Maid For Him

Chapter 35

Rickel***

I stared at Reese and she stared back at me. I cannot believe what she just told me? What the heck have I done?!

"What did you say?" I whispered, my voice shaking.

"Aaron and me had a fight and to make it up to him, I was going to spend the night at the hotel with him. I gave him the room number and left the door unlocked but you showed up instead."

I ran my hand through my hair. "I can't believe this. How did this happen?"

"I took the job working for you so you could know who I am and how what you did affected me. I wanted to take revenge on you but I ended up falling in love instead."

"W-what?" I got up and started pacing the floor. Is she pranking me? She came here to do what? Kill me? Scam my money?

What she said finally sunk in. I stopped pacing and stared at her. "Y-you are in love with me?"

She hung her head. "Yes. I am in love with you, Rickel and I don't think it's because of what you did for my family."

I was beyond speechless. This was the girl I raped. The girl I was falling so deeply for. This is unbelievable.

I suddenly remembered that Reese knew about Janell and me. I sat closely to her and took her hand. Should I bring it up or wait?

I decided to wait. There was too much going on right now.

I smiled at her and stared into her eyes.
"I am falling in love with you too." The words felt foreign leaving my mouth.
It has been many years since I said them and I felt like I was opening up myself to be hurt again.

She gasped and her eyes went wide. It's like she always believed I was incapable of falling in love. She didn't speak. She just sat there opening and closing her mouth as if she didn't know how to respond.

"So where do we go from here?" I asked softly. "Are you going to turn me in for what I did to you?"

She took her hand from mine and rubbed them over her face. She sat quietly for a while with her face in her palms.

I started getting nervous. What if she decides she wants me to go to jail? What would my employees say? What would my parents say? They would be so disappointed in me.

At least I would be able to get in front of the story and stear the media in a positive direction. I'll have to get my lawyer on it right away.   

Reese sighed. "No. You've done too much for me. I would be ungrateful if I turned you in. Since working here, I realized how remorseful you are. I understand now. You didn't do it intentionally."

How can one person be so understanding.... and calm? Can I trust that she has nothing up her sleeves? That she's willing to forgive me just like that?

"I am extremely sorry about what I did to you. You have to allow me to make it up to you."

Reese chuckled. "You make so many promises. Will you be able to remember them all? ¡Dios mio! You've done enough for me Rickel. I'm so grateful."

Something was wrong here. This isn't the Reese I know. She's Puerto Rican for heaven's sake. She is feisty. It's clear that she hasn't come to terms with what's happening around her. I need to get her some psychological help without her knowing.

"Just know that I'm very sorry." I apologized again.

Reese stood up. "It's ok, Rickel. You can go back to work now. They must notice you're absent by now."

"I can take the rest of day off..."

"No. Don't do that. I would like to be alone please."

"Alright." I stood up. "I'll leave but make sure you call me if anything happens."

She smiled. "Go. Nothing is going to happen. I won't open the door for anyone, I promise."

I sighed. "Fine. I'll go but I'm calling you every thirty minutes."

She smiled and started walking toward the kitchen. "Goodbye Mr. Nichols."

It didn't feel right leaving her here by herself but I left anyway. She isn't the suicidal type....or at least I don't think she is.

When I stepped back into the office thirty minutes later, Janell was the first person to confront me.

"Where have you been? You had a meeting twenty minutes ago."

I shook my head. "I had to deal with something important. Why didn't you cancel?"

She frowned a bit. "I was calling you to ask you what to do but you never answered. I didn't want to cancel and make you upset."

I sighed. "Fine it's my fault but next time, please just cancel."

I walked away as she started jotting something down.

I didn't even bother going into the conference room. I needed space to think about how to make it up to Reese. Reality still hadn't sunk in yet. I still can't believe she is the girl I raped. I couldn't imagine the trauma she went through. I wish I could do something big to make her life better.

I remembered a while back, she said she dropped out of college. Maybe that's what I need to do. Get her enrolled again.

I called Gaby into my office.

"Do you know what course Reese was taking in college?"

"Yes sir. I think it was nursing."

I chuckled. "There's no need to address me as sir. I'm not that old you know."

She smiled shyly. "I'm sorry. It's just that my former boss insisted that I refer to him as sir."

"Well I'm not Tavarie."

Gaby flinched at the mention of his name. I can't imagine the terrible things he must have done to her. I shook my head. It's like every female around me needs therapy.

"You wanted me to do something?" Gaby asked.

I really needed to stop going off into daydreams around my employees.

"Ah. Yes. I want you to get her enrolled into a good nursing institute. I'll pay for everything."

Gaby was beaming. "I'll get right to it sir."

She left the office and I turned to my computer. Now I need to find the perfect car for my Reese.