Chapter Seven

I turn off the lights and put on Jeanne's pajamas, she smells like her, her perfume. I allow myself to get drunk with it, breathe in its aroma as much as I can and expel it almost immediately through my nose to breathe in again. I think I won't be able to sleep tonight, the first two hours confirm it, I walk around everywhere without being able to close my eyes. Jeanne Nizzari is only one room away from me and that makes my hair stand on end, I can't just act normal, she has me in her hands.

When the third hour passes I decide to get up and get fresh air, I leave the room carefully so as not to wake up the owner of my thoughts or her niece. I go down the stairs on my way to the living room and decide to open the main door of the mansion, take a seat outside and watch the night, for a strange reason I don't feel the cold soak into my bones, I wear only my boss's short pajamas that barely cover my thighs and sticks to my body as if it were a glove, in short I do not have the same body volume as Jeanne.

A few minutes pass in which I try to return to my tranquility but the door of the mansion opens and there she is, glowing in the dark.

-What are you doing here Emma? -she asks concerned and I smile at him.

"I needed fresh air ma'am," I say sincerely and Jeanne nods.

-Can I accompany you? I can't get to sleep ..- He immediately left a space for her to sit next to me and she does, she wears her robe open and I can see some pieces of skin that the little light lets me see.

We stay in silence for a few minutes until I feel like his gaze falls on me, he stares at me and I start to tremble slightly.

-Emma ... I have not been totally honest with you -she begins to say and I look at her confused- forgive in advance what I have done ...- she holds my gaze and I still don't know what to say to her- I wanted to know more about your life, You had me intrigued, perhaps too much ... well, that's not the point, I investigated some things in your life ... especially your past ...

Immediately my fists clench and I stop looking at her, I don't know what causes me the most anger, the fact that she can know absolutely everything or that she did it without my consent.

-Sorry, I know I should have asked you directly, I don't know what happened to me, nothing justifies that I have investigated your past ...- she says approaching but I avoid her-excuse me Emma ...

-She knows everything ...- I whisper.

-What? -Jeanne asks stroking my back.

-Knows everything? From my past ...- I dare to look at her and she stares at me until she finishes by nodding.

"You shouldn't have done it," I say angrily, "you know absolutely nothing about that time, you don't know everything ... what happened," I say hurt.

-I know, forgive me again -she says taking my hands in hers but I'm so tired that I can't enjoy his touch- I don't judge you for anything you've done Emma, I know you 'you're not that person anymore. ..

"I had no right to do it," I say wounded, "it's ... agh" I get up but Jeanne follows me to the door and blocks me with her body.

-Emma, I know I was wrong, I know -he says approaching- I promise that I will never do it again, but please, I will not be able to bear that you look at me like that ...

Her sudden confession bothers me and for a moment I forget that Jeanne Nizzari knows absolutely everything about me. I am so weak that some tears fall down my cheeks, I feel ashamed, afraid, she knows everything ... Jeanne clean my tears in the darkness of the room and to my surprise she hugs me. His arms surround my body and leave me there, trembling at his touch.

-You have every right to be mad at me Emma, I'll leave you alone until we can talk about this ... forgive me- he whispers in my ear and as if tonight wasn't enough he kisses the corner of my lips and walks away to go up to the second floor. I stay in the same position for more than five minutes, cursing within me the power she has over me and at the same time hating her more than ever. When I recover from his caresses and his kiss, I go up to the room and lie on the bed still lost in thought. Jeanne Nizzari knows my whole past, absolutely everything.

At some point in the night my eyes close and I am a prey to dark dreams, I run from a man who chases me for long minutes and I cannot see his face, although my legs move fast I know that he will catch me, when I turn from block takes me by the hand and I can see his face, the face of the man who completely ruined my life ... I wake up scared and looking around me. Where I am? I begin to remember the night before and a chill runs through my body, I am in Jeanne Nizzari's mansion.

I take the time to change and clean up, I don't hear any movement, so I decide to leave the room and go up the stairs. There I meet Jeanne talking to Lizzy, they both seem angry and when they notice my presence, Jeanne smiles at me, Lizzy crosses her arms.

"Good morning", I greet you cordially and I avoid the gaze of the two women, I know that they are looking at me. I go to the kitchen and I do not hear them speak until I am ready for breakfast. At some point I feel like they start talking louder than normal and I hear how they start yelling at each other. I get up immediately and walk into the living room where I see Lizzy turning to look at me and laugh.

