3

“What about the clinic and doing whatever you had to do there?” Nathan asked as he looked at the woman who looked like she had been put through the wringer since he last saw her a few hours ago. She walked more into his room, and she was shaking her head slowly.

“He got to me even now.” She said, and that made Nathan look at her closely.

“Who is he, and what did he do?” Nathan asked as his voice deepened slightly. He knew that was one of his things that was ingrained into him from birth to protect women at all costs. He had watched his father watch over his mother like a lion and knew there was very little that his father wouldn’t do to protect his wife. He looked over this woman, and though she was a stranger to him for the most part, she had stayed with him and waited until he was awake. She had watched over him with no reason too other than he asked her too when he was out of his mind with a fever. That counted as something to him.

“My uncle.” Kathleen said with a sigh, “I had to come and live with him after my parents got sick, and then shortly after they died.”

“I am sorry,” Nathan said.

“I am okay with that. They were both ill for a long time. However, my uncle is something else, and he needed some help, and I needed a guardian until I turned eighteen. So it worked out in a way until I found out how bad my uncle really was. He took all my money for the bills when he has a lot himself that he doesn’t use. Not that I don’t mind paying my share or anything. He had some clout with the university and helped grease the way for me to get in and to the nursing program. However, in the past few years, he has gone downhill mentally, and even though I gave him the money for things he says I didn’t and that I was taking from him. He pulled this again today, but he also called my supervisor and pulled his support for me in the program.” Kathleen said. “Basically, that was the only thing keeping me there since I am behind on my tuition because he takes almost all my money from the paychecks.”

“And you need a job?” Nathan asked, trying to follow her story.

“I was kicked from the program,” Kathleen said. “There is no reason for me to continue with school. I need to find a job so I can get my things and move out.”

“Well, that makes sense,” Nathan said as he rested his head back on the pillow and began thinking how he could help this person out.

“I don’t know why I came here. I guess I just needed someone to listen to me for a few minutes. I should let you get some rest, Mr. Akechi.” Kathleen said as she hung her head, and Nathan saw the one tear fall. She wasn’t crying because she wanted to use her tears to get something from him. She just needed someone to listen to her. He knew that right off the bat. This woman was different than the ones he knew. She was just trying to find her place.

“I think we are beyond the Mr. Akechi talk. Besides, that is my father. You know he could make some calls and have you reinstated no problem.” Nathan said, “However, I am finding that I think you need a friend more than anything else right now.”

“I have nothing,” Kathleen said as she looked into those golden eyes that were peering at her.

“That is not true. You have me.” He said as he reached out his hand and clasped hers in his. “Sorry as I am at the moment. Call me, Nathan.”

“Thank you for listening to me, Nathan. I shouldn’t take up your time, though.” Kathleen said as she started to get up. “You need to rest.”

“And do you think running away will help?” he asked, and she looked at him. “I tried that. I mean, look at me now.”

“How did you get stabbed?” Kathleen asked.

“I was in a sex den, and the dom I was working with decided not to listen, and she stabbed me,” Nathan said with a straight face as he looked at her.

“Excuse me?” Kathleen asked after she blinked her eyes a few times to make sure she could keep them in her head. She had never heard something so blunt before from someone her own age.

“It seems the men in my family have a few issues,” Nathan said as he began to chuckle. “My grandfather was the worst at it, so I hear from the stories that are told when my mother is nowhere in hearing distance. My father kept his mostly to himself and only dealt with my mother. Though I am not sure how that worked out. I am sure I don’t want to know.” He paused as he looked at her, “You know, I think I might know now looking at you.”

“What?” Kathleen asked as she looked at him as he still held onto her hand.

“I do.” He said as he smiled, and the woman in front of him could get lost, just looking at his smile and his eyes. “I know how my father got my mother to work for him.”

“How?” she asked, confused. She was sure she wasn’t following anything he was saying. To him, it must be a joke.

“Of course,” Nathan said as he tilted his head. He knew he didn’t like the dens, and he really didn’t want to keep going back. He knew he wanted something more. “I can give you a job.”

“What?” she asked as her blue eyes lit up. “You can? What at like your father company?”

“Not for my family’s business. You will work for me.” Nathan said. “You will help me out a lot, I believe.”

“You’re not making any sense. What kind of job can you give me?” Kathleen asked as she looked at his hand. “What would it pay?”

“Money is no issue.” Nathan stated, “Neither is finding a place to live. You will live with me. I will get us a place when I get out.”

“What are you talking about?” She asked.

“I want you to be my baby.” He said as he looked her up and down again, “I will pay you to be there to help me.”

“Help you? You mean sexually?” she asked as she looked at him, “Sugar baby, really?”

“Not sexually if you chose not to be, though, that would be a nice bonus. We can work into that. You will only have to be there to help me for the time being. My arm is going to be sore for some time, I assume. Everything else will fall into place. I know a lawyer who handles those contracts, so we can talk to them when I get out.” Nathan said. “I guess some basics, so you don’t think I am crazy or this is some scam. I am truly honest here. I think for the first six months we should say ten thousand a month and then we can change it to more later. I will pay for the place for a year and see where we are then as well. I can cover any insurance as well. Do you have a car?”

“No,” she said.

“Can you drive?” he asked as he looked at her.

“Yes.” She replied.

“Good, I will get you a car as well.” He said as he looked her over, “PayPal okay?”

“What?” she asked.

“I am going to make my first transfer for payment. PayPal okay?” he asked as she looked at him like he was insane.

“Sure.” She said, not thinking it would work. She told him the email address, and then when he was done, she looked at her phone. She saw the email. She looked up at him, surprised.

“Now settle in for the night, Kathleen. Looks like you now work for me.” Nathan said as he smiled at her as he tugged on her arm for her to get back into her seat next to the bed.