“Boo!” I jump at the voice next to my ear. “You know what they say about eavesdropping,” Theo whispers, his breath sweeping across my neck. He steps closer, chest pressing against my back. My hands tremble slightly as I place the jug back on the counter.
“You okay, Imogen?” He sounds concerned. Plastering a fake smile on my face, I spin around to face him, but he is standing by the door. Did I just imagine the entire scenario in my head? There’s no way he could have moved that fast and not be heard. I really am going nuts, maybe even having a mental breakdown. Their conversation replays in my head but becomes muddled to the point I can’t even remember what they were arguing about. Tobias steps in behind Theo, popping his head around the corner of the door and staring at me. An uneasy feeling rolls over me, and I can’t get my thoughts straight. My mind feels foggy, and have Theo’s eyes always been so bright? For some reason, I can’t pull my gaze from his as unease rolls through me and tension builds. What’s going on here?
They both stare at me, concern in their eyes. Have I done something alarming? Were they just arguing, or had I imagined that too? What were they arguing about, and why can’t I remember anymore? They look like their normal selves. I stand there, just as confused as they are, when Tobias breaks the awkward silence that has fallen over us. His voice forcing me out of my head and into the present moment.
“Imogen… Imogen, what’s wrong? Are you hurt?” He seems to sniff the air lightly for a second. I tilt my head, observing them. They glance between themselves, doing their silent communication only they can understand. The room warps and spins, growing darker as the seconds pass by. I see Tobias shove past Theo, his fingers reaching for me. The world falls around me. My muscles turn to weights. No, wait, I’m the one that is falling. Oh no, I remember this feeling. I’m having a panic attack. Shit. I try to breathe, but my body gives up functioning, and I can’t catch my breath as the room grows darker; my vision tunnels, and I try to remember the most basic bodily function, one that should be instinct, but I fail. Then the darkness takes my sight away completely.
I don’t know how much time passes before I wake up. Groaning, I groggily lift myself onto my elbow, my other hand clutching my head. Within moments I am forced down by Theo’s heavy hand on my shoulder. “Woah there, lay back down for a bit.” I stare, confused. I’m lying on the brown leather couch in Tobias’s office. Tobias is sitting on the edge of his desk, arms folded across his chest, making him appear even more intimidating than usual.
However, concern is etched on his face as he stares back at me. That’s new. Theo sits beside me with my legs over his lap, rubbing them of all things. Shit, I did something embarrassing; I know it.
“What happened?” I ask, confused. I try to think of the last thing I remember. But I only remember eavesdropping on a conversation between Tobias and Theo about… Funny, I can’t remember a single detail. All I can recall is the vibe that something was off, then the not being able to breathe thing, Theo’s enchanting gaze, and, oh yeah, my old friend, the darkness.
“You fainted. Just lay down for a bit and drink this,” orders Tobias, walking back over with a glass of water in his hand. I sit up, pull my legs from Theo, and lean against the armrest. Reaching out, I grip the ice-cold glass of water. My fingertips brush Tobias’s. He rips his hand away as if I had burned him, before moving back to his desk.
A knock on the door a few minutes later interrupts our awkward tension. Tobias tells them to enter, and a leggy blonde woman steps into the office with a few styrofoam food cartons in her hand. My nose twitches as the smell wafts from it. My mouth waters at the smell of Chinese food. The blonde woman peers around the room, unsure of what to do. Her light blue eyes dart to each of us frantically until she sees Theo, and she freezes in place like a deer in headlights.
She’s incredibly attractive; she has white suit pants on and a blazer with a black cami.
“Just leave it on the desk, Merida,” Theo speaks quietly. Merida jumps slightly but obeys before quickly darting back out of the room, which has grown incredibly tense. What did I just witness? Why did she seem so scared? And more importantly, how long have I been out? Looking at the clock that hangs above the door, I notice the time. 3:15 PM … my eyes bulge out of my head. I have been out for hours. Jumping to my feet, I quickly make my way to the door. Shit, I’m supposed to have the Merger files ready by 4 PM. Just as I open the door, a hand shoves it shut above me, the lock clicking into place. Burning heat seeps up my back. I instinctively freeze at the abrupt harshness of the door being slammed in my face.
“Sit back down, Imogen.” Tobias’s voice is demanding. A cold shiver runs up my spine, his hot breath tickling my neck.
“I have to get the Merger documents for your meeting,” I try to argue back. My voice comes out shaky; I can hear the fear in it. But why am I suddenly scared of my boss?
Leaning into me, his front presses into my back, body molding to mine. Lowering his head to my ear, he whispers, “I said sit back down.” He emphasizes each word, giving me no choice. I turn towards him only to be met with Tobias’ harsh gaze staring back at me. No help there. I shrink under his glare and take a step back, hitting the door with my back, feeling extremely small beside him. Who am I kidding? I’m small beside him regardless, but right now, I feel tiny and weak and hunted.
His eyes soften when they meet my fearful ones. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He speaks 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 places a loose hair back behind my ear before stepping away, motioning for me to sit back next to Theo. I quickly obey as my mind swims with the implications of what the hell is going on.