I Am Afraid Of Men

Alex made a forced smile and Elisa thought he was going to say something related to what she asked him.

"My beloved," he gently placed his right hand on her shoulder and added.

"I will tell you, but not in this kind of place. I want to take you out on a date in one of the finest restaurants in town. There we can talk heart to heart. But first of all. This room is no longer yours. I will not allow the woman I love to stay here. Come," he took a step and continued, "come and see your room."

"I hope it is not the room of your fiance you are about to show me?"

"Stop calling Loveth my fiance. If she is capable of doing what she just did to you, then she is capable of poisoning you." He held her hand and took her to the third floor and showed her a marvelous master bedroom, and it was well furnished. Alex went to his room and came back with a credit card and gave it to Elisa.

"This is for you. You can withdraw as much as you can withdraw. It has unlimited money inside."

Elisa could not believe her eyes. She collected the card and asked.

"Are you paying me upfront as a maid? I hope you are not trying to buy me into a relationship?"

Alex smiled, without saying a word, held her right hand and they went out of her new room and entered the sitting room on the third floor.

"Please sit down." He said and went to the bar and took two glass cups and a bottle of dark wine and came back. He opened it and filled the two cups.

"You so much love drinking alcohol," Elisa said as he was about to give her the cup of wine.

"Hmm.. Yeah. I love it. It makes me feel refreshed." They drank and Alex returned his cup and placed it on the glass table.

"I want you to take a proper rest for today." He looked at his wristwatch and the time was 3:45 PM.

"Don't worry yourself about cooking for today. I want you to relax. I will take care of that."

"What? Are you serious?" She had a feeling that someone swept her off the ground and she said,

"I'm still your maid. I will do the cooking. How can I eat food prepared by my master? It will be too hard for me to chew such a meal. No, I will prepare the food."

"If that is the case, both of us will prepare the food." He replied and smiled, and looked at her with so much emotion.

"I can't wait for tomorrow to come. I want to tell you how I feel desperately." He sipped from his cup. Elisa rested her back against the chair and asked.

"So tell me, how do you feel?"

"I want you to be the love of my life. The only woman I look up to. Someone who sleeps by my side and when I wake up, the first person I should see. I love you so much and I feel complete with you…"

"But there is a problem," she interrupted him.

"What's the trouble?" He asked.

"I am afraid to go into any relationship again. I'm afraid of men. I wish I can stay alone for the next few years to get myself."

"Years?" He screamed. "This is not the same way you responded the last time we spoke at my art gallery. Your words reassured me at that time. What happened? What's your fear?" He turned his body and faced her properly.

"I was never like this. My biggest fear is being stabbed by someone I love. Or living with a monster who looks like an angel. I am afraid of anyone who tells me that he loves me. And also, you haven't told me what your little demon has done to a lady."

"Hmm… I don't think I have hurt a lady before."

"Just take your time to reflect on it. It will really help me."

"How? How will that help you?"

"I don't know, but it makes me feel safe."

"I don't think I have hurt a woman, knowingly or unknowingly. Women are precious to men, just the way you are precious to me. Open your heart for me to come in. I promise you, you will not regret it. I told you earlier, I fell in love from the moment I saw you. I have never felt that way for a lady."

"So why did you date Loveth without loving her?"

"She was my ceremonial fiance. We knew each other when we were younger. The issue of Loveth and I is complex. Seriously, I don't love her, but I wanted to please my dad. My dad and her dad were best of friends. I have been looking for a way to kick her out. For so long, I have not slept with her."

"Are you joking or what?" Elisa stood up. "This must be lying." She added and her response surprised Alex and he too stood up.

"Why will I lie to you? I'm telling you the truth."

Elisa moved away from him and walked close to the window and looked down. Alex kept watching her steps and asked.

"What's wrong Elisa?"

"You lied," Elisa faced him and continued, "do you remember that day you took me to your gallery?"

"Yes, I do."

"When you told me you were coming back, and you never came back."

"Yes… yes, I remembered."

"After waiting for a long time, I came out of the gallery and went to your room. I heard Loveth moaning. She said so many things against me and I overheard you having sex with her."

"Me?" he wondered and was forced to walk close to Elisa. "What's happening? I just hope it is not what I am thinking. Is James sleeping with Loveth?"

"No, when I left the doorpost of your room, I saw James downstairs. It cannot be James."

"Elisa, believe me. It's been a long time since I slept with her. Or is Loveth having an affair? Wait, give me a minute." He took his phone and called one of the policemen and told him to give the phone to James and Alex put his phone on speaker.

"Okay, I will do that. Just give me a few minutes." The policeman answered and Alex did not put an end to the call. About two minutes later, both Alex and Elisa heard James' voice and he said,

"Sir, sir…" he answered with some hope glued to his tongue. He thought Alex had changed his mind to bring him back to his house.

"James…"

"I can hear you, Sir."

"I want you to tell me the whole truth." He reduced his voice. "Is Loveth having an affair with anyone? Or let me put it this way. Did any person come to my house when I am not around?"

"No Sir."

"So what happened on the day you came to me that you wanted to date Elisa? When I left home, who had sex with Loveth?" He waited for James' answer and some seconds went away before James said,

"Nobody Sir. Why are you still lying? How come someone was having sex in my room with Loveth and you did not know about it? How did Loveth have the extra key to my room?

"Oh! I remembered now. I'm sorry, I gave her the key to your room and she recorded her voice as if she was having sex so that Elisa will hate you."

"What?" Alex shouted surprisingly. "All these were happening and you never told me," he ended the call and there was silence. Elisa clearly heard their conversation and Alex furiously shook his head.

"I'm sorry. I thought you were the one." Elisa said and walked closer to him. She saw disappointment on his face, and thought he was upset with her for not trusting him.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you." She held his hand and Alex used the opportunity to embrace her.

"Believe me when I say, I love you. People may have hurt you in the past, but I'm here to rebuild your broken heart." He patted her back.

"Thank you," she took a deep breath. Alex pulled himself from her and said,

"Can you sleep in my room tonight?" He asked as he used his hands to park her hair to the back.