Chapter 3

*Trigger warning* *abuse content, sexual content, mature content*

     Emmanuel grabbed me by my hips and began to kiss my lips feverishly as if there were no tomorrow. He began to descend from my lips to my neck leaving no skin untouched. His lips felt warm and soft, I felt myself drowning with lust for him. He kissed me like a mad man, needing to feel my body. My body responded in a way that would make any woman feel loved and needed, I felt my intimate area getting warmer and wet by the second. I felt like nothing else mattered but Manny and I, "Marianna, I love you, please let me have you right here right now" he pleaded against my shoulder. 

     My next words sent him into a lust filled frenzy, "I'm yours" I told him. One of his hands made its way to my breast while his other hand to my thigh. His body was responding to mine in ways he hasn't felt in years. He managed to position himself in between my thighs, my clit could feel how rock hard he was. My eyes were burning with desire and need that only he could fill. "Oh Manny" I moaned as his face descended in between my thighs....

BEEP!! BEEP!! BEEP!!

    My eyes shot wide open, as my alarm clock was going off. I woke up panting, looking around my room, "oh my God, Mio Dio"' I kept repeating while pulling my hair back trying to catch my breath. "It was all a dream" I let out in between my breaths. "No Marianna, this isn't happening, it was all just a dream, you do not have those feelings for that man, you cannot have any feelings for anyone anymore, they can't be trusted, you can't go through that again." 

       A flash back from 6 years ago crossed my mind that sent me into a nervous wreck. I filled my tub with hot water and let myself sit curled up in a ball inside. I allowed the tears to flow down my face as I remembered that horrible night......

      My head had bounced off the wall as I fell to the ground, bleeding from my cut on my lower lip and left eyebrow. Blow after blow pleading for my life "I am so sorry, it will not happen again I promise, please.... please don't kill me.... I'll do whatever you want please!!" I begged him, his voice sent a shiver down my spine, "that's right bitch beg, beg for your life! You fucking belong to me Marianna, don't you ever forget it. I will fucking end your life if you ever try to leave!" 

      I brought myself back from that horrible memory and tried to get myself ready 'You're free now' I kept telling myself as I looked in the mirror 'no one will ever touch you again!' 

      I continued getting ready for work, I noticed bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. As I waited for my coffee to finish brewing my mind went to Emmanuel. 'He must think I am a troubled person... I should have not allowed him to bring me home last night... but, if he hadn't then Jacob would have... Dio how did everything get so complicated so fast?...' 

      I grabbed my keys and purse, I made my way to the door and stared at it unable to move my feet, I shook my head 'You. Can. Do. This!' I took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, I looked around and exhaled a sigh of relief of not seeing Jacob. As I locked my door I kept looking over my shoulder. I made my way outside and still no sight of Jacob, thank God!

     As I walked down the steps I felt my self freeze, and I could have sworn I heard my heart hit the floor with a thud. I looked out in front of my building and saw two blue eyes burning into my soul. Emmanuel was here again, leaning on his car with his hands in his pockets, watching me, his lips looked as if he was holding back a smile, I'm sure he must have been amused to see my shock at the sight of him. 

     He slowly made his way towards me, still with his hands in his pockets. "Good morning Marianna," he said breaking the silence. I looked at him with questioning eyes, after a few seconds I replied "Good morning Mr. Jennings, is something wrong? Why are you here?"

     "Ma'am you had a rough night, so I am here to give you a ride so you won't have to walk today, since we have a busy day ahead of us. I figured it's the least I could do as your boss, and if you don't mind we should get going because we have a lot to do today" he said with a gentle smile on his face

     I nodded and walked towards his car, I couldn't help but look at him in awe as he opened the passenger door "ma'am " he said with a nod of his head. I got in and we made our way to work in complete silence.

    As we approached our building I spoke softly without making any eye contact with him "if you don't mind Mr. Jennings, I would like to walk in alone, I wouldn't want someone to see me getting out of your car and start rumors." "Of course" he responded. I made my way into the building, and entered into the elevator. Right as the elevator door was closing, a hand made its way in between the doors to keep them from closing. 

