I would like to say a big thank you to Sydney Andrews and Shattered Image. And of course Zinck, I couldn't have written this chapter without your help. :)

I'm begging now, can people please review!

Phia x

The Real Reason

Chapter 5

(Neo's POV)

The alarm sounded for 8am and Neo cursed as he leapt out if bed. "Shit, not again."

"You haved a problem with authority, Mr Anderson. You believe that you are special, that somehow the rules do not apply to you. Obviously you are mistaken. This company is one of the top software companies in the world because every single employee understands that they are part of a whole. Thus, if an employee has a problem, the company has a problem. The time has come to make a choice, Mr Anderson. Either you choose to be at your desk on time, from this day forward, or you choose to find yourself another job. Do I make myself clear?" Mr Rhineheart told Mr. Thomas Anderson for the third time this week.

"Yes Mr Rhineheart, perfectly clear." Was Tom's response, it was the same one he gave to Mr Rhineheart every single day.

Thomas Anderson ambled down the flights of stairs in his office building and wondered to himself why he had a spent another day doing a useless job while he was trying to ignore the usual feeling that someone was watching him. It was a feeling he'd always felt.

He used to wonder who was watching him, but once he'd gotten used to it he stopped wondering and just wished they'd stop.

When he was a boy he used to dream that it would be someone to take him away from his awful home and to somewhere adventurous and full of people who would want to be friends with him, unlike in the world he lived in, but once he turned 18 he knew that dream was only 'a dream'.

Tom walked through the lobby and outside over to the fountain where he always sat. He sat and drank his coffee in silence, making contact with no one, as always. Slowly he got up and put the coffee cup in the nearest trash can.

On his way back thought, he got a serious shock. A women in black, skin-tight leather ran towards him and skidded to a halt inches in front of him, they were almost nose to nose! Tom saw a slight laugh flicker from the corner of the woman's mouth and across her eyes before it was gone again. The woman before him gave him a confused look before speaking.

"Do I know you?" The woman asked. Tom racked his brains, but came to no conclusion.

"No, I think I would have remembered a woman like you." Tom told her a small smile playing on his lips. The woman simply smiled back and walked away. Tom almost stopped her, but thought better of the action.

Pushing thoughts of the woman out of his mind he heading back to his office block to continue with useless programming.

The hour surprised Tom when he looked at the clock next. It was half past six and it was time to go home, not that he had anyone waiting for him.

Grabbing his jacket and his briefcase he headed home, taking a small detour to local mini-mart on the way.

Tom let himself into the apartment block and walked carelessly throught the foyer, or he would have if he hadn't of bumped into someone on the way. He couldn't quite believe it, it was the same woman as before!

"We seem have a habit of bumping into each other today." He said smiling gently.

"So it would appear." The woman said, smiling back, and a look crossed her eyes that confused Tom, it was a look as if she finally remembered who he was, but how could she know him? They'd never met before. She could be the one watching you. Said a small voice inside Tom's head but he told himself not to be so stupid and pushed these voices aside.

"I didn't know you lived in this building." 'Since when did you make small talk? You never make small talk. You hate it!' Said the same voice in his head.

"I don't, I was just... er ... visiting an old friend." Said the woman, looking slightly flustered.

"Well, I'll see ya around, I guess." Tom told her and gave her a full (what he hoped was a dazzling) smile.

"Yeah, see ya around." The woman said returning the smile and deciding it was best to walk away she walked across the foyer and out the door.

'Why didn't you ask her name, you idiot!' Tom was starting to get annoyed with his thoughts. 'O, just give it a rest will you!' He told his thoughts, and they didn't bother to contact him for the rest of the journey up to his apartment.

Tom turned the key in the lock and allowed his apartment door to swing open. Walking inside he noticed his apartment looked (and smelled) different. Setting his briefcase down on the couch and his jacket on a hook next to the door he inspected the rest of the apartment. Then he finally realised what it was when he walked back into the living room. Someone had cleaned his apartment. This caused Tom to worry a little bit as to how they got inside. Getting a cold beer out of the fridge he sat down at his computer and turned it on.

Then he noticed that on the moniter was a note in black swirly handwriting. Tom read and reread the note.

Try and keep the place tidy.

The Lady In Black.

P.S. Don't sleep in front of the computer, that's why you have such a sore neck!

Tom pondered the note and the name kept rattling around his head. Could 'The Lady In Black' be the woman Tom had met today? If it was how did she get into his apartment?

Tom, eventually tired from all the thinking, took 'The Lady In Black's advice and slept in his bed that night. It was a disturbed sleep, but, it was sleep.

What did you think guys? Any good? Please, please, please, please review!

Phia x