Page 6 of Sinful Mates

I have just gotten semi naked in front of my bosses. What are they thinking? That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. Not that I would sue them, I needed my job, but this entire scenario makes me mortified

“But I saw you kissing his neck,” I blurt.

Tobias raises an eyebrow at me. “Not everything you see is what it appears to be.”

Can he get away from my chest? I don't have that many buttons! But I can't bring myself to pull away, it’s all I can do to just manage to stay upright.

“Well, I’m pretty sure I didn’t imagine it, and you both live together.” I point to the two of them as if forcing myself to remember their connection.

“We share a home, but that’s not all we like to share,” Theo whispers beside me. I jump at his closeness, his breath cold on my neck making me shiver. There’s that haunted feeling again.

“We aren’t gay, we like women, too,” Tobias emphasizes the last word, licking his lips. Are my bosses hitting on me, or am I blowing this all out of proportion in my head?

I scramble to my feet, doing the last of my buttons and scurrying out of the office. I can swear they laugh at my escape. I rush into the bathroom and do as much damage control as possible. I still have a meeting to get through.

When I trot in, a few heads turn at my shirt choice, but no one says anything. Even if they want to, I doubt they would have dared with Tobias and Theo walking in directly behind me. Whenever they are around, people seem to disappear or walk away in the opposite direction. No one likes crossing their path for fear of losing their jobs, being yelled at, or having something thrown at them.

The fact every other secretary quit under them shows how demanding they can be. Once the meeting is over, after endless hours of going through the files I sorted, I hastily leave the room, going back to my desk. Once there, my phone rings. It’s the hospital calling. I don’t hesitate to answer. I prepare myself. “Hello.”

“Imogen, it’s me Sally.” Her voice comes out in a rush. My heart skips a beat. I have been waiting for this call; I just wasn’t expecting it to be today. “The Medical Ethics Board ruled against you. They have decided to turn your mother’s life support off, saying it is no longer medically viable to have her remain on it.” Her words make sense, but after her first sentence I find it impossible to focus.

My lungs constrict painfully, the pressure almost unbearable. I thought I was prepared for this phone call. I've wasted a night I could have seen her—one more day holding her hand, telling her I love her. My throat gets tight, it’s hard to breathe, and I start hyperventilating. My eyes blur with unshed tears. I can't afford to pass out. Not when my mother needs me. My heart plummets into my stomach. I fight the tears from spilling over. Sally’s still talking, I need to focus on her. Grasping the phone, my knuckles feel like they are going to split through my skin. My voice shakes, I can barely get the words out; I’m surprised Sally can understand me at all. I can’t even recognize the simple word that just comes out of my mouth. “When?”

“Tonight, Imogen. I’m so sorry.” Sally doesn't sound like she’s doing so good herself. But I have nothing in me to care about others. I hang up the phone in a daze and grab my keys and purse. I’m in full autopilot. My hands shake as I try to think of what I should be doing at this moment. Gathering the last few things I need, I make my way to the elevator. My vision has gotten dark, all I can see is straight ahead. I jab the button to go down and the doors slide open, revealing my two bosses in all their glory. But none of that matters to me. I have to get out, get to the hospital and get there now.

They’re talking but stop immediately as I shuffle into the elevator, moving between them. They turn around, both staring at me. Theo speaks but I can’t hear a word he’s saying, my ears pound with my heartbeat. The only word I hear is tonight, they’re taking her off tonight. Theo reaches for me, but I put my hands up, warding off their advances as my body shakes.

“Don’t touch me, I… I need to go,” I stammer out before slamming the button repeatedly to go down to the ground floor. They quickly step out of the elevator, concern etched on both their faces before the closed doors erase them from my sight.

I know they’re concerned, but right now I don't care to explain I just need to get to her. Get to my mom and say goodbye before it is all over.

I watch the buttons light up for each floor I go down, time slows as I watch the numbers tick down. I’m nervous, impatient, and try to hold all my pieces together.

When the elevator doors ping on the bottom floor, I take off running, my shoulder smashes into the elevator door, having not had enough time to open completely. I can't feel anything but the dread building inside of me. The hospital isn’t far, and I make it there in under five minutes. My heels slide on the floor outside my mother’s ward door as I grip the door handle, take a breath, and enter.

The ward is full of doctors moving other patients out. Sally stands amongst them, her green scrubs standing out amongst the doctors in their white coats. Sally glances at the clock, probably wondering if I’ll get here in time. Seeing me, she comes rushing over and wraps her arms around me. “I’m so sorry, Imogen.”

I nod, watching as another patient is wheeled out and transferred to another room, leaving only my mother, a doctor, Sally, and myself.

The doctor is an older woman in her fifties. She has graying hair that reaches her shoulders, pulled back with a clip, kind, soft brown eyes, and a pale complexion. She’s wearing a doctor’s coat and white scrubs. Her name tag reads Laurel.

“Hi, you must be Imogen?” she says, reaching out and grasping my hand softly between hers.

“The Medical Ethics Board has decided to remove your mother from life support. In doing so I will just prepare you for what will happen next.” I stare at her, my face completely blank. I think I’m in shock, but at the same time I understand everything she says, even nod a few times.

When she’s done, she asks If I want some time with my mother. I nod and they both stride out, leaving me alone with her. I creep slowly over to her bed and hold onto her hand. Gazing down at her, she looks like she’s just sleeping, her face is slack with the tube hanging out of it, keeping her breathing. I stroke her hair gently.

“Momma, it’s me, your Immy. They’ve decided to turn your life support off.” I stare at her, hoping for some miracle. But there’s none. I can hear Sally and the doctor talking softly outside the door. None of this feels real. “If you can hear me, mom, please know I’m sorry. I tried, I really did. I love you, Momma, but I have to let you go.” My eyes burn with the need to shed tears, but I hold them back.

The time has come. I’m supposed to be prepared for this but why don’t I feel like I’m prepared at all? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say to her now that this is goodbye. So instead, I just hold her hand, rubbing circles into her soft, thin skin.

The doctor comes in with Sally. I peer up when they enter. Sally looks heartbroken for me, and I turn away from her. I can’t handle seeing the sadness in her eyes.

I know once I let myself cry, I will never stop. So instead, I take a deep breath and close my eyes, telling myself I can do this, hardening my resolve. The doctor asks me to step out so she can remove the tubes and switch everything off. I shake my head at her. I want to be here for every last moment, no matter how hard. I owe mom this since I haven't been able to stop it.

When she pulls the tube out of her throat, my mother makes a gurgling noise and gasps, but the doctor reassures me it’s the body’s normal reaction. I squeeze my mother's hand tighter, trying to ignore the noises her body makes. The machines erupt into a scream of beeps, screaming to the world that the patient isn't doing well. One by one, the doctor shuts them off, leaving us in silence with my gasping mother.

When she’s done, she squeezes my shoulder tightly before walking over to the side. The doctor says my mother can last a few hours or go quickly. Mom leaves quickly. Her breathing slows, her lips turn blue, and her body convulses, making me jump to my feet. I wrap my arms around her neck, pressing my head to hers.