Once inside, Theo pulls me towards a desk sitting in the large foyer. Is this how it’s going to be from now on, Theo just pulling me wherever he wants me like I’m some damned pet? Off the side of the desk are some elevators, I can see my own reflection in the stainless-steel doors. Suffice to say, I have something else to be embarrassed about. I look down feeling very out of place. Theo is talking to the receptionist. The place is indeed like a hotel with its red and gold décor and thick black carpets.
Turning around, Theo thanks the woman, who’s eyeing me with the fakest smile plastered on her face. “Come, the movers left everything in the apartment.” I follow after him. I’m on the bottom floor, which I'm relieved about, as I always thought apartment buildings were fire traps.
Stopping in front of a black door, Theo pops the key in and opens the door. He strides in and turns the lights on. Stepping inside, the room is spacious, the carpets are a dark smoky gray color with lighter gray walls and white trim. A bookshelf sits on the wall in the living room. The place is open plan, and I can see the marble counters in the kitchen at the back of the apartment from the living room.
There are three doors that Theo walks over to, opening them one after the other like he’s some stage magician. One is a huge bathroom with large black tiles on the floor and gray tiles on the walls. The bathroom has a large shower that can easily fit a few people and a garden bathtub off to the side. I’m not looking forward to having to scrub those tiles. It may be pretty to look at but it’s going to be a real bitch to clean.
Door number two is a laundry room complete with a washer and dryer. The last room is a bedroom which has a huge king-sized bed in the middle and a smaller bathroom off to the side. Walking in, I look around, there’s also a walk-in closet and double doors that lead to a small courtyard, complete with outside table and chairs.
Come to think of it, I don't recognize any of the furniture but did recognize my messy handwriting on the boxes that are stacked in the living room, kitchen, and bedroom.
“What did you do with my mother’s furniture?” I ask, bile rises in my throat at the thought of it being thrown away. I don’t care about the furniture really, only one particular piece, the dining table which my grandfather had made. My mother's father was a carpenter before he died and had made a huge dining table that my mother had adored and had hand-carved an intricate floral design into the top and on the legs.
Theo, seeing my panicked expression, quickly answers. “It’s in our shed at a property we own just outside the city. Why? Something you need? I can go retrieve it for you.” I shake my head, relief floods me that it hasn’t just been discarded like trash.
“No, but the dining table was my mother’s. Her father made it for her.”
“I promise it is safe, now what do you think? Do you like it?”
I do like it, and that's what burns me up, I don't want to like it. I don't want to admit I'd sleep better and be far safer than I have been in the parking garage. Grudgingly, I give in as he waits for an answer. “I do like it, although I think it’s a bit much. But thank you,” I tell him. The place is beautiful, but it isn’t like home. I will miss the storage locker, the garage, and my car. It has been home for so long now, I’m uncomfortable with so much space. But one thing I don’t miss is not having a toilet within a few steps, or hot water. And I definitely won’t miss freezing my ass off in the underground garage shower or having to run through the dark underground garage just to pee.
Theo opens boxes and pulls stuff out. He has unpacked the entire kitchen by the time I have unpacked one box. I get too busy looking over old photos of me and my mom.
God, I miss her. Putting some of her personal belongings into my new room, I try on one of her jackets. It still has her perfume on it. I remember the last time I saw her wear it. I’m getting choked up. Memories are threatening to overwhelm me. I take it off before sniffling and rubbing at my eyes, stopping any tears from falling that are starting to brim.
Walking back out, I hear a knock on the door before the handle twists and in steps Tobias. “I thought I would stop in and see how you’re doing with unpacking.” I walk towards Theo, who has just opened a box of books. How can he move through everything so fast?
“Theo has mostly done it. I have been too busy looking through photos.” I admit.
Tobias nods and walks over toward Theo and kisses his cheek. I blinked at the display. “I thought you said you weren’t gay.”
“We aren’t gay." Tobias replies. His eyes are twinkling in the lights. "But we never said we didn’t like each other,” he chuckles at me.
