Obsession

Chapter 3

"What happened to Lawrence, Ms. Avery?" he leans in closer to me after he presses his floor button. I make a step to the side.

"Apologies, it's a habit." I reply.

"Do you need a ride home?" he asks. It sounds like a genuine offer but I'd rather shit in my hands and clap than be stuck in a car with him.

"No, I can walk just fine."

"You walk all the time?" he leans against the elevator wall.

"Yes."

"You know," Lawrence looks over at me pursing his lips, I move to the left and my shoulder brushes against the wall, "someone as ...temperate as you shouldn't be walking around by herself at night."

"And what do you mean by that?" I shoot him a glare making a few steps toward him, daring him to say anything further.

"Well, you're temper did land you in my office, no? Imagine what kind of trouble you'd get into on this city's streets," he remarks.

"So you're saying that I can't handle myself? Like a grown adult?" Now I was only inches from his face with my accusatory finger pressing into his chest.

"Precisely."

That one sentence sends a shock of revulsion through me. It mixes with any sense of attraction I could have felt and purges it from my heart.

Our faces are so close, our noses just inches apart. I feel his cool minty breath blow softly against my lips, which were poised to empty a multitude of curses and explain exactly why I believed he was a chauvinist pig birthed from the pits of hell.

Then like a curse and a miracle the elevator finally stopped, preventing the total destruction off my career. I rush out from under his arms, still irritated. Luckily, no one was around to notice us at this hour.

"Who the heck uses the word temperate anyways..."

Only when I'm outside the lift I realize we're in the parking lot level. It was empty save for one car, Lawrence's.

A clink sounded behind me. Lawrence spun his keys on his finger while walking to the vehicle.

I swear to God-

"Are coming, love?" he asks through his annoying grin, "I know you're tired."

The worst part was that he was right. Even though I was sitting in a chair all day, my legs felt like jelly and my eyelids were heavy. I worked way overtime today, I might pass out on the streets.

Hesitantly, I met him at the car. He might kidnap me but... fuck it.

Lawrence held the passenger door open for me and i seated myself in the cold leather seat. The car smells like him, vanilla with hints of red wine underneath.

My bag rests on my lap and I take out my apartment keys.

The driver's door shuts and the car's engine revs. Goosebumps appear down my arms and neck.

"Put your address into the GPS," Lawrence points to the dashboard screen. I do that quickly.

Only after I do I realize how far my apartment really was from the building.

"That's at least twenty minutes by car," Lawrence comments, "You really walk that distance every night?"

"Well usually I leave earlier, I worked way overtime today," I respond.

"Let's stop that from today, Ms. Avery," he says before driving out of the garage.

Before I could get a response out I gasp at the city lights. Blues, pinks and purples illuminate the sky in a blur of colors.

It was almost like the colors were dancing in my stomach.

Eventually, the lights blur to just circles and streaks. A yawn escapes my lips before I fade away.

***

I woke up in my bed. I'm wrapped comfortably in my duvet and my shoes are laid next to my bed in a neat manner.

With a yawn I leave my bed and draw the window curtains, golden noon light filters through the glass onto my skin.

Crap.

I don't remember what happened last night but at least I woke up at home, unscathed.

Instead of questioning it any longer I have a quick bath, brush my teeth and change into a black skirt and blouse. I wrap my hair into a bun at the back of my head. I'll fix it on the way.

Next to the door to my room something catches my eye. The white chair I use to read at night has a rose on it.

I twirl it around my fingers, the thorns have been cut off and there's a white ribbon tied around the stem. Where'd this come from?

I meet my roommate Loren in our living room. Thank goodness she's home today.

"Loren," I gasp. She was lounging on the couch with her hair under a bonnet and in an oversized hoodie while on her phone.

"Avery!" her voice echoes into the kitchen while I get a slice of bread and butter. "Who was that man with you last night?" She gives me a smile resembling that of a fox.

My stomach drops and I put down the butter knife before turning to her. "What happened?"

"He dropped you off here last night."

"I don't remember waking up though."

"You didn't! He," Loren pauses, giggling, "He carried you up while you were asleep. Bridal style and everything!"

W h a t ?

My jaw drops. "Walk me through exactly what happened." How'd he even know my apartment number.

He must've seen my apartment keys.

"Well," Loren begins, "I was watching a movie when the door began to open and I thought it was you but then he came in carrying you while you were asleep. So obviously I asked him who he was and said he was 'just a friend'?" She smiles behind her palm. "He isn't 'just a friend' right?"

"No. He's my boss," I say in disbelief. I shove my piece of bread into my mouth before I spin around and find Loren's jaw on the floor.

"What?" I say through a mouthful of bread.

"Your boss is hot," Loren states.

I roll my eyes, "And you have a partner." I slip my feet into my pumps before chomping into my breakfast again. "He's also an asshat," I mumble through food.

"That didn't seem like asshat behavior to me," she retorts.

Not wrong, I must admit.

"Well it won't happen again. I have to talk to him about that. Bye." I pick up my bag, throw on a long black coat and head out the door.

Downstairs I left the lobby and before I was a few houses down the street a familiar car drives up beside me.

"Looks like you're late, Ms. Avery."