I can't escape this now (unless you show me how) TODDBLACK - NOT ME THE SERIES

8 - second nature

Todd glanced at his watch, with less than seventy minutes left before his scheduled appearance in front of multiple cameras he felt the weight of the ticking time.

However, his mind was consumed with something else entirely.

He had been staring at his computer screen long enough to cause his eyes to grow weary and burn.

It was Tuesday and despite having until Thursday to prepare his presentation, it was far from being finished. It had to be perfect. He couldn't—wouldn't—allow any more mistakes.

The sleep deprivation was starting to take its toll. Desperately hoping to ward off exhaustion, Todd took a long sip from his coffee cup before placing it back on his desk. Coffee wasn't typically his go-to beverage, but it kept him awake.

As he leaned back to stretch his back, his phone began to ring. Groaning, he accepted it without checking who was calling.

"Hello?"

"Where's Black?" White.

Todd sighed and closed his eyes, resting his head on his hand. "What?"

"You heard me."

"He's not with me," Todd said sharply. Then, a bit softer, "How are you so sure he's in danger? It's not unusual for him to disappear."

"I just know."

"Your twin-thing?"

"Yeah."

Todd had never fully understood their connection, though he knew that it was never wrong.

Todd checked his watch again (sixty-minutes). "What makes you think he's with me?"

"I know that you sent someone after him. If I find out that it's you, I—"

"You what?"

"Don't think I have forgotten that you were behind the attack on my brother. I have let you off the hook because Black insisted on doing this alone, but I won't hold back if I find out you're behind this."

Todd raised his eyebrows at his threat. He sounded almost like Black.

A muffled voice outside the door, then a knock.

"I'm kind of in the middle of something, so let me cut this short," Todd said with a lowered voice, "He's not with me. And no, I'm not lying." Before White could argue back, he hung up.

This was ridiculous. This was the first time White had called him ever since Black woke up and it's just to accuse him of kidnapping Black?

"Come in."

The door opened and Win came in, he closed the door behind him.

"Someone's here to do your make-up."

Todd looked down on his desk, then back up at Win. "Show them to my conference room. I'll be there in a minute."

Win nodded, then left.

Todd was alone with Beam again. The last few days he kept Beam under close surveillance. He needed to be able to trust him. He needed to trust him.

Todd shook his head and turned his attention back to the few-pages long statement on his desk. But no matter how many times he reread the same sentence over and over again, the words didn't register in his mind.

Instead, he felt his mind slipping back to Black storming into his office the day before. He was talking about someone being after him.

He groaned, rubbing his hands over his face. Alright, just this once. Just to make sure.