I smile back. It’s so different seeing them acting like normal people instead of just my bosses. Though in Theo's case, I kind of miss my normal boss. It will take a while to get over how he treated my baby. “Why? Does it bother you?” Asks Tobias.
Theo’s head jerks up to study me. He holds some books that need sorting in his hand, but pauses to hear my answer.
“No, the opposite, actually. Doesn’t bother me at all,” I state. I won’t admit seeing them together kind of turns me on in a weird way. Theo reads the back of one of the books he has in his hand, while Tobias pulls books out and stacks them on the bookshelf.
“You like fantasy DaisyNovel?” Theo questions.
“I wouldn’t own them if I didn’t.” I’m proud of my little bookshelf. Some of my favorite authors are up here.
They insist on sorting the entire thing while I sit on the black leather couch and watch them. Theo sits in an armchair opposite me, a book still clutched in his hand. “You can borrow it if you want,” I tell him. “It might not be your cup of tea though.” I hide my smile by turning my attention to the windows. My lips twitch.
“Why do you say that?” He asks, flicking through the pages. My face heats up, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed as he gets closer to the end.
“Because it’s a spicy reverse harem book." I point out. At their blank stare I sigh, "You know, erotic romance?"
“You read erotica books?” Tobias questions. He doesn't laugh at me, that’s interesting.
“I read anything that piques my interest, but yes, I like erotica DaisyNovel and mainly fantasy, horror, and romance DaisyNovel. Why? Does that bother you?” I throw Tobias' own words at him. His lips turn up into a smile before he looks over at Theo who’s also smiling. “No, just an interesting thing to read, I was curious.”
"If you do borrow it, I expect you to return it in one piece. That's a signed copy of Moonlight Muse, she's one of my favorites."
Tobias chuckles. "Her Forbidden Alpha." He reads the title to Theo who shrugs.
"I'll still borrow it. Coffee?” Asks Theo, changing the topic. I go to get up, but Tobias pulls me back down beside him on the couch.
"You're not a secretary here, Imogen." He says the words softly but his eyes are dark. Without Theo around, it’s hard to breathe again.
Theo rummages through the kitchen cupboards, which apparently, they have filled. How strange would it be to have hot food whenever I want it? To be able to just poke around the fridge and not have to force myself to eat something questionable before it goes bad? I’m honestly excited about it.
“So, do you believe in all that supernatural stuff you read about?” Theo calls from the kitchen.
That’s a bit of a weird question. He’s more interested in the supernatural element than one woman being drilled several different ways by multiple men? “I don’t know. Some, yes. I believe some things, others not so much. I believe there has to be some truth to some of it. People surely couldn’t have imagined it all,” I tell him.
“What about werewolves?” Tobias questions from beside me.
My eyebrows furrow, confused at the sudden interest in mythical creatures. “Do I believe in people turning into dogs?” I ask, trying not to laugh. “Is this some sort of psych evaluation? I can assure you I am not off with the pixies, and for the most part I’m sane.”
Tobias goes to say something else but stops. Theo brings coffees over, placing them on the glass coffee table in front of us. We drink our coffees in silence. After a while, Tobias stands up and so does Theo. “Well, we will leave you to it. We will be upstairs if you need us,” Theo says after the silence starts to become a little awkward.
I walk them to the door, and Theo drops the apartment keys into my hand and winks. As they are leaving, I ask, “Where did the man take my car? I need to get something from the trunk.” Tobias freezes before turning to look at me. He crosses his arms across his chest.
“In the underground garage. Just take the elevator down,” Theo says. Tobias eyes me, like he knows what it is I want from the trunk and is disapproving. I step back, his glare makes fear bubble up and give me goosebumps. His sudden mood change makes me want to run, anything to get away from his piercing blue eyes, which are burning with simmering rage. Theo nudges him questionably. Tobias shakes himself, obviously not realizing the effect he’s having on me, he turns and walks away, leaving me staring after them confused at why he’s angry.
Shutting the door, I walk around the place and started flickering lights off, only leaving the kitchen and living room one on. Grabbing my keys, I step out of the apartment and make my way to the elevator. Hopping inside, I hit the button for the underground garage.