Page 48 of Bloodlust

"Your turn." He glares at me, and I fight a shiver. "Let's see how fast you can actually run, Camilla."

I blink. "I would rather stretch, Doc."

"I think you've stretched enough." He points to the treadmill. "Get on. We'll start you off easy." I cross my arms defiantly.Is he actually going to make me exercise?"You said you wanted to talk, Miss Bianco. If you want me tolistenthen I suggest you get moving."

"Fine," I huff, rolling my eyes as I step on the machine. I can play the long game if it means I can taste the prize. "Happy?"

"So..." Hayden hums, standing in front of me, a devious gleam in his green irises. He reaches over the display and changes the setting to a brisk walk. "Tell me what happened tonight?"

"I'm having..." I pause. This might be hard to explain without revealing the truth, but I'm good at twisting my words. "Work issues."

"Work issues?" Hayden raises a brow. "Go on."

"Okay, so I'm trying to secure a new...vendor for the club, right?"

Hayden nods.

I continue. "Well, this partnership would be mutually beneficial to both of our businesses, but since my father isn't the owner of the club anymore, the vendor doesn't want to work with me. Isn't that fucked up? It's the same club it always was but somehow that's not enough for these people!"

"Interesting..." Hayden increases the speed on the treadmill. I frown but don't say anything as I pick up my pace. "Can you ask your father to intervene?"

"No!" I huff. "He's retired and wants me to make all the decisions which is totally unfair seeing as this particular vendor provides...alcohol that we don't normallysell at the club. And you know what's funny?" Hayden doesn't have time to reply as I rant on. "I'm the one who's supposed to be making the decisions, and I don't really wanna serve this type of booze. It's not what our clientele drinks, and frankly it's bound to be...expensivein the long run, so here I amsupposedlythe boss, but I still have to do as he says? What the fuck, right?"

Hayden nods slowly. "So your father leaves you the business, and says he trusts you to run it, but he still seems to be calling the shots."

"Exactly!"

"How does that make you feel?"

"Angry!" I snap as Hayden increases the speed again. "It pisses me off. Not only do I have to juggle his whims and wishes, but I also have to deal withhisbusiness partners who don't fucking likeortrust me." I pant, wiping my forehead as I run. "It's so stupid. I thought this would be easier. I thought I was ready. I spent so long preparing myself to eventually take over but now that I have... It's not what I thought it would be."

"What did you think it would be?" he asks, increasing the speed again.

"I don't know," I mumble, my heart racing. "I thought it would be fun, I guess, or something."

"Perhaps your heart's not in it?"

"My heart?" I scoff. "Who the fuck cares about myheart? This is my family's business, and it'smyduty to make sure it survives. I can't allowone hundred yearsof history to vanish under my control. I can't allow that!"

"That's a lot of pressure—one hundred years."

"Oh, I know," I grunt, blinking away sweat. "Eversince I was little, I was told the tale of thegreatBianco come up and how we went from nothing to basically lords overnight. And now it'smyresponsibility to not onlymaintainthis legacy but togrowit because if we don't, then someone else will take our crown!" My breath catches in my throat. "Oh my God."

"What?"

"I—" My head spins, dots fluttering in my vision as I grip the support bar and straddle the track. "I'm dizzy."

"Jesus..." Hayden circles the treadmill, turning it off as he places his hand on the small of my back, the pressure keeping me upright. "Are you alright?"

I struggle to catch my breath. "I think I might throw up."

Hayden gives me a mocking grin as he helps me down from the machine. "I thought you said you had excellent stamina, Camilla."

"I lied," I breathe, holding my chest. "I lied."

Hayden expels a low, airy laugh. "Clearly." He nods at a nearby drinking fountain. "Let's get you some water, yeah?"

"Too far..." I sink down and sit on the edge of the treadmill. "Can't make it. Might die."