***Imogen Riley POV***
I groggily wake up, the sun just breaking through the windshield of my beat-up Honda civic. I stretch my body, trying to get into a comfortable position. For nearly three months, I have been living in my car, and my body is really starting to protest. Sitting up, I pull my blanket around myself, trying to warm my freezing cold skin. An empty vodka bottle falling off the seat and into the footwell of the passenger seat. Now I know what you are probably thinking: I’m an alcoholic. Well I’m not, nor do I ever drink and drive.
The first night I had to sleep in my car, it was minus three degrees. I was freezing. Luckily for me, my mother liked a few drinks, and seeing as I couldn’t leave flammable liquid in the storage locker where my stuff is currently stored, I had no choice but to leave the boxes of spirits in my car. The bottles of spirits inconveniently took up half my boot room. I wasn’t lying when I said she likes a drink.
I was going to dispose of it, but I’m now glad I didn’t. Her favourites were vodka, second by tequila. I wasn’t much of a drinker, watching her was enough to deter anyone from drinking. But on that freezing night, I decided why not. I grabbed a bottle hoping to help myself sleep and forget that I was now homeless and having to live in my car. So, decided it couldn’t hurt. My life was already at pretty crappy crossroads.
I learnt that night being drunk helped me get through the cold nights. You don’t feel the cold when you’re intoxicated, in fact you don’t feel much of anything. My alcohol tolerance has become rather impressive. I don’t drink myself to oblivion, but on nights like the first night I spent in this cramped car and like last night, I knock a few back to help chase away the cold.
I watch as the sun slowly comes up. There is one plus side to living in your car. I am never late to work, seeing as I am currently living in the workplace parking lot. No one knows but the janitor Tom. He is a sixty-year-old man, who is balding on top, has kind eyes and cuddly figure, and he has grandfatherly nature.
He stumbled upon me sleeping in my car one night. I told him it was only temporary, so he has kept my secret between us. My bosses just think I’m an eager enthusiastic worker. I am always the first person to work besides Tom, who opens the car park and the building, and I’m always the last to leave. I am not going to correct them; they can think whatever they like. I need this Job.
Reaching for the ignition, I turn my car over, my phone instantly lighting up and charging through the lighter socket. It is 7am. Getting up I lean over the passenger side and grab my outfit for the day that is hanging from the hand hold on the roof above the door.
Sliding my seat all the way back, I slide my track pants off and grab my panties. Sliding them up my legs before putting my black suit pants on and buttoning them up. I then grab my bra, and ducking down behind the steering wheel, I quickly rip my shirt off and clasp my bra into place before putting my white button up blouse on.
I just finished slipping my heels on when I see Tom walking up the driveway to the top level of the parking lot. Swinging my door open, I greet him.
“Hey Tom,” I say, waving at him before reaching in and grabbing my handbag from the passenger seat. Tom walked over holding two paper cups. My favourite part of the morning, it has kind of become a morning ritual. Every morning Tom walks all the way to the top level of the car park, brings me a coffee, and we both walk back down to the entry together.
“Hi love, how was your night?” Tom asks, concerned.
“It was fine, bit chilly but nothing I’m not used to by now,” I tell him, grabbing the cup from his hand.
“You know you can always stay…”
I cut him off before he can continue.
“Tom, I know, but really I’m fine. This is only temporary.”
He shakes his head, having heard the same excuse every morning for the last few months. He knows there is no use arguing with me. I’m too stubborn and am not one for accepting help. Tom continues to the door before punching in the security code to let us into the building. He offers for me to stay with him and his wife, but I don’t want to intrude and it’s not so bad here. It is a lot safer here then the park I was originally parked at.
Tom lets me in early every morning. I usually go straight upstairs to my desk, which is conveniently directly in front of the air conditioner. Catching the lift to the top floor, I step out and into the foyer and walk to my desk, my heels clicking on the marble floors. Grabbing the AC remote, I turn the heater up full blast and stand directly under it, warming myself up while I sip my coffee.
Once I’m warmed up, I sit at my desk and start up my laptop and look over the today’s schedule and any notes I have left myself. I have been working at Kane and Madden industries for about 12 months now. I am a secretary for Theo Madden and Tobias Kane. They own the tech company, and I’m about 98 percent sure they are a couple. Not that I have seen them together or anything. They have separate offices, but they have this way of communicating. They always seem so in sync with each other, and I have caught them staring weirdly at each other. I have also walked in on Theo kissing and sucking on Tobias’s neck.
I must admit it was hot, and it’s kind of turned me on until Tobias noticed me standing gawking, which made Theo freeze, and then It got awkward and tense. I ran from the room. They never mentioned it, so I assumed I was let off the hook. I added that memory to the it never happened file of my brain.
It’s a shame they are both gay. They are the hottest gay couple I have ever seen. Both muscular and tall, Tobias is the more imposing one he seems to be the more serious and sometimes I get these chilling vibes off him that send shivers down my spine from the intensity of his gaze. Sometimes when he is speaking to me, he gets this far away expression on his face like he is looking straight through me instead of at me. I swear one time, I thought I heard him growl at me. But I know that’s insane. People don’t growl, not like a predator does. I put it down to the 18 hours shift I did that day.
Tobias Kane is tall dark haired and muscular 5 o’clock shadow strong jaw and sharp piercing blue eyes. Theo Madden on the other hand has softer features. He is just as tall as Tobias but has a very casual laid-back attitude and brown hair that’s short on the sides and a little longer on top. He has grey eyes and high cheekbones. Both are breathtakingly handsome. Even after all this time working here, I still get stunned by their godlike appearances.
I’m incredibly surprised I haven’t been fired; I have been caught way too many times daydreaming, staring off into space having very inappropriate thoughts about my bosses. But I also know I’m extremely good at my job. No one has lasted this long as their secretary, and no one is willing to do the sometimes-crazy hours I have endured in my position.
Once I finished checking my laptop, I checked the time. It was 8:30 AM. I still had half an hour before my bosses arrived. Slipping out of my seat, I walked to the bathroom with my handbag. I set my make up on the counter and pulled my brush out. I started to brush my unruly waist length blonde hair. After deciding to pull it into a high ponytail, I grabbed my toothbrush and toothpaste and quickly brushed my teeth. I also applied some mascara to my already long thick eyelashes and some eyeliner to brighten my dark green eyes before putting on some red lipstick. It contrasted nicely with my fair skin.
I am so glad this floor has no cameras because it would be so embarrassing if my bosses found out my morning routine. Plus they would see me in all my morning bedhead (or car head) glory. Tom doesn’t count. He doesn’t care what I look like, and I am always comfortable around him. But if anyone else saw me, I think it might be a bit awkward.
Once I am finished, I quickly duck into the small kitchenette and start getting their coffees ready for their arrival. I hear the elevator ding just as I finish making them. I place them on a tray and quickly walk back to my desk tray in hand.
