As she walked past the indoor swimming pool on the way back to her room, she heard a noise. She stopped and turned around. She listened for a moment, thought she could hear splashing, and slowly walked to the edge of the glass door. Guardedly, Teresa peeked around the corner.
To her astonishment, Mathew was swimming the length of the Olympic size pool, taking laps just the way a professional swimmer would. He was good at it too. Mesmerized, she watched him for several more seconds, but then he stopped midway back, looked directly at her, and motioned her in.
Teresa caught her breath. She could feel her heart racing and she considered ignoring him, but he was her employer and if he sent her away now, it would ruin everything. Timidly, she opened the door and stepped inside. "I heard a noise."
"I'm sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to disturb you." He kept his distance, swam to the side of the pool and hung on to the rim with one hand. "There are some towels and swimsuits in the shower stall that need washing."
She glanced toward the shower stall, looked back and nervously clasped her hands together. "Yes, Sir, I shall see to it in the morning."
"Good. By the way, don't tell Laura I was here."
"Why…if I may be so bold as to ask?"
"It upsets her."
"Oh." Teresa changed the subject. "I didn't hear your car, Sir."
"I leave it outside the gate when I come at night for a swim, and I leave before my wife wakes in the morning."
"Your bed is never slept in."
He smiled. "Believe it or not, I know how to make a bed."
"I see." She turned and opened the door.
"Have we met before?" he asked.
Without turning back around, she answered. "No, Sir."
Teresa walked out the door, ran down the hall, and rushed into her room. She locked the deadbolt, sat on the edge of her bed - and then drew in a deep breath. It would be a while before she calmed down enough to sleep.
*
It was later than usual by the time Maggie entered the chat room. After work, she stopped at a bookstore and then the store across the street to pick up something for dinner. She was about to pay for her purchases, when she looked and saw two men hanging around outside her apartment door. Afraid to go home, she decided to stay there until they left. She slowly walked down each isle, spotted a bin filled with odds and ends, picked out two large, wedge-shaped doorstoppers and put them in her cart.