chapter 16

Once inside, Theo pulled me towards a desk sitting in the large foyer. Off the side of the desk

was some elevators. I could see my own reflection in the stainless-steel doors. I looked around

feeling very out of place. Theo was talking to the receptionist. The place was indeed like a hotel with

its red and gold décor and thick black carpets. Turning around, Theo thanked the woman, who was

eyeing me with the fakest smile plastered on her face. “Come, the removalists left everything in the

apartment.” I followed after him. I was on the bottom floor which I felt relieved about, as I always

thought apartment buildings were a fire trap.

Stopping out the front of a black door, Theo popped the key in and opened the door. He

strode in and started flicking lights on. Stepping inside, the room was spacious, the carpets were a

dark smoky grey colour with lighter grey walls and white trims. A bookshelf sat on the wall in the

loungeroom. The place was open plan, and I could see the marble benchtops in the kitchen at the

back of the apartment from the loungeroom. There were three doors which Theo walked over,

opening them. One was a huge bathroom with large black tile on the floor and grey tile on the

walls. The bathroom had a large shower that could easily fit a few people and a bathtub off to the

side. I was so not looking forward to having to scrub those tiles. It may be pretty to look at but was

going to be a real bitch to clean.

Opening another door, it was a laundry complete with a washer and dryer. The last room was a

bedroom which had a huge king-sized bed in the middle and a smaller bathroom off to the side.

Walking in, I looked around. There was also a walk-in wardrobe and double doors that lead to a

small courtyard, complete with outside table and chairs.

Come to think of it I didn't recognise any of the furniture but did recognise my messy

handwriting on the boxes that laid in the loungeroom, kitchen, and bedroom.

“What did you do with my mother’s furniture?” I asked, suddenly feeling ill at the thought of it

being thrown away. I didn't care about the furniture, only one particular piece, the dining table

which my grandfather had made. My mothers’ father was a carpenter before he died and had made

a huge dining table that my mother had adored and had hand carved an intricate floral design into

the top and on the legs. Theo seeing my panicked expression quickly answered.

“It's in our shed at a property we own just outside the city. Why? Something you need? I can go

retrieve it for you.” I shook my head, relief flooding me that it hasn't just been discarded like trash.

“No, but the dining table was my mother’s. Her father made it for her.”

“I promise it is safe, now what do you think? Do you like it?"

“I do like it, although I think it's a bit much. But thank you,” I told him. The place was beautiful,

but it wasn't like home. I actually think I will miss the storage locker and my car. It had become

home for so long now, I don't feel comfortable with so much space. One thing I didn’t miss was not

having a toilet within a few steps or hot water. I definitely wouldn't miss freezing my ass off in the

underground carpark shower or having to run through the dark underground carpark just to pee.

Theo started opening boxes and pulling stuff out. He had unpacked the kitchen by the time I

had unpacked one box, too busy looking over old photos of me and my mum. God, I missed her.

Putting some of her personal belongings into my new room. I chucked on one of her jackets. It still

had her perfume on it. Making me remember the last time I seen her wear it. Feeling myself start to

get choked up, I took it off before sniffling and rubbing at my eyes, stopping any tears from falling

that were starting to brim.

Walking back out, I heard a knock on the door before the handle twisted and in stepped Tobias.

“I thought I would stop in and see how you're going with unpacking.” I just walked over towards

Theo who had just opened a box of books.

“Theo has mostly done it; I have been too busy looking through photos.” I admitted. Tobias

nodded his head and walked over towards Theo and kissed his cheek. “I thought you said you

weren't gay.”

“We aren't gay. We never said we didn't like each other though,” he laughed. I smiled back. It

was so different seeing them acting like normal people instead of just my bosses. “Why? does it

bother you?” asked Tobias. Theo's head perked up to look at me, he was holding some books in his

hand but stopped to hear my answer.

“No, the opposite actually. Doesn't bother me at all,” I stated. I wouldn't admit seeing them

together kind of turned me on in a weird way. Walking over, Theo was reading the back of one of

the books he had in his hand. Tobias started pulling books out and stacking them on the bookshelf.

“You like fantasy novels?” Theo asked

I nodded. “I wouldn't own them if I didn't.”

When we were done, I sat on the black leather lounge. Theo sat in an armchair opposite me, a

book still clutched in his hand. “You can borrow it if you want,” I told him. “It might not be your cup

of tea though.”

“Why you say that?” he asked, flicking through the pages. My face heated up suddenly feeling a

little embarrassed.

“Because it's an erotica book.”

“You read erotica books?” Tobias asked.

“I read anything that piques my interest, but yes, I like erotica novels and mainly fantasy, horror,

and romance novels. Why? Does that bother you?” I threw Tobias own words at him. His lips turned

up into a smile before he looked over at Theo who was also smiling. “No, just an interesting thing to

read, I was curious.”

“Coffee?” asked Theo, changing the topic. I went to get up, but Tobias pulled me back down

beside him on the couch. Theo rummaged through the kitchen cupboards, which apparently, they

filled

“So, do you believe in all that supernatural stuff you read about?” sang out Theo from the

kitchen.

I thought his question was strange. “I don’t know. Some yes, I believe some things others not

so much. I believe there has to be some truth to some of it. People surely couldn't have imagined it

all,” I told him.

“What about werewolves?” Tobias asked.

My eyebrows furrowed confused at the sudden interest in mythical creatures. “Do I believe in

people turning into dogs?” I asked, trying not to laugh. “Is this some sort of psyche evaluation? I can

assure you I am not off with the pixies, and for the most part I am sane.”

Tobias went to say something but stopped. Theo brought coffees over, placing them on the

glass coffee table in front of us. We drank our coffees in silence. After a while, Tobias stood up and

so did Theo. “Well, we will leave you to it. We will be upstairs if you need us,” Theo said after the

silence started to become a little awkward.

I walked them to the door, and Theo dropped the apartment keys into my hand and winked. As

they were leaving, I asked, “Where did the man take my car? I need to get something from the

boot.” Tobias froze before turning to look at me. He crossed his arms across his chest.

“In the underground carpark, just take the lift down,” Theo said. Tobias eyed me, like he knew

what it was I wanted from the boot and was disapproving. I stepped back, his glare making fear

bubble up and giving me goosebumps. His sudden mood change made me want to run, anything

to get away from his piercing blue eyes, which were burning with anger. Theo nudged him

questionably. Tobias shook himself, obviously not realising the effect he was having on me, and

turned and walked away, leaving me staring after them confused at why he was angry.

Shutting the door, I walked around the place and started flicking lights off only leaving the

kitchen and loungeroom one on. Grabbing my keys, I stepped out of the apartment and made my

way to the elevator. Hopping inside, I hit the button for the underground

carpark.0000000000000000