Marion was beginning to fear that she was going to go out of her mind. The rest of the day seemed to drag on and on. Outside, she tried to portray the calm and collected image of someone enjoying a vacation. Inside, she was screaming at Natasha. The suspense was killing her.
She waited for what seemed like forever before Natasha finally sent her that promised message. It wasn’t until they had settled in their rooms that her phone finally dinged, signaling that she had a message. She quickly grabbed her phone, and sure enough, it was that long-anticipated message from Natasha. Now she could hopefully learn what was on her mind and just how safe or at risk she was of having that damn video shared.
She wished she could have found a way to snatch the phone from Natasha but for all she knew, there could already be plenty of copies of the video on the cloud and God knew where else. Stealing the phone would only draw attention to herself and possibly make things worse.
She tapped open the message and began to read.
Dearest Nane - remember how I always used to call you by your middle name which you always liked better than your first name? Either way, you asked what I wanted from you and I told you I wasn’t interested in sex or money. I meant it, too. You always had - and probably always will - have a special place in my heart. But the crush wore off, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong. You’re still a lovely woman. I just don’t think of you in that way anymore. So you don’t have to worry about me demanding any hanky panky.
And no, you don’t have to pay me anything either. It isn’t much but I get paid regularly for doing online surveys and other things. This can be done from just about anywhere in the world. Again, it isn’t much, so here’s what you’re going to do for me in exchange for no one ever seeing that video. It’s simple. You’re simply going to provide a roof over my head. You know that spare bedroom you said you had? That’s going to be my room and I’m going to cook and clean for you and even do your laundry if you’d like as payment for the space. I’m a thorough cleaner and a fabulous cook. Remember those coffee filters we used to joke about me separating for you? I don’t remember if that stemmed from a dream I had or what but either way, that can become a reality unless you’re into K-cups or something else.
Meanwhile, I make enough to buy my own food. So that’s it. Plain and simple. Just your spare bedroom is all I need.
No, sneaking into my room in the middle of the night and strangling me to death or clubbing me over the head with a hammer won’t do you any good because then I won’t be there to stop the automatic timer. You see, I have a program set up that will automatically launch the video in multiple places if I’m not around to stop it every 72 hours as I’ll need to be while I’m staying with you. Believe me, I don’t want to turn you in. That’s the last thing I want. I saw the whole thing. You didn’t mean to or want to kill that woman. You were only defending yourself. That she fell and hit her head was nothing you intended. You and I both know that, though I don’t know that others would see it that way. I just want what I want while you want what you want. But that’s what will happen if you try to harm me in any way…the vid would go viral. I’m sure neither of us wants that. :-)
I assure you that I will stay out of your way and give you all the privacy you need in your apartment and that it will always be your apartment. So if I want pink walls but you want them blue, then blue it is.
So that’s the deal, my goddess of the Mediterranean, as I also used to call you at times. Take it or leave it but do give me an answer as soon as you can.
Marion typed back as quickly as she could: What would you do if I said no?
Natasha’s reply came just seconds later: What do you think I would do?
Marion: Are you that desperate for a place to stay?
Natasha: Sort of.
Marion: What does that even mean, and why can’t you stay with Christiane or go home to your husband?
Natasha: Because I’d rather stay with you. What’s it going to be? Ja or nein?
Marion: Okay, fine! You go back with Christiane, you tell her we patched up our friendship, you get your shit, you hop on a bus, and you come down to my place. I will give you further instructions when you get back to her place. Are we clear on this?
Natasha: Yes, we are. Miss Regenbogen will see you then.
When Marion read that last reply from Natasha, she wasn’t sure whether or not to be relieved or worried. She was still incredibly stressed out. She feared that the rest of her life was going to be like walking on eggshells. There had to be a way to get Natasha out of her life without having to live in fear of the video being exposed. She just didn’t know what it was yet and knew that she had to figure it out on her own. The more people she involved, the more trouble that could bring her. She was on her own with this one. At least for starters, anyway.
ns216.73.216.158da2
and then Add to home screen.