Offer to the CEO

Wednesday, continued …

James observed Anna and Amanda talking turned Alecia, and quietly asked "Do you want to go for a short walk in the gardens?"

Fascinated by the man in front of her, Alecia looking at James from under her eyelashes said "Absolutely."

James offered Alecia his hand and they walked through the small dining room to the patio outside it before James showed Alecia to a chair in the shade before sitting down himself.

"Sorry to drag you off before you go out ..."

"You did not," came the quiet response from Alecia.

"I was worried.You seemed like you were ready to cry, and that was the last thing I wanted to see happen to you.What are you worried about?Can I help?"

Alecia was stunned.Here was someone who she had just met, that seemed to be able to see deep inside her, knowing that there was something bothering her.Her father, Amanda or her brothers went between treating her like china doll or believing her stories that everything was OK, without delving too much into how she was feeling.

"Why?"

"Despite you being the prettiest girl I have seen in a long time."James stopped himself "Sorry, forget that, I should not have said anything."

Blushing at the compliment, Alecia said"I will not."Alecia paused for a second."I am guessing someone told you what happened to me?"

"It does not matter what other people have told me.What do you want to tell me?"

"I do not know?"

"Then do not worry about it.I do not need to know.But, if you feel that you need someone to listen to you, talk to my sister.Anna is a good listener, and she will be able give you some ideas what to do.Whether you take them that is your choice.Now give me your phone."

With that James put out his hand and opened up the contacts on Alecia's phone putting in his Australian Mobile number."You can, if you need call or text me if you need someone to talk to."

Alecia simply sat there.She wondered would she have the courage to call or message James.He was nice, cute and unlike her friends older brothers who she would guess were a similar age, wanted to help her.All they wanted to do, as they saw her as dirty given what had happened is to have s*x with her.

James stood up, and then said quietly "There is help, all you have to do is ask for it.Promise me that you will do that?"

"I will."Alecia paused for a few seconds, and thought to herself, it is now or never."Thank you James.I have a favour to ask, as I need it."

James looked at her, hoping that it would not be a request for something that might push his limits.He always had a weakness for girls like Alecia, pretty, long black hair and about a head shorter than him in height, he knew that unlike any girl in his past, despite being over five years younger than him, she would be a real temptation to resist.

At the same time, Alecia was ready to grasp the chance that she had.She told herself that she simply needed him to give her a hug, and if it felt right she maybe could push for a kiss.She was turning seventeen on Saturday, and she needed something special to help her through the disaster that would be.

Alecia looked at James and said "I hate to ask, but I need someone who will not judge me to simply give me a hug."

James was torn.While he could see that something was there about to come out and she needed a hug to know that everything would be alright, the temptation that it would give him which if there was not the age gap, the differences in their families, the distances between them and whatever had happened to her he would have simply ignored, would be difficult to resist.

Deciding that he needed to put her first, James stood up, and help out his hand to Alecia to help her up.Once she was standing he simple nodded, and Alecia moved into his arms, and he hugged her around her waist.

Alecia, as soon as James closed his arms around her, felt completely safe.She wound her arms around his neck.In that moment Alecia knew that James as right there were people who would help her, and maybe she could move forward with what had happened.At the same time, she realised that she needed to kiss him and while standing on her toes, using her hands she gently pulled his head towards her.