The Total Sum of Two

Chapter 6

“My turn,” Philip says with a wicked smile.

“Philip,” Gregory mutters menacingly. 

Philip turns to him smile gone.  “I will know more about her and you will allow it.”

Gregory suddenly bows his head turning it off to the side.  He is silent, saying nothing else.  You look between the two.  That was really weird. Why would he care if his boss asks me questions?  And what was with that weird tone? Is Philip not a nice guy after all?  Oi, I’m hella confused.

You scrunch your eyebrows together, trying to figure exactly what is happening in the room.  The air is thick with tension.  Philip turns back to you, his smile once more in place.  He places a hand on your arm.  There's no weird tingle or warmth like there is from Gregory and weirdly, no sound comes from him.

You look down at his hand on you; over at Gregory, then back to Philip.

“What was that?”

“What was what?” he asks mildly.

You slip you arm back into your lap and away from Philip’s touch.  Gregory's tension seems to physically relax.

“It sounded like you just commanded him to be quiet and he just...complied.  That’s not normal, what’s going on?”

Philip tries to look nonchalant.  “I’m his boss.  Doesn’t your boss ever give you orders?”

“Not like that he doesn’t,” you hesitate but can’t stand it anymore and reach over to touch Gregory on the arm.  

“Why are you acting weird?”

He slides a glance over to Philip, then back to the table.  His hand however, reaches out to cover yours on his arm.

Philip is silently watching your interaction.

** PHILIP & GREGORY**

“I apologize, Greg, but you must realize I have to see if she can be trusted.”

“You’ve made me look weak in front of my mate.  How would you feel?”

“She must be questioned!  You questioned my authority!  You gave me no choice!”

“My apologies, Alpha, that was not my intent.  My concern was for her only.”

There's silence in their mind link for a moment.

“I understand.  As Beta you have never questioned me.  I suppose this is new for both of us.  I will be creative, in my questioning so as to not scare her.”

***

You feel like a third wheel as the two men stare at each other for a few minutes.  You’ve heard of close friends carrying on conversations with their eyes before but the silence of this is just really creepy.

Philip and Gregory suddenly nod at each other like they've come to some sort of secret agreement.

You have now put both hands in your lap, not sure what you should be doing or if you should even say anything.  The tension in the room has dissipated  some and both men now turn to you with smiles.

You pull back.  Major creepy!  Okay, I'm now totally weirded out and scared. Smiles are sexy when in sync. Should I have let someone know where I was going after work?  People saw me walk in with them right?  They’ll notice if I don’t walk back out?  Wait, he said the owners are their friends…I am so screwed.

“Samantha, isn’t it?”  Philip finally asks.

You nod but eye him skeptically, “Why?  Why exactly do you need to know more about me?  I’m not your employee, nor do I intend to be.  In fact, I think I should head home.”

You stand up, handing Gregory back his suit coat.  Both men stand as you walk over to put on your heels.  As you slip them on you suddenly remember your bag is still in Philip’s car.  You turn, determined to escape.

“Dinner was very nice, thank you.  However I’m not exactly feeling very comfortable with the two of you anymore.”

Turning to Gregory you put your hand out.  “Loan me a twenty for a taxi?  My bag’s still in his car and I guess I'll need to trust you to bring it to the office tomorrow.”

He doesn’t look upset but more concerned.  “I’d rather you not take a taxi by yourself at this hour.  I can go with you.”

You shake your head no.  “Nope.  Hand over a twenty.  Right now you’re lumped in with him on the creepy feels.  I don’t trust either one of you.”

Philip moves forward, his mouth opening to speak but you put your hand up.  “Nope. Stop.  You don’t get to command me or whatever it is you did to him.  You’re nothing to me; I don’t even work your accounts.  Until I figure out what kind of weird voodoo you have over your employees, you can just stay away from me.”

A twenty is placed in your hand by Gregory and you slide the door open, walking out.

***

You take a blistering hot shower to wash off the creepy crawly feelings still jumping around your aura from the dinner.  What in the hell was all that?  You start asking yourself, trying to reason things out.  Are all his employees brainwashed? Zombies?  A picture of construction workers stiffly moving around a construction site appears. MUST DO AS MR PHILIP COMMANDS. You shudder.   EW.  Just  EW. 

You scrub a little harder, trying to make the goose bumps disappear.  Finally dressed in your warmest sweats and hoodie, you’re sitting on the couch wondering just how you’re getting to the office tomorrow.  Your car is still at the office and your phone is in your bag.  Well, that rules out calling an Uber, you can't even call in sick.

You grumpily head to the kitchen for a Diet Coke when the doorbell rings.  You look over scowling at the door. Nobody visits you, no one.  Well, unless you count Door Dash and you don’t have your phone to order.  You inch over to the fridge, grabbing the baseball bat hiding between it and the counter. 

You drag it with you over to the front door.  You stealthily look out your peep hole. 

“Samantha.”

His voice suddenly calling out your name makes you jump back and you trip.  A clatter and a loud thud are followed by an even louder, DAMN IT!

The door handle rattles and you look over at it pensively. 

“I’m coming in.”

“NO!”

“Then open the door!  What was that sound?”

“Me!  I was that sound.  Happy now?  You scared the hell out of me again!”

You hear a soft thud on the door.  “Sam, open the door please.”

“Not possible,” you respond.  You’re still in the heap where you landed on the floor.

You hear a jingle and the front door opens.  You look up at Gregory with your mouth open, how did he…?

He holds your bag up and you roll your eyes.  Lord you're an i***t, you told him to grab your bag.

“I thought I told you to bring that the office tomorrow?  Did you snoop?  Of course you did, how else did you know which apartment was mine.”

He’s closes the door, puts your bag on the sofa and is staring down at you sprawled on the floor.

“Would you like an answer to that or some help first?”

“I don’t want your help,” you reply grumpily, folding your arms in defiance.

He grins, shrugs his shoulders and walks into the kitchen, pulling out a chair to sit on.  

“Very well an answer then.”

You stare up at him dumbfounded.  He really didn’t help you!  Huh, so much for his words of caring and wanting you.  What happened to the gentleman from the garage the other day?”

He continues speaking, seemingly unaware of your consternation on the floor.  

“I had visions of you being locked out with no phone or vehicle.  But I see you are all comfy and safe inside so I’ll see myself out.”

“Seriously?  You're just leaving me here like this?”

He turns back to you with a bemused smile, “What? I took you at your word.  You said you didn’t want my help.  Have you changed your mind?”

“I’m only down here thanks to you.  Freaking me out at the restaurant and then showing up at my house at an ungodly hour!”

He glances at his watch, “It’s only 9:30, I think God is still awake.”

You bite your tongue and attempt to get up again.  The pain in your ankle says no.  You’d dropped the bat when you saw him through the peep hole and when he said your name you stepped back.  Right on to that bat.  Rolling your ankle and taking your feet out from under you.

Seeing your look of pain, he’s instantly there and sweeping you  up into his arms.  The feel of  being in his strong arms has stolen your breath.  Wow.

His eyes are dilating and you can feel your heart begin to respond. 

“Samantha…”

Warm, silky, chocolatey velvet.

As his head lowers you pull yourself out of your trance, pulling your head back.

“Um, the couch please.  Just put me down right there,” you point.

He nods and deposits you carefully on the end of the couch.  Reaching over, he grabs the throw pillows and moves the coffee table closer.  Stacking up the pillows, he places your leg leg on top.

You watch him disappear and hear your freezer open.  A minute later a bag of mixed vegetables is thrown on top of your ankle.  He walks off again.

“Where are you going?”  You ask, trying to be an owl and see behind you.

“Bathroom.  You said you had a first aid kit the other morning right?”

You hear doors opening as he searches for the bathroom. Crap!  Is my room even clean? I'm pretty sure I went through the closet this morning like a tornado.  You grab the pillow behind you and slam your face into it.  Why?  Why is it always him? Could life throw you a straight ball just once instead of all these curve balls lately?

You’re smacking yourself in the face with the pillow after holding it and quietly screaming into it.  The pillow is suddenly removed from your hands and tossed to the side of the couch.  You look up and then down and away. Why am I  forever embarrassing myself in front of this man?

You turn back as the vegetables are lifted.  You raise an eyebrow, seeing the ace bandage in his hands.  Huh, he found it.  Resourceful.  I don’t even remember where I put it.

Memories of the other morning re-surface as he moves your leg into his lap.  Lifting your pant leg he examines your ankle.  Fingers prod and poke at the slight swelling.  He nods and begins to expertly wrap up your ankle.

“Had some experience huh?” you ask.

One hand remains on your ankle as the other pulls down your pant leg. You can feel the heat and friction from his hand through the bandage and your sweatpants.

“A bit,” he comments.  “I played sports in school.  It comes with the territory.” 

He looks over his shoulder, places your foot back on the pillows and gets up to pick up your offending bat.

“A baseball bat? This is your protection?”

Before you are even aware, you’re licking your lips and biting them, unsure of how to respond.  You simply shrug and look up guiltily.

He lets out a loud sigh and with a shake of his head moves the bat to the kitchen table.  Walking back he sits back on the coffee table facing you.

“All your defense did is take you out,” he motions to your leg.  You twist your lips and turn away, he’s right and you have nothing to say in your own defense.

He turns your face back to his.  “I swear woman you need someone to take care of you.  You’re a danger to yourself.  How have you survived this long?”

That puts your hackles up, “I beg your pardon!  I’ve done just fine on my own thank you!  I swear it’s you!  You’re a jinx!  I’ve never had any of these problems before you showed up two days ago!”

He raises an eyebrow, his smile spreading as he continues to hold your chin.  His thumb now caressing your jaw line.

“Perhaps fate is on my side, trying to show you that you need a man like me to take care of you.”

Your being lulled by his fingers stroking your face.  The best you can muster is, “And just what kind of man is that?”

“Yours.”