Michy's POV

The different smells associated with Manhattan like a second skin wafted through my nose as the beautiful city came into view. A smile slowly creeps on my lips, this is home, it always has been. Though I was born and bred in Sin City, New York has always been home for me, this is where my heart lies and will forever lie.

The business conference ended earlier than we all presumed, although it was successful, we all had to return today instead of tomorrow and I'm on my way right now after arriving at the LaGuardia Airpot, going home to the lady of my dreams, Monae.

Surprisingly, I've missed her more than I thought I would. Sitting at the conference hall for these two days had only been a nightmare, I couldn't focus much. All my thoughts were on her, I kept wondering if she was doing fine because the last time I talked to her, she sounded like she was in a lot of pain but she wouldn't tell me what it is. I hope whatever it is has been resolved and she's fine now.

One disturbing thought I had back in Denver which turned into fear was, Mr Winchester finding out Monae is with me and maybe taking her back home. I won't be able to take that if that is the case. I just can't, I've grown attached to her being around her this short while. And I don't even know if that is the case cause I couldn't talk much with her, I knew she was definitely going to ask questions. I honestly didn't mind she asking, it's only I wasn't ready to answer them wile I was away from her.

Her questions would have to wait till I get home. She and I do have a talk, about what went on at the Winchester's that made them forcefully throw her out without any consideration.

I run my fingers through my hair, exhaling heavily. Just hoping the talk wouldn't trigger her to remember some excruciating memories because back then when I told her we should go home, the fear that instantly rushed to her face proves there's something more to what it actually looks like. And I need to find out about it, every single thing that those people did to her and I promise they're going to pay for it.

"We're home now, boss."

My name and driver who's French, Michel, announced, pulling me out of my thoughts. I gave him a brief nod and released my fingers from the fist I had balled them in as I thought about the possibilities of they hurting Monae, I fucking hate them even more.

Michel opened my door, earning him a scowl. He saw it and only looked at me meekly, not saying a word. I've told him time and again I dislike he treating me as if I am some sort of a president or great figure, I'm not. I'm just me, Michele and human, although, I'm very famous, I except everyone to treat me as a human and not like some god.

I removed the scowl off my face, replacing it with a smile, a genuine one. I am very elated to be back home at last, I held my nose high in the air, pulling in a long drag of the earthy and floral scent in my compound. A smile etched on my face, this alone keeps me alive, giving me hope there's more life to be lived no matter how rough life keeps tossing you, there are better days and things ahead.

Satisfied and some what refreshened, I made my way towards the front door in long strides as I was so eager to meet Monae and surprise her with my early arrival. Early arrival means, Monae leaving me and our house and go far away from me but I'll make sure that never happens. I'll find a way to make her stay here and that too forever.

I stepped into the house, going to the first kitchen which was downstairs, hoping to meet her over there. It was six in the evening and I'm  assuming she has come down for dinner.

"Welcome back, sir." Asabrewaa, the cook greeted, causing the two maids to turn towards me, their eyes widening in surprise.

"Thank you." I passed them a small smile as I combed the room with my eyes in hopes of seeing her in here with them. There was no sign of her, it was just the employees cooking and cleaning.

Where is she? I turned back to leave, dejected that I hadn't seen her. She could be upstairs in the guest bedroom or somewhere around the house, clearly oblivious of my arrival. I hope that is the case.

"Should I serve you your food now or later, it's almost ready?"

Almost ready? Then that means, she is upstairs and that also means Monae is yet to eat, I'll have dinner with her. My heart flutters at that, dinner with just Monae and me, something we haven't done before.

"I'll have it later with Monae." I glanced over my shoulder, "prepare the dinner you ladies love."

She was taken aback but covered it up with a smile, "sure anything for you."

With that, I waltzed away, smiling sheepishly to myself before breaking into a song. This day is going to end better than I had imagined earlier when I woke up from that itchy bed, I get to have dinner with Monae! Something I've been looking forward to doing since foreve, woah I guess today is my lucky day.

****

"Monae?"

Silence.

"Hello, Monae?"

Silence.

Wtf is going on? Where is she?

I've been looking all around for Monae since leaving the kitchen and instructing Asabrewaa to set up the dinner. I've been to the room I put her into, the gym, garden, theatre, basement- I mean I've searched every possible place she can be in this house yet there ain't any sign of her not even her shadow.

Fuck!

I rake my hair repeatedly, my fingers trembling at every action. I'm beyond frustrated, my heart slumped in my chest in dejection, anger and defeat. No, this can't be happening!

My fear can't be true! I refuse to accept Monae has left my life, I will never! "No never!" I hissed, burying my head in my palms as I dropped to the floor. I know it is unmanly of me to shed tears but I can't help myself. Hot tears trickle down my cheeks, Monae has left me!

After everything I went through to track her down, get closer to her and even befriend her. I thought it was all over after bringing her home, I thought she and I were going to love happily ever after but no. Life some what keeps tossing us apart and it's as if the universe doesn't want us being together but I'm sorry to disappoint the universe, I'll keep fighting for us to be!

