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‘’Not as much as you’’ I teased.

‘’And you’re a legal citizen right?’’

‘’USA, born and bred’’

‘’Then I’m doing the right thing’’ he smiled warmly.

‘’You always act first, ask questions later Mr. Avery?’’ I grinned.

‘’Only when I know I’m right’’ he grinned back ‘’oh and none of that ‘Mr. Avery’ nonsense, I wish to build a nice and relaxed working relationship with you Taylor. So I kindly ask please that you continue to call me Hudson’’ he smiled.

‘’Okay Hudson’’ I smiled back ‘’um, speaking of…’’ and I could feel myself looking a little nervously at him now ‘’I uh, I assume you’ll want me to sign a drawn-up contract of some sort. And it’s just, well, with my current lifestyle as you now know, I unfortunately don’t possess anything in the way of official ID for you to verify who-’’

‘’No written contract necessary’’ he said walking over to what I only now noticed was a rather stylish bar area, beautifully extended out from the large kitchen and dining room next to it…oof, fancy!

‘’I’m undertaking you as my personal staff Taylor’’ he continued, taking down two tall cocktail glasses from off the multi-hook above the bar, then turning and taking an expensive-looking bottle of something from out the rack next to him ‘’…your pay, work schedule, and days off, can all be verbally contracted and negotiated to what best suits you, and suits us. As for the concern of paperwork, for yourself personally, we’ll take care of all that in the coming weeks’’

The man was so smooth! Not even a flinch or glimmer of hesitation in his confidence towards me. And while I know I could never speak anything of my crush for him- the slick way in which Hudson had handled every situation tonight, only made that crush harder to ignore.

‘’You’ll of course be expected to look the part’’ he continued, and the doleful glance my eyes made down at my shabby clothing, was quickly replaced with widened eyes when Hudson said ‘’…which is why I’ve decided to take the day off tomorrow and take you shopping’’

Omg what?? No way! I squealed out excitedly in my head, however forcing my outer self to remain calm as I smiled and said ‘’wow that’s, that’s pretty amazing of you Hudson. But seriously no, I can’t let you take the day off of work just for me’’

‘’Nonsense. Besides, I could do with an impromptu day off. I hardly ever take any these days, and this one should be fun’’ he said pouring the alcoholic beverage into the two glasses and walking over to me with them.

‘’What we need to take care of tonight however, right now in fact, is your living arrangement. Which with your permission Taylor I both want, and for business reasons, rather need you residing here with me’’

‘’W-wait, what?!’’ a stunned gasp flew from my mouth ‘’you want me to stay here? In this penthouse suite, w-with you??’’ I almost died on the spot as every excited emotion hit me all at once!

‘’That’s what I’m asking’’ he nodded ‘’it of course benefits me workwise to have you on call, but most importantly Taylor it will get you off the streets’’ he said placing the wine glasses down on the coffee table by the couch, and looking seriously at me.

I felt the instant hot sting of tears fast build behind my eyes, and with every strength in me, tried hard to fight them back in my effort to uphold my pride.

I failed miserably.

But, it’s those precious moments in life that carry through as our best memories, and the instant Hudson’s warm arms clasped themselves around me and held me as I cried, I knew that would be one of mine.

‘’Sssh ssh ssh…it’s okay Taylor, it’s okay’’ he said softly, and I politely broke away from him and wiped my face with the damp handkerchief of his I still had.

‘’Here give me that, let’s get you some fresh tissues’’ he said, and with three quick strides across the room, Hudson grabbed a few from the kitchen area, before returning and softly dabbing my eyes with it.

‘’I don’t know how I can ever thank you for all this. I still can’t even believe it’s real’’ I told him, bashfully raising my eyes to look at is as he continued delicately dabbing my moist cheeks.

‘’It’s real Taylor. And I’m happy to be doing this because you deserve it. I guess I see a little of myself in you, that determined confidence and leveled pride you have. I admire that, and I admire you’’

I hugged him tightly, with every part of me never wanting to let go, but did eventually as I broke away shyly from the hug and sat back down on the couch.

‘’It’s all going to be okay Taylor, that I promise and give you my word on’’ he said looking concerned at me still ‘’…and as mentioned before, your new residence will be right here with me in this penthouse suite, with the offer of as long as you want, or at least until we can arrange for your own separate accommodation -if that’s something you’d maybe like in the future. For the now part though I want you here. There’s more than plenty of space enough for the both of us -most of which you’ll have to yourself when I’m away at work, which pretty much is all the time’’ he chuckled ‘’I guess the only real question is…are you okay being roommates with me?’’ and his words were accompanied with the same award-winning smile from his beautiful pearly white teeth, the one that made my knees buckle weak beneath me.

‘’As long as you don’t hog the shower in the mornings, we’re all good’’ I teased.

‘’Is that a yes then?’’ he grinned picking up the two cocktail glasses.

‘’Yes! Of course yes’’ I beamed with excitement, my grateful eyes reflecting back an instant happy warmth in his.

‘’Then celebrate with me Taylor, lets seal our arrangement by enjoying a glass of sweet Chateau red wine shall we’’

‘’Oh um, thank you but no thank you’’ I said politely declining the beverage he handed me ‘’it’s just, well, I don’t drink. What I mean is, I’ve never tried before’’ I told him honestly, feeling a little like a prude now with my fumbling words reddening my embarrassed face.