Tied Up

 

Sitting across the conference room table from Melissa, I glanced at the clock, surprised to see that it was already after eleven. We’d been working together on a presentation for the youth outreach program for the last three hours, and the time had practically flown. Thankfully, we were on a hard deadline, so Melissa was more focused than usual and was keeping the gossip and chatter to a minimum.

I finished another slide and held back a smile at the sense of accomplishment I felt. Although I’d created plenty of presentations and other reports as part of my homeschool curriculum, it was nice to complete a project that would actually be used. Of course, it helped that I found the topic—research on the correlation between education and crime—interesting.

After a few more minutes of silence, Melissa stretched her arms and sighed dramatically. “Can we please take a break? Maybe grab lunch?”

“Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll keep working and eat my sack lunch when you get back.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Nope. Not at all.”

“Thank you, thank you! I seriously need some time away from this room. Be back soon!”

I had just added a new slide to the document when I heard a brisk knock at the door. Looking up from my laptop, I smiled. “Hey, Tyler. What are you doing here?”

“I saw you through the window and waited until Melissa left to come in.” His expression turned sheepish. “Sorry, that sounded creepier than I intended.”

“It was only a teensy bit creepy,” I responded, laughing and holding my thumb and forefinger about a half inch apart to emphasize my statement.

“Well, that’s a relief. Anyway, I wanted to catch you alone so I could ask if you would be my date to the Christmas party tomorrow night. What do you think?”

His smile was so genuine and hopeful, my stomach dropped to my toes. I didn’t have a good reason to say no since I liked Tyler and enjoyed spending time with him, but I couldn’t bring myself to say yes either. When I tried to imagine myself dating him, my mind was flooded with images of six other guys. Instead of walking hand-in-hand with Tyler, I saw myself dancing with Liam, caught up in Knox’s bear hugs, laughing with Theo, sleeping in Chase’s arms, hypnotized by Jackson’s eyes, and stargazing with Ethan.

“Um . . .” Crap, what should I say?

“I know it’s last minute, so if you have other plans, I understand.”

“It’s not that . . .”

His smile dimmed, and the only shred of composure I had left disappeared. “Or, if you don’t want to, that’s okay as well,” he said quietly.

I paused before forcing the words out. “I’m sorry, Tyler. It’s just that my situation is sort of complicated.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you there, okay?”

Not sure what else to say, I nodded then watched him walk away. Did I make the right decision? I wondered. I could have finally experienced a real date, and with someone who was nice, attractive, and intelligent. Jess would probably tell me that I was crazy to turn him down . . . and maybe I was.

Ever since Theo’s birthday party—when I’d first admitted to myself that I wanted Theo, Chase, Jackson, Liam, Ethan, and Knox to be my guys—I’d been living in a kind of limbo. I was constantly aware of every gaze, smile, and word they threw my way, not to mention the lingering touches. But, I didn’t know what any of those things meant. None of the guys had made a move, and I was beginning to wonder if it was all in my head. Just because they were sometimes flirtatious and protective didn’t mean they had romantic feelings for me.

And, what were my options, really? I could go out with Tyler, but would that be fair to him when I was secretly pining after the six guys who were intrinsically tangled in every facet of my life? I could take things into my own hands and pursue one of the guys . . . yeah, like that’s going to happen. Or, I could continue on as I had been and choose to be happy that I had them in my life at all. Easier said than done, I thought wistfully.

Forcing myself to get back to work, I pushed my dating, or non-dating, woes to the back of my mind. I’d already given Tyler my answer, and I wasn’t willing to take it back now.

After taking a break for lunch, I was just getting re-focused on the project when I heard Melissa gasp. “Oh. My. God.”

“What’s wrong?”

She held out her phone to show me a photo of a hand displaying a gaudy engagement ring. “One of the girls from my high school cheerleading squad tweeted that she’s getting married. That’s insane! She’s only twenty; what is she thinking?”

“Wow. That is pretty young. Do you know her fiancé?”

“I met him at a party after they started dating last year, and he seemed like a nice guy, but still . . . can you imagine committing at that age?”

With my non-existent relationship experience, I wasn’t the ideal person to ask, and I didn’t even know how I felt about it. “I guess I’ve never considered it. Maybe if I was certain I’d found the right person?”

“Well, not me. I plan on spending my twenties dating. There are way too many cute fish in the sea to get married so young.”

She continued scrolling through her phone, making comments about what her friends were up to according to social media. I was barely paying attention until she exclaimed, “Oh, that reminds me! I tried to add you as a friend on Facebook, but I couldn’t find you. What’s up with that?”

