Page 12 of Mechanic

Her eyes widen as they glance toward Shawna, standing behind us. Margo starts shaking her head back and forth rapidly as Shawna starts laughing, drawing the focus back on her.

“Antonia, you might want to either rephrase the question or elaborate. It sounded like you were asking her out.”

This time, it’s my eyes that widen as my lips form an “O.”

“Sorry, I’m straight.” My nose wrinkles at how that sounds. “I mean, it isn’t that you aren’t attractive. It’s just that…” A flush spreads up my neck and into my face.

“What my tongue-tied friend here istryingto say,” Shawna starts, too much humor in her voice. “She is just looking to be friends. You kinda look like you could use one.” She softens her look as she finishes speaking.

Margo’s gaze bounces between Shawna and me. We stare at her expectantly before she finally pulls her phone from her pocket.

After officially introducing her to Shawna, we exchange numbers. Margo rushes off as soon as we are done, citing being late. Once she is gone, Shawna loops her arm around mine as we head to the locker room.

Today’s shift sucked.

While training my replacement, she bumped into someone and spilled a full tray of drinks all over me and the floor.

My uniform was easy to change. The rest of my outfit, not so much. Had the spill happened late into the shift, it would not have been so bad. As it was, we were only on the floor for about thirty minutes.

My tights, underwear, and body were a sticky mess. Not to mention the smell. Every time I approached a customer, their nose would wrinkle in disgust despite having a clean uniform on.

Add to that the shitty tips because I stunk. Oh, and don’t forget that I had to split the tips with my trainee…yeah, definitely ready to go home.

Approaching the elevator, my feet stall. Standing in front of the doors is Tony, his attention focused on his phone.

However, before I can escape, his head snaps up as if he senses me standing there.

He doesn’t hide the fact that he is checking me out. Tony’s gaze blatantly wanders up and down my body. I suppress a shudder as his oily gaze roams my frame. If I didn’t already need a shower, the lingering feel of his eyes on me definitely does.

The doors of the elevator open, and Tony steps inside. He extends his arm out, forcing the doors to remain open. Heraises an eyebrow in question, saying nothing as he looks at me expectantly.

Resigning myself to being subjected to his presence, my feet start to move. Tony is standing in the center of the car, leaving me almost no room to move past him without our bodies brushing against each other. Turning sideways and sucking in my belly, attempting to make myself as thin as possible, I move past him, just barely brushing against his arm.

Once inside, Tony presses the button for our floor. Tucking his hands in his pants pockets, he leans with his shoulder against the wall. The weight of his gaze is heavy on me as I refuse to make eye contact or engage him in conversation.

After what seems like hours, the elevator comes to a stop. Forcing myself to take measured steps instead of running like I want to, my hand wraps around my keys. Making a fist, with one key protruding between each finger, I prepare myself for anything. Something about Tony has me on edge.

Even knowing that we are parked on the same level this morning does nothing to calm my nerves as Tony’s footsteps mimic mine.

Reaching my car, my hands are shaking as Tony slows. Fumbling with the key fob, my head lifts, making eye contact with the intimidating man.

“Goodnight,” he mutters after we stare at each other for several long, tense moments.

Yanking the door open, I all but jump into the car. Slamming the door closed harder than necessary, my finger immediately pushes the lock button. My body sags into the driver’s seat as the locks engage, and a heavy breath escapes my lungs.

My hands shake as I put the key in the ignition and start the car. Taking a deep breath, holding it in my lungs, and then letting it out slowly, my nerves start to settle. Repeating the process several times, I finally feel calmer.

On my way home, I spot a black Mercedes that seems to be following me. At the last street before my apartment building, the car turns down a side street. Shaking my head at my paranoia, I brush the incident off as a coincidence.

After parking my car, I sit inside for several minutes, my eyes roaming over the parking lot, looking for anything out of the ordinary.

“Paranoid much, Toni?” I mutter to myself before climbing from the car.

Chapter 9

Roderick

“No, this isn’t right! Who the fuck approved this paint color?”

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