CHAPTER 43: FINDING MELANIA

«Please, Ren! Help me find Melania, she’s nowhere to be found and it’s already dark! I’m scared!»

I was sprawled on the couch, jerking off while watching a video of me and Isabelle, when Elaine called in a panic about her cousin’s disappearance.

Since she ran away from Cordesol Meat around noon, Melania hadn’t returned home.

Elaine feared she might be trying to get back to Los Angeles to reunite with her boyfriend, though the chances she simply got lost—or worse, that some creep had taken too much interest in her already developed body—were just as concrete and disturbing.

The authorities had already been notified, of course, but every bit of help mattered.

That’s why Elaine didn’t hesitate to contact me, and I agreed just as quickly.

Oh, about the video I was watching... it dates back to about two years ago.

We were in a luxury stilt villa in the Maldives when I had the brilliant idea of suggesting to Isabelle that we record our performance and make a full-length porn worthy of the best studios, with multiple camera angles and every position imaginable, just to make it as varied as possible.

«That way, when you’re away from home, it’ll be like you’re still with me whenever I feel lonely.»

She accepted instantly—half amused, half thrilled at the thought that, in the future, I might end up jerking off while watching us.

The video was carefully stored on a DVD.

We even watched it together once—what could be more romantic?

Though I have to admit, by now I know every single frame and every single moan by heart.

Maybe it’s time to shoot a sequel to that Oscar-worthy film.

My task is to search the outskirts of Manhattan.

If she’s still here, Melania can’t have gone too far.

Strangely, there’s still no sign of Brianne.

Could it be she finally realized I’m actually a good guy and decided to stop tailing me 24/7? I really hope so.

Instead, someone else decided to piss me off.

Oliver Segel—John Hawkley’s blond-haired lackey with an angelic face and feminine features, even though he’s clearly a man.

I doubt it’s a random encounter—but whatever the reason, he has no intention of leaving me alone.

Why can’t I ever get a moment of peace? At this point, I’d much rather have Brianne!

«John’s villa isn’t that way,» Oliver murmurs, his voice as sweet as always, far too sweet for a guy at least two years older than me.

«I know.»

«And where are you going, then? Hopefully not hunting—it’s dangerous for a weak vampire like you, with all the Monster Reapers roaming New York’s streets.»

I’m about to snap something like, "where I’m going is none of your damn business", when an idea suddenly hits me.

«I’m looking for a little girl—not what you’re thinking. She’s the cousin of a friend of mine. She might be lost somewhere in New York, so be useful and help me find her.»

Asking someone like him for help probably isn’t the smartest idea in the world, but honestly, I don’t feel like spending the whole night searching for a spoiled kid who, as far as I’m concerned, could vanish forever.

I’m only doing this to spare Elaine more grief.

«And why should I help you, when you’ve always refused to cooperate with us?»

«Because I said so,» I reply flatly.

He bursts out laughing.

«I like you, Ren Lazar. Seriously, you’re a riot. Let’s make a deal. I’ll help you with the search—believe me, with all my connections in New York, if she’s really here I could find her in minutes. And as for you...»

A shiver of disgust runs through me when his hand gently rests on my chest and his voice turns even sweeter, warmer.

He doesn’t add anything, but he doesn’t need to—I get the message loud and clear.

I never doubted Oliver had those kinds of tastes since the first time I saw him, so I’m not even surprised. But still...

«Take your hand off me or I’ll cut it off!»

He pulls back with an annoyed expression, the classic pout of a woman who’s just been rejected.

«I thought that after all the women you’ve had, you might enjoy trying something different... you know, I can do things with my mouth no woman you’ll ever sleep with will ever be able to do.»

«You’re making me sick.»

«You’re so old-fashioned...» he mutters. «Anyway, this is just my human appearance. As a dark emissary, I’m neither male nor female. But if my masculine side isn’t to your liking, if you’re afraid it might bruise your manhood, I can just as easily offer you my femininity...»

In an instant, Oliver’s body shifts—and shit, he becomes a woman!

His face remains almost the same—the feminine traits were already strong before—but now his blond hair grows longer, and his body reshapes with curvier hips and a chest, not very large but definitely noticeable.

I hate to admit it, but he’s turned into a very attractive woman.

Damn it... a second ago he was a man!

There’s no way I can just ignore that fact because now he looks hot.

«From your expression, it seems you’ve changed your mind about me,» Oliver murmurs, his voice now even more feminine. «If it makes you feel better, you can call me Olivia.»

«I don’t change my mind just because now you look like a woman. And anyway, I hope this whole performance is your own idea and not something John asked you to do—the thought that he might believe I’d let myself be seduced by a man creeps me out,» I answer firmly, though something inside me wavers.

If he had shown up directly like this, never in a million years would I have guessed it was Oliver—I would have fallen right into his trap.

The thought alone makes my blood run cold...

«No, John doesn’t know anything—it’ll stay our little secret. From now on, when you’re around, I’ll keep this form. I’m sure you’ll get used to it and eventually forget Oliver, seeing only Olivia. Anyway, I’ll help you regardless—consider it a gift,» Olivia whispers, caressing my chest again.

This time too I order her to take her hand off me, though I hesitate for a moment.

I’m ashamed of myself...

In the following minutes, Olivia makes a flurry of calls, based on the description of Melania’s looks and clothes I gave her.

I’m not very hopeful—honestly, the chances Melania is really wandering somewhere in Manhattan, while plausible, feel slim.

That’s why I’m stunned when, not even ten minutes after her first call, Olivia gets contacted by one of her men, telling her about a girl matching Melania’s description seen in the parking lot of a pier near 12th Avenue.

Damn... that woman really pulled it off, and in record time.

Asking for his—or her? how the hell should I refer to this being?—help wasn’t as crazy as it seemed.

Besides, it’s only a twenty-minute walk from here.

Perfect, this matter solved itself in the best way.

And yet... one of Olivia’s earlier questions keeps nagging at me.

«You said she’s your friend’s twelve-year-old cousin, right?»

That’s what she asked me right after receiving the call about Melania’s location, with a rather amused smirk.

What the hell is so funny?