Perfect Strangers

Chapter Five

“Get me the head of the cleaning department. Mr.Johnson, this is Mr.Moore, yes the Mr.Moore. Yes, your fired. Be out of my building by the end of the day. And don’t worry you’ll be getting your severance package by the end of day. We don’t and won’t ever allow personal to sexually harass any of their subordinates.” With that Zach hung up the call. Annie sat on the bed with her mouth hanging open in shock. Did he just fire Mr. Johnson. Wait how can he fire Mr.Johnson. Before she could wrap her head around that, another thought assaulted her”what if he tries to her me when he realizes that I’m the reason he got fired.” Again, like he’s reading her mind, “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. He’s not that stupid to come looking for you. Annie I know this sounds rushed but if need be I can have you and your daughter in one of my places I don’t really use that much. You have your pick between Brooklyn, Queens and the city.”

At that point Zach paused, realizing how he must sound to Annie who was now starting at him with wide eyes and her pretty mouth hanging wide open. He realized he was making choices for a perfect stranger. “I’m sorry, I just really hate people who seem to love trying to take advantage of women, especially young mothers. Look Annie, I feel responsible for you being laid up in the hospital and missing work.”

Just then Annie felt gobsmacked.

“Your my Boss?” She blurted out, she could finally talk. How did this even happen. She stared at him and said “why were you taking the train? I don’t understand, your rich. Why would you ride the train? Listen thank you for the offer but I don’t take kindly to people treating me and mine like a charity case. I don’t know what’s going on but I don’t think I should move into anywhere you have a key to. Your a complete stranger and I can’t just… I can’t..” “Just trust a person you just met, especially the way we did. Look I know I sound crazy and yea I’m your boss but believe me when I tell you, I always take the train. I’m a native New Yorker and plus there’s always traffic early morning coming into the city. But I’ll be completely honest with you Annie , from the moment I sat across from you on the train I was gonna ask you for your number. I knew I had too.”

He was standing at the side of her bed looking down at her pretty honey brown eyes. He reached out his hand to caress her cheek, she welcomed his warm touch on her cold cheek. He sat down on the hospital bed facing her “Annie, I promise I would never hurt you or your daughter. You don’t remember me at all do you?” “What do you mean?” She asked as his thumb caressed her chubby cheek. Annie was what men called a small BBW. And Zach loved his women with more to hold on to. Someone who could keep him warmer on colder nights. He wasn’t a so called chubby chaser, he just preferred his woman that way.

Annie looked at him waiting for him to answer her question. Clearly he knew something she didn’t.

Flashback

A knock at the door

Zach’s POV (September,xx,xxxx)

“I’m sorry, I’m here to clean your office.” I had every intention on sending whoever they were away. Then I looked up to see the prettiest milk chocolate skinned woman I’d ever seen. Curly jet black hair that was piled up into a bun with a few strands framing her face. Who said said black woman can’t grow their hair naturally to long lengths. No makeup wearing a large MooreTech jumpsuit with a simple black tee underneath. She had the most beautiful honey brown eyes I have ever seen. Like seriously they look like honey over chocolate. “Excuse me, sir are you okay?” f**k she caught me staring. “Yea sure go ahead. Wait can you clean around me?” “Sure if you don’t mind a little singing and humming here and there.” She went on to humming and singing quietly. I really had to focus to try and finish up my work. Luckily I only had very little to do. So after 15 minutes of work I turned of my computer and started heading to my office door. The moment I walked out the door, even before the door shut I heard the most amazing voice singing of pain and loss like it just happened. She was singing Adele’s someone like you. She sung like she was tired of being tired. Her voice captivated me. I hadn’t noticed she was done until I saw her heading my way as she pushed her little cleaning cart out of my corner office. “Good night miss and thank you.” “Your welcome”,She didn’t realize I was the same who’s office she just finished cleaning. From her side profile, she looked like she needed a couple nights if not weeks of a good nights sleep. She hadn’t noticed me that night or any other day since then. He knew they would get together he just didn’t know when.

End of flashback