Licking the salty tears that were dropping on my lips in bitterness towards the world and life, I exhale heavily. I'm still not admitting defeat, I'm not going to accept I have lost her until I get a call from Mr Winchester. Till then, I'll keep searching this very house and even if I have to tear it down just to make sure of that I will.

I got up from the floor with a new hope within me that all isn't lost. All through this, there's a tiny sensation in my heart, a sensation that stops me from losing all hope and accepting defeat.

It is true I have searched every room in this house but I had been lying to myself, there's only one room left. And that room belongs to me, my bedroom. I have a feeling she is there but what could she be doing there and how did she get in there? I had locked it myself when I was leaving yesterday.

I hurriedly got up from the floor, not bothering to dust my suit pants and rushed towards my bedroom on the third floor, I was in the basement.

While rushing there, I by passed one of my employees who was the cleaner. I bumped into the vacuum cleaner she uses and didn't apologise or anything, I only went straight ahead. I hadn't forgotten my manners, that wasn't the time to do that, I had a very important personal business to take care off and that was finding Monae and making sure she never leaves.

Finally. I halted in front of my door to catch my breath, I had been running all the way here.  It didn't even occur to me to use the elevator, how would it? I seem to be losing myself all because of her.

After feeling my breathing getting even, I fished out the key from my pocket and inserted it, turning it to unlock it. It was already unlocked, I opened the door wider, stepping into the room. Gross darkness welcomed me, I cautiously made my way a bit farther from the door and turned on the light switch before tilting my head to look in the direction of my bed, it was empty just like the room.

Or that was what I thought till I laid my eyes on the person I had been searching for my whole life, Monae. She was lying sound asleep on the couch beside the window which overlooks the city with a book resting on her bosom. She must have been reading and fell asleep.

Just the sight of her made me heave out a relieved breath, holding my chest for a demotic effect, only it was dramatic. I meant it, I was greatly relieved she was still here and not what I speculated, what will I have done if she wasn't? I brushed that negative thought away and smiled as I walked in her direction.

But I dropped that smile quicker than I could say when my eyes landed on the compression bandage around her ankle. My brows furrowed in confusion, until it dawned on me that must have been the reason why she sounded like she was in pain. But what happened to her and how come she hid it from me?

Monae! She was hurt and didn't bother to tell me? Now instead of telling her indirectly how much I miss her, I rather want to scold her but I wouldn't, I even can't. Scolding her will be scolding my heart and what if I do and my heart stops beating because it is annoyed? Then I will be dead.

I gently removed her hand that was wrapped around the book on her chest, taking the book and closed it, I put it on the rug. She stirred and mumbled somethings in her sleep before covering her face with her free hand.

She is so beautiful and innocent sleeping there without a care in the world. One will think she doesn't, little did they know what she has gone through in her life.

I was again drawn to her, the pull was stronger than ever maybe because I had missed her so much and wished to see her. I squatted beside her and took her hand in mine, kissing it with all the love and affection I felt for her.

I didn't want to put it down or get away from her and allow her sleep even if I wanted to so I remained in my posture and only stared silently at her as she slept.

As I stared at her, my gaze landed on her lips. The plump pink pair that was stretched into a slight pout looked very delectable, I had always imagined how it would feel having it in between my teeth and sucking it or gently biting it as I devour them like the last cake on my plate. Sooner or later, that opportunity is going to come and I can hardly wait for it, they are being a temptation already.

I took that time to study her face closely and commit it to memory. She has tiny freckles that were almost invisible below her eyes, she must have inherited them from her white father and a little tribal mark on her cheeks that was also kind of invisible if you don't take a closer look at her face.

Her tribal mark was cute, really. I had seen photos of some people with them and it was an eyes sore and I hated them since then but Monae's was beautiful, just like her face and everything about her. I feel even more proud knowing I own her, that I am the man beside this beautiful melanin goddess.

I was about to rake my fingers on her cheeks when she slowly fluttered her eyes open. I snatched back my hand having almost being caught. She couldn't recognise me after waking up and rubbing her eyes, she did and look back at me, holding my gaze in surprise.

"Michele? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Denver?" She said, yawing and sat up.

"I was but I'm home, the conference is over and judging by your question I can say you aren't happy to see me." I said to her, using that as bait to find out if she did miss me or not and I pray it's the former.

"Oh no, I am happy to see you. Very much, staying in this big place without you was difficult and I'm glad you're back." She answered truthfully, her lips etched into a shy smile after saying the last part lowly. "I'm only startled seeing you here in person, when you told me you're going to come back tomorrow."

The sincerity with which she said she was glad I'm back home made my heart flutter and I smiled back, more wider and brazen than hers. I nodded at her as I watched her look from my face then to her hand in mine.

It was then it dawned on me I was still holding her hand. I cleared my throat my throat in embarrassment and put back her hand on her lap after taking it out of mine.

We sat there not saying anything. We maintained eye contact as we sat there, not saying a word. I struggled to come up with something yet they were all in vain. I wanted to tell her how much I miss her but I didn't want it to look like a lie or I'm forcing myself to say it, seeing neither of us was saying anything. So I kept it to myself and only stared at her.

