Page 35 of Forgetting the Enemy
Instead of doing what I’m told, I walk toward him. I encircle my arms around his torso. I feel him tense, but he does not push me away. “Michael, please.”
“Zaira, please go. If you don’t, I won’t be responsible for what happens next,” he says. “I’ll take advantage of you, and that isn’t how I want this to go.”
I try to reason with him. “You wouldn’t be taking advantage of me, Michael. I’m giving myself to you. I want this as much as you do.”
“Zaira, for the love of God, please go.” He removes my hands from his waist and walks to the door. Opening it, he says, “Now.”
This time, I do as he says. I can see now he is struggling with something and that his rejection is not of me personally. For now, I will respect his wishes, but I am more determined than ever to break down those walls.
When I walk through the door, I turn back and say, “I need a few things, Michael. Would someone be able to take me shopping?” I pause in thought. “I guess I will need money too.”
“For now, you need to stay here. Make a list of whatever you need, and I’ll send one of the boys out for you.”
“Michael, I’d like to buy my own things if you don’t mind. Some things are well, you know, personal.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a credit card and hands it to me. “Then shop Amazon. I hear you can find just about anything on Amazon. Get whatever you need.”
“But I’d like to go out.”
“Zaira, you will do well to remember that when I say no, I mean it. You are much safer here, and for the time being, here is where you will stay.”
“What do you mean, I’m safer? Am I in danger?”
“Not any more danger than the rest of the family.” He walks back toward his desk, and yet again, I’ve been dismissed.
I leave his office, Ricco following behind me to return to his post. “Zaira,” he says as I stomp off.
I turn back toward him. “What.” I’m short with him, and I realize I am taking my anger out on him, which he does not deserve.
“Go easy on him. He’s doing the best he can, and he really is only trying to keep you safe.”
“Well, perhaps you could tell him to be a little nicer about it,” I say, then turn and stomp off.
As I angrily head down the hallway toward the main staircase, I realize I don’t have any means to shop on Amazon. I remember when Vince was here and Michael saying something about getting me a phone. I turn to head back toward his office and then stop. I think after all that just happened, it would be best to save the inquiry for another time.
