Chapter 3

Larry walked into the hospital in his suit around eleven the next day. He walked to the elevator and went up to Rebecca's floor. He went down to her room and opened the door. Rebecca was sitting on the bed looking out the window. She turned and looked at him and smiled. Larry walked in and closed the door. "I see you got the package I sent."

"Yes, thank you," Rebecca said.

Larry walked over to her and sat down on the bed next to her. "Is something wrong?"

"I guess I am just scared."

"Just think of it as starting all over."

"Did you come from work?"

"Yes. I had a meeting this morning."

"You didn't have to come. I need to learn to do things by myself."

Larry reached over and took her hand. "I am here because I want to be. Not because I think I have to be," he said. "I am here because I hope you consider me a friend."

"Yes, I do consider you a friend."

"Great. Now are you clear to go?"

"They are getting my paperwork together now. They took out my stitches this morning."

"All right." Larry said then got up. He went over to the window. "There's a world of possibilities out there."

"Does your offer still stand about staying with you?"

Larry turned around. "Of course."

"No strings attached?"

"Not a one."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Larry said. "I'm going to hurry up your paperwork." He said as he went to the door. He turned back to her. "I'm glad you made this decision." He said then went out the door.

Larry drove with Rebecca in the passenger's seat. He looked over at her to see her shaking a little. He reached over and touched her leg. "What's wrong?"

"I was running. I kept looking back. I think someone was chasing me."

"You're safe with me, Rebecca. Nobody is going to hurt you," he said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I have excellent security," he said.

"I didn't see anyone, but I kept running."

"Were you going down this street?"

"I don't think so. It doesn't look the same."

"What did it look like?"

"I don't remember," Rebecca said.

"It's all right. Do you want me to keep driving around to see if you remember anything else?"

"I don't know."

"We can go out and try again later."

"Maybe that would be better."

"All right." Larry said as he turned down the next street. He drove a few blocks and pulled up at a hotel. He stopped.

The doors opened immediately. "Hello, Mr. Newman. Will you be needing your car again?"

"Keep it out just in case, Joe." Larry said then walked around the car and met up with Rebecca. "Are you all right?"

"I thought we were going to your house?"

"This is my home," he said. They walked in the door which someone held open for them. "I own this place and live on the top floor." They walked past the front desk and to the elevators. He pressed the button. "I know this wasn't what you expected."

"I just thought you had a house," Rebecca said. "It must have cost a fortune."

"I got a good deal." He said then the doors opened. They went inside.

"Hello, Mr. Newman." The elevator man said.

"Hello, Sam. This is Rebecca. She has direct and full access to everything."

"Yes sir." Sam said then closed the doors. He put a key in and pressed in an access code. The elevator started going.

"We need a key plus a security code for the elevator to go to my floor. All my visitors are announced," Larry said. "You are safe here."

"It's almost like a jail."

"It is only precautions. I make enemies in my business sometimes. It is designed to keep people out, not in. You are free to leave whenever you want."

"I didn't mean that I thought you were taking me to jail."

"I know. I can see how it comes across."

The elevator stopped and the doors opened. "I will make sure she is added to the list."

"Thank you, Sam." Larry said as he got out of the elevator. They went to the door and unlocked it with a series of numbers. He opened the door. "Sam and the other employees will know the code to the door in case you forget. I will give you all the codes."

"Ok." They went inside. "Wow!"

"Yeah, it's a little big." He led her further inside.

Rebecca went over to the windows. "You can see for miles."

"Yes, you can practically see the whole city from up here," Larry said. "There's the kitchen. It is always stocked, but if you want something different, let me know."

"All right."

"Down here is your room." Larry said as he walked over to the hall. Rebecca caught up to him. He walked past one door then opened the next one. "This is your room. Mine is right across the hall."

Rebecca walked in. She looked around. "Larry, this is so much."

"I don't mind. I am normally the only one here." He said as he went over to the closet. He opened it up. "I took it up upon myself and got you some clothes. If they don't fit or you don't like them, we can return them."

"This is so much." Rebecca said as she sat down on the bed.

Larry turned around and faced her. "I should have told you more about myself and where I lived. It isn't something I like to tell people," he said. "My office and the gym are on the other side of the living room. I'm going to let you rest." He said then walked out. He went to his room, changed, then went into his office.

About an hour later, Larry walked out of his office and into the kitchen. He pulled out the making for a sandwich. Rebecca came out of the room and walked over to the counter. Larry smiled. "I'm making a sandwich. Would you like one?"

