Michael Pov

It was around 12:30 as we made our way to del monte. It was a few blocks away so we decided to walk there. It was fairly warm with minimum breeze so it took us about five minutes. As we reached there, I guided Anastasia straight to our booth. The waitress immediately brought two menus, I quietly thanked her. She bowed her head and walked away. I looked over at her as she glanced through the menu. She was tapping her nails on the menu like she was nervous. I guess she felt my stare because she looked up at me with a small grin.

"What?" She asked softly. I shook my head, indicating that nothing was wrong. "What are you in the mood for?" I asked her. She kept looking through the menu and frowned. Seconds later, the same waitress who gave us the menu came back to the table. "Hey guys, my name is Antoinette and I will be your sever for today." She smiled at the both of us. "Do you want to start off with some drinks?" Antoinette asked. "Can I have a Sprite?" Asia asked. She nodded and jotted it down. "And for you sir?" Both women stared at me. I cleared my throat and spoke. "I'll have a Sprite as well." She nodded and wrote. "I'll be right back to get your orders!" She smiled and walked away. Moments later, Antoinette came back with a small tray of two sprites. She placed two straws on the table as well as napkins. "Thank you." Asia and I said in unison. "Your both welcome, now" she said reaching for her small note pad. "What will you guys be having today?" Asia and I both looked at the menu once again and I spoke. "I'll have penne alla vodka, with a small chicken soup." She nodded her head and quickly wrote. "And for the lady?" Asia looked up slightly embarrassed and a small smile appeared on my face. "I'll have the chefs salad."

I frowned. That's all she's eating? She has more hours to work. She needs her energy for what her parents put her through. I want to help but she won't let me help her, that's why I just sit here with silence ringing through the air. As the waitress was writing down asia's order, I shook my head, fiercely. "No, she's having what I'm having." I stated boldly. Both looked at me with wide eyes as I stated intensely at Anastasia. "I want the chef salad, Michael." She said quietly. "I don't care, you can have a salad with the pasta if you want, but your having what I'm having. I averted my attention to a frightened Antoinette. "Go ahead, write it down!" I said doing hand movements. She looked at asia as she sighed and slowly nodded her head. Antoinette wrote it down. "I'll be back soon." She muttered, with that she walked away.

I looked over to see Anastasia fiddling with her fingers. She was trying to avoid eye contact because I startled her. I didn't mean to but I don't want her to be dizzy or to pass out the next day. I need to make sure I can keep my eyes on her for long as possible. I decided to break the silence and started up a conversation. "I'm sorry." I said softly. She stopped and looked up to me with no emotion in her eyes. I couldn't tell if she was mad, upset, or sad about what I've done. She soon looked down due to the sudden contact. "Asia, look at me!" I demanded. She looked up at me and leaned back in her chair. "Asia, I'm sorry, I just don't want you to be light headed or even pass out during the day. She smiled a little and looked at me. "Thank you for your concern, Michael, but I've told you, you don't have to worry about me." I stated into her hazel eyes as the sun gleamed in them. I was mesmerized by her beauty. Everything about her complimented everything else about her. "Yes I do asia, I know what your goi-" she began as she cut me off. "Can we not talk about th-" I cut her off and raise my finger. "Let me finish." She sighed and sat forward. "I know what your going through. I've been through the same thing. I'll always be here for you and I want you to know that." She smiled and looked at me. "Thank you Michael." She whispered. I nodded.

Soon after, Antoinette came back with our meals. Her face relaxes when she sees asia lightly smiling. She places it down and quietly walks away. She looked at the food like it was an enemy. "Eat" I abruptly said. She looked over at me with puppy dog eyes. "Asia, eat... Please." She sighed and she said a small prayer. I smirked a little. She looked over at me and gave me the "why are you laughing" look. "Your adorable." I stated before eating my pasta. She blushed and looked away.

