chapter 20
chapter 20
After a few minutes, I could hear a low whining coming from outside the bathroom door. Reaching
out the shower door, I opened the bathroom door before turning back to rinse the shampoo that was
now burning my eyes. Opening my stinging eyes, the dog was watching me through the shower
screen.
“You know it is rude to stare,” I tell it. It cocks its big head to the side, not fazed by my comment.
Feeling its eyes on me, I rush to get out. I don’t know why but sometimes his gaze makes me feel a
little uneasy. It’s almost humanlike. Wrapping the towel around me, I get out and dig through the draws
finding an old shirt and a pair of panties. Slipping them on, I walk back out and find the bottle of tequila
I was drinking the night before. Maybe I was developing a problem, but I couldn’t sleep without it. The
nightmares were terrible, reliving the night my mother passed over and over again. The alcohol helped
make sleep come easier now. I went to pour it in a glass but seeing only a quarter of the glass bottle
left, decided to just drink it straight from the bottle.
Tipping the bottle to my lips, the stray walked over his fur brushing against side. He sat at my feet
staring up at me. I took a swig from the bottle, coughing from the intense burn it left in my throat. The
cough would go after another mouthful. A few more and it would be like drinking water. Come to think
of it, I needed to find another way to me sleep. I keep doing this, I may just become an alcoholic like my
mother. The dog whined when I took another big mouthful. “What? Don’t look at me with those judging
eyes. You really do remind me of Tobias when you do that.” The dog pulled at my shirt with his mouth,
tugging me out of the kitchen. Grabbing the bottle, I walked over and grabbed a blanket out of the linen
cupboard before opening the doors leading outside in case the dog needed to pee during the night.
Curling up on the lounge, the dog jumped up beside me.
Watching TV and drinking, after a while my eyelids started to get heavy. I knew sleep wasn’t too far
off. I couldn’t be bothered to get up and sleep in the bed that was way too big for one person. Instead I
stayed on the lounge with my furry hot water bottle. His head resting on my hip, eventually I fell into a
dreamless sleep.
The next morning, I awoke, and the dog was gone. I looked in every room but couldn’t find him. He
must have left. I hoped he would come back, but he didn’t return. Rushing around the house trying to
find something clean to wear, I had ten minutes before Theo and Tobias would be knocking on my door.
My head was pounding, and my eyesight was blurry. I could feel a migraine coming on. I was looking
for some Panadol when the Tobias walked in followed by Theo. How did they get in, they didn’t even
knock?
“Good morning, Imogen. I hope you’re decent,” Theo’s voice sang out. I wasn’t decent, I was still
running around like chook with its head chopped off, trying to find some clothes. “I’ll be out in a minute”
I sang out from my bedroom. I really needed to do some washing. Digging through my oversized
handbag, I tried to find Panadol anything to get rid of this bloody headache. After a few minutes, Tobias
must of have got tired waiting because he burst through my bedroom door. I yelped and tried to cover
my bare legs that were sticking out from under my shirt.
“How much longer?” he asked clearly annoyed.
“Just a sec I need to find some pants,” I said wriggling on the spot trying to hold the shirt down to
cover everything.
Tobias walked into my closet and grabbed a black button up sweater dress of the hanger. Tossing
it at me. “Here put this on, if you weren’t so bloody hungover you would know where you put things,” he
told me. I just stared trying to figure out how he knew I was hungover, was it that obvious.
Seeing my reaction to his words, he answered. “Come on Imogen, next time hide the bottle lying
next to the lounge.” He walked out and slammed the door behind him. I scrambled to get ready in
record time throwing my hair in a bun as I walked out. Theo had my handbag and keys in his hand, as
well as some Advil. He handed me a bottle of water and the two of the little green pills. I quickly
swallowed them while following after them.
Walking out, the valet chucked Tobias the keys. I stopped at his car not wanting to get in. Not only
did his driving frighten me, but I also didn’t think my stomach would handle the jerking and slamming on
of the breaks.
When I didn’t get in, Tobias looked over the roof of the car. “Get in the car.” I looked to Theo for
help, but he was already in the backseat. “I think, I will drive myself”.
“It wasn’t a choice Imogen, get in the car,” he repeated, this time daring me to tell him no.
For the first time, I was actually thinking about defying his order. “Nope I’m good,” I said, turning
around to walk to the carpark.
“Don’t make me come get you, Imogen. You won’t like the consequences if I do.” I stopped frozen
in my tracks. Consequences? What is he gonna smack my arse like a child? Scold me, put me in the
naughty corner?
“Don’t make me repeat myself.” His words were harsh. I could hear the anger behind them.
Turning back around, I gulped his eyes were blazing. I took a step toward the car; he didn’t drop his
intense gaze. I quickly ran and opened the door. “Good girl,” he said before getting in himself. I climbed
in and buckled my seat belt. Tobias started the car; I gripped the seat white knuckled the entire way. I
heard Theo laugh a few times, as I closed my eyes when he would go to fast around the corner. My
stomach plummeting to somewhere deep inside me as I waited for us to hit something.