      Before I even looked up I could smell his amazing cologne, butterflies instantly swormed my stomach as I lifted my gaze and locked eyes with Emmanuel. We made our way up in silence as other people made there way in and out of the elevator till we reached our floor.

    I was thankfull it had been a busy day, it kept my mind occupied. Just then my phone rang "Ms. Milano please come to my office" Emmanuel had said. I tried to control my nerves and made my way to his office.

knock knock

    "Come in" he said. "Ms. Milano, call Doug Harrison and have him set up an appointment to meet with Ms. Swan for Monday morning , send down this stack of papers to be mailed out, and refill my coffee with my usual." He said without making a single eye contact with me.

    "Yes sir!" I replied with confusion. I grabbed the stack of papers off his table, and made my way out the door, I turned to look at him, I had so many questions but didn't dare to ask. 'I mean why the sudden change, yesterday and this morning he was sweet and caring and today it's as if nothing happened.' I told myself

    Since today was Friday I was excited to get out at 5:30pm and be able to go home and lock myself away for the weekend. I was completely over everything and everyone. All I wanted was my couch, ice cream and a good movie. 

    5:30 came along I was gathering my things, when I looked over my shoulder and saw Emmanuel looking at me, his eyes looked sad but they held so many questions. I gave him a slight wave goodbye, and left.

   My heart beagn to race as I reached the corner of my street, thinking about Jacob possibly there waiting for me. I hadn't even notice that I was practically sprinting down to my building. I just kept praying in my head for Jacob not to be there. To my relief he wasn't there. I finally reached my door, and locked myself in with a sigh of relief!

    "Manny are you still with us? Earth to Manny, hello?" Emmanuel turned around to see his two friends Brian and Gerald who were just laughing. "Leave him alone Brian he's probably thinking of this mystery woman of his" Gerald teased while laughing. "Honestly Manny, when are you just going to ask her out already? You never date anyone or go on dates for that matter, I haven't even seen you with a woman since... you know?" Gerald said.

    Sadness came over Emmanuel's face "guys, I can't, you wouldn't understand, and you know how my family is" he told his friends with a raised eyebrow. 

"So come on bro, tell us what happened last night!" "Yeah! Did she ask you to come on over to her bedroom?" " Was she throwing herself at you?" "Come on give your best friends some details!" The both kept asking while laughing

"Guys I told you it's not like that with her! Besides I doubt she even sees me in the same manner as I see her, but she's unlike any woman I have ever met! It's like she doesn't even realize how beautiful she really is! Ever since I laid my eyes on her and her big beautiful green eyes 2 years ago, she's had me hooked without even knowing it" Manny began to tell his friends while trailing off looking out the window.

"Yeah, ok so why haven't you done anything about it! Wait! Is she even a real person Manny? Or are you just making her up so we stop trying to set you up on blind dates?" Gerald said while giving Brian a smirk.

"Guys! I have always contained myself well, kept my distance, not let my eyes meet hers so I don't get lost in them. But, last night something changed. It was so late I just couldn't let her walk home alone in the streets. I just needed to make sure she got home safe. I know it's ridiculous but her smile, her scent, her beauty just draws me in" he continued to tell his friends as he looked down at his beer bottle.

"Well would you look at that Brian, our little Manny has finally fallen in love? What do you make of that?" Gerald said, with obvious humor in his tone

Suddenly Emmanuel snapped out of his thoughts of Marianna, "ok little BOYS! Enough of that, you clearly are both still children, anyways, I'm going to head home, I have a trial to get ready for. See you both at my father's party next week?" "See you there, maybe you should invite this mystery woman of yours, and let us meet her, 2 years in the making and still no sign of her, all we know is she works at the same building" remarked Brian

Emmanuel turned around while shaking his head, he made his was out the door and gave them a wave in the air.

Once he reached his car, he was washed over with sadness. Longing for someone who doesn't see him in the way he sees her would drive any man crazy...