For some reason seeing him sends a shiver up my spine. He looks more like a predator now that I can see him in the light. He’s huge. Even sitting down, his head can easily peer through the windows. I wonder what mutated breed he is. I assume it’s a he, I’m not game enough to go check.
And that was the last area I paid attention to last night. I know I wouldn’t want anyone checking between my legs to see what I am, if I were a dog. Cracking my car door open, he walks over to me. I pat his big head and sigh. He’s just as soft as last night. He presses his nose onto my side where the gash is. I hiss a little from the direct pressure on it. I don’t know how but since he touched it, I’m fully aware of the zig zagged cut across my side.
Deciding I should recheck it and be on the lookout for an infection, I lift my shirt. The dog watches, turning his head from side to side like he’s studying it too. I pull the gauze back. It holds together well and isn’t pouring out blood at least. Examining it in the light, I’m pretty confident that across my hip bone, that juts out under my skin, the puncture might have gone down to the bone. I try to pry it open with my fingers a little so I can see layers of tissue outside my skin instead of under it. I have thankfully stopped bleeding, but I need stitches or it will either get infected or leave a terrible scar. That’s the last thing I need.
Placing the gauze back over it, I reach for the bottle of vodka. The stray tilts his head watching me. His eyes look so human-like as he stares at me. Is he still judging me? I turn away from his watchful gaze and take another mouthful. The dog sticks around for a few more minutes before he trots off back down the ramp, leading to the lower levels of the car park. I have only five minutes left of break so I decide to lock my car up and go back inside.
When I reach the office, Theo is perched on the end of my desk like he’s waiting for someone. That someone is me.
“Where did you go?” He asks and sniffs the air for a second. It’s such a strange thing to do. I have caught him doing it multiple times over the last few months, maybe it’s like an involuntary tick or something. But it’s definitely strange. I have even seen his eyes go dark a few times after doing it, like right now when he glances at my face before quickly looking away.
“I had to go get something from my car.” I tell him. He eyes me suspiciously like he doesn’t believe me. I know I don’t smell of vodka. Not with only a couple of mouthfuls and there aren't any cameras on the top level of the garage, so he couldn’t have seen me either. If there had been, everyone would have been witness to my house by this point.
The way he stares at me gives me goosebumps. His eyes dart down to my injured hip, staring as if he can see through my blazer and peer at it. I shiver but he stands up and walks away without so much as a glance back in my direction. Shaking my head, I walk into the kitchenette. I place the kettle on, needing a caffeine hit.
I make myself, Tobias, and Theo coffee before walking back out to the foyer. I place my cup down on my desk before knocking lightly on Tobias’s door. No answer. I crack it open, searching, he isn’t in there. The curtains are closed, and the only light comes from his computer screen. I walk over and place the cup on his desk. I turn around and I bump directly into him. I jerk back at his closeness, my hand goes to my chest as my heart hammers away. “Sorry you startled me,” I whisper. He stares down at me. I feel tiny next to him, my face is level with his chest. I have to crane my neck to look up at him, his eyes glued to me.
I try to step to the side but he moves closer, effectively trapping me between him and his desk.
I gulp and take another step back, my ass comes in contact with the edge of his desk. I dare a look up at him, and he stares down at me with eyes that for some reason feel familiar and not because I see him every day at work. I can’t place why I feel that way. He reaches his hand up. It lingers in the air for a second when the door opens. His hand drops to his side and I peer around him and notice Theo stepping into the office. Using the distraction, I scoot away and practically run from the office. Theo's eyes widen when he sees me, having not noticed me when he stepped in. He moves out of my way as I bolt from the room.
Closing the door behind me, I return to my desk and melt into my seat where my coffee waits, my heart pounds in my chest. I can’t figure out what just happened, but I know one thing: the way he moved and silently stood there staring at me, made a knot form in my stomach.
Something happened under his gaze. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s definitely new, it sent thrills through me and fear at the same time. Something dangerous is behind the way he looks at me. That thought alone scares me.
The day passes by slowly. I resist the urge to jump whenever Theo comes and goes. I’m not comfortable with either of them, not after that strange encounter. But Theo is actively avoiding me for some reason. He barely even looks in the direction of my desk, just darts past and never lingers like he usually does. When it hits 4:30 Tobias walks out of his office and places a document on my desk. “I need you to copy this and email it off to all employees, and this is your copy for future reference,” he says. I nod and he turns and walks away.
Glancing at the paper I notice it says changes to Medical Insurance Policy. Scanning over the page, I stop when I notice one of the clauses is amended effective immediately. I read it and nearly cry. This would have helped me and my mother so much, if only it was changed before the accident.
I’m glad though; this has the potential to help so many people. Tobias has changed the Medical Insurance Policy so if you don't have dependents or are single you can nominate one family member of your choosing to be on the policy with you. A lump forms in my throat as I get up.
I force back the tears that brim. I walk over to the printer and scan the documents in and walk back to my desk. I email every employee the document, letting them know of the changes to their Medical Insurance Policy. I receive a few emails back straight away from people who aren’t exactly in my position but have family that could really benefit with this sort of help. Mark especially, his message coming back instantly excited about the changes. Mark is single like me but has a sibling with ongoing medical issues. Mark works in the lobby downstairs and is one of the first people I met when I started here. I have seen him a few times at the hospital with his sister. We have spoken a couple of times, saying how we wished our medical policies could cover our family members. I was expecting a reply from him. I knew he would be just as excited as I am for him.
Unfortunately for me it’s too late. Mark though will at least get some help to support his sister. His message hits my email, and I quickly read it. “Is this real? Have they really changed the policy?”
I reply, “Yes, Tobias just gave it to me. The changes are effective immediately.” I hit send before closing my email down. I know I will be bombarded with questions but figure I will deal with them tomorrow.
Tobias walks back out and nods his head at me before leaving for the day. I can’t form words right now, so I just nod back. I don’t trust my voice not to break at his thoughtfulness. Maybe he isn’t as heartless as everyone thinks. Theo however, I don’t see him leave. He must have snuck out when I was sending off emails.
I turn everything off, making sure to turn off all the lights and check to make sure I switched the phones over to voicemail. I then step into the elevator. Thanks to this one change, I’m truly proud to work for my employers and want to do the best job I can for them. I hope my stray is around, I want to hug him and tell him the great news.