Envelope Challenge

Chapter 32 - Embracing Change

So, my few followers (the title's growing on me), what do you think? Should I introduce new characters so late in? What should happen with Nathaniel and Polly? PLEASE COMMENT!

Enjoy!

After signing herself out of the makeshift clinic, Nathaniel and Maria brought her to 'headquarters,' a medium sized office with an excessive amount of cubicles and grandiose conference rooms intermingled with large offices. They drew her into what looked like a conference room, except the walls had a layer of chairs on them and a large screen sat across from the door. There, they forced her to sign a confidentiality agreement before they told her exactly why chaos had broken out while she was escaping. She would be lying if she said she wasn't upset by the fact they were the reason her plan failed.

She wasn't shocked to learn that Rachel was there main target, but was shocked to learn that she was with a dangerous, wanted gang. Apparently, they specialized in assassination, drugs, weapons and human trafficking.

"What did they want from you?" she finally worked up the guts to ask Nathaniel when they were driving back to his apartment.

"The DDA? I'm just gonna work for them for a while."

"You know that's not what I meant."

His jaw worked before he answered. "I don't really want to talk about it, Polly. It doesn't really concern you."

"Did you seriously just say that?" she demanded and turned to face him, making sure not to jostle her leg on the seat in the process. "Not only did you just invite me into your life, I was kidnapped because of this. I'd say it concerns me. Now answer the freaking question before I push you out of the car."

"I used to work for them," he told her. His vague answer forced a groan out of her and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I got that. Now tell me the full truth."

His grip on the wheel tightened and he stared out the window as he took a turn slower than he normally would. "I don't have a nice past, Polly," he admitted once they were back on a straightaway.

"Is it your past?" she asked randomly.

"What?"

"Is it just your past or will it be your future, too?" she reiterated, staring into his eyes as he turned to look at her.

He didn't reply.

They spent the rest of the ride in silence, her accepting that she didn't know him and him admitting that he didn't want to let her in. He wasn't lying when he'd said he loved her; he did. However, he couldn't exactly abandon five years of secrecy at the drop of a pin either. It was a hard-set habit. He was conflicted about what he should and wanted to do and what he was comfortable doing. His turmoil led to an awkward, silent car ride.

An hour later, they finally pulled up to a tall apartment building. The outside was white brick with a metal and glass door. To the left of the door was a metal box that she knew would be used to gain access into the building; her apartment had one just like it. The mailbox was right beside that, a series of large boxes with locks on them. Everything was arranged elegantly, meant for people who obviously came from money.

He parked in the spot marked 1003 and quickly hopped out. Because she also broke her arm, she couldn't use crutches and her wheelchair was in his trunk. She would be able to put pressure on her foot soon enough, but, in the meantime, she was stuck in the chair. It was comfortable, as she'd found out leaving the hospital, but she just might go insane not being able to move as she wanted to.

"Here you go," Nathaniel told her once he pulled open the door and arranged the seat so it was easy to get into.

"Thanks." She slipped in, hobbling awkwardly on her unbroken foot before collapsing into the chair. Firmly seated, he pushed her up onto the curb, into the building and up the elevator. Trapped in the metal box, the tension became tangible.