"Anastasia"
"Yes?"
"Please say you'll come home with me today and let me take care of you. I need you"
She sits up and turns on the side lamp. She grabs my tee shirt and pulls it over her head. I instinctively sit up in a panic thinking she is upset. It's so hard for me to feel so out of control. How does she have this power over me?
"Christian, it's not right to work for you when we are.. You know.. Like this" She looks nervously at me
"I mean I love working for you, I have never been happier, I love cooking for you and I made friends at the lounge downstairs and Taylor has become like an uncle to me, The only bad part was Kelsey and she rolls her eyes in anger. I know I'm not a great housekeeper but I tried my best, its just the thought of you paying me while we are together feels wrong" she bites her nails.
"Anastasia, I am in love with you. I have never loved a woman in my 28 years, nobody ever. You make me want to be a better person. If you don't want to work for me that's fine, I can help you find another job but I need you with me. Please say you'll stay with me?"
"I love you too you are my first love and only love Christian" she kisses me softly on my lips
"What will people think and say? You're a respected businessman and I'm a housekeeper"
"Don't overthink this Ana; we are not having some illicit tryst. I love and respect you and you could be rich and famous if you wanted I heard you sing, you have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard in my life" Oh shit I don't know how she's going to react to that admission.
She gasps and her eyes scan me curiously
"What?..How? How do you know I sing, when did you hear me? She asks confused and a bit embarrassed.
"Please don't be upset, I thought you had a drinking problem so I followed you down to the lounge to spy and then you played the piano and sang and it blew me away. I followed you down about 6 times" I shrug and she blushes and starts to giggle and soon enough she is on her back in full blown laughter.
"What's so funny Anastasia? Why are you laughing?"
"You though I was a drinker sneaking down to get drunk every night oh my goodness! Why didn't you just ask me and then you followed me down and watched me sang. I don't know whether to kiss you for being so protective and sweet or punch you for being a stalker" she laughs
"I'll take the kiss and stop laughing, this is serious. I don't want to lose you Ana. I want you to come home with me and stay with me. You can choose to do what you'd like whether it be working for me, going to school anything. I will take care of you. I want to give you everything baby. I never want you to struggle ever again"
"Huh, what do you mean? I never told you I'm struggling" she looks at me curiously. I can't mention the journal now, she will be very upset.
"I didn't mean it like that, I just don't want you out of work or worrying about bills okay, I worry about too many other things, I need my girl safe I need you"
"Fine okay I'll stay with you for now until I find a job but in the meantime I will still cook and clean for you and take care of you"
"I know how you can take care of me Anastasia" and I grab her close and we are nose to nose staring into each other's eyes. She smiles shyly and kisses me.
"Okay Christian I want to please you but I will still look for a job and you cannot pay me while I am living there, do you understand" is she crazy I can't let her walk around with $188.00 in the bank.
"You always please me baby. Ana I still owe you this week's pay and I always give a severance bonus, so you'll have to accept it for now, just agree and I'll stop" and she purses her lips at me.
"Let's get showered and dressed and go home baby" and she nods and we head into the bathroom.