#Chapter4
Tonight’s gourmet dinner consisted of thick cheese and sliced tomato sandwiches. I was starving, having not eaten anything but some dry crackers the entire day. I devoured the two sandwiches just in time for Sally to return with a plastic bag in hand. Sally was the same age as me, 23. She had dark hair cut into a pixie cut, dark brown eyes, and she was about 5 foot 6 tall with a slim build. She was an attractive woman and had a kind heart. She was my favorite nurse here, always happy to explain anything I didn’t understand, and had a terrific bedside manner.
Every shift she made time to see me. When she walked in, I'd stand up and she'd wrap me in a warm hug, rubbing my back softly. Handing the bag over to me, I found some bottles of water and a small orange juice, which I quickly grabbed out to wash the sandwiches down. Sally had also been to the vending machine and grabbed a few protein bars, some chips, and I also found, to my delight, a few pieces of fruit.
/"I was hoping you were still in the shower. I know you don’t like accepting help, but you really need to start taking care of yourself. When was the last time you ate a proper meal? You are looking so skinny./" I smiled sadly at her. It was hard keeping my emotions in check around her. Sally had seen me at my most vulnerable. She tugged on my shirt and track pants, trying to emphasize how much weight I had lost. I wasn't blind. I knew I had lost a lot of weight. My clothes didn’t fit as they should. I even had to roll some of my pants just to get them to stay on my hips.
/"I know, I have been trying. It is just so hard with how chaotic my life is at the moment./"
Sally rubbed my cheek with her thumb. /"I have to get back to work but don’t forget to eat. I am on shift again on Wednesday, so I will bring a few things for you./" She jammed the plastic bag into my handbag and zipped it up to make sure I took it when I left. Sally walked out to tend to her other patients.
I sat back down and waited for my phone to charge a bit more before unplugging it. It was now 8:30 PM. I had to be back before nine to make sure I didn’t get locked out. Leaning down, I placed a kiss on my mother’s head before walking out and heading back to my car.
The walk back was quick. Tonight wasn't too cold, thank goodness. I opened my trunk and grabbed my duvet and my pillow before climbing back into the front seat and reclining the seat all the way back. I snuggled underneath my blanket and closed my eyes, praying that sleep would come easy.
****************************************
The next morning, I woke up nice and warm wrapped up like a human burrito in my duvet. My alarm blared loudly and vibrated on my dash. I reached up and switched the bloody thing off quickly before the noise gave me a raging headache. Stretching, I groaned, my body aching from being in the same position all night. I missed my bed, I missed stretching out and being able to roll around without worrying about getting a seat belt clicker jammed in my backside.
Opening the driver’s door, and spilling out, I stood up and bent over, touching my toes before stretching my back and shoulders. Once I finished stretching like a cat, I walked to the rear passenger side and opened the door. I always had a few outfits hanging up in the back on the days I didn't set them up the night before. I snagged some dressy dark blue skinny-leg jeans, a black zip-up blouse, and my blazer. I pulled my bra up under my shirt, pulled my arms inside, and I maneuvered the bra until I got it in position.
Sitting in the driver’s seat I quickly ripped off my pants and replaced them with my jeans. Standing up, I realized they were practically falling off me. Damn, these were my favorites. Popping the trunk I rummaged around until I found a serviceable belt, but even that wasn't enough. With a sigh, I used my car keys to punch an extra hole in the belt to get it to the size I needed to hold my damn pants up. Once done, I peeled my shirt off and shrugged my blouse on, pulling the zipper up just in time to hear the rollup door to the parking garage open.
I checked myself in the car window, I looked decent enough. This was one of my favorite tops. It was a little too small before my whole change in living situation, but now it fit like a second skin, making my large bust stand out more and leaving ample cleavage. I didn’t usually like showing off my assets but in this top? They looked fucking fantastic if I did say so myself. Quickly grabbing my black heels, I slipped them on and bent over to do the straps.
Once I finished, I walked down the ramp to meet Tom. His face instantly lit up. /"There is my girl, how was your night?/"
/"Good, wasn’t cold last night and was rather quiet. How is the wife?/" Tom walked up and handed me a cappuccino in a paper cup. I thank him then warm my hands on it before taking a sip.
/"She is good, I have a surprise for you. Mary made meatballs last night and there were plenty of leftovers, so I brought them in a Chinese dish for you./" I leaned into Tom and gave him a side hug. He reminded me of my grandfather. Tom hugged me back, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
We quickly went back to my car. I grabbed my handbag and the few things I needed to finish getting ready before locking my car up and following him to the entrance.
Getting to my desk, I flicked everything on and powered up my computer. While waiting for everything to load, I finished off my cappuccino and went into the bathroom to do my hair and makeup. Just as I finished making my bosses their coffees, they stepped out of the elevator like clockwork. They've never been late, they were always on time, down to the second.
I heard them arguing as soon as they set foot outside the elevator. That was unusual. I stayed in the small kitchen, not wanting to be present for their heated argument, but I couldn't help but overhear part of their discussion. Theo was rarely angry, and I found it odd that he was raising his voice at Tobias, who I could tell from his clipped tones, he was getting angrier by the second. Their voices didn't change in volume so I still imagined them in the foyer. Usually, when they had their lover quarrels it was in one of their offices, not where anyone would hear if they stepped onto this floor.
/"You can’t keep ignoring the bond hiding in your office. You will snap and that will scare her even more./" Theo’s voice seemed to be getting higher as he got angrier. I froze, listening intently. Who was this mystery woman? I tried to think of anyone else who went into Tobias's audience but the pool was very small.
/"Stay out of it, I have control of my urges. It is yours I’m more worried about,/" spat Tobias, the words rolled off his tongue, dripping with venom.
/"Well, at least I am not denying them like you,/" Theo retorted.
/"She is human, she is weak, and she doesn't belong in our world. I am sick of having this same argument. This isn’t just about us, this would put her in danger. Is that what you want, Theo?/" Tobias' voice rose, anger coloring every word.
My mind reeled. Humans? Weren't we all human? I must have heard wrong, and who was in danger? I could feel my heart rate pick up, pounding in my ears. Goosebumps spread up my arms, my hand froze in place clutching white-knuckled onto the kettle. Why were my mind and body paralyzed with fear?
/"Boo, you know what they say about eavesdropping,/" Theo whispered in my ear, making me jump. He stepped closer, chest pressing against my back. My hands trembled slightly as I placed the jug back on the counter.
/"You okay, Imogen?/" He sounded concerned. Plastering a fake smile on my face, I spun around to face him but he was standing by the door. Did I just imagine the entire scenario in my head? There was no way he could have moved that fast and not be heard. I really was going nuts, maybe even having a mental breakdown. Their conversation replayed in my head but became muddled to the point I couldn't even remember what they were arguing about. Tobias stepped in behind Theo, popping his head around the corner of the door staring at me, an uneasy feeling rolled over me and I couldn't get my thoughts straight but one. What was going on here?