"I guess." Rebecca said then sat down on a stool. "I guess I can understand why you don't tell people about what you have. Some people might take advantage of it."

"Yes, they do. Sometimes I wish I was an ordinary 9-5 worker, but I'm not. I enjoy my work and I am pretty good at it. My money has nothing to do with the person I am." Larry said as he finished the sandwiches. He put the leftovers in the refrigerator. He walked around the counter and sat down next to her. "I don't flaunt my money but I like the luxuries."

"Yes, they are quite nice," Rebecca said. "So, tell me how you got all this?"

"Well, after my mother died, my father was so busy working, the state took me away from him. He didn't fight to get me back." He took a bite of his sandwich and slowly chewed it. "I put myself through college, then started working for my father's company. Of course he didn't know until later."

"Now you have this hotel and have a lot."

"Yes I do." Larry said then ate his sandwich.

"You have all this, but you don't sound too happy."

"I don't want you to take this the wrong way but I didn't realize how empty my life was until I met you. I have all this, but nobody to share it with," Larry said. He got up and put his plate in the sink. He went over and looked out the window.

Rebecca walked over to him. She stood next to him and looked out over the city. "Maybe if things were different right now, I would know what to say."

"I know. I'm sorry." Larry turned towards her and put his hand on her upper arm. "No matter what happens I want you to know that you are special."

Rebecca moved her hand slowly to his cheek. "And so are you, Larry." She moved closer and pressed a brief kiss on his lips. She pulled back and grabbed a hold of his arms as she got dizzy. A moment later she started shaking.

Larry guided her over to the couch. He sat her down. He watched her until she finished shaking. "What do you remember?"

"Someone had a hold of me and kissed me. I was fighting back like I didn't want him to do that," Rebecca said. She leaned forward and put her head in her hands. She started crying.

Larry pulled her close. "It will be all right. You're safe."

"What happened to me?" She asked as she cried.

"I don't know, but I will be here for you," Larry said. He held her until her sobs stopped. She sat up. Larry turned towards her. "Could you see the guy?"

"He was a big guy and strong. He had a short beard."

"Could you see anything else around you?"

"No."

"All right. Little by little."

"I want to remember."

"I know. Patience in the key."

"I don't have any patience left." Rebecca said as she got up. She walked over to the window. "What if someone is looking for me?"

"Then the police will be notified."

"Do they know where I am?"

"Yes. I notified Officer Bearman already." Larry said then his office phone rang. "I'll be right back." He said then walked down to his office.

Rebecca stood and looked out the window. After a few minutes, she went over and sat down on a chair. She picked up a magazine off the end table and paged through it. She read an article before Larry came back into the room. He went over and got a bottle of water. He went into the room and sat down on the couch. He turned on the television and switched through the channels. He settled on a channel and relaxed on the couch.

"Should I worry that someone might have tried to kill me?"

"Not as long as you're with me. You are safe here."

"You keep telling me that."

"Because it's true," Larry said.

"Does this mean I have to hide or sneak around so nobody recognizes me?"

"When you are with me, I will protect you. I can get someone to be with you if you want to go out without me if you're scared."

"I don't want to be scared. I want to know my life and deal with it."

"I know, but it seems like when you relax a little that's when you remember something."

"Is this how you usually relax?"

"Yes, but if I can't relax, I work out or go for a swim. Do you want to try something?"

"I think I'm just going to lay down," Rebecca said.

"All right," Larry said.

Larry was in his office in front of the computer an hour later when Rebecca knocked at the door. He looked up. "Come in, Rebecca."

"I don't mean to interrupt you, but I was wondering if you had some paper and a pen. I thought I would write down what I remember."

"That's a good idea." Larry said as he got up. He went over to the wall closet and opened it. He pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. He closed the door and handed her the paper and pen. "I have books here if you would want to read." He said gesturing to the wall of books. He walked back over to his desk. He sat down.

"This will be fine for now," she said. "Thanks." She walked to the doorway.

"Whenever you get hungry, let me know. We'll get some dinner."

"All right," Rebecca said. "Thanks for all that you are doing for me. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"I told you before, I don't expect anything from you. There are no strings attached. I just want you to get better."

"All right," Rebecca said. "I'll let you get back to work."

"Thanks," Larry said. Rebecca walked out. "Are you still there, Tom?"

"Yes, Larry. You know, I would have taken her up on that offer."

"It's not my place, Tom. I'm not going to take advantage of her situation," Larry said. "Back to business, Tom."

"Yes, sir."