- he asks, knowing he has something, but Anthony remains silent. - Please continue. This conversation will be just between us. Not only do I want secrecy, I also want to understand it. I want to know how I left things so I can approach it with more caution. The man remains silent for a while, seeing the young woman's face asking please in the rearview mirror. - He wasn't expecting anything from you after they got married - he says, making her move a little closer to listen very carefully. - She knew his presence bothered her, so Rogers thought he would resolve it with dialogue. He made a reservation for you at the restaurant, paid to empty the entire place so you could be alone and bought flowers, as a sign of truce. - Did he really do that? - She starts to mentally condemn herself. - Was he really not expecting anything? He keeps saying some pederasty to me. - In his defense, he says he wants you to really know him, so his filter disappears when he's with you. - Only with me? - he asks without understanding. - He's a very sincere man, but he only says those things to you - he pauses, seeing her nod. - Bother you? - No, oddly enough I got used to it - you stop yourself from laughing. - Was he very angry when he had to cancel everything? - the probe. - He didn't show it, as I said before, Mr. Rogers keeps everything to himself. - But? - looks at him. - You've known him for a long time, I know you notice the subtle changes in your boss. - He got sad. Melanie stays silent, thinking about what she did and starts fiddling with her fingers like a nervous tic. - Don't worry, Mr. Rogers is a very calm man, so don't expect an explosion from his side. - The internal one is much worse than the external one - she comments. - How do I know when he's really nervous? - If he spends a lot of time at the gym, something isn't right, but if he stays very organized, you can be sure that the problem is deeper down. - Very organized? - He's already normally organized, but when he's really nervous, he has a habit of cleaning what's already clean. - I didn't know he was organized - she smiles. "There are many things you will still find out about him." "Nice choice of words," makes him smile. "I only give you a county, don't let you drink to the point of being drunk." - Why? "He's sincere when he's sober, but when he drinks he runs out of any filter and says everything he is thinking." "So those things he says to me ..." You can get worse. She turns red just thinking. The rest of the route was a comfortable silence. Melanie takes the opportunity to send a message to her friend, but she doesn't answer, so she decides to talk to her driver, relaxing a little with the stories of the elderly. When they arrive in Manhattan, Anthony helps her to take her bags to the apartment, listening to the young woman laughing with her exciting stories. - Good afternoon, Mrs. Rogers - An old lady approaches her at the door of the apartment. - My name is Margot Torres, the housekeeper of the house.- Torres? - looks at her and then at the driver. - Yes, we are married - the oldest says. - I hope you had a good trip. - It was very productive, thank you. - Well... - Anthony leaves his bags at the door. - Now I must leave you alone, have a good afternoon - he says goodbye politely, disappearing from sight. Melanie looks around, briefly taking in the grandeur of the place. - Can you tell me where my room is? -But of course, I'm here to make you settle in and introduce you to the house. Melanie takes a few steps forward, enchanted by the three-story apartment that looks like a luxurious mansion. She had money, but nothing compared to the glass-walled apartment she would share with her husband. He has good taste. She thinks. The two enter the private elevator, the lady directs her to the master bedroom, making the brunette's eyes widen at the size of the room. There was a gigantic double bed in the center, which she imagined would be ideal for Christopher's height, with a large, padded headboard glued to the wall, and a chest of the same model at the foot of the mattress. On the sides there were two dressers with lamps centralizing the furniture. The glass walls went from one end to the other, leaving the room well lit and refined during the day, with thick curtains in the corners. - This is the master suite - the lady comments. - You brought your things here when you were traveling and stored them in your closet. Melanie tries to complain about the room, wanting a separate place, but immediately puts it aside and thinks about solving it later, since it would be too much work to move things to another room. Margot opens the closet doors, making her enter a room that is too large for a closet. - That's the lady's and the other side is Mr. Rogers'. The lady takes the bags inside to pack them, but Melanie stops her, not wanting to stay in that room, but hiding it as much as possible. - After I do that, please show me the rest of the house. Margot starts by showing the couple's bathroom, which makes the brunette surprised by the high ceiling, with her husband's things near the sink. He is vain. He gives a brief smile. Melanie walks a little further and is surprised by the size of the bathroom, the hot tub, but especially the shower. She sees a very large square on the ceiling of the glass shower, making the water fall as if it were rain. He has good taste in decoration. She admires it some more. The lady gives a tour of the apartment, showing every corner of it, drawing a relieved sigh from Melanie when she introduces the guest room. In what seemed like an eternity, the brunette got to know the pool, living room, kitchen. Be enchanted by every square meter. - So you were supposed to be home already? - Melanie comments, when she hears the oldest saying the employees' schedules to make her aware. - Mr. Rogers is already a well-organized man, but he is too busy. As the apartment is quite large, he needs help with cleaning, which is time he doesn't have. I and the others help keep everything in order and are released well before normal work hours. So I don't see any problem with going overtime to help her settle in. - You talk about him with so much affection - she comments. - That boy has been through so much - she sighs. - Finally, the gym - she opens the door to the room, finishing the introductions. - He's been here a lot these last few weeks, it's one of Mr. Rogers' favorite rooms. Melanie remembers what Anthony said and imagines why her husband spent a lot of t