“Oh, I don’t have an account. I’m not that social, as you know.” In other words, I only have eight friends, including you, and that’s seven more than I had a few months ago.

“Haley! Everyone has a Facebook account or at least Instagram. How do you keep in touch with your friends from high school?”

Oh, great. Here we go. “I was homeschooled.”

Her face transformed into one of total shock. “What? But you seem so normal!”

“Thanks. I think.”

“I guess it makes sense, now that I think about it. You’re quiet, and you’re also really smart. You probably would have been bored in public school.”

Well, that’s one way to look at it.

“Anyway, you totally need to get on Instagram and then post lots of pics of the Jaguar guys. You’d probably end up with thousands of followers.”

Never gonna happen. “I’m sure they’d love that,” I said sarcastically.

When I finished the presentation and returned to my cubicle hours later, Theo was lounging in my chair with his feet propped on the desk. “Finally!” he said, sitting up so abruptly that the chair pitched forward. “I was starting to think I’d have to turn bloodhound and hunt you down.”

“Or you could have texted me,” I replied dryly.

“Or that. Ready for dinner and a movie?” he asked eagerly.

“Yep.” Theo had made me promise earlier in the week that I’d hang out with him to make up for him missing the fun part of the San Francisco trip. He insisted that I needed to experience an ordinary Friday night and made plans for us to go out after work.

After dinner, we arrived at the theater, and I was surprised when we bypassed the line and headed straight for the lobby. Theo had already purchased the tickets and held out his phone for the attendant to scan. Since Dad and I had only visited the movie theater in Minden a few times, I reveled in the experience and enjoyed seeing the film on such a large screen, especially with Theo’s arm draped around my shoulder for most of the movie. About two hours later, we filed out of the theater, the audience abuzz with conversation about the feature presentation. Theo pulled his phone out of his pocket, texting as we crossed the parking lot to his car.

“Sorry, Haley. I need to stop at the office before we can go home. Patrick left something behind, and I volunteered to get it.”

“No worries.”

When we arrived at Zenith, the parking garage was eerily quiet. At ten-thirty on a Friday night, most employees had left hours ago, and there were only a handful of cars in the garage. How miserable it must be to work this late on a Friday, I thought.

The lobby was silent, a lone security guard manning the watch. Theo swiped his keycard, and we exited the elevator on the sixth floor. He scanned his thumbprint and entered a code in a keypad on the wall near the office entrance before we proceeded to Patrick’s office, chatting about the movie and laughing at some of the funnier parts. I was mid-sentence when Theo’s arm suddenly jutted out, blocking my path and stopping me in my tracks. I snapped my head toward him, surprised to find a very serious expression on his face.

Patrick’s office was at the end of the hall and the door was ajar, light glowing from the office. Theo held a finger up to my lips, impressing the need to stay silent. I felt my eyes grow wide, and nodded to indicate my understanding, before he slowly removed his finger. I glanced toward Patrick’s office again and strained my ears for any noise, but all I could hear was the hum of the building. Since all the other exterior office doors were closed and presumably locked, Theo pulled me into a nearby cubicle.

“Hide here and text Jackson,” he whispered.

With a sense of dread settling over me, I shook my head vehemently, not wanting to send Theo alone into unknown danger.

“Yes, Haley. It will be okay. Trust me.” His voice held an authoritative quality I had never heard, and I found it reassuring.

He squeezed my arms and then pointed to the desk, indicating that he wanted me to hide under it. I huffed lightly and nodded, crouching beneath the desk as Theo moved silently down the hall. With shaky hands, I quickly typed a message to Jackson.

Me: Potential intruder at Zenith - Patrick’s office. Come ASAP.

Meanwhile, I waited under the desk for what felt like hours, on edge and trying not to fidget. What should I do? Every second I stayed there, my mind traveled further and further down a dark and scary rabbit hole of possibilities.

When I heard a crash, I started and bumped my head on the desk. Worried about Theo, I peeked my head around the side of the cubicle; between the lamp and the opaque glass, I could see silhouettes dancing around within the office.

My phone vibrated, signaling an incoming response.

Jackson: Liam on the way. I’ll be there soon.

I shoved the phone back in my pocket, grateful for the promise of backup, but for now, it was just the two of us. Theo wanted me to hide, but what had all my self-defense lessons been for, if not for a situation like this?

I returned my attention to the scuffle in Patrick’s office. Creeping closer, I could hear grunting and a physical struggle between Theo and his unknown assailant. I bounced on my toes, torn between wanting to help Theo and worrying that I’d only make things worse if I intervened.

