseph admitted.

“What is it?” I asked; I could hear my voice rising just a little.

He sighed.

“I think Ruby might be a prophet,” he told me in a breath.

I felt my heart stopping in my chest and my mouth fell open at his words.

“What did you just say?” I asked, my voice coming out as barely a whisper.

“I think she might be a prophet, Tessa,” Joseph repeated. “I’m on my way to speak with her right now. But I was told she had a dream and then that same day the events in her dream actually happened.”

“How can Ruby be a prophet all of a sudden?” I asked. “That doesn’t make sense for these abilities to just develop. She’s Ruby…”

“Sometimes when someone is formed into a new vampire, the moon goddess will gift them with an ability. I’m pretty sure she gifted Ruby with the prophet ability. But I won’t know for sure until I actually speak with her for myself.”

I nodded but then felt stupid because Joseph couldn’t see me nodding over the phone.

“Will you keep me updated? If she’s a prophet, that’s amazing right?” I asked, a bit of hopefulness in my tone. That would mean the Moon Goddess sees her as someone important and worthy of such an important gift.

“Yes, but I’m hoping it’s nothing like the visions Anna has,” Joseph said; I heard some doors shutting in the background and I knew he was leaving whatever building he was inside. “Those take Anna out and I’m worried the same could be happening with Ruby. Though, it doesn’t sound like it is.”

“I hope not too,” I admitted, remembering Anna’s visions. I shuddered at the very thought; I wouldn’t want Ruby going through any of that. “Would you be able to help her?”

“I have to speak with her first. I’m almost at her section of the school. I was told she was last seen in the student lounge so I’m checking there first. I’ll let you know when I speak with her and get all the details.”

“Okay, yeah. Keep me posted,” I told him.

“I will,” he assured me. There was a moment of pause passing between us before he asked, “Was there a reason you were calling?”

I had almost completely forgotten why I was calling Joseph; suddenly it didn’t seem so important anymore.

“It doesn’t really matter,” I muttered. “I’ll figure it out myself.”

“What is it? Obviously, it was important enough to call me during your first day of work.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, not wanting to stress him out further than he already was.

“Honestly, it’s fine,” I said, trying to sound more cheerful. “Just focus on Ruby.”

“Okay, but we will talk later, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“I love you,” he made a point to say.

“I love you too.”

I hung up the phone without another word.

“Love, huh?” I heard from the doorway, making me practically jump to my feet.

A woman I hadn’t seen before stood at the doorway, giving me a pointed look. She had big curly brown hair and bright green eyes; she wore a tight black dress with matching black boots that went up to her knees.

She had her arms folded across her busty chest as she leaned against the doorframe, staring at me. I felt uneasy in her presence, and I couldn’t help but feel like I had been caught doing something I shouldn’t have been doing.

“Boyfriend?” She asked.

“Huh?” I lamely asked in return.

Her perfectly waxed brows furrowed in response as she glanced at my phone that was still in my head.

“Your phone call,” she said as if I was the dumbest person alive. “Was that your boyfriend?”

“Fiancé,” I admitted.

“We take our jobs very seriously here. So, if you’re just going to spend the day taking personal calls—”

“No! I’m not. I’m sorry. I was just…” I paused for a moment. “I don’t really have an excuse.”

She stared at me for a moment longer, and then her face softened. Soon, she chuckled, making me feel even more stupid.

“Relax, I’m fucking with you,” she giggled. “I’m Morgana. You must be Tessa, the new writer. I’m glad we finally found someone to fill this space. I read some of your work online and I have to say, I’m a huge fan.”

“A fan?” I asked, confused.

“Of your blog.”

My mouth dropped.

“You’ve read my blog?” I asked in shock. I thought only those in the small city had read my blog. I had no idea others had read it as well. I wasn’t even sure what to say; I just stared at her with my mouth hanging open like a buffoon.

She nodded.

“My sister went to your college, and she sent me some of your blog posts,” she admitted. “I shared it around and loved it.”

“Your sister?” I asked. “Do I know her?”

She shook her head.

“Not really; her name is Ally. She said she’s never actually spoken to you before. She mainly just admired you from afar,” Morgana explained. “I also heard that Joseph Evergreen was your professor.”

My heart fell deep into my stomach and all I wanted to do at this moment was run and hide. Morgana knew that I knew Joseph and now it wouldn’t be long before my secret surfaced. She has to know that Joseph and I moved here together. There wasn’t a coincidence.

Morgana closed the door behind her and stepped further into my office until she reached one of the chairs in front of my desk. She sat down and crossed her leg over the other, looking at me curiously.

“Was that true?” She asked. “Was he your professor?”

I wasn’t sure if lying to my new coworker was wise, but I managed a head nod and swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Yes,” I answered.

“That’s so fucking cool. Did you know he was moving here?” She asked.

I shook my head before I could stop myself; maybe lying wasn’t too bad. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was involved with Joseph, especially since Morgana knew he was once my professor. She’s going to think the worst and because we work for a gossip magazine, it wouldn’t be long before word got around about Joseph’s relationship with a student.

“Uh, no,” I lied, trying to appear interested. “He was just my professor; we weren’t really close like that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Morgana said, waving away my words. “You already have a huge advantage because you already know him. This means, finding him, interviewing him, and getting a photo of him, isn’t going to be hard for you. This magazine is going to explode.”

I felt the blood draining from my face; I wanted to sink into my chair and never resurface.

“I didn’t tell anyone else about this by the way,” she told me, much to my relief. “As your new work bestie, yes that’s me, trust me, you won’t find better, I’m going to make sure you ace your first assignment. And between you and me…. I already know where Joseph Evergreen lives!”