Only he never did. When the car stopped, I opened the door and jumped straight out. I felt like
throwing up. I stood with my hands on my knees bent over taking deep breathes trying to stop myself
from puking in the carpark. Tobias got out. Seeing me bent over slapped my arse with the palm of his
hand. “Don’t drink and you won’t feel sick,” he said before turning away and walking inside the building.
Standing up, I flipped him the bird behind his back. Theo chuckled at me before he chased after
Tobias, leaving me in the carpark by myself. As I am walking in, I see Tom. He walked over and gave
me a hug. “God, I miss seeing your face every morning,” I told him.
“I miss our morning coffee dates too,” said Tom. He turned and watched Theo and Tobias leave.
Once they were out of sight, he turned back to me. “So where did they put you?” he asked. I rolled my
eyes. I should feel angry at Tom, but I know his heart was in the right place. “At their apartment
building.”
“Really, that’s interesting. Just be careful, Imogen. It’s not the best neighbourhood for someone like ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
us to be in.” I stared confused. Someone like us. I wondered what he meant by that; it was an odd thing
to say.
“I’m fairly sure it is one of the safest areas there is around here.”
He seemed to think for a second. “I suppose you’re right dear. Don’t mind me, I just get worried
about you.” I could tell he wanted to say something else, but Tobias popped his head back around the
corner.
“Imogen, hurry up.”
“Shit, got to go, Tom,” I sang at as I scrambled to catch up with Tobias.
The elevator ride was tense once we got to the office. I raced around turning everything on and
turning the phones on. Theo lingered following me around like a lost puppy. Not even he was game
enough to piss Tobias off today. I could tell today was going to be a long day already, Tobias mood
swings have been getting worse. I felt like we were constantly walking on eggshells at work. Outside
the office he was tolerable, not that I ever seen him much.
At lunch time, I went into small kitchenette, needing another caffeine hit. While I was busy pouring
the hot water, I felt a presence behind me. I knew instantly who it was. “What do you need, Theo?” I
asked with my back turned to him. I felt him step closer, so close I could feel his chest move as he
breathed against my back. Putting the jug down on the counter, I turned around, only to be entranced
by his hypnotic green eyes. They burned brightly and I almost forgot to breathe, my mind becoming
foggy as he moved even closer, his body pressing into mine. I gasped at his closeness, I could feel my
breasts squashed against his hard-toned body, feel the lines of his abdomen as he pressed impossibly
close.
Theo’s hand moved up and he brushed a piece of hair that had escaped my bun behind my ear.
“What are you doing, Theo?” I whispered, trying to keep my voice low so Tobias wouldn’t overhear
and come yell me more today.
“Getting a reaction,” he whispered against my lips before he kissed me hard. His lips smashed into
mine, cold yet demanding. I felt his tongue brush my bottom lip and my lips parted. Theo’s tongue
playing with mine, his hand reaching up and grabbing my breast through my dress. He squeezed hard
enough that it burst the little fog bubble I was in, then I realised I was kissing not only one of my bosses
but my other bosses’ partner. I tried to shove him back, but his lips just moved to my jaw, my body
reacting to his lips on my skin. I could feel the thick fog clouding my mind again, taking over my body
as I willingly gave in. Gripping my hips, Theo placed me on top the bench, pushing himself between my
legs, I could feel his erection pushing into me.
His lips moving down kissing and sucking on the skin of my neck, my hands reached up into his
hair. Theo’s mouth hungrily devouring my skin, sending goosebumps everywhere his lips touched. The
contrast of my now burning skin to his cold lips made me shiver. When he got to my collarbone, he
pulled the top three buttons of my dress open kissing the top of my breasts. My thoughts lost in the feel
of teeth nipping at my sensitive skin.
When I felt him bite on my breast, I squirmed, but I felt his tongue glide over his bite mark soothing
the pain. When I looked over Theo’s shoulder, I was pulled from my daze, when I noticed Tobias
standing in the door, just calmly watching, leaning on the door frame with his arms folded across his
chest like this was the most normal thing to stumble across in the office.
I jumped startled. Theo looking up, seeing my eyes locked on Tobias, stood back releasing me
from whatever spell he put me under.
“About time you came looking for us.” Theo winked at me a cocky smile on his face. I was
breathless and confused, looking between the two of them. Is this the reaction he wanted, a pissed off
Tobias catching us being inappropriate in the kitchen? Theo just strode out of the room like nothing
happened, like he hadn’t just been caught making out with their secretary. Tobias just calmly stood
there for a second before turning around and walking out, his fists clenched tightly. I knew Tobias’s
silence was deadly, like a ticking time bomb.
I quickly fixed my dress and tried to get my bearings. What the fuck just happened? I had no
intention of doing anything. I knew it was wrong, yet my body reacted like I was possessed. Theo
overwhelmed my senses completely, overriding my common sense. Jumping down from the bench. I
quickly grabbed my coffee and went back to my desk.