As she was eating, I couldn't stop staring at her. It sounds cliché but it was the truth. The innocence in her was beautiful. The modesty in her was beautiful. The selflessness in her was beautiful. Her hazel eyes rolled back as she ate the pasta. From that, I could tell that she was actually enjoying the meal. I smirked and began eating again. "So i see your enjoying the pasta?" She stopped eating and smiled at me. She wiped her mouth and giggled. "Yes, I am... Thank you." We both sat back and let our food digest. "So!" Asia said loudly. "How are you?" I laughed at her attempt to make conversation, it was very... Cute. "I'm fine, thanks for asking, and how are you?" She nodded indicating it was fine. I suggested we talk about some other random things but I wasn't paying attention. I was wrapped up in how her lips moved perfectly as she talked. Or how the curls in her hair were nicely done. Or how her caramel skin glistened and her eyes gleamed. She returned the same gaze back to me. I snapped out of it.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask her. She smirks. "Why were you looking at me like that first?" She questions. "Because your beautiful." Her face quickly drops and she looks down. "Please stop saying that." I frowned. "Why can't I say it?" I asked her. She didn't answer. "Hello, I'm talking to you. She looked at me, rolled her eyes and looked down. "Why can't I tell you that?!" I damn near screamed. "BECAUSE IM NOT MICHAEL!" She looked up with tears in her eyes and the sight tore me to pieces. "I'm not beautiful Michael so stop telling me opposite." She was on the verge of crying. I went over to her side and hugged her. She cried into my chest, as I stroked her hair and whispered comforting words in her ear. She tried pulling away but I didn't let her. "I'm messing up your clothes." She said softly. "Asia, there just clothes." She sobbed with the volume at a minimum to avoid attention. After a while, she calmed down and I decided to change the topic.

Anastasia Pov

"And that's why I like art." He nodded and smiled. "So did you pursue art?" He asked me. I nodded and drank her soda. "In college, I was an art major." I smiled as I recalled the memories. "In high school, I would paint murals on every wall." He grinned. "Anywhere that I could have drawn, I did. My notebook was full of sketches and drawings, it was everywhere." "I've always wanted to be an artist, ever since I was 5." She shook her head and began sipping on her drink. "What happened?" She looked at me. "My parents thought it would have been stupid if I dedicated everything to art, so they threw out everything... I mean everything that was connected to art. I cried and I hated them so much. Since then, I just look at art." Michaels face saddened and I stopped talking. I didn't want him to feel bad about anything, because it wasn't his fault. "Is that your dream asia?" I looked at him. "Was my dream Michael." I nodded and bit my lip. "Was." "His face couldn't get even sadder, and that made me sad. "You need to follow your dream asia, it's important that you do." I leered at his statement. "Michael, I don't have a dream." With that, he threw money on the table and took my hand. He lead in me out the restaurant, but he's potted Antoinette. He gave her a twenty dollar bill. "The money's on the table." She thanked us as he led me out.

He basically made us run back to the building. When he entered, he yelled for Nicole. "Cancel everything I have today." She nodded quickly and proceeded so. In the elevator, he leaned down and kissed me. I was taken back, but soon enough, I kissed back. His hands went to my hips and pulled me even closer to him. When the doors opened, we both pulled away slowly. We smiled at each other and walked out to his room. He went to a small drawer and pulled out a folder. He was in a hurry for some reason. "Michael, what's going on?" He looked at me and stops. He walked over to me slowly as I inched away. He softly grabbed my hands and sat me down. "Do you trust me?" He asked me. I slowly nodded. "Asia, I'm going to help you whether you like it or not. I like and care about you too much to watch you suffer anymore. I mean I can't even imagine what goes on in that house and I hate it because it has damaged you. Completely. Anastasia, I get more attracted to you every second that we spend together. Your beautiful skin and hazel eyes, they mesmerize me. "Your selflessness and intelligence and passions intrigue me. Damn it, I don't know what else to say because I really, really-" with that I cut him off with a kiss. He deepens the kiss and leans me softly against his desk. He started kissing down my face towards my neck. After pecking around my neck, he found what he was looking for. My sweet spot. I moaned in his ear, and I felt his erection on my leg. He pulled away, slightly embarrassed and I kissed his nose, letting him know it's okay. "Anyways" he starts and his voice croaks. I chuckle and he smiles. I stop myself and let him continue what he's going to say. "Do you trust me Anastasia?" I nodded and he pulled me close to him. "I want to protect you." He whispered in my hair. "I want you to be safe and comfortable at all times. I want to take you away from that place, I want you to know what happiness is." "Anastasia, I want you to be my girlfriend." My eyes go wide. His face goes into a frown as he begins to walk away. I gently grab him by his elbow and he looks at me. I slowly kiss his lips and move back. His face moved in longing for my touch. "I would love to be your girlfriend." He grabbed me and kissed me on my face multiple times. He told me to sit down in his chair.

He began going through his folder as he found one file. He started dialing the number on the phone. I sat back and watched how he impatiently tapped his foot. He sat forward and started talking. "Hello Mr.Hynemik, this is Mr.Jackson... I'm Anastasia's boss." My heart and face immediately drops.