Theo

Fourth day's the charm. At least that was what I told myself as I left my apartment, shivering in the damp autumn air.

It was easier to make the trip across town Friday morning, if only because I'd found the best commute. The congestion was slow, noisy and oppressive around me as I hopped off the bus, but the way ahead toward the entrance was clear enough. Even the painfully normal Sallys and Joes of the world seemed to choose the opposite sidewalk for their morning stroll.

The Stone stood looming over me as much as the previous days, but I imagined I was one of its little ants now, getting ready to enter the hill and do my share of work, indistinguishable from all the other ants.

I was about to send May a silly text about it when someone interrupted.

"Your credentials please, Sir." The security guard from my first day approached, his floppy hair waving in the wind.

I could see absolutely no reason for him to stop me before I'd even entered the building. Refusing to fall apart over nothing, I handed him the card which opened doors and unlocked my new laptop.

He made a show of studying it carefully, then handed it back, his fingers touching mine as if by accident. "There you go," he said with a smile. It was an honest smile, a warm smile, but it crept too close. He must have noticed my reticence, because he continued, "Sorry, Sir, but this is mandatory during your first week here. Don't worry, though, it won't last forever."

He winked, and while I stared his smile widened. The unfamiliar familiarity had me simmering with irrational rage which I had to bury deep and hard. He was being sweet and annoying, not invasive or controlling. I clenched my jaw and walked away as soon as he let me.

"I'm Hank, by the way," he yelled after me, claiming the right to a response. In another world, I might have given him one. He wasn't unattractive, but he was ticking at my shields, raising the alarm in increments. As had all the other men who had ever made their interest known these past three years. Hank didn't stand a chance.

May had deemed me aromantic and asexual, because she liked boxes and thought I would like them too. But she wasn't aware someone had raked their claws across skin and self alike, leaving me a shredded mess with no boxes left intact. She didn't know, but Stone somehow did.

I'd spent most of yesterday worried that I'd have to face him, reacting to the smallest movement in the corridor outside my office until I'd exhausted myself. He hadn't shown up, he hadn't demanded my presence, and I'd managed to fool myself into thinking it had all been a coincidence--that he hadn't somehow figured out my past. That lie had not held overnight.

The question was what it meant. For now, he'd shown his hand by being obvious with his wish to...help? It made no sense, because why would he care?

The eight floor was busy beyond the elevator doors. Joan was running on her moderately high heels, waving at someone with a stack of papers. Tina was headed in the opposite direction, her phone stuck between her head and shoulder. In other words, a normal day at work with all the other ants.

I continued toward my office. It was time to get something done before the week was over.

****

My impressions of Cale Stone made it ten times harder to analyze his online social capital. I saw everything through a lens that cast him in a shitty light no matter his contributions to local and regional charities, his open support of unions, and various involvements in climate change pledges. Anyone who hadn't met the guy would think he was Mr. Goody two-shoes. Somehow, he'd managed to keep it squeaky-clean toward the public. On the other hand, if the wind started to blow, they would relish to find some dirt and watch him fall.

He'd inherited the company at the age of twenty when his father passed unexpectedly. I couldn't imagine that kind of responsibility, even less what it might do to a person so young. I did know what it was like to lose a father, though. If anyone would have given me a company to run the day after, I would have given it away in turn.

And so the hours passed: Me checking out what the public saw of Mr. Stone, then trying my best to interpret what they thought about him without my particular form of bias distorting the analysis.

I was reading about Stone's rather secret engagement with a cat rescue, when a knock startled me. I'd been thoroughly distracted by my wandering thoughts, more and more certain that he hid something truly vile behind the facade of a ridiculously caring alter-ego.

Tina came inside and pulled up a chair to sit. "Busy morning?" she asked. "You were staring at your screen so hard I thought you might forget to blink." That was something my mom had said to me as a kid whenever I watched a movie. I'd almost forgotten.

"It's fine. I'm mostly orienting myself still."

"Great to hear. You'll get into it faster than you think. Anyway, I have some good news." She beamed. "Mr. Stone has changed his mind about meeting you for updates on your progress. He will make time, he said."

I should have expected things to change. I should have been prepared. But I truly wasn't. Relying on skills I'd honed to perfection years ago, I remained as still as I could, relaxing only those muscles which might otherwise give me away.

"I see." Polite. Be polite. "That is very generous of him." I needed an escape. Fast. "But..."

Tina frowned. "No but, Dear. He can make time for you. You don't need to feel as an inconvenience." She went on to pat my shoulder. "It's in his own interest to be involved."

The room was slowly starting to spin and I reminded myself to breathe. I didn't dare speak, worried my throat was too tight, so I nodded when all I wanted was to shake my head and walk out. A nod gave me a better chance to make her leave.

"That's settled then," she said. "I'll let Angie know. She'll get back to you with a time. I'm sure you'll hear back from her before lunch."

I nodded again because there was nothing else I could do.

"Great. I'll let you get back to it." She seemed to find nothing strange with my lack of response as she smiled again and left, closing the door behind her.

For the next half hour, I stared out the window, hoping to find a solution that wouldn't put me at risk of offending Stone. Logically, it was beneficial to have direct communication between us rather than relying on Tina as a go-between. Unfortunately, logic rarely worked to temper my illogical responses to perceived threats.

I was no closer to a solution when my phone rang. I allowed it to continue far too long, steeling myself to hear Angie's voice. It had to be her. Not him. I'd decided I could deal with her. 

I picked it up, answering, "Theo Wilkins."

A pause. "Hi Theo, this is Hank."

I couldn't connect anything for a few short moments, silent as my thoughts realigned. Not Angie. Not Stone. But Hank.

"Oh, hello." Why was he calling?

"I was wondering if you're free for lunch today." 

Floppy-haired Hank with the kind smile. A far safer option than a meeting with Stone. Some part of me wanted to grab the chance to leave the building, but no. I couldn't say yes. Wasn't sure I ever could. It would be unfair to lead him on. Unsafe.

"I'm sorry Hank, I think you have the wrong idea about me. Lunch is not on the table."

"Ah, some other time then, see you around, Theo." He didn't sound discouraged in the least. Persistent bloke. "I'm always downstairs."

Downstairs. As if to remind me I had nowhere to run. Heart beating faster and faster, I imagined it was anger rather than fear. 

I put the phone down without a reply, then I turned it off.

A/N Still new chapters, but some familiar characters. Let me know what you think of the story so far :) I'm eager to hear your opinions!