Walking out, the valet tosses Tobias the keys. I pause at his car. I don’t want another ride like yesterday, especially with Tobias in this kind of mood, yet again. His attitude is bad enough but I don’t want to lose my precious pills if I get sick from his driving and being flung around in the car like some helpless pinball.
When I don’t get in, Tobias stares at me over the roof of the car. “Get in the car.”
I look to Theo for help, but he’s already in the backseat. “I think I’ll drive myself today.”
“It wasn’t a choice, Imogen, get in the car,” he repeats, this time daring me to tell him no.
I stare into his dark eyes, I don’t feel like bowing to him. “No,” I respond calmly. “I’m good.” I turn away, walking to the garage.
“Don’t make me come get you, Imogen. You won’t like the consequences if I do.” I stop, frozen in my tracks. Consequences? What, is he going to do, smack my ass like a child? Scold me, put me in the naughty corner? “Don’t make me repeat myself.” His words are harsh. I can hear the anger behind them.
Turning back around, I gulp and his eyes blaze. I take a step toward the car, he doesn’t drop his intense gaze. I open the door and slip in, something about him today makes it impossible to say no and mean it.
“Good girl,” he praises before getting in himself.
I freeze and glance over at him, I should be pissed. I should want to throw something at his head, but instead I find myself doing as he asked.
I buckle my seat belt and Tobias starts the car. I grip the oh-shit bar white knuckled the entire way. Theo laughs a few times when I clench my eyes as Tobias screams around a corner. My stomach plummets to somewhere deep inside me as I wait for us to hit something.
Only we never do. When the car stops, I open the door and jump straight out. My stomach rumbles, threatening to make me lose my water and pills. I stand with my hands on my knees, bent over, taking deep breaths, trying to stop myself from puking in the parking lot.
Tobias gets out of the car and stands behind me, inspecting me as I struggle to breathe. I hear the crack before I feel the sting on my ass. He slaps me with the palm of his hand. “Don’t drink and you won’t get sick,” he scolds before walking away and into the building.
Standing up, I flip him the bird behind his back. Theo chuckles at me before he chases after Tobias, leaving me in the car garage by myself. Walking in, I see Tom, he comes over and gives me a warm hug. “God, I miss seeing your face every morning,” I tell him. Hopefully, he won’t watch the embarrassment of me on the cameras with the whole flipping off Tobias thing.
“I miss our morning coffee dates too,” replies Tom. He turns and watches Theo and Tobias leave. Once they are out of sight, he turns back to me. “So where did they put you?” He asks.
I roll my eyes. I should feel angry at Tom, but I know his heart is in the right place. “At their apartment building.”
“Really? That’s interesting. Just be careful, Imogen. It’s not the best neighborhood for someone like us to be in.” I stare, confused. Someone like us? I wonder what he means by that. It’s an odd thing to say considering how ritzy the place is.
“I’m fairly sure it is one of the safest areas around here,” I reply. Will he explain more?
He pauses, considering his words. “I suppose you’re right dear. Don’t mind me. I just worry about you.” I can tell he wants to say something else, but Tobias pops his head back around the corner.
“Imogen, hurry up,” he snaps at me.
Why is he in such a bad mood all the time? What have I done to him? I think about it for a moment, lips twitching. The correct question would be what have I done to him today? “Shit, got to go, Tom,” I sing, scrambling to catch up with Tobias.
The elevator ride is tense the whole way to the office. Once free from my metal confines, I race around, turning everything on. Theo lingers behind, following me around like a lost puppy. Not even he’s game enough to piss Tobias off today, more than he usually is anyway. Today will be another long day, Tobias’ mood swings have been getting worse. We are constantly walking on eggshells at work, and outside of it things keep going downhill with him.
At lunch time, I escape into the small kitchenette, needing another caffeine hit. While I’m busy pouring the hot water, I feel a presence behind me. I know instantly who it is. “What do you need, Theo?” I ask with my back turned to him.
He steps closer. His chest moves against my back, soft breathing against the back of my neck. Putting the jug down on the counter, I turn around, only to be entranced by his hypnotic eyes. They burn brightly and I swallow, almost forgetting to breathe. Fog takes over my brain. I hold onto the counter with my hands, the only thing grounding me before I’m lost in his gaze.
He presses his lean body into mine, his leg sliding between mine and lodging there. My breasts are squashed against his hard-toned body. I can even make out the muscles on his abdomen. Theo’s hand leisurely moves up and brushes a piece of hair back that has escaped my bun behind my ear.
“What are you doing, Theo?” I whisper, trying to keep my voice low so Tobias won’t overhear and come yell at me more today.
“Getting a reaction,” he whispers back against my lips. I don’t get a chance to ask more before his lips smash into mine, cold yet demanding. His tongue brushes my bottom lip and I gasp from the chill, my lips parting. Theo’s tongue plunges into my mouth, capturing mine and toying with it. While I’m distracted by the coldness of him, he reaches up with one hand and grabs my breast though my dress. He squeezes it hard and I am unable to stop the embarrassing moan that escapes my lips.
He chuckles against me and my senses return. I’m kissing my boss! And not only that, he’s my other boss’s partner.