It is kind of weird how your heart skips a beat when someone enters a room and they just invade all your senses and take control over your mind no matter how many times you have told yourself you don't want them huh?

Diamond felt that way when Orlando entered the guest bedroom in his apartment to check up on her. He respected her wishes to sleep in a separate bedroom even though they have shared a bed once too many times and some bodily fluids. She was still cut up and wounded; she was scared and didn't know what to think. She was just a tiny tad close to giving up on men. Rather she becomes a nun.

She wasn't sure how to feel about Orlando. The man has been nothing short of sweet and taking care of each and her every need. He nursed her; he cleaned her face for her and hired a chef to cook for her. He called in favours from doctors and nurses just for them to keep telling him the same thing, 'she will be fine. Just keep applying the ointments on her face and she will be good to go.'

Lisa and Janelle had her convinced that if she was on the 'all men are dogs' tip, Orlando was a different breed, he was the kind of dog that you turn into your best friend. The kind of dog that will have you wishing it were human because it was always there through the bad and the good. And Orlando has been through the bad and the good with her. He never stopped for a minute to hide what he felt for her in front of her friends when they came over to visit her. He wore his feelings for her like a fitted t-shirt.

She was sitting on the bed dressed in a yellow summer dress, sandals clasped on her feet, her face looking not so bad from two weeks ago. "And where do you think you're going all dressed up like that?" Orlando asked her, setting the tray of food on the bed.

She smiled at him, goodness the man did things to her body that she couldn't explain. "I want to go out for a walk. I am tired of being cramped up in here." Her voice was so sweet and Orlando had to fight hard to keep from pulling her into his arms and smelling off her hair then proceed to kiss her for all she's worth.

"Barry... come on." He groaned - the thought of her stepping outside did not sit well with him. He had a meeting to get to and the meeting will take longer time, he only came back to her during his lunch break. The thought of her outside the busy streets of New York City all by herself rattled him up.

"No Orlando you have imprisoned me in here. I want to go out and have my skin be hit by the Sun." diamond begged with her gorgeous blue eyes.

"If you want the damn sunshine go on the balcony, hell you can even go up to the roof. There you will bask in the sun however you want and still be safe." He argued.

What happened to her hit him more than it hit her. He was terrified that if she was out of his sight, out of the protection spell he has created around his apartment and Gold Towers, he'd lose her to the likes of Daniel again. If it were up to him, she'd permanently move in with him.

Diamond looked at him like he had lost his mind. She was her own person and would not take any more of his crap any further. She had no idea why the man was locking her up indoors while the police have assured him that Daniel was no longer a threat to her. She found him crazy.

"I want to walk outside Orlando and I am going to do just that." She deadpanned and reached for the plate of food and shoved the food in her mouth.

"Fine." Orlando rolled his eyes. "I guess I won't be attending the meeting."

Diamond looked at him with confusion. His meetings were always important. "We can take a walk after your meeting. Go to your meeting." She told him.

"No, you want to go out for a walk and we will go out for the damn walk."

"But you have a meeting Orlando the walk can wait."

"The meeting can wait."

"I promise to wait for you... if you promise that I will get to step out of this building." She bargained with him. She didn't want to impose and act like some spoilt bitch. This man has done wonderful things for her that she can't even begin to repay him let alone know how to thank him.

Orlando looked at her long and hard until she averted her eyes and looked into her plate that was on her lap. She looked at it like it was some form of art. Rather the plate than his penetrating gaze.

"Okay." he breathed. His voice huskier than it was legal. "After the meeting we will take that walk. For now, go bask in the sun on the roof. Ida will bring you refreshments and anything you need." He bid her farewell and went downstairs to work.

Later in the evening around six Orlando returned and found Diamond watching TV. He apologized for being late and having worked for him, well still working for him she understood just how forever the meetings could go on for.

He went to his bedroom and changed from his suits to jeans and a t-shirt and sneakers. "Are you ready for the walk?" he asked her and she looked him up and down like she would pounce on him at any moment.

She stood up from the couch and nodded like a child receiving a pack of candy from a rich aunt who had no kids of her own.

Stepping outside the fresh breeze hit her hair whipping it to every direction and she laughed like she was finally free and it was beautiful and exhilarating to watch for Orlando. He'd do anything to see her smile like that despite the dark patches that were fading on both of her cheeks.

They walked around the block talking about everything under the sun until they reached a park that had about ten people doing their aerobics. The pair went to sit on a bench and faced the exercising people.

"I feel free... not like I was your prisoner which I was but you know with the whole Daniel thing." Diamond confessed. "I wondered what it was that I would do when I was finally free... I wondered how the hell I would live my life when I leave the hospital." She bit her lip, her eyes distant. "But you helped me. You made decisions for me, decisions which were good for me. I was going to lock myself in, but you locked me up with you and Ida. You allowed my friends to come and make me feel loved. You had my parents call me every day even though they don't know what happened and you were... you were just amazing and you took that fear I had in me and threw it away. I feel free."

Orlando felt his heart constrict. He was happy she was happy. He was happy that she was thankful and that she thought he helped her thorough a crucial phase in her life. He loved her, of course he'd help her in any way he could. He didn't want to lose her at all, not like that.

"Diamond Barry, you needed me... and I was there for you. There was no way I wouldn't help you." He grabbed and caged her hand in his large warm one.

Diamond looked at him, licking her lips in the process. "Why?" she asked. She wanted to know why he would go such lengths for her even though she had turned him down when he asked her out. She wanted to know why after she has been nasty to him, treating him like a sex buddy, 'friends with benefits' type of situation.

"You really want to know why, Barry?" Orlando turned all serious and she felt her stomach churn and her heart beat frantically.

"Yeah..."

"Because I love you."

Hey guys, I know I promised daily updates and I have kept with that for a little while but now my life has changed and some things are top priority. I am sorry but that does not mean I won't be uploading chapters just on WEEKENDS only from now on. During the week I am extremely busy, please understand. Today is a holiday so, hey... HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY. May the MEN stop making us mad, sad and angry not forgetting depressed so indeed it could be a healthy happy women's day. I love you guys and I hope you loved and enjoyed this chapter.