Obey Me

This Is Your Home Now

Celina

"This isn't the way to my place," I said to Vito.

"Did I say I was taking you home," he replied.

"Um,"

"Exactly,"

We came to a stop forty-five minutes later. We arrived at a brownstone townhouse. It was beautiful on the outside but the inside was incredible. It was nothing I had ever seen before. I could never have dreamt of seeing something like this in my life. It has four floors and everything looked modern and expensive.

"Make yourself at home," Vito said. He disappeared as he ascended up the stairs. I was so scared to sit on the very white couch in the living room. I looked around at all the art on the wall.

"Who is this man?" I asked myself.

"Do you like it?" Vito startled me as he came back downstairs.

"This is such an incredible home," I told him. "It's amazing."

"Glad you like it," he said. "You will be living here from now on."

"What?"

"I didn't stutter Miss Kent," Vito had never used my last name but sure did it sound sultry coming out of his mouth.

"But why?"

"I want you to be my maid, my live-in maid,"

"You haven't known me that long. Why would you trust me in your home?"

"Why not? Is there any reason why I shouldn't trust you?"

"Well, no but,"

"But nothing," he said. He began to walk away but then turned and gestured for me to follow him. "You don't like working at the club and this way you still get paid well." We made our way to the kitchen. He told me to sit at the kitchen counter. I watched him pour himself a glass of brandy.

"How well," the number out of his mouth was unreal. "I can't accept that."

"Why not?" his tone slightly raised.

"Because that is not what maids make,"

"My maid does,"

"I can't,"

"Can't or won't?"

"Both," I told him. "I can't just take that money. I won't really be earning it. I know you want to help but let me work for it. I can work here and at the club."

"You still want to work at the club,"

"Yeah," I said. "I know I made a mistake but I won't get on the stage anymore."

"And what about your client,"

"Mr. Marcelo," Vito's facial expression changed for a slight second. He nodded.

"I don't know. I mean the money I make," I didn't want to say what I did for him. "The money I make with him is good but if you don't want me to do it."

"You do what you want Celina,"

"I want to earn my own money,"

"What for?"

"What for?" I thought. "I want the money so I can pay my debts and then finally do what I want."

"Which is?"

"Anything," I know my face lit up. "Anything and everything." I think I saw a small smile creep up on Vito's face.

"Okay," he said simply. "But you will stay here."

"Why?"

"It is more convenient,"

"Um,"

"You can clean my home at whatever time works for you," he said. "But you must not let your other work disrupt you from cleaning my home in its entirety. Or else." The words "or else" sounded so menacing as they left his lips. I agreed. This home was big but I figured I could do it with the spare time I had.

"When do I start,"

"Tomorrow,"

"Can I go home?"

"This is your home now," he said.

"But my things,"

"Will be brought to you tomorrow morning," he said. "I will show you your room." He went back into the living room and up the stairs once more. I followed him this time. The room was simple. A bed, two nightstands each one with a trendy lamp. The room had two windows, a large walk-in closet, and a bathroom.

"Have a goodnight, Celina," he left as quickly as he led me into the room. I walked into the hall that led to the bathroom suite. There was a glass room for the shower and toilet. The bathtub was at the center of the room and the dual sink was by the wall. I smiled and laughed to myself. This was a dream. It had to be. I decided to take a bath and enjoy this splendid dream before I woke up. 

A few hours later, I got dressed in the clothes I came here with and went downstairs to look for Vito. I didn't find him. I went upstairs and called out softly. I didn't know if I wanted to find him or not. I heard some noise coming from downstairs so I went to go check it out. I slowly made my way downstairs. I saw five men carrying boxes and leaving them on the living room floor.

"Is he sure this stuff doesn't have bedbugs," one man said. The other one laughed and elbowed him in the gut.

"Don't let boss hear you," he said.

"No one but him as ever lived here, right? So what changed," the first guy said.

"Who knows," they dropped off the final boxes and then left.

"Find something interesting?" Vito scared me out of my skin. I didn't even hear him come downstairs.

"No," I said. "I was looking for you and then."

"Then got curious," he said.

"Um,"

"Those are your things," he said. "You can unpack whenever you feel like it or I can have someone put them away for you."

"Like your maid," I raised my brows at him.

"Sure," he headed back upstairs. I decided I did want to unpack.

"So wait those jerks that I had bedbugs," I said out loud. "I know my apartment didn't look that rundown.

It took me an hour to unpack everything. I didn't own much. All the furniture came with the apartment so even if I wanted it, which I didn't. I couldn't take it. I heard my cell phone buzzing so I went to go look for it. My phone was super old. I had three missed calls from Greg and 1 voicemail. My phone started to ring again and it was from someone I hadn't heard from in months. I didn't answer him but I just stood in my new room thinking.

"Noah, what the heck do you want now?"