Secrets

Part 1

I rolled over in my bed to answer my telephone. I just hit the speaker button instead to make it easier. "Yes, hello?" "I need you downstairs as soon as you can, Ms. Taylor." I rubbed my eyes recognizing Mr. Nelson's voice almost instantly. I yawned. "Yes, sir. Give me a minute please." He hung up and I rolled over looking at my alarm clock to see it was, good God, 3 in the morning?! I sighed and got out of bed getting on my black work slacks and I just threw on any shirt I could find and slipped on my work shoes before going downstairs with my notepad. I smelled tea being made and I knew that's how Mr. Nelson was staying awake.  I took the elevator down and he was standing right there, his arms crossed over his chest and no makeup on. "We are going to my storage." I walked up to him and he...had coffee ready for me? It took me aback because I usually got this stuff for him and he never liked coffee. "I asked for the caramel Marc yee audio or whatever it's called." I giggled. "It's a macchiato, but yes you got it right." I took a sip as someone from the kitchen gave him his tea. "How and why are we going to storage, Mr. Nelson?" Mr. Nelson walked with me to the first floor office and the door was open. His office was always neat and his computer was almost always on. "Do you see this?" He was holding up the mouse to his desktop computer. I nodded slowly sipping my coffee again. It was even from my favorite coffee shop in Chanhassen. "It's broken, and I have a spare in my storage." I blinked, still confused. "Sir? Why don't we just...go to the store and get a new one? I'm sure they have better made ones that could last longer." Mr. Nelson laughed and I could see how delirious he was. I wasn't sure how long he had been awake, but it had definitely been more than 24 hours. "This is why I have you around, Melanie." I wasn't comfortable with calling him by his first name yet, but I didn't mind him calling me by mine. "So, we are going to the computer store. Right now." I nodded and smiled. What we usually did when we went to a store is I would go in while he stayed in the car. I went to my room to set my notepad down and I was brushing my hair. It was so nice of him to let me stay here, as it'd just be easier than me driving all the way from Toronto to Chanhassen everyday. Even paid for my Visa to stay in the states, too. After getting decent enough to go out into public, I was in the elevator going down and getting my coat on. When the doors opened, Mr. Nelson was standing there in a blazer over his button up that always hung half open. "Ready? I'm having someone drive us." I nodded going with him to the Escalade getting in the back with him. I was looking out the window still having my coffee as I didn't like making small talk with the other staff while we were driving, and I was also instructed to never talk to the other members of the staff by Mr. Nelson. I crossed my legs and pulled my coat around me more. We got to the store and I unbuckled my seatbelt. "Hey, take my card." Mr. Nelson said. I shook my head smiling. "I got it don't worry. You can pay me back when I get paid." I quickly got out of the car realizing the staff parked so far from the store in the parking lot. I sighed using the collar of my jacket to shield my face from the wind. I finally made it into the store and went straight to the back to the electronics section. I was worried that they wouldn't have mouses for computers, but instead they had gaming mouses for computers. One even glowed purple. I knelt down trying to get it off the hook, but it was locked. Shit! I was going to have to find an employee. I sighed walking around to try and find any employee at this store. It was 3 am and this 24 hour store had to have someone in the electronic section. Suddenly, I saw a familiar man standing by the TVs. It was Mr. Nelson! I walked up to him and there were 2 employees just staring at him. He was just staring at the TV blinking slowly and I knew he was going to be falling asleep soon. "Mr. Nelson." I whispered. He opened his eyes turning his head toward me smiling. He was more than delirious. "I found your mouse. You should've stayed in the car." He shook his head and I motioned for an employee to follow me to get the mouse. She unlocked the lock on the hook so we could get the mouse he absolutely had to have at almost 5 this morning now. We quickly paid for the mouse and got out of the store as people were starting to approach him. When we got in the car I leaned forward to turn the radio up pretty loud as I knew that usually drifted him off to sleep. I watched him as he leaned his bead against the door and I leaned over slipping the seat belt on him. He fell asleep on the way there and I didn't want to wake him up. If he woke up he'd be awake for some more hours. I looked at the staff member that was in the front seat. "Go inside. I'll...take care of him." The staff member left and I looked at Mr. Nelson who was sound asleep. He couldn't keep doing this to himself. I just stayed there in the car killing the engine and just sat there with him. He just needed a couple of hours, just a few. Maybe more. I curled my knees up to my chest after taking my seat belt off just listening to him breathe. He was actually snoring a little. The staff were peeking outside at us and I rolled my eyes putting my cheek in my hand. They would never tell him to go to sleep, and neither would Valerie. Oh, Valerie...how you annoy me. I'm so glad that you're away for the next few months because I couldn't handle trying to keep your boyfriend's sleep schedule normal, keep my work relationship normal, and ignore your nasty comments about me all at once. I turned one more time to Mr. Nelson and he had his cheek resting on his bicep as a pillow. He was going to get a stiff neck if he kept that position. I figured it was time to wake him. I scooted over. "Mr. Nelson, wake up please." I shook his arm gently and he raised his head up before laying it back down. I smiled. "Sir, wake up. You fell asleep in the car." He picked his head up stretching before opening the door and stepping out. I helped him inside and the staff was staring at us. I took him to the space room which was dark and had his neon planets on the wall. He took off his blazer before laying on the couch. I covered him up and he curled his face into the back cushion of the couch. I turned on the radio and left the room shutting the door. I got on the intercom to every room except for the space room. "I need every staff member to report to the kitchen immediately." We all met down there and I was so pissed with them. "Why have you been letting him stay up for this long?" I asked them. One of them spoke. "We do what we're told. That's how it should be. And you don't control him." "You're right. I don't. But when was the last time you saw him sleep?" I asked. They all looked at each other. Then one of the kitchen staff said. "I think he said he slept...Friday." It was now Tuesday. I rubbed between my eyes. "Look, he needs to sleep a lot more. Stop giving him caffeine. Slip a fucking sleeping pill in something if you know for sure he's been awake more than three days. He doesn't know when to stop and he will continue until he just drops out." They all shook their heads. "You don't run this. You aren't our boss." I exhaled sharply from my nose. "And you ain't Valerie. You ain't his damn girlfriend either. You're just his little assistant." They kept going. Kinda made me see why he wanted me to never talk to the staff. "I know I'm not. I'm only his assistant, but I travel with him more than any of you, I'm with him almost all day. More than Valerie has in the last six months. I know his crackheaded ass sleep schedule more than his own fucking girlfriend somehow. So, listen to me very fucking clearly. If he looks like he hasn't slept in 3 days, let me know. He can't keep doing this to himself even though I know he wants to push himself." Most of them agreed. I was pretty upset with his staff. I went up to my room and shut the door, laying down in my bed. My eyes closed for a second and suddenly I was asleep.

