Chapter 2

Marcellus continued walking, thinking. Whatever Malcolm had said to the young lady had instilled more fear as all color drained from her luscious chocolate skin. Shaking his head to clear such thoughts, he went ahead with his meeting, which by his standard, went perfectly as each department presented what they had achieved within the last four days of that week.

Turning to his PA, Theo, he gave him instructions before leaving the room. 

Continuing with work, he was surprised when Theo informed him he was leaving—it was already well past nine in the evening. Once he locked his office up for the weekend, he left the building, driving at a leisurely pace. Spotting a familiar figure sitting on a bench close to the accident scene, he slowly came to a halt.

"Get in!" His deep voice pierced the evening silence as teasing raindrops began to come down from the heavens. 

Dark brown eyes shot up to him in panic before recognition appeared. She shook her head no as she tightened the sweater around her. 

"Woman, get in so I can take you home before you fall more ill," he snapped harshly.

"No thank you, sir," she responded as he cursed and drove away.

Reaching his house, he started preparing his supper to relax himself, but that woman kept intruding on his thoughts once he managed to clear them. It was already raining rather heavily as he thought of the cut she was sporting, thinking of pneumonia and other infections. Cursing, he put on a sweater heading back out to see if she was still there. Spotting the bench, he saw no one as he got out of his car in search of her.

Spotting someone standing by the bus stop shelter, he realized it was her.

She let out a blood-curdling scream when he tentatively placed his large palm on her shoulder. Looking up, she found dark blue eyes staring at her with a frown marking his face. His full pink lips set into a thin line with a stubble covered jawline. 

"Calm down, woman, do I look that terrifying that you had to shatter my eardrums?"

"Sor...so...sorry, sir. I didn't know it was you," she said, taking a step away from him.

"Come on, let's go," he said, walking away from her as he pushed back his now wet dark locks of hair.

Turning, he found her rooted to her spot before she said, "Thank you for the offer, but I have no place to go. Besides, you have already done more than enough considering I am still alive."

Running his hand through his hair, he sighed. 

Stubborn woman indeed.

"You can start paying off your debt by allowing me to take you out of this bad weather," he said in a flat tone. 

At the prospect of paying off her debt, her eyes popped wide open.

Slipping into the car, he turned on the heaters once she settled down. An awkward silence filled the car as he drove them back to his estate.

"Sit," he said pointing to a chair in the kitchen.

Finishing off his preparation of supper, he worked efficiently whilst she sat studying her surroundings, taking in the clean modern kitchen. 

"Any food allergies I should know of?"

"I'm allergic to peanuts," she said softly as he prepared the salad and removed the assorted nuts he had taken out.

She thought to ask him if he needed any help but decided against it; judging from his facial expression, he didn't want to be interrupted.

"You can come get your food. There is no maid for you here," he spat, carrying his plate to the table as she rose up to dish her own food. Taking her food, he frowned, looking at the "empty" plate. 

"Is that all you are having?"

"Yes," she whispered, eyes cast down.

He remained silent as she sat waiting for him to finish his food before clearing the dishes away, cleaning them.

"Thank you, I should get going before my husband starts looking for me," she said before he stopped her seeing her blood-soaked shirt.

"Max!" He yelled as a bulky man walked in a few minutes after. "Take her to the hospital and then to her home," he said as he walked away, leaving her baffled.

----

"Mr, you can just leave me here. I will find my way back home alone," she said in a pleading voice as the man's features softened. 

"As you wish, ma'am," he said, giving her a smile.

----

Marcellus's POV

Sitting in my office, I stood to stretch out my legs as I left my office to walk around. Spotting Malcolm as he growled angrily into his phone, I frowned, wondering who he was speaking so harshly to. 

"You know you can never leave me, or I will send you back to your home," he said, making several heads turn as he looked up to find my eyes on him.

With a hand signal, I told him to come over.

"I do not like my employees mixing business with personal issues. Make sure it does not happen ever again," I told the man. He was clearly angry as he replied politely before I dismissed him.

The following day I received a call from the hospital. 

"Mr. Martinez?" 

"Speaking."

"This is Dr. Alexis. Can you please stop by the hospital? It is rather urgent," she said before hanging up.

Leaving the office, we headed to the hospital, this time I took Max with me in case there was trouble. 

I found the woman sitting in the waiting room as she held her broken wrist, which was already clutching an inhaler. 

Now what?

"Sir, I am so sorry. I tried to stop her from calling you, but she refused," she began to cry. 

The doctor showed up in the nick of time as she broke down capturing the attention of other patients.

"You called me. What is this urgent matter you mentioned?"

"Well, you were the only contact she had on her, and she refused to give us the name of her next of kin. I need to notify the authorities, but she refused and is withholding the name of the perpetrator who did this. The environment is not conducive enough for her to live due to her asthma as well as her injuries. Already she is suffering from an infection which could break out into a fever soon if proper care is not shown."

"So, you called me why? Because you found my number on her? What exactly do you want me to do? The woman is married, obviously her husband can take care of her," I said, seeing her become pail as she started to tremble. "Next time, inform me of the purpose of your call before pulling me away from my work," I said, putting my shades on as I turned to leave.

"Come by my house at five o'clock sharp, don't be late." 

Sitting in my home office, I heard the doorbell go off, a smile forming on my face. She was right on time. 

"Punctuality. I like that," I said, looking down at the woman. She had changed her outfit, trying to make herself look presentable.

"Follow me," I said as I tucked my hands in my slacks, stepping out of the house. Going to the back of the house, I slowed down for her to keep up a small smile forming on my face. 

"What is going on with you?" I indicated her wrist and swollen cheek once we came to a halt in front of the pool. 

"Nothing, sir," she said, eyes cast down. 

What I did next even surprised me as I tilted her head up, looking into black gems that could reveal the hidden truth within an instant. 

"Speak," I growled, making her flinch back as I frowned at her reaction. 

"My husband has a temper, and even if I tried to leave him, I would be sent back home. I came here for work, to make some money to send back to my family after graduating with a business degree. My marriage to him provided my green card, and he has all my documentation," she blurted out, regret showing on her face at revealing such.

"I will help you leave your husband, secure a job, and the proper documentation so that you and your doctor friend stop bothering me," I said, turning away from her.

"Thank you very much, sir," she said, going to her knees—a sight I never wanted to see again—as she looked at me like some god. I was just a mere man like her; there was nothing great about me, a fact my parents had hammered into me as I grew up.

"You may leave. Max will take you to one of my apartments. You will be safe there," I said as I stood with my back to her. 

What are you doing, Martinez? I thought to myself.