#Chapter5
They both stared at me, concern in their eyes. Had I done something alarming? They were just arguing, or had I imagined that too? What were they arguing about and why couldn’t I remember anymore? They looked like their normal selves. I stood there just as confused as they were. Tobias broke the silence. His voice forced me out of my own head.
/"Imogen…Imogen, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?/" He seemed to sniff the air lightly for a second. I tilted my head observing them. They glanced between themselves with that way of silent communicating of theirs. The room warped and spun, I saw Tobias shove past Theo, his fingers reaching for me. The world fell in on me, my muscles turned to weights forcing me down. Oh no, I remembered this, I was having a panic attack. Shit. I tried to breathe, but my body gave up functioning and I couldn't catch my breath. The darkness took my sight away.
I don't know how much time passed before I came to. I groggily lifted myself onto my elbows but was forced down by Theo’s heavy hand on my shoulder. /"Woah there, lay back down for a bit./" I stared, confused. I was lying on the brown leather lounge in Tobias’s office. I could even see him sitting on the edge of his desk, arms folded across his chest making him appear even more intimidating than usual. Concern etched on his face as he stared back at me. That was new... Theo on the other hand sat beside me with my legs sprawled over his lap, rubbing them of all things. Shit, I did something embarrassing, I knew it.
/"What happened?/" I asked, completely confused. I tried to think of the last thing I remembered. But I only remembered eavesdropping on a conversation between Tobias and Theo about…Funny, I couldn't remember a single detail. All I could recall was the vibe that something was off, then the not being able to breathe thing, and oh yeah, my old friend the darkness.
/"You fainted, just lay down for a bit and drink this,/" ordered Tobias, walking back over with a glass of water in his hand. I sat up, pulling my legs from Theo, and leaned against the armrest. Reaching out I gripped the ice-cold glass of water, my fingertips brushed Tobias's. He ripped his hand away like I burnt him before moving back to his desk.
A knock on the door a few minutes later interrupted our awkward little quiet. Tobias told them to enter, and a leggy blonde woman stepped into the office with a few styrofoam food cartons in her hand. My nose twitched as the smells wafted from it. My mouth watered at the smell of Chinese food. The blonde woman peered around the room, unsure of what to do. Her light blue eyes darted to each of us frantically until she saw Theo and she froze in place like a deer in headlights.
She was incredibly attractive; she had a white suit pants on and a blazer with a black singlet top.
/"Just leave it on the desk, Merida,/" Theo spoke quietly. Merida jumped slightly but obeyed before quickly darting back out of the room, which had grown incredibly tense. What had I just witnessed? Why did she seem so scared? And more importantly, how long had I been out? Looking at the clock that hung above the door, I noticed the time. 3:15 PM … my eyes bulged out of my head. I had been out for hours. Jumping to my feet, I quickly made my way to the door. Shit, I was supposed to have the Merger files ready by 4 PM. Just as I opened the door, a hand shoved it shut above me, the lock clicking into place. Burning heat seeped up my back. I instinctively froze at the abrupt harshness of the door being slammed in my face.
/"Sit back down, Imogen./" Tobias's voice was demanding. A cold shiver ran up my spine, his hot breath tickling my neck.
/"I have to get the Merger documents for your meeting,/" I tried to argue back. My voice came out shaky, I could hear the fear in it. But why was I suddenly scared of my boss?
Leaning into me, his front pressed into my back, body molding to mine. Lowering his head to my ear, he whispered, /"I said sit back down./" He emphasized each word, giving me no choice. I turned towards him only to be met with Tobias’ harsh gaze staring back at me. No help there. I shrunk under his glare and took a step back hitting the door with my back, feeling extremely small beside him. Who was I kidding? I was small beside him regardless, but right now I felt tiny and weak and hunted.
His eyes softened when they met my fearful ones. /"Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you./" He spoke gently, a trace of my former boss in his eyes. Scratch that, my former boss wasn't usually this gentle. Theo sure, but not Tobias. Reaching down, he placed a loose hair back behind my ear before stepping away, motioning for me to sit back next to Theo. I quickly obeyed as my mind swam with the implications of what the hell was going on.
Once beside him, Theo gripped my knee softly. His touch was warm and at least some comfort, but again. My bosses didn't touch me, besides they were gay, right? /"Don’t worry about him, he's a bit tense. We canceled the meeting. It’s not till tomorrow morning./" Theo reassured me, still rubbing my knee. I nodded in understanding, but all I wanted was to get out of this room. I couldn't believe I slept all day on my boss’s couch. How embarrassing. God, I hope I didn’t talk in my sleep or fart. Oh my god, what if I did? I suddenly wished the floor would open up and swallow me.
/"Here,/" said Tobias, dropping the styrofoam food carton in front of me before placing another in front of Theo.
I wanted to tell them I was fine but was cut off with Tobias’ deadly glare. Besides, how long had it been since I gorged on take-out? It was way out of my budget. The food tempted me, threatening to break every ounce of willpower I had.
/"It wasn’t a choice, Imogen. Eat/" Each word was full of authority, but it also sounded like he was daring me to disobey him. A part of me was tempted to know what would happen if I did. I was pretty surprised Tobias hadn't just left me on the floor and continued his day. Had he ever said this much to me beyond work stuff?
I did as told. I could have sworn I saw Tobias smirk at me obeying his demands like a child. Could this be any more awkward and embarrassing? But the food was good, and I was starving. Maybe that’s why I fainted, between being busted eavesdropping and not eating properly for months, maybe I overwhelmed myself.
When I finished eating the fried rice and satay chicken, I sat quietly, waiting to be dismissed from his office, but it never came. Instead, Theo picked up the empty food containers and disposed of them, instead of ordering me to. Tobias walked over to the cabinet next to the window and pulled out three glasses, pouring a brown liquid that kind of resembled whiskey. Turning around, he handed me one. Theo walked over and picked up his own, downing it in one mouthful. I watched Theo leave the room quietly, leaving me alone with Tobias. I suddenly wanted him to come back. I turned, staring at the door. My palms became sweaty.
Tobias felt less intimidating with Theo in the room. I adjusted my position on the lounge, trying to avoid direct eye contact. What did he want with me? Was it just concern for my health or was there something darker here? I noticed Tobias watching me over the rim of his glass. I fiddled with the cup between my fingers. I dared not take a drink yet. Bringing his drink to his lips, Tobias downed every drop in one go. I sniffed my drink before scrunching my nose, whatever he'd given me, it was sweeter than vodka's scent. Nothing as harsh as the vodka and tequila I'd been using for inner warmth. Bringing the glass to my lips, I downed it in one mouthful, following his lead. It was sweet and smooth. It burned a bit on the way down, but not like some of the bottles of liquor I had stored in my trunk, especially the cheaper bottles mum liked to drink. Some of those made me think I was drinking gasoline.
I set the glass down, intending to get up and leave this uncomfortable silence. Tobias tipped his bottle, refilling my glass back to the rim, and tipped his own off as well. He continued to stare at me, watching me with those dark eyes of his. I raised my brow at him but I accepted the glass. Theo returned the door lock clicking softly behind him.
In his hands, he clutched various boxes of paperwork, stacked four boxes high. /"We are being audited, so we need all these files sorted and all contracts arranged by dates. Get comfortable, it is going to be a long night./" Tobias spoke clearly. I stared at the boxes Theo carried in, knowing it wasn’t even half. Downing the glass of whiskey, I got up from the lounge, made a seat on the floor, and pulled files from the boxes. It didn't take me long to get a system set up as I sorted them into neat piles.
I don't know how much time passed. From my position, the moon was high in the sky when more takeout arrived. I guessed that they had ordered more food and coffee for us as we toiled. I'd never even seen them pick up a phone to order as we worked in silence beside each other.
But I was glad. I was exhausted and I'd stared at so many words my eyes were crossing. When it came time to close the building up at 9 PM, Tobias glanced at the security guard who had stepped in the office to let us know he was about to lock up.
Considering I wasn't going to have my usual bed, I was going to have to make do here somehow. /"You guys go. There isn’t much left, and I will get it done./" Tobias and Theo looked unsure but eventually agreed to leave. They gave me a set of keys to get out of the building as well as the security code to set the alarms on my way out.
When I finished the last box, I stacked them neatly on top of each other before checking the time, it was 2 am. I only had 3 files remaining. The floor was killing me. I got up, stretched, plopped the files down on the table, and took a seat on the couch. The soft leather pampered me and I cuddled up against it as I focused on my work. Getting comfy, I dragged them in front of me. My eyes hurt but I'd finish this.
That had all been my plan, but the lounge was too comfortable and I passed out on the first soft thing I'd gotten to sleep on for months.