The Woman

Chapter Five

  Aphrodite Martinez

     He led me into his dining room, a chandelier above us. A black darkwood table big enough to seat twenty or so people. The walls a light grey and the curtains on the windows white. The table was set for two on the end. Two sets of plates and dishes covered on the table. I hate to admit I was kinda excited. 
    I knew better than to allow such things to happen, but he's my boss now and I can't afford to be fired. I decided to tread carefully with him. I refused to let him in. Because this time it's not just me at stake, I have Athena to think about too. That's why I never date.
    I sat down in the chair he held out for me. What a gentleman. I thought sarcastically. He lifted the covers off the trays of food. Mahi mahi, Shrimp, and oysters. Yummy. How could he possibly know that I used to love seafood. Before I couldn't afford seafood that is. I looked up at him excitedly before digging into the food.

Nicolò Romano

     She looked up at me excitedly. I think she really likes seafood. I saw a bit of a sparkle in her eyes before she dove in heartily. She's so beautiful. I love everything about her so far. She drove me crazy already.  I don't know why I enjoy being around her.
   She looked up at me as she slurped  an oyster down. And gave me a side grin. I cleared my throat.

"Tell me about yourself Aphrodite." I finally spoke.

"Um...well you know what I do, you met my daughter, she's three. What do you wanna know?" She shrugged.

"Is her dad still in the picture?" I asked.

"No, he left after he found out that I was pregnant." She looked away uncomfortably.

"That bastard." I said angrily, though relieved because now I had less of a dilemma.

"It's better this way." She said, still not looking at me. Hm. Something has to be wrong there.

"Um well tell me what you wanna do in life." I said to her.

"Well I wanted to be an artist but that earns you almost no money. I have Athena so I have to work. Minimum wage jobs won't allow me to provide for her. So that is why I do what I do. The girls say I'm too smart for this life I should be in business or something." She smiled kinda small realizing that she just said all that.

"I didn't see any paintings or drawings in your apartment." I stated.

"Well all my money goes towards Athena and her future.  I don't care about me as long as I get her a better life than mine." She said honestly.

"Tell me about your family." I ask.

"I don't have a family. Not anymore. They left me when I was twenty-two. Car crash. My dad was drunk driving. Leaving my brother and I. He is in the Army. But he always sends letters. Said it's too hard to see me because I look like mom." She said sadly, wiping a stray tear off her cheek.

"That's ridiculous.  You don't leave family alone just because they look like someone. I get it's probably hard but it wasn't your fault." I said angrily. How do you just leave your little sister after something like that??

"They were arguing about what to do with me. I was in the car. Something happened. They wanted to fix it. I didn't.  I was hurt and scared after. But learned I was okay. And I used whatever money I had from my minimum wage jobs and my parents will to manage for a little while. He had just been sent off to the army to find out our parents were dead." She frowned.

"Well it's late. We should get to sleep. My room is down the hall from the guest room. Feel free to get me if you need me. Goodnight Miss Martinez. Dinner was nice." I said kindly as we went for the stairs.

"Goodnight Mr. Romano. Thank you for dinner." She whispered, as she entered their room.