Page 23 of Psychotic Obsession

The glass smashes as I launch it against the wall.

Chapter 9

Aria

Despite how well we got on and the minuscule flirting, Tobias hasn’t been at work for two days, so I’ve had to run around with barely any breaks. I’d sent him a text last night to make sure he was okay and wasn’t sick, but all I got back was an “I’m fine”, so I’ve resorted to pretending I don’t have an assistant while running two hundred tasks at a time.

My work email has been busy. A lot of my research back home has been updated, so I’m trying to stay on top of everything.

When I told Tobias about the receptionist catching us, I didn't think it was a big thing. Could that be why he has been off? He's embarrassed people might think something is going on between us?

We were two work colleagues at the arcade. That's all.

To my surprise, two hours earlier than he was supposed to start, Tobias walks into the office in silence and drops onto the chair in front of his desk.

His jaw holds a lot of tension, his eyes burning into his laptop as he sets it down and opens it. The typing is aggressive, and he huffs, checking his phone and shoving it back into his pocket.

“Everything okay?”

He simply hums in response and keeps his focus on the screen.

Tobias is usually quiet, but there’s something else going on. His right eye keeps twitching, and he looks mad. My automatic reaction, being the sentimental person I am, is to comfort him, but that would be out of line. He’s my assistant, and I need to start seeing him that way. Even though I enjoyed myself the other night, even though I liked spending time with him, I remind myself I’m here for work.

Without meaning to, I keep looking up at him from my laptop, his glasses reflecting his screen. If I focus enough, I can make out he’s in his emails. Then, I shake my head and internally slap myself at the invasion of privacy as I get back to my own notes.

I check my notepad full of information Dr. Blythe sent me on two more patients he wants me to look into. I need to make sure my knowledge is sufficient enough to get involved, since America and Scotland are vastly different when it comes to research.

One of my main reasons for getting Ivy over here was because we have more space for research and trials in the States. Although the cost is higher, they have a lot more options for children like Ivy.

I want to ask Tobias if something is accurate, but I don’t feel like I can. His brow is furrowed, and his leg shaking the table from how much he’s bouncing his knee.

What's making things awkward is that not only has he sat in silence for the next hour, but he has been ignoring his phone. It rang four times before he turned it off and tossed it onto the table.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Why weren’t you here yesterday?” I ask. “We had quite a busy day of planning.”

His shoulder raises. “I had to take the day off.”

My head tilts with curiosity. He doesn’t seem sick. “How come?”

His eyes lift from the papers. “Since when do we ask personal questions?”

“Since you’re sitting there in silence as if someone broke your favorite toy.”

“Close,” he replies. “Coffee?”

Confused at his sudden mood swing, I frown at him and tilt my head. "Huh?"

"Do you want coffee?" he asks and laughs, his smile momentarily clouding my mind.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks."

He nods and walks out of the room. I hear him greeting someone as he closes the door before disappearing from my view.

I lean back on my chair, staring at the ceiling with heaviness behind my eyes. Coffee might help, or maybe a week-long nap–or maybe an assistant who doesn’t give me whiplash.