Peering around the doorframe, I tried to improve my vantage point into the office without attracting attention. When I finally got a clear view, my jaw dropped—the intruder was massive. I worked to steady my breathing as I focused on the logistics of the fight. Theo had a speed advantage and was doing a remarkable job of attacking despite the size difference. In fact, it appeared that Theo was wearing the man down; I had never seen him so aggressive, so focused, and I was definitely impressed. I remained in the hallway, my heart pumping furiously while I debated my options if the man exited Patrick’s office.

Theo was swift and effective, and his opponent was clearly taken aback by some of his moves. But then, the intruder threw a hard punch, and Theo was unable to avert it. Caught off-guard, I heard the air rush out of him before he staggered backward. The intruder, seeing his opportunity to escape, sprinted toward the door, and I pressed myself against the wall, unsure which direction he would go. It’s now or never.

When he rushed past me, I thrust my leg out, aiming for the back of his knees with as much force as I could muster. He tumbled to the ground, landing with an oomph, thankfully so focused on escaping that he hadn’t noticed me. Theo was seconds behind him, almost tripping over the giant man, who was now lying on the ground. He attempted to get up and run, even kicking at Theo, but Theo immediately restrained him.

I can’t believe I just did that.

“Can you grab some zip ties? Check the supply closet.” Theo grunted as he shifted the intruder in place, snapping my attention back to the situation at hand.

I darted to the supply closet, relieved to find it unlocked, and frantically scanned the shelves full of staplers, pens, and pads of paper, anxious to return to Theo even though he was a short distance away. After running back to him, Theo secured zip ties around the man’s large wrists before moving him to a chair and doing the same to his ankles. The intruder started to speak, his deep voice tinted by an accent, but Theo promptly shut him down, the muscles in his jaw clenched.

Theo’s clothes were rumpled, and he ran a hand through his mussed hair. I had never seen him like this—brooding, authoritative, protective. I felt a slight sense of relief now that the man had been restrained, but I was still on edge, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

What now? I wondered while I stayed silent, trying to follow Theo’s lead. It wasn’t like there was a manual on disarming a trespasser and holding him hostage. Is there?

How had he even gotten in? And, what did he want?

Moments later, footsteps echoed down the hall and Liam came into view, running toward us. He glanced at the intruder and Theo, then stopped in front of me, searching my face and taking my hands in his.

His tone was frantic, his movements nothing like the smooth, controlled Liam I was used to. “You’re shaking, love. Are you okay?” I nodded, and he brushed my hair away from my face, then pulled me into his chest and held me tight, whispering, “It’s okay. I’m here now,” as he stroked my hair.

Normally, I probably would have found his statement arrogant and presumptuous, but at the moment, I found it comforting and buried my head in his chest. When I pulled away, he scanned my face before releasing me.

“Why don’t you sit for a minute while we get our new friend situated,” Liam said in a cool tone.

Still speechless, I nodded again as I watched Liam and Theo roll the intruder into Patrick’s office. They closed the door, and I could hear muffled voices but none of the specifics of the conversation. Then, the door reopened and Theo and Liam emerged.

“Sorry for not asking immediately, but are you okay, Haley?” Theo asked while Liam kept an eye trained on Patrick’s office.

Finally forcing myself to speak, I responded, “Yeah, I’m fine. You were amazing.”

“You weren’t so bad yourself, although you really should have stayed hidden,” Theo said and then pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tight.

“Where’s Jackson?” Theo finally asked.

“I’m here,” Jackson’s voice called as he sprinted down the hall. He caught up to us and looked into Patrick’s office and cringed.

“What a mess. Are you both okay?”

Theo answered. “He got a good punch in, but Haley stopped him by kicking his legs out from under him.”

Jackson turned to me, a storm of emotions quickly passing over his face before he finally said, “Good work. Theo and I will take care of things from here.”

Take care of things? What did that mean? Were they not calling the police? I debated asking, but I was feeling tired and more than ready to leave, so in the end, I decided to keep my mouth shut and let them handle the situation as they saw fit. Maybe I would find out more tomorrow.

Jackson’s voice broke me out of my thoughts. “Haley, are you okay with going to Liam’s for the night?”

“Sure,” I sighed.

“Don’t sound so excited,” Liam chided as he wrapped an arm around me and led me to the elevator.

Once we were in the safety of the elevator, I relaxed into Liam’s embrace and let myself reflect on the past hour. Considering Zenith’s business was security, I knew that their system was top-notch. So, how did something like this happen? And, how had Theo managed to hold his own against that monster of a man? Clearly I hadn’t given him enough credit; while I always knew he was fun and smart, I’d considered him one of the less physical guys on the team. Knowing with certainty that he was okay, I wondered if it was bad that I found the whole thing totally sexy.