Chapter 5 #2
Placing the gauze back over it, I reach for the bottle of vodka.
The stray tilts his head watching me. His eyes look so human-like as he stares at me.
Is he still judging me? I turn away from his watchful gaze and take another mouthful.
The dog sticks around for a few more minutes before he trots off back down the ramp, leading to the lower levels of the car park.
I have only five minutes left of break so I decide to lock my car up and go back inside.
When I reach the office, Theo is perched on the end of my desk like he’s waiting for someone. That someone is me.
“Where did you go?” he asks and sniffs the air for a second.
It’s such a strange thing to do. I have caught him doing it multiple times over the last few months, maybe it’s like an involuntary tick or something.
But it’s definitely strange. I have even seen his eyes go dark a few times after doing it, like right now when he glances at my face before quickly looking away.
“I had to go get something from my car.” I tell him.
He eyes me suspiciously like he doesn’t believe me.
I know I don’t smell of vodka. Not with only a couple of mouthfuls and there aren't any cameras on the top level of the garage, so he couldn’t have seen me, either.
If there had been, everyone would have been witness to my house by this point.
The way he stares at me gives me goosebumps.
His eyes dart down to my injured hip, staring as if he can see through my blazer and peer at it.
I shiver but he stands and struts away without so much as a glance back in my direction.
Shaking my head, I go into the kitchenette.
I place the kettle on, needing a caffeine hit.
I make myself, Tobias, and Theo coffee before strolling back out to the foyer.
I place my cup down on my desk before knocking lightly on Tobias’s door.
No answer. I crack it open, searching, he isn’t in there.
The curtains are closed, and the only light comes from his computer screen.
I walk over and place the cup on his desk.
I turn around and I bump directly into him.
I jerk back at his closeness. My hand goes to my chest as my heart hammers.
“Sorry, you startled me,” I whisper. He stares down at me.
I feel tiny next to him, my face level with his chest. I have to crane my neck to look up at him, his eyes glued to me.
I try to step to the side, but he moves closer, effectively trapping me between him and his desk.
I gulp and take another step back, my ass coming in contact with the edge of his desk.
I dare look up at him, and he stares down at me with eyes that feel familiar for some reason, and not because I see him every day at work.
I can’t place why I feel that way. He raises his hand.
It lingers in the air for a second when the door opens.
His hand drops to his side, and I peer around him and notice Theo stepping into the office.
Using the distraction, I scoot away and practically run from the office.
Theo's eyes widen when he sees me, having not noticed me when he stepped in.
He moves out of my way as I bolt from the room.
Closing the door behind me, I return to my desk and melt into my seat where my coffee waits. I can’t figure out what just happened, but I know one thing: the way he moved and silently stood staring at me, made a knot form in my stomach.
Something happened under his gaze. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s definitely new, it sent thrills through me and fear at the same time. Something dangerous is behind the way he looks at me. That thought alone scares me.
The day passes by slowly. Theo is actively avoiding me for some reason.
He barely looks in the direction of my desk, just darts past, not lingering like he usually does.
When it hits 4:30, Tobias comes out of his office and places a document on my desk.
“I need you to copy this and email it off to all employees, and this is your copy for future reference,” he says. I nod and he turns and strides away.
Glancing at the paper I notice it says changes to Medical Insurance Policy. Scanning over the page, I stop when I notice one of the clauses is amended effective immediately. I read it and nearly cry. This would have helped me and my mother so much, if only it was changed before the accident.
I’m glad, though; this has the potential to help so many people. Tobias has changed the Medical Insurance Policy so if you don't have dependents or are single you can nominate one family member of your choosing to be on the policy with you. A lump forms in my throat as I get up.
I force back the tears that brim. I go over to the printer and scan the documents in and walk back to my desk.
I email every employee the document, letting them know of the changes to their Medical Insurance Policy.
I receive a few emails back straight away from people who aren’t exactly in my position but have family who could really benefit with this sort of help.