She lowered her head briefly before raising it to look at me and with knitted brows, she called me almost faintly but I heard it. "Michele?"

"Mmnh."

Monae looked like she wanted to ask something but didn't know how to say it. She struggled to her her words out only to open her mouth and close it.

"What is it? Please tell me." I urged her, I had a feeling it had something to do with the circumstances surrounding her stay here as I took her hands in mine.

I caressed the back of her hand, coaxing her to trust me. She still didn't say anything, Monae shut her mouth and relaxed back in her seat with disappointment written all over her face.

I hesitantly lifted her chin so she could look at me in the eyes. She did but for a brief minute and looked sideways.

"You can trust me Monae, you can talk to me and tell me everything that is going in your mind right now, I promise not to bite."  I said with a small smile after titling her head to look at me.

Monae's POV

He tilted my head to look at him, to look into those hazel eyes that look at me with an emotion I can't put a finger to. Yet they look at me, holding genuine sympathy and not some fake ass crap sympathy.

But why couldn't I tell him what I wanted to? The answer was simple as hard as I try to convince myself it isn't true. I didn't want to leave here, this house where Michy is.

I did a lot of thinking while on bed yesterday and came to the conclusion that I wouldn't leave this house and go somewhere else after I realised how safe and protected I feel not only being here but in Michy's arms. That is something I'm never going to trade anything for, I'm not going to trade them for my pride and ego. All my life, I haven't felt that kind of security anywhere else, not even when I was staying with Mr Winchester.

The truth, nothing but the truth is what I want to tell him. I want to tell him I don't have anywhere going because my adopted mother framed me up, taking everything I had and forced me out into the streets telling me that was where I belong and will always be.

But I couldn't, I feared how he was going to see me afterwards. I'm not able to read his mind and I wouldn't know what he is going to think of me when he hears everything.

He will definitely think of me as a thief, an ungrateful thief.

Yet he doesn't look like the judgemental type who believes everything they hear without knowing the real truth.

I searched his face closely then his eyes and as always they held genuineness. I decided to take the risk and tell him and if after telling him everything he wants to kick me out then so be it, I'll treat that as my fate and not his fault. He doesn't even own me anything so....

"I remember telling you that I was going to leave right after you get back from the trip." I paused and look at him to see if he still remembered.

Michy did and he nodded urging me on. He pressed his lips into a small smile that didn't reach his eyes that minute. There was something he wished I would say, I felt that because he stared at me expectantly and he was gripping my hands a little too tight.

I tried to squirm my hands free but couldn't, his hold was tight and when he saw I was hurting, he released my hand and instantly sent his hand into his hat, taking it. "I'm so sorry if I hurt you, didn't realize I was holding on too tight." He was quick to apologise as he looked away from me to my hand.

I shook my head, giving him a small smile and continued. "I won't anymore."

He snapped his eyes to look at me, they were wide and I watched as he released a breath. Is it relief I see on his face and eyes? Can it be this is what he wanted me to say along?

"Really?" He asked again, his eyes had this glow in it that showed he was happier with my answer than anything else, like he hasn't heard any good news like that in a very long time.

I nodded in response.

He broke into a huge smile at my answer and  pulled me in for a hug without hesitation. "You don't know how happy that makes me." He mumbled so low under his breath, I wouldn't have even heard if I wasn't eager to hear what he had to say.

Bringing my hand to his chest, I pushed him off me but not slightly. He was taken aback a little but chose not to ask why. It had gotten to the part I feared the most, the part where I tell him why I wasn't leaving here and after this part, my fate in this house will be decided.

"But it is all going to depend on you after you hear what I'm going to say next." I said without looking at him, I was afraid of looking into is eyes.

I then exhaled heavily and clasped my hands together before resting it on my laps. "I don't have anywhere to go from here because I'm homeless. I was when Mr Winchester found me on the streets of Las Vegas, he rescued me and sent me into his home where I met his family. I believe you know them." I paused to look at him and he nodded in response but his jaw was clenched and he has this scowl on his face that I didn't give attention to. I had summoned a lot of courage to tell him what I had just said and I want to keep it like that till I finish.

"He was a very good man, he was so kind and caring towards me that I felt he was my real father and not the other one mama always told me about." I couldn't help myself but smile as I remembered how it used to be with him. "So were his children, they treated me like their own and everything was bliss but I had only one problem and that was Mrs Winchester, that woman hated me with every being of her, I'm still yet to know why.... she tried almost everything to get me out of the house but wasn't successful till two days ago."

I stopped talking and looked away from him. I was on the verge of tears and I didn't want him to see it, breaking down in front of him again is the last thing I wanna do.

"What happened?" He stuttered after hesitating for a while.

"She accused me of stealing a pouch of diamonds that was meant for a client."  I managed to blurt out without sniffing or anything.

He didn't even look surprised when I answered him. It was as if he knew how she really was and it changed my mind about the whole thing. Maybe on knowing her, it would change his perception about me when I tell him what really went down that day. He wouldn't think of me as a thief anymore, I smiled at that. Things are looking better than I thought they would.

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So the cat is finally out of the bag🥺 and she was accused of