Sinful Mates 1-3 novel Chapter 15

　　“She is staying at the storage lockers a block from here.” He dobbed on me. Tobias’ eyes dared me to try and lie my way out of it. I knew better than to try. How did he know though? No one knew, not even the manager as it was a weekend, and I hadn’t even had a chance to tell him about my car needing to be stored there. Feeling flustered, my hands became clammy, and I felt a bead of sweat run down the back of my neck. Did someone turn on a heater? I was suddenly starting to panic, I could feel my heart rate rising, hear the pounding inside my head. I was about to be fired; I was going to lose the last piece of normalcy left in my life. Then what? I didn’t know what I would do. File bankruptcy maybe? Try and get a job at Costco?

　　“I’m sorry, please don’t fire me. I need this job.” My words sounded pathetic and desperate. But I didn’t have a choice. I lose my job, I have nothing. Maybe they should fire me. I just wish they would speak instead of staring at me, they were making my anxiety go through the roof. I know what’s coming, just get it over with already. Rip that band aid off quick.

　　“We aren’t firing you, Imogen. We are just disappointed you didn’t say anything earlier. We could have helped sooner,” Theo said.

　　I dropped my head in my hands, relief flooding into me. I wasn’t going to lose my job. How could they help though? I got myself in this situation, I can get myself out of it. I don’t want help; they just need to let me be. I can handle this.

　　“I promise I won’t trespass again.” They both looked at me like they thought what I said was absurd. I suppose it kind of was, who lives where they work? Not a normal person, but hey I never claimed to be normal.

　　“No, you won’t. I spoke to Tom who said you would refuse any help, so I took it upon myself to not give you a choice,” Tobias told me. I stared, confused.

　　“You won’t be staying at the storage locker. Actually, there is no longer a storage locker. I have told him to not let you back, and I took the liberty to remove all your belongings to your apartment,” Tobias continued.

　　“I don’t have an apartment?” I told him, confused.

　　“I have moved you into our apartment building. You will be staying on the floor below us. This is nonnegotiable and if you don’t accept our help, I will fire you,” he stated.

　　Why would Tom say that to them, now they were dangling my job above my head like a carrot on a string.

　　I crossed my arms across my chest, defiant. This was absurd. I have barely had any contact with them outside the workplace, and now they were telling me I had to accept their offer of help for my job. Why the sudden interest in my life? Did Tobias follow me after work on Friday? I just couldn’t wrap my head around how he knew where I moved on to.

　　Not having much choice, “Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. This was so degrading and embarrassing. I have never accepted a handout, and it was killing me inside now I was being forced too.

　　Tobias nodded his head, accepting my answer. “Theo will take you home and help you unpack; I will see you in the morning.” He chuckled for some unknown reason. I raised an eyebrow at him. Theo motioned for me to follow and I did. Walking into the foyer, Theo grabbed my handbag that I kept under my desk and helped himself into it, fishing out my keys.

　　“We will go get your car from the storage locker, then head to your new apartment.” I rolled my eyes at him but followed him anyway. The elevator trip down to the ground floor was silent, when the doors opened, Theo grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the exit. I must admit I like the feel of him holding my hand though is hand was a little chilly. He kept rubbing circles into the back of it while he tugged me along.