Orphic//H.S.

Chapter 03

Toni

The walk back to my apartment was just as cold as the walk leaving home. I debated going for a quick run, maybe cutting it down to a mile instead of the usual two, but one look at my watch reminded me how much time I wasted with Dad.

Okay, so maybe punching Asher was a bit too much but I didn't have the patience to deal with his flirting and suggestive comments. There's only so much a girl can take before she snaps. Especially when the girl has mild anger issues and a strong right hook.

I step through the revolving doors of my building, having to push through a crowd of men in business suits and their assistants in tiny dresses that surely aren't appropriate for the workplace. But, it's not my place to judge, more power to them for having the balls to wear something like that.

The lobby is even more crowded, not surprising at all. It's nearly 10 and this is normal around here. Men from other cities seem to always be choosing my building for business meetings, I would assume because of the three floors solely used for conference rooms. I don't enjoy it, though. Too many people that I don't know too close to my home. Being around all these new people makes me a bit uncomfortable, but they would be stupid to try to pull anything on me. I doubt they would, but just in the off chance that they would, I am more than capable to take care of them.

Pushing my way through the people, I finally get to the elevator, only to see it close right before I can get to it. The only thing I could see before the elevator left was a buff, tattoo-covered arm since the man was facing towards the sidewall. There wasn't any time for me to examine the tattoos, but I know for sure that the person the arm belongs to doesn't live here. Most of the people in my building are older, certainly none with sleeves of tattoos.

Weird.

Thankfully, the new elevator doesn't take too long and before I know it, I'm getting off at the 72nd floor. As soon as I unlock my door, Seraphina nips, and yelps at my feet. I know she's upset that I left her alone. She always is, and she always gets over it.

This time, however, she decides to be a little brat and run down the hall, expecting me to run after her. She must smell the bacon from a couple of doors down. The strong scent was the first thing I noticed when I walked out of the elevator.

"Seraphina, c'mon seriously?" I follow down the hall after her, not having the patience for this right now. I have class in less than an hour, and it'll take me at least half that time to get across the borough.

She ventures further down, turning a corner and disappearing from my sight. With me only a few feet behind her, I expect to catch her as soon as I round the corner, but instead, I run into a wall-like chest. I stumble back and reach out a hand to grab the strong arm in front of me.

"Shit, I'm sorry about that. Wasn't looking where I was going." The very British voice speaks from in front of me. When my eyes come up from the floor, they meet with a very pretty amber pair.

"S'okay. I was the distracted one." The eyes looking at me swirl with golden flakes. The rest of him is equally gorgeous, and when I take in his full person, I see my little Yorkie in one of his arms. She looks even smaller surrounded by large muscles.

Not going to lie, he's pretty hot.

"I'm guessing she's yours?" My thoughts are disturbed as the god in front of me speaks. He's bent a little at the knees, so he is closer to my height and not fully looking down on my head.

"That would be correct. She ran when I opened my door. I'm sorry if she bothered you or anything." I felt very sheepish, he was this beautiful stranger, and I was bothering him with my dog. I hated bothering people, especially those who lived in my building. Although, I've never seen him around here before. He must have been the man from the elevator.