Page 88 of Octane

I’d just finisheda quick shower when I hear a knock at the door. I hurry to dry myself off, wondering who the hell is here. It’s rare that someone comes up here without prior notification. Usually, if I have an unannounced visitor, someone from security will call me and ask if they should send them up or not.

Maybe it was Mitch?

Although, I don’t know why he would be up here, either. I walk to the door as quickly as I can, but when I open it, no one is there. Thinking someone is messing with me, I go into my office and pull up the footage from the security camera outside my door. I almost don’t believe my eyes when I see Sawyer walk off of the elevator and creep up to my door.

Fuck!

I run from the penthouse and press the down button on the elevator repeatedly as if this will make the car get there quicker. I have to get to her before I lose her. Abandoning the elevator, I burst through the stairwell door and fly down the steps to the twenty-third floor.

Entering the hallway, I don’t see her anywhere. I run to her door and knock furiously, not caring if Daniel is home.

“Sawyer!”

Banging louder, I yell again.

“Sawyer! Are you in there?”

I give it a few more seconds and try to think of where else she may be. She was wearing gym clothes in the video, so maybe she went to use the gym downstairs. Running back to the stairs, I practically trip over myself trying to get down them quickly.

When I reach the second floor, I run to the gym and do a quick survey to see if she’s there, but it’s empty. Back to the stairs, I run down the last flight and burst into the lobby. I don’t see her, but Mitch is there.

“Mitch, did you see Sawyer come through here a minute ago?”

“Yeah, she left. Hey, what’s going on with that because—”

I don’t stick around long enough for him to finish his question. Barreling through the door, I stop on the sidewalk outside, nearly clotheslining a man walking by.

I look left, searching for that wild mane of raven hair, but I don’t see anything. I look right, but again, nothing. I pinch the bridge of my nose, absolutely furious that I missed her.

“Fuck!”

I walk back into the lobby.

“Mitch, I need you to call me as soon as she comes back, okay? It’s extremely important.”

“Okay, I will.”

“Thanks.”

Walking back to the elevator, I slam my hand on the up arrow and get in when the doors open. I can’t believe this. Punching in my code, I hit the “P”, and the car starts moving.

Wait a minute.

How was Sawyer able to get up to me anyway? I don’t remember giving her the code, although I’m glad she has it. I pray she tries coming back again soon.

When I get upstairs, I sit at my desk and replay the video of Sawyer.

God, it’s been too long since I’ve seen her.

It’s been absolute torture, knowing she’s right downstairs but not being able to go to her. I can’t even count the number of times I've gone to her condo, ready to kick the door in and take her away from him. How many nights I’ve considered sitting in the hallway outside their door. Trying to tell myself that she’s in there alone. That she’s not sleeping in bed next to that monster.

I can’t wait for the day when I can make all of this go away for her. When I can knock that motherfucker’s face in and take her back.But until I know exactly what we’re dealing with, I can’t risk it. I don’t want to force his hand or spook him into making an irrational decision.

I scoff.

Every decision that sociopath makes is irrational.

As if in a trance, I continue watching the video on replay for I don’t even know how long until my cell phone rings. I answer without looking at it.

---