Fear coursed through her body as she realized who was addressing her. He'd said, "my bushes" in reference to why she was doing lawn care at his villa naked. She was finally confronted with truly who she'd been given to serve. She had heard rumors of his many exploits in service to the Jefe and many of these were disturbing. Many of the guards feared him and some resented his position, likely she now knew, because he was apparently an American based on his voice. This was the man dating the sadistic Gabriela. Robin feared any man who would be with such a horrible woman.
Robin realized her mouth was open as she processed everything, causing him to chuckle, not unkindly.
"These are my chores Sir" Robin indicated once she found the courage. His quizzical look took her back. He seemed to not know about her.
"I'm your slave. The Jefe sent me here to...to be yours" she said quietly.
"Get up."
She tried to stand as numbness from kneeling for so long turned to pins and needles. Seeing her swaying as she tried to stand, he put his hands on her shoulders steadying her. She was acutely aware of her nakedness as this man stood so close to her, a man she would have found attractive back in her distant past life.
"I understand that, but why are you out here naked?"
"It's the rules, I'm not allowed to wear clothes" she replied, eyes downcast.
"Whose rules?"
"Please don't ask me that Sir, I don't want to be punished. Please." She whined.
"It's going to be ok" he said as his hand lifted her chin making her look into his concerned eyes. He then took off his white button-up shirt, leaving only the T he wore under. He held it towards her by the top, beckoning for her to put her arm into the sleeve.
"Sir...I can't..."
"You will not be punished, do it."
Robin's body shook due to the current unknowns, fear, and her general misery as she turned and slid one arm in. He noted her wince as she turned to slide her arm into the other proffered sleeve. Looking down and noting her injured feet, his look was stern. He patiently buttoned her shirt as she began to cry, not knowing really why. For the first time in literally months, her body was covered. He being larger than her, the shirt was big and covered her down to her thighs. She felt like a little girl, having her buttons done on the big shirt covering her.
"Get in the car" gesturing to the dusty but capable looking BMW idling nearby. He noted the pain in her steps as she moved towards it and easily picked her up in his arms. Carrying her the dozen or so feet to the car, he sat her down on the tops of his shoes so she didn't burn her feet on the hot asphalt. Opening the door, he helped her get inside. Her mind was overwhelmed as he drove the short distance up to the house and into the garage.
"Where do you stay?"
"In the small bedroom near yours" she voiced as he began to carry her inside.
As he opened the door to her room, he looked confused. "Where do you sleep?"
Robin simply pointed to the thin rug with the sheet neatly folded on top.
"Who directed this?"
Her facial expression and hesitation told him much. He knew Victoria would not have been so unkind and in his absence, the inside of the house was definitely her turf. No other staff would have questioned her judgement. Although her job was housekeeper, as an older woman who had been there for many years, she had much respect.
He decided against putting her in her room and instead carried her to his. Robin knew Gabriela was out shopping for the day, but was still nervous being here. In the past, this is where Gabriela had made her do many things against her will. He carried her to the bed and sat her on it. She was acutely aware of how dirty she was from working outside, how she must smell to him. Soon, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the front door slamming and Gabriela's voice carrying through the house.
"Baby, welcome home" they heard as she announced her arrival. Robin's fear became a living thing at the sound.
"Wait here" he said as he left the room." Self-conscious about her sweat and dirt, Robin got off the clean bed and kneeled next to it as she'd been often made to do. She was terrified of what was to happen next.
Her thoughts raced as she heard at first quiet talking, then the argument started. As Gabriela's voice raised, her fear spiked. She knew she would be punished for this. It might not be today or tomorrow, but she knew it would happen. She heard Gabriela hurling accusations about Logan being weak to the gringa and not caring enough about his woman. She was having one of those melt-downs that all men dread. Eventually, she heard her storm out of the house, front door slamming, and squealing tires.
Logan walked in and smiled at her, "that went better than I thought" he chuckled. Going into the bathroom, he started a bath running. Coming back in, he leaned down, took her by both hands and lifted her, sitting her back on the bed. Although enjoying the all too rare kindness, Robin wondered when the rape would happen, this time from a man. Her thoughts were interrupted when he brought her cold water to drink. Having been outside all day she greedily drank it down, causing him to go get her more. Sometime later, he went to the bathroom and she heard the water stop.
"Go in and bath... It just occurred to me that I don't know your name."
"Am I allowed to have a name? I could only be called slave or worse for the past months" she quietly told him. His look told her to just answer the question.
"I was Robin" she quickly answered him.
"You are Robin. It's nice to meet you Robin, I'm Logan" he gently said to her.
He led her into the bathroom where the elegant tub filled with bubble bath awaited. Running some cold water into it to make sure it didn't hurt her, he got things ready. She was about to take off the shirt in front of him when he simply turned and left, closing the door behind. She stood for a second absorbing it all before she used the toilet then got into the soothing waters. The wounds on her feet stung for a bit, but the healing waters covering her was like a magic blanket helping dull the last few months. A few minutes later, a knock on the door followed by him entering.
She looked up, just her head protruding from the foamy bubbles. He smiled and sat a large glass of wine on the ledge of the built-in tub. Next to it, he sat some clothes. "Relax for as long as you like. I've asked Victoria to try to find what was done with your clothes. In the meantime, you can wear mine" he explained as he exited, closing the door behind.
Her empty stomach did flips as she first sipped the wine, but soon it left her feeling very warm inside, a different warm than the soothing water around her caused. She could hear him unpacking and occasionally speaking to someone, maybe Victoria or Andres.
She stayed in for a long time, eventually the cooling waters causing her to get out. She dried herself, gently dabbing at her sore feet. She then looked at the clothes. He'd brought her a large olive drab t-shirt that she had often seen on US military men. For below, there were a pair of synthetic boxer-briefs and checkered pajama pants. Lastly, there was a pair of soft white socks that would be huge on her, but would protect her feet. Not used to it, but enjoying every second, she put the clothes on, being fully covered for the first time since she arrived at the villa. She worked up the guts to walk back into the bedroom. If this man was going to rape her, maybe it would not be as bad as Gabriela.
"Feel better?" he said with a smile.
"Yes, much better, thank you Sir."
"You don't have to call me sir. You need to understand that I did not ask Jefe for a slave. Contrary to the opinion of many, I'm not an evil man."
"Sir if you don't have me as a slave, at best they will probably give me to someone else. At worst, they will kill me and maybe my family" she quietly but desperately explained to him.