Page 27 of Carnal Desire

“So you watched ‘the help’ on camera?”

I winced at her tone.

“There’s no excuse for what I did, but you need to know, my feelings for you were real. Theyarereal. I swear it,” I told her. “And maybe it was just a fantasy at the beginning, but once I spent time with you, once I got to know you, I had no doubt that I was in love with you.”

Sadie took a step back, then another step, putting some distance between us. “I need to go.”

“What?”

“I need to get out of here. This is super creepy and I knew, IknewI shouldn’t have trusted what was happening here,” she said sadly. “I knew that something wasn’t right. I knew you probably wanted to control me and make me into your perfect doll or something, but once again I didn’t listen to my instincts.”

“I don’t want to change or control you,” I protested. “I love you just the way you are.”

“As long as I don’t walk around in thrift store clothes in public or wear mismatched underwear.”

“That’s not fair, I never criticized your clothing,” I said firmly. “I bought you clothes because you needed them. Because I wanted you to have nice things like you deserve.”

“Just because you gave me pretty things doesn’t mean it’s not controlling.”

“People give people gifts when they’re in relationships,” I said hotly. “I give Theo shit all the time and he doesn’t get mad about it.”

“Well I guess Theo and I have different standards then.”

She stalked towards the hallway. “I need to go.”

“Where will you go?” I asked. “It’s too late to go to the shelter. At least stay here tonight, you can stay in the guest room if you want. Or let me give you money for a hotel. Theo can book you something nice.”

That was the exact wrong thing to say, judging by the little scream she let out.

“I’m leaving,” she called over her shoulder. “I can’t stay here with you.”

“Please Sadie, don’t go. Let’s just talk.”

She shook her head. “The time for talking is past. You’re going to have to find another little doll to dress up.”

Sadie

Two weeks later…

“Ariel Fernandez left you another message.”

My boss Christine slipped me a folded sheet of paper, giving me a curious look. After I moved out of Ariel’s condo I asked my boss to assign another staff person to Ariel’s account. Christine, to her credit, hadn’t asked any questions. I knew she had to be curious about what happened though because Ariel had left me multiple messages over the last two weeks. It was only when the messages started coming that I realized we’d never exchanged phone numbers.

Sadie, I need you to meet me at the South Chicago Women’s Shelter tonight at six. I have something toshow you. Please come and I promise I won’t bother you again.

I re-read the message several times, trying to decide what it meant.

“Is she bothering you, Sadie?” Christine asked. “Did Ariel Fernandez do something inappropriate? Because if she did, I will fire her as a client. I don’t care if she is one of the richest people in Chicago, no one messes with my girls.”

My boss was a very tiny seventy year old woman and I couldn’t help but smile at the idea of her taking on Ariel.

“It’s fine but thank you,” I reassured her. “We just, well to be honest we crossed some boundaries. But then I remembered I’m just a house cleaner and I shouldn’t be getting ideas.”

“House cleaners have as much right to a happily ever after as anyone,” Christine said. “Are you going to see her tonight like she asked?”

I shrugged. “I guess I’ll go just to hear what she wants to tell me and then ask her to stop contacting me. Ignoring her messages clearly isn’t working.”

My boss nodded. “Sounds like a good plan. You just let me know if I need to get involved.”

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