Mark especially, his message coming back instantly excited about the changes.
Mark is single like me but has a sibling with ongoing medical issues.
Mark works in the foyer downstairs and is one of the first people I met when I started here.
I have seen him a few times at the hospital with his sister.
We have spoken a couple of times, saying how we wished our medical policies could cover our family members.
I was expecting a reply from him. I knew he would be just as excited as I am for him.
Unfortunately for me, it’s too late. Mark, though, will at least get some help to support his sister. His message hits my email, and I quickly read it. “Is this real? Have they really changed the policy?”
I reply, “Yes, Tobias just gave it to me. The changes are effective immediately.” I hit send before closing my email down. I know I will be bombarded with questions but figure I will deal with them tomorrow.
Tobias walks back out and nods his head at me before leaving for the day.
I can’t form words right now, so I just nod back.
I don’t trust my voice not to break at his thoughtfulness.
Maybe he isn’t as heartless as everyone thinks.
Theo, however, I don’t see him leave. He must have snuck out when I was sending off emails.
I turn the lights off and check to ensure I switched the phones over to voicemail. I then step into the elevator. Thanks to this one change, I’m truly proud to work for my employers and want to do the best job I can for them. I hope my stray is around; I want to hug him and tell him the great news.
Making my way down to the now empty garage, I open my door and rip the blazer off and jump into some loose-fitting tights.
It’s the weekend. I’ll have two whole days of trying to fill the time.
Just as I get comfortable, Tom strides up the ramp, a container in his hand.
He opens my door and passes the container to me.
“Hey, I forgot to give this to you. I heated it up on my way down. Mary made lasagna last night.”
“Thanks, Tom,” I say, grabbing the hot container from his hand. The cheese, spices, and meat scent fills my car. My mouth waters.
Tom leans against my car. “Eat. I have something to tell you.”
Opening the container, I dig in. Tom even provides a fork and butter knife, my empty stomach welcomes the lasagna.
Mary is a great cook. I can see why Tom is always so excited to get home to see what she made.
He waits for me to have my mouth full before he speaks.
Probably to stop me from cutting him off, forcing me to listen to him.
“Theo and Tobias know you’re staying in the garage." I nearly choke on my food. My eyes widen. How? I'd been so careful! “I swear I didn’t say anything,” he says, holding his hands up in surrender. I don’t know what to say. I have to move on but how? Where?
“How then if you didn’t tell them?” I question, biting my lip. The hot food is too good for me to stop eating but my brain swims.
“I’m not sure. Tobias came and saw me today. I’m not sure how they found out, but he asked security to check the lower-level cameras, then came to see me when he realized every day I walk up to the top level and come back with you.”
“What did you tell him?” I ask, horrified. They will fire me, I know it. I never should have stayed here, and now Tom is probably going to get into trouble because of me. I'll survive somehow, but I can't handle it if they fire Tom for helping me.
“I told them the truth. You shouldn’t have to struggle like this, Imogen.” I nod in understanding. Tobias has done his homework and really got up in my business.
Is that why he changed the Medical Insurance Policies?
“I'll move on. I suppose I won’t have a job on Monday. I really hope you didn’t get into too much trouble, Tom. I never should have put you in that position,” I apologize.
Tom holds up his hand, stopping me from continuing. “They aren’t firing you. I think he wanted to help. He sounded genuinely concerned, which is odd, I know. That man is definitely terrifying, but he seems to have a soft spot for you.”
I raise an eyebrow at the last part. Tobias possesses a soft spot?
I find that impossible. I think back to all the times he has scolded or yelled at me.
The way he ignores my presence half the time.
Something has changed the last couple of weeks though, he has become more intense and watches me when he thinks I won’t notice.
Then I think about what happened today in his office.
Soft isn’t the way I'd describe that. I think back to the meeting when he dressed me like a child.
My face burns up at the memory, making me feel self-conscious and embarrassed. “I don’t need their help. I manage just fine on my own," I mutter.