Secrets

Part 2

Prince

I was sitting in my studio mixing a track I just recorded when Melanie popped into my mind. She was always on my mind and for the last few months she's been all I can think about. Her eyes, her hair, her smile. When I looked at her, I could see words on her skin. Not that she had tattoos, but...I could see the words of the things I loved about her on her skin. Eccentric, beauty, passion, work ethic, individuality. I saw that all on her skin. Only I could read these words. I realized I had made the wrong cut in the track. "Fu-Mmm..." I almost cursed. I decided to stop for the night and I went downstairs. The Park was quiet and Melanie was in her room. I didn't want to bother her so I went outside just to take a look. It snowed today and there was a thin layer of snow on the ground. I pulled my coat on and looked around. I smiled softly until a thought crossed my mind. Laying Melanie on this snow, with myself between her thighs, her lips on mine. I shivered. I need to stop thinking of her so sexually. She's more than just sex to me. She...she's...beautiful. She's so sweet to make sure that I'm doing good before herself. I'm going to be sad when she helps her mother move next week because then I'll be bored. Melanie usually sat with me while I recorded or made tracks just to listen. Little does she know, most of the songs I've written are about her. The things I'd love to do with her and to her. I bit my lip before going inside. I took my coat off hanging it up before seeing Melanie was coming out of the elevator. "Mr. Nelson...can we talk?" Melanie looked worried. "Of course. Yeah. Let's go to my office." I took her to my office shutting the door and sitting in my chair. "What's wrong? Do you need more time off?" She shook her head and she seemed so anxious. "Here." I got up and let her sit in the chair and I pulled the other chair up in front of her. "Melanie...what's wrong?" She sighed heavily before looking at me. "I haven't been completely honest with you, sir. I...I don't know how to tell you this but...I know we're close." I nodded. "Call me Prince." I said. She sighed again. "Prince...I'm not going to help my mother move...I..." I leaned forward as she wasn't looking at me. "You can tell me anything." This was it. She was going to tell me she was in love with me too and I could get away from Valerie. Melanie looked at me. "I...I have to go to the hospital to get surgery. To fix something, and my mother is a nurse. She said the recovery from the surgery is going to take a lot of recovery time. About 2-3 weeks." That was a long time for her not to be here. And surgery? What was wrong with her? I felt my palms sweating at the thought of her being in medical danger. "Prince, say something." I came back from my thoughts. My racing thoughts. "I'm sorry, but...that's such a long time. What kind of surgery is it?" Melanie tensed. I think I asked too much of a personal question. "I...I'm not sure if I want to tell you. It's a lot. Just know that I need to recover fully and I really need this surgery. I'm not dying or anything." She laughed a little to lighten the mood, but I still felt so confused. I looked at her hands seeing the words on her skin again. "Soft" and "Caring" across each thumb. "Can I visit you when this surgery happens?" I saw a bit of surprise in her eyes. "You...Want to come see me after?" I nodded smiling. "Of course I do. Why wouldn't I want to? You're my friend, Melanie. And I'm your...well your boss and-" she cut my off by hugging me. I felt warmth in my chest and I hugged her back. "Thank you. I was afraid you wouldn't understand." She pulled away sitting back down and I felt my nerves racking up in my system. "Why do you think that?" I asked her. Melanie shrugged. "I know...you and I have mostly a work relationship and I respect that. But, there are things that I wish I could tell you. Things about my past. And..." I didn't want her to cry so I stopped her right there. "Melanie, you can tell me anything you want whenever you're ready. We've got a few months together and I...I know it's been crazy with my recording sessions and album making. But I'm always here to talk." I made my voice soft. She wiped a single tear looking at me. "Thank you so much, Mr. Nelson. Thank you for understanding." "Melanie...Call Me Prince. Please." Her cheeks got red. HER CHEEKS GOT RED. I made her blush. "Sorry it's just so hard to get used to." I stood up and so did she. We were inches apart. "I should be getting to bed. I know it's getting late and you have a big meeting tomorrow so you should sleep, too." I nodded and walked with her to my elevator. We got in and I walked her to her room in the Park. "Well, Goodnight." I said to her smiling. She smiled back at me before going in and shutting the door. I stayed there listening through the door just to see if she'd say anything. But I heard her dialing on the phone, so I left to my room. I had church after my meeting in the morning, and I didn't want to miss that. I wonder if Melanie would like to go with me. I got naked and into my bed laying there trying to fall asleep, but I couldn't. I had more song ideas I needed to do. I closed my eyes, but my phone rang. I rolled over and picked it up. "Hello?" "Princey...good morning." It was Valerie. I rolled my eyes. "Good morning. It's still night he-" "What are you doing?" She asked. I looked around. "I'm watching...TV. In the living room. What about you?" "I need some money, baby. Just a couple thousand. Please? I promise when I get home you can have me all to yourself. I'm your everything aren't I?" She always wanted money. I should've known as soon as I heard her voice that she wanted money. "Give me 5 minutes. Okay? I'll send you what you need." Valerie giggled. "Thanks, sweetie. You're a doll." She hung up and I got out of bed getting my robe on. I went to my office and got on my computer. I sent her what she needed and knew I wouldn't be hearing from her for awhile. I went back to my room sliding my robe off and got into my bed. I knew Valerie was just using me, but I had to use her to mask how I felt for Melanie. I love Melanie, and I didn't want the staff knowing that. I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep.