* * *
She’s still gone.
I brace my hands on the balcony railing that overlooks Manhattan below. The private balcony has always been a source of solitude when I need to unwind. Contrary to what others may believe, violence is a necessity in my life, not a preference. The scenic view and the private pool usually ease the day’s tension, allowing me to relax—something I seldom do during the day.
Tonight, it holds no appeal.
She’s out there somewhere, the stubborn little fool.
Rejection isn’t something I’m accustomed to feeling. I’d thought I was doing her a favor by setting her up in her own apartment, giving her a new lease on life, and supporting her financially. As much as I’m aggravated that she’s becoming problematic, I also can’t resist a hint of admiration. I’ve paid off plenty of people in return for their silence, and I’d learned early in life that people will sell their souls for money. There isn’t a single person I know that would have turned down what I’d given her. Yet, she’d done just that and walked away with just the clothing on her back. It takes a strong-willed woman not to cave under the pressure of temptation.
As fucked up as it, it just makes me want to bend her to my will even more. One way or another, she’s going to get off the damned streets and make a life for herself. I’m going to see to it. Though I can’t do shit if Carter doesn’t find her. Last time he’d checked in with me, he’d decided to start searching the homeless shelters.
This is not how I’d expected my day to unfold or end. My day had been filled with meetings and resolving various complications—all considered a typical day. But I’ve also had to make time to figure out what to do with Charli—something I’m unaccustomed to. I control everyone around me, so when there’s a problem, it’s usually dealt with promptly.
Charli’s not a quick fix, that’s for damned sure.
I’m currently in the process of trying to secure a companion for her, someone that can communicate with her and help translate when she’s out in public. It’s been more difficult than I’d anticipated. At first, I’d sought to hire a female companion, but the more I’d thought upon it, the less appealing the idea became. The kind of women I’m familiar with would never put Charli first, and instead, they’d put their own wants and needs ahead of hers. Charli doesn’t need a companion that’s more focused on their own social life than genuinely helping another.
Ideally, an older man would be wise, because I refuse to hire someone that might hit on Charli. The problem with hiring an older companion is that he might be married or have a family, which is quite likely. Charli needs someone that can live with her and be there twenty-four/seven. So that has led me to consider recent graduates that have studied deaf communications. Those are the ones that’ll be looking for a job and be more willing to relocate. As an incentive to focus on their job—and by that, I mean completely on Charli, I plan to pay them more than any job in their chosen field would.
Finding the right applicant has proven difficult, but I think I may have found a man that might just be perfect for the job. He’s a recent grad and happens to be gay, so there won’t be any issues with him taking a personal interest in Charli. Tomorrow, I have an interview scheduled with him at nine. I’ve already had his background checked thoroughly, and I haven’t noted any red flags. I’ll see how he is in person, and if all goes well, I’ll debrief him on Charli’s situation without going into detail about how she’d come to be in my care.
That part might be a little tricky.