I woke up in my clothes and it was early afternoon. I slept all morning meaning I was going to be behind on work. I shot out of bed fixing my hair real quick before going downstairs. The staff was doing what they were supposed to do, but some had left because their shift was over. I went to the space room to check on Mr. Nelson. Thankfully, he was still there and asleep as well. It looked like he had barely moved. I smiled before quietly shutting the door. "Ms. Taylor." I turned around to see one of the kitchen staff standing there. "What will Mr. Nelson be eating today?" I wasn't sure, as Prince's eating schedule was just like his sleep schedule. "I'm not sure. Don't make him anything too extravagant. Just make what he usually eats." He still seemed so confused. I sighed. "Just...I'll ask him. Just..." I shooed him away and tip toed back into the space room. I walked over and sat on the couch behind his knees. "Mr. Nelson." I whispered loudly. He barely moved before his head turned some. "Yes?" "What will you be eating today?" Prince rolled back into the back of the couch. "Just tell them to make me what I usually eat." I used my palm to rub the middle of my head. "Okay. It's 2 p.m. by the way. You have a meeting tomorrow with an artist wanting to use Studio A. It's going to be in the morning." Mr. Nelson nodded and sat up. His hair was messy and I giggled as it looked like a spider's nest. He didn't seem too pleased with my giggles, but I knew I wouldn't lose my job over it. Hopefully. I made my way downstairs while he made his way to his bedroom. I smelled something being cooked and my stomach growled loudly. So loud that one of the kitchen staff looked at me. I heard heels behind me and Mr. Nelson was in an oversized Raptors jersey and white flowing leggings and heels. He sat next to me at the dining bar and we were served this weird soup. It had. A lot of vegetables in it and a yellow colored sauce. I took my spoon poking at the green stick thing in it and saw it was asparagus. I tried not to wrinkle my nose seeing Mr. Nelson taking a big spoonful into his mouth. "You hungry? It's really good." The chef said. I looked at the chef and smiled dipping my spoon into it. I could feel Mr. Nelson looking at me as I lifted the spoon to my lips. It definitely didn't smell too good, but I wasn't much for vegetables. And I knew Mr. Nelson was vegetarian. I put the spoon in my mouth and felt my stomach begin to hurt instantly, but I swallowed it anyways and forced a smile. "It's so good." I said. Mr. Nelson smiled at me and so did his chef. The chef walked away and Mr. Nelson dumped my bowl into his. "Don't lie, girl. I saw you about to hurl." I got red. I was watching him eat and honestly was shocked that he ate more than I've seen him eat in a little while. "Is there anything we need to schedule today? Will you be alright if I left you alone?" Mr. Nelson nodded giving me this side look. "I'll be good. You running away?" I shook my head smiling. "I don't have anywhere to go. Of course not." As I was about to get up, I remembered something. "Uh, sir? I need to take a few days off next week. To spend with my mother. It might be longer than that." He turned his head quickly at me. "Why?" His tone was rough. I bit my lip. "I...I have to help my mother move in Minneapolis. She's moving out of her apartment and into a home with her step children and new husband. Remember, sir?" Mr. Nelson smiled and I felt relief. "I forgot you took a week off to go to her wedding in the Philippines. I'll mark it on my calendar in my office. Which days?" He asked. "Tuesday through Saturday if possible, sir." He nodded and smiled. "Thank you for telling me. At least you tell me the week before and not the day before." I nodded. I felt so bad for lying to my boss, but I knew we were close to where he'd understand. There were a lot of things he knew about me, but there were a lot of things he didn't. Things I wasn't sure he'd take too well. I went to my room and called my mother. She answered. "Hi sweetie. Sorry I'm still getting used to this new number of yours." "Mom, I took time off for my surgery. He let me take five days off. Do you think that's enough?" I heard my mother sigh. "Well, with excess skin removal surgery, you know you're going to have the drains in for a few weeks. You might want to take more time off." I felt aggravation. "I can't take off longer. He's going to ask questions I know he will. I don't want him to worry." "Melanie, you two are friends. I know you two are close. He has to understand that the drains have to stay in for that long and you can't do much of anything. You...haven't told him about...Geoffrey, have you?" I hated hearing my ex boyfriend's name. I hated hearing it so much. "N-No. We've just gotten to the point where we can laugh together. And that took months." My mother sighed. "You need to tell him. You have to. This isn't something to play with, Melanie. Now...I have to go and let your stepdad know we're going to Minneapolis. Goodbye." "Bye." I hung up the phone putting my face in my hands. I had about 8 days to tell Mr. Nelson the truth. My biggest secret.