"You didn't need to replace me with a second-rate whore like your babysitter, trust me, you're way below my girl." He looks at me with fury and I still don't understand what's going on.

"Lizzy, I'm not going to repeat it, leave my house or call security" I had never seen Jeanne's face angry and her gaze already froze my body.

-Quiet, I'll leave you alone to continue lying down-she spits and I raise her eyebrows in surprise- don't think I won't take revenge for this Jeanne-launches her threat and leaves through the front door, closing it tightly. I turn to see my boss sigh.

-Have you had breakfast? -He asks with a normal attitude and I nod.

-What was that? -I dare to ask.

"A friend jealous of you, thinks we had sex," she says, lowering his voice.

-I see ... Why didn't you deny it? -I ask confused.

"Because she has reasons to be jealous ..." he says giving me a smile as he turns towards the kitchen. For the second time I am static analyzing his words and not knowing what to do.

I choose to go and get my things, today is Saturday and I am where I least thought I would be on a weekend, at Jeanne's house.

When I come down the stairs I meet Jeanne who has already finished her destiny and looks at me confused.

-Where are you going?

-Today is Saturday ma'am ...

-I know -he says nodding- I wanted you to stay for lunch, Marie would be happy to see you today, she loves you very much ...

I analyze his words and end up agreeing. How can I deny your words Marie wakes up and, curiously, Jeanne helps me to dress and clean her, she also accompanies me to feed her and follows us to the game room, she seems lost in thought again but I see her relaxed looking at me, while Marie and I play game hiding place. She tells me he's going out to buy food for lunch, I nod as Marie chases after me. An hour passes and Marie decides to take a nap. I let her sleep and since I can't stay still I start cleaning some cabinets in the mansion and cleaning some rooms, curiously I start singing a song, I rarely sing if I'm not at home but now I want to. while cleaning the lyrics it comes out of my mouth and for my pleasure I add some slow movements to my unexpected melody...

Everybody here wants you...

My love, my love..

I ask you what your heart desires...

My love, my love...

You tell me I'm the only one...

I hear the secrets that you keep..

When you're talkin' in your sleep...

I am so distracted singing and dancing that when I see Jeanne's eyes I suddenly stop. How long have you been looking at me?

-Please go on ..- begs and I deny ashamed -you have a beautiful voice Emma What was the song you were dancing to?

-It's called Secrets ... it's from a man named The Weeknd ...

-It's a nice song -she says lost in her thoughts- I thought you could help me prepare the food, I'm not very good at making dishes ...

I nod and for the next hour Jeanne and I get down to the task of making a meal, I decide to make a vegetable stir-fry with rustic potatoes and it amuses me to see how Jeanne follows my orders, helps me cut vegetables and time. Sometimes we chat, but most of the time we remain silent and as much as I want to hate her for investigating my life, I end up speaking to her without difficulty. Marie wakes up and helps us with the food, Jeanne carries her in her arms and teaches her to mix some seasonings, I laugh at her expressions and how Jeanne tries to hug her and explain at the same time, I begin to feel ... comfortable, as if it were a kind of home for me and the idea scares me.

I decide to leave immediately after eating and I tell Jeanne who makes a face but ends up agreeing.

"I'll drive you home," she says, unable to object to him. She leaves Marie in charge of security and takes me home, during the trip neither of us says anything, when we arrive Jeanne looks at me carefully while I avoid her, I open the passenger door to get out while I thank her but her voice stops me.

-I hope you can forgive me Emma, I know I shouldn't have, I appreciate that despite that you have shared the morning with me and Marie.

-Don't worry -It's the only thing I dare to say-let's not talk about that matter any more-I say convinced and get out of the car, Jeanne says goodbye with a wave of the hand and I imitate her. As I watch her walk away, a man approaches my position and speaks to me.

-Are you Emma? -Serious question and I nod-excuse me but they have seized some of your things, I am the neighbor downstairs and they have left me this letter, I think you have some debts and the bank entered your house ...

-How? I ask nervously and the man hands me a page, I read it and curse inside me. I run to my apartment and when I open the door I hit the wall.

-Shit! -I dare to blurt out, they've taken everything ...