Sinful Mates 1-3

chapter 6

They both look concerned. Did I do something alarming? They were just arguing, or did I imagine

that too, what were they arguing about, why couldn’t I remember anymore? They look like their normal

selves. I stand there just as confused as they are. Tobias breaks the silence. His voice forcing me out

of my own head.

“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 look between themselves. The room starts to warp and spin, I see

Tobias shove past Theo reaching for me. My muscles feel so heavy. Oh no I know what this is, I am

having a panic attack. Shit. I try to breathe, but my body gives up functioning and I can’t catch my

breath. The next thing I see is darkness.

Coming to… I groggily lift myself onto my elbows but am forced down by Theo’s hand on my

shoulder. “Woah there lay back down for a bit.” I stare, confused. I am laying on the brown leather

lounge in Tobias’s office. I can see him sitting on the edge of his desk, his arms folded across his chest

making him appear even more intimidating than usual. Concern etched on his face as he stares back.

Theo on the other hand is sitting beside where I lay on the lounge rubbing my legs. Shit, I did

something embarrassing, I know it.

“What happened?” I ask, completely confused; I try to think of the last thing I remember. But only

remember eavesdropping on a conversation between Tobias and Theo about… Then not being able to

breathe, and then darkness.

“You fainted, just lay down for a bit and here drink this,” says Tobias, walking back over with a

glass of water in his hand. I sit up and lean against the armrest. Reaching out I grip the ice-cold glass

of water, my fingertips brushing Tobias. He rips his hand away like I burnt him before moving back to

his desk.

After a few minutes, a knock sounds on the door. Tobias tells them to enter, and a leggy blonde

woman steps into the office with a few Styrofoam food cartons in her hand. It smelt like Chinese food.

The blonde woman peered 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.

She was incredibly attractive; she had a white suit pants on and a blazer with a black singlet top.

“Just leave it on the desk, Merida,” Theo spoke quietly. Merida jumped slightly but obeyed before

quickly darting back out of the room, which had grown incredibly tense. What had I just witnessed?

Why did she seem so scared? And more importantly, how long had I been out? Looking at the clock

that hung above the door, I noticed the time. 3:15 PM … my eyes bulged out of my head. I have been

out for hours. Jumping to my feet, I quickly made my way to the door. Shit, I was supposed to have the

Merger files ready by 4 PM. Just as I opened the door, a hand shoved it shut, the lock clicking into

place. I felt heat seep into my back. I instinctively froze at the abrupt harshness of the door being

slammed in my face.

“Sit back down, Imogen.” His voice was demanding. A cold shiver ran up my spine at his hot

breath tickling the back of my neck.

“I have to get the Merger documents for your meeting,” I tried to argue back. My voice came out

shaky, I could hear the fear in my own voice. But why was I suddenly scared of my boss?

Leaning into me, his front pressed into my back. Lowering his head to my ear, he whispered, “I

said sit back down.” I turned towards the room only to be met with Tobias’ harsh gaze staring down at

me. I shrunk under his gaze and took a step back hitting the door, suddenly feeling extremely small

beside him. Who was I kidding? I was small beside him regardless, but right now I felt tiny and weak.

His eyes softened when they met mine. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He spoke gently.

Reaching up, he placed a loose hair back behind my ear before stepping away, motioning for me to sit

back next to Theo. I quickly obeyed.

Theo gripped my knee softly before letting go.

“Don’t worry about him, he is a bit tense. We also cancelled the meeting. It’s not till Tomorrow

morning now,” Theo reassured me. I nodded in understanding, but all I wanted to do was get out of this

room. I can’t believe I slept all day on my boss’s couch. How embarrassing. God, I hope I didn’t talk in

my sleep or fart. Oh my god, what if I did? I suddenly wished the floor would open up and swallow me.

“Here!” said Tobias, dropping the Styrofoam food carton in front of me before placing another in

front of Theo. I went to tell them I was fine but was cut off with Tobias’ deadly glare.

“It wasn’t a choice, Imogen... Eat” Each word was full of authority, but it also sounded like he was

daring me to disobey him.

I did as I was told. I could have sworn I saw Tobias smirk at me obeying his demands like a child.

Could this be any more awkward and embarrassing? But the food was good, and I was starving.

Maybe that’s why I fainted between being busted eavesdropping and not eating properly for months,

maybe I overwhelmed myself.

When I had finished eating the fried rice and satay chicken, I sat quietly, waiting to be dismissed

from his office, but it never came. Instead, Theo picked up the empty food containers and disposed of

them. Tobias walked over to the cabinet next to the window and pulled out three glasses, pouring a

brown liquid that kind of resembled whiskey. Turning around, he handed me one. Theo walked over

and picked up his own, downing it in one mouthful. I watched Theo leave the room quietly, leaving me

with Tobias. I suddenly wanted him to come back, I turned staring at the door. My hands started to

become sweaty.

Tobias felt less intimidating with Theo in the room. Turning around to face the room and adjusting Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

my sitting position on the lounge, I noticed Tobias watching me over his glass. I fiddled with the cup

between my fingers. Bringing his drink to his lips, he downed every drop of it. I smelt my drink before

scrounging my nose up, it smelt sweeter than vodka. Nothing was as harsh as vodka or tequila.

Bringing the glass to my lips, I downed it in one mouthful. It was sweet and smooth tasting. It burned a

bit but not like some of the bottles of liquor I had stored in my boot, especially the cheaper bottles mum

liked to drink.

Standing up, I went to place the glass down when Tobias grabbed it and refilled it before passing it

back to me. I raised an eyebrow at him, but I accepted the glass. Theo returned, the door lock clicking

softly behind him.

In his hands he was clutching some boxes of paperwork. “We are being audited, so we need all

these files sorted and all contracts arranged by dates. Get comfortable, it is going to be a long night.”

Tobias spoke clearly. I looked at the four boxes Theo carried in, knowing it wasn’t even half of them.

Downing the glass of whiskey, I sat on the floor and started pulling files from the boxes.

Halfway through the night, someone ordered more food and brought coffees up to us. I am not

sure when they had time to order anything, as I never saw them pick up their phones once to order

anything, but I was glad. We had worked well into the night and I was exhausted. When it came time to

close the building up at 9PM, Tobias looked up at the security guard who had stepped in the office to let

us know he was about to lock up.

“You guys go. There isn’t much left, and I will get it done and head off soon.” Tobias and Theo

looked unsure but eventually agreed to leave. They gave me a set of keys to get out of the building as

well as the security code to set the alarms on my way out.

When I finished the last box, I stacked them neatly on top of each other before checking the time, it

was 2 am. I only had 3 files sitting out. Getting comfy on the lounge, I dragged them in front of me. My

eyes were starting to hurt, and all the words were starting to blur into one. My fingers felt numb from

scouring the pages.