“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.