Looking at the time, it’s nearly time to finish up, I’m exhausted and for once actually excited to go home to my prison. I need sleep. I’m mentally and physically exhausted, and my brain feels like mush from constantly looking at screens all day. When it is nearly time to clock off, I switch everything off and decide to go down to the lobby and see if I can find Tom.
I grab my bag and head for the elevator. Once on the ground floor, I walk over to the counter at the front. Merida, the lady that brought us dinner the night we stayed back late, is at the counter on the phone, arguing with someone who wants to organize a meeting. After a few minutes of me waiting, she becomes annoyed and slams the phone down, hanging up on the person. She runs her fingers through her blonde hair and lets out a breath.
“Hi, Imogen,” she greets. Her voice sounds tired.
“What happened to the other lady that was working here? I thought you worked on the tech floor?” I try to start a casual conversation to distract her from the call.
“I normally do, but the bitch quit and now, I’m stuck here till they find a replacement.” She sighs, clearly annoyed and tired. “So, what brings you down here Imogen? Where are Tobias and Theo?” She glances around nervously, looking for them.
“Why does everyone do that? Look around nervously at the mention of them?” I ask her, curious. Am I the only one not terrified by them?
“You for real? The vibes they give off.” She shakes her head. “I don’t know how you work all day up there with them. I do not envy you, having to work under them. I still remember the last time when Theo went postal and nearly strangled Max for interrupting him during a meeting. The poor guy quit, and I transferred to the tech floor. I was originally one of their secretaries, I couldn’t handle the hours or tension of working up there. They are way too intense, I don’t know how you do it, girl.” She rambles.
“Max?” I raise an eyebrow at her.
“Oh, he was here just before you started, apparently he works for a rival company now, they used to be friends but after that not so much.”
Jealousy courses through me, knowing she worked for them. Although I can tell she fears them, I can’t help but wonder if they were attracted to her and treated her like they treat me. I shake the thought away, wondering where my sudden jealousy surged from. I don’t want to think of them with another woman, though she doesn’t seem like she was involved with them sexually.
“So, what brought you down here? I know it wasn’t for a friendly chat,” she asks, looking up at me from her seated position. I completely forgot my original intentions of coming down here.
“I was actually looking for Tom, have you seen him?”
“He is probably in the back office,” she waves off the statement.
Alright, this is interesting. Tom is a cleaner, why would he be in the back office? Do they get offices now too?
“The cleaner’s office?” I ask, a little skeptical.
“Huh, what are you talking about? Tom works in publicity, little OCD if you ask me. I sometimes see him cleaning up around here, and I caught him mopping the floors the other day. I actually thought he was demoted.” She chuckles. Now that is weird, Tom told me he was a janitor. What the hell is going on around here?
“Just follow that corridor down and you should see his office on the left,” she tells me, pointing to the corridor next to the stairs.
I turn and start walking towards it, but stop at someone calling my name. “Imogen, wait up.”
Oh for god’s sake, I groan. I was really hoping I don’t run into him today, I really need to speak to Tom. I stop and turn around to face him. I watch Mark jog over to me from wherever he has come from. I like Mark but sometimes he can be a flirt, though I know he is harmless and just overly friendly. I don’t want Theo and Tobias getting mad if they see me speaking to him after this morning’s incident.
Mark stops in front me, his brown eyes light up and he smiles, running a hand through his black hair. He is a good-looking man with a strong build, but I don’t find him attractive like Theo or Tobias. He embraces me in a hug, and I step back, looking around nervously.
“I haven’t seen you at the hospital in a while. How is your mom?” he asks.
I swallow. No one other than a handful of people know my mother was even in hospital, and I haven’t really spoken to Mark or seen him to let him know what happened. “Um, the hospital pulled the plug; she passed away.” I look away, trying not to show how much her death has hurt me.
“Oh, Imogen I’m sorry to hear that, if you need someone to talk to you have my number,” he says, grabbing my hand. I pull my hand away before speaking.
“And your sister, how is she doing?” I ask, changing the topic from my life.
“She is doing better, still a long way to go but they have started her on a trial drug now, hoping the results come back good.”
“That’s great Mark, well I have to go see someone.” I say, turning away when his hand grabs my elbow gently. I stop and turn back to him.
“I have been wondering if you would, like,” he suddenly stops, looking behind me. Just as I’m about to turn and see what he’s looking at, strong warm arms wrap around my waist, tugging me toward them, I flinch. I know instantly it is Tobias, he sweeps my hair over my shoulder, then leans his head down, kissing my neck softly. Mark watches and takes a step back. I look at him apologetically.
