Gypsy Lover

Harman would always call Alodia during lunch time. He'd say it was his break time. Therefore, he had a reason to call her. And because she and Giani always eat their lunch early and the child always had her afternoon nap, she had all the time to herself. Giani was tired of playing and watching TV, so she took an earlier afternoon nap that day. Hence, Alodia spent her time cleaning the house, wiping the electronics and windows, and there he was, calling her up again. This time, he called on her cell phone.

"So, what's new with your company?" She wanted to keep their conversation as neutral as possible. It was one of her tactics so that she would know him better and thus would make him court her all the more. After all, men liked to talk about themselves and their passion. They usually wanted to brag about their achievements and whatnot. And she knew how to show her interest, so he would admire her as well on that side of her for being curious of what he does. "We're planning to put up a branch in Iaşi in a year or two. But we need more clients to do that for investment purposes. You know how it is. We need more capital to do that, right?" he answered casually.

She nodded while she kept on dusting the big screened flat TV. "I see. Of course. And it's better to have someone else to invest than you yourself to finance it. It is to avoid more expenses and it is to gain more clients at the same time and you can start expanding. I understand."

"You should be a businesswoman and not a nanny or a maid," he said laughingly, teasing her.

She laughed as well and looked at the feather duster she was holding. She loved to hear his laugh, she realized. "I don't have a chance to work in an office here. In fact, Iustina's relative can't even find work. How much more with someone like me who's not from around here? Besides, it's call centers that are hiring the most right now. And I don't speak French or German. So, I am quite content with my work as a nanny. Maybe for now, at least." She shrugged her slender shoulders. He chuckled. "What if... I'll hire you?"

She was speechless. Would it be possible? her mind asked. She was tempted. Of course, who wanted to be a nanny or a housemaid forever? No one. Then she laughed at his offer.

"Harman, are you out of your mind? I have a two-year contract here," she reminded him.

But why am I tempted with the job he's offering that I don't even have the vaguest idea? Perhaps because it was him who offered it?

She then shook her head at the thought. She did not want to play in her mind that she was next to him while having a meeting with clients and she could not just focus on work because he was the center of her attention. And she found herself imagining some erotic scenes that she could or would have never imagined if it was another guy.

"Well, how about after that? Maybe it's better if we could arrange it in advance," he suggested instead. It appeared that he did not want to let this topic go.

She admitted that he had a point. And she knew there was a chance for her if he would be the one to process the necessary papers in the local immigration in Bucharest or even in the US, if he so wanted her there and if she just agreed to his proposal.

But what about her plans for Harman? She believed it would be better to turn him down right now so that she could still escape if necessary. And she had to remind herself that she was merely playing a game with this man. Hence, no long- term attachment was necessary and must not happen.

"I'm sorry, I can't take advantage of you," she said smilingly on the phone. "Besides, I love kids."

"You love... kids?" From his voice, it seemed that he was excited at the idea of her who loved kids.

"Yeah. Why, don't you like kids?" An eyebrow was raised as she continued to dust off the electronics. Nonetheless, she wanted to hear his response. A part deep down in her heart anticipated something, which she had no idea what it really was. And why was she even imagining Harman with a baby in his arms while she looked at him lovingly? She mentally shook herself.

"I do. We believe that a couple with a child is lucky."

She heard Harman said, making her eyebrows shoot up. "Really?" She smiled. "For us, we believe that kids are God's gifts. And, it's prohibited to have an abortion. It's not legal and it's a mortal sin."

"That's just right. But there are some crazy lawmakers who make it legal. Well, it depends on people and their circumstances, really. We can't judge people for doing it."

"You're right. It's a pity for the innocent babies who aren't given the chance to be born and see the world though." At least that was her real opinion. She needn't have to pretend.

Why? Aren't you even pretending in doing this? her mind butted in. She was being real and honest to him. And she knew there was only one thing that she did not want to admit even to herself.

Stop! Stop! She stepped on the brakes in her mind. She did not want to analyze it at this very moment. She was still enjoying her talk with Harman.

"So, we agree with each other about kids," he concluded meaningfully. "Do you have any plans on having your own in the very near future?"

And that question made her still while her heart was beating faster.

Her mind and feelings were getting more confused because of that question from Harman. But she never told him anything about it. She instead told him that she was still in a contract and could not find time to have a kid of her own and she readily changed the topic, back to his company.

She pulled her hair to make herself focus on a different matter, not having kids with Harman or the process in which she had to make one with him. It was distracting! "Where are you planning to expand?"