“I was wondering where you went,” Tobias says. I can hear the anger in his words and Mark pales a little.
“Well, I will catch up with you next time Imogen,” Mark says, eyeing Tobias before he all but runs away.
I sigh and turn in Tobias’s arms. “Did you have to do that? Seriously, Tobias, sometimes you can be a bit much.” Tobias lets go of me and glares down at me.
“I don’t want you talking to him again, is this why you left without letting us know? To come see Mark?” Really, he thinks I’m trying to run off with Mark? I roll my eyes and Tobias grabs my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “You are ours, nobody else’s.” His words make my stomach tighten from the dominance and control behind his words. I like the sound of being theirs even though I know I shouldn’t.
“Why were you down here without us?” Theo walks over to stand next to him, clearly having heard our conversation. My eyes glance toward him and Tobias lets go of chin.
“I was looking for Tom, geez. Nothing sordid going on.” I’m well aware of Merida’s eyes on us and probably other workers watching. I want to run, just to avoid their speculative gazes.
Tobias and Theo both watch me, seeing if I’m telling the truth. I wouldn’t lie, they would know instantly. Besides, I am a terrible liar.
“Come on time to go home,” Tobias says, grabbing my hand.
“I just want to see Tom really quickly, I will only be a second.” I say, moving away and toward where Merida said his office is. Theo’s hand catches my other hand and they pull me back.
“You aren’t to go wandering without us Imogen, you can see Tom another time, when we are present, understood.” Theo tells me.
Anger rises in me. I try to pull away, but give up when they start tugging me toward the exit. I know if I cause a scene Tobias will lose it. So instead, I let them pull me to the car that is waiting out the front.
Tobias opens the passenger door and waits for me to get in before shutting the door behind me. He hops in the driver’s side and starts the car. I wait until he pulls out and starts driving through the traffic. I turn to look at him, now deciding I will confront him over humiliating me, since we are no longer at work and have no witnesses. “Was that necessary? Seriously, Tobias, why would you do that and why can’t I see Tom?”
He ignores my question, “Put your seatbelt on Imogen.” Tobias growls out.
I cross my arms across my chest. “Why did you have to go and scare Mark off like that? He is a good man, you just humiliated him and me.” My voice is getting higher.
“I don’t want you talking to someone, who is clearly interested in being more than your friend Imogen, you will do as I say. Now, put your fucking belt on!”
Like hell I will, they can’t control me like that. Tobias jerks the car to the side and Theo grabs the back of my seat from the sudden movement to steady himself. Tobias turns and glares at me, before reaching across me and grabbing my seatbelt and plugging it in before taking off again.
“Why do you always have to get under his skin, Imogen?” I look over at Theo, who is picking up documents that fell in the footwell from Tobias’s erratic driving.
Great, just fucking great, now they are both ganging up on me.
“You weren’t there, you didn’t see what he did, Theo, so butt out.” I hear him growl behind me.
“I saw the entire thing, Imogen, and you may think Mark is being friendly, but he wants more than just to hang out with you. Don’t just assume because you can’t see us that we aren’t watching.” I roll my eyes and cross my arms before closing my eyes and sitting back in my chair.
When we get back home, Theo opens my door, Tobias has already stormed into the house.
“Look. I’m sorry for snapping at you. Tobias is just on edge and so am I. Seeing him with you just became too much.” I look at him, before taking his hand letting him pull me to my feet. He pulls me into a hug and kisses my head. “We can make it up to you, Tobias has a surprise for you anyway, it should have been delivered while we were at work.”
“Is it an Internet connection?” I ask, hopeful.
Theo chuckles, pulling me towards the house. “No, but I will have someone come out and fix that, if it is such an issue for you.”
I nod excitedly, “Oh my god, yes this place is boring.”
He pulls me into him when we reach the door, leaning in, his lips going to my neck, sucking on it before breathing in my scent. “I can think of a few ways to keep you entertained,” he whispers, nipping at my neck. I lean into him and squeeze my legs together, trying to stop the sudden ache. Tobias walks out, wondering what’s taking so long.
“If I can’t have her neither can you,” he says, leaning on the door frame, watching us. I reach out and grab his hand, pulling him towards me. His warm body presses into my back as he pulls my head to the side, kissing me deeply. His tongue tastes every inch of my mouth, making me moan and my panties dampen.