Bindu yelped and hugged Phillip tightly.

"Oh my God, Bindu. You were a virgin weren't you? I am so sorry."

Bindu said nothing, but continued to hug him as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was confused by her conflicting feelings. She knew she was not worthy of her boss' affections. She was hurting, but she was also enjoying the new sensations of lust coming from within. Now, she had lost her virginity. Her mind seemed to be separate from her body. She heard herself say. "It is OK, Phillip. You may continue."

Phillip started stroking slowly in and out of Bindu's tender flesh. He was mindful of the pain he had caused her to feel, pain he had caused be taking her special gift. The tightness of Bindu's chaste body quickly had him ready to erupt. He hugged her tightly and thrust fully into Bindu's depths. He bathed her unprotected cervix with his sperm loaded juices.

He kissed Bindu passionately and rolled off her. He took her in his arms and held her body close to his. "I am so sorry I hurt you." He repeated.

She kissed him and cuddled up to his side. They slept together in the nude that night.

Early the next morning, Bindu awoke and was surprised to see she was naked and in bed with Mr. Edwards. Before becoming fully awake, she had assumed their intimacy had just been a dream. A dream that, like all the others, was doomed to be crushed.

As Bindu became more and more alert, she fully remembered what had happened the night before. She tried to slip out of bed without disturbing Phillip. Just as she was leaving the bed to head for the bathroom, Phillip caught her hand.

"Bindu, I am so sorry I hurt you. I was too excited about the new contract and being with you to be in full control of myself. For weeks now, I have wanted you. At first, you had reminded me of Simone. You look a lot like her. Then I began to care for you for yourself. Just as importantly, you and Julia get along so well. You are a wonderfully sweet, gentle, and helpful young lady. I haven't felt like this about anyone since Simone died. Bindu, I love you. Will you marry me?"

Bindu was shocked when she heard those words from her boss. Without responding, she went to the restroom. She needed to clean herself up and get dressed.

As she walked toward the door, Phillip called after her. "I will wait for your decision. I hope you accept."

With their major project completed, Bindu returned to her apartment the next morning. She also returned to work at the company's offices.

She had a difficult time concentrating on work. Every now and then her mind drifted back to Mr. Edwards and the events of the previous night. Though she had bled very little after losing her virginity, Bindu was quite sore between her legs. Giving Mr. Edwards her special gift had been painful, and her soreness was a constant reminder of what she had given. Then her thoughts turned to Mr. Edwards' marriage proposal.

Her mind was over flowing with questions. She had to ask herself. 'Will it be right to marry the boss, a man so much higher than her station in life? Will Mr. Edwards' relatives accept their marriage, especially when they find out about her past. Mr. Edwards probably did not know about her past marriage or how she had come to be married. I am not the right woman for him. I will leave this job and return to India.' Her mind was made up. She had to go home to India.

After lunch, Bindu left work without saying anything to anyone of her decision to return to India. She made arrangements for a flight out of JFK. It was scheduled to leave later that evening. She packed her meager possessions during the afternoon.

Before she left the United States, Bindu knew she had to see Julia one last time. Over the last couple of months, Julia and Bindu had become very close. The little girl deserved an explanation of why her friend was going away.

Julia had just arrived home from tution when Bindu arrived via taxi.

The servant was surprised to see Bindu at the door with her packed bags. "What's the matter Ms. Bindu? You look like you're in a hurry to go somewhere."

"Yes! I am leaving for India tonight. The project for which I came here is now over. So, I wish to return to India."

"I am sure Mr. Edwards and Julia will be very disappointed to see you go. But please, come in."

Julia, who had started doing her homework had seen Bindu arrive. She came bounding down the stairs to meet her friend.

Bindu took Julia's hands and knelt in front of the son. She told Julia of her plans to return to India. They both had tears flowing down their cheeks.

Please Ms. Bindu, please don't leave. I need you to help me with my homework. Who will play with me? Daddy and I will miss you so much." The little girl latched on to Bindu's legs and hugged the tightly as her friend stood up.

"Oh Julia. I will miss you too, but I have to leave. Calm down son. My job here is over. I have to go back to India." Bindu then bent over and kissed the son.

Julia was sobbing and her tears were flowing heavily. Her little heart was breaking. Through her sobs she said. "Bindu please stay. My Mommy left me and Daddy. Now, you are leaving us. It's not fair. Please stay."

Pulling away from the weeping Julia, Bindu went to Mr. Edwards' office. She wanted to leave him a resignation letter before he came home. She quickly finished the letter and looked around the office for one last time.

Her eyes fell on Simone's picture. The photo seemed to be calling to her. As she moved closer to the picture, in her mind, she heard it calling her name. The picture seemed to be speaking directly to Bindu in her mind. 'Bindu, all is well. I am gone, but you are there. Search your heart, Bindu. Do you not love Julia? Do you not have great warm feelings for Phillip?'

"Yes, but I am so unworthy to be a wife and a mother to them. What will his family say if he marries a divorced and rejected woman. A woman who was rejected in favor of a whore." Bindu verbally responded to the thoughts coming from Simone's picture.

'You must put the past behind you, Bindu. Give Phillip a chance. He is a good and fair man. Tell him about your life. It will not matter to him, or his family.'

"How can I ever replace you, Simone?" Bindu's resolve to leave was weakening.

'You must! I know you will take good care of my family. You must help Julia grow up to be a fine young woman. Phillip needs you too. Let your heart guide you in this.'

Though it seemed like she had been in Mr. Edwards' office for only a few minutes, the clock on the wall told her differently. Bindu had been there for nearly an hour. She knew she had to leave right away.

As she opened the office door to leave, she heard tires screeching to a halt in the drive. A matter of seconds later, Phillip Edwards breathlessly burst through his front door. Bindu stood frozen in place in the office doorway.

"Bindu! Please wait. Don't go just yet. We need to talk." He approached Bindu and asked. Would you please step into my office for a few minutes?"

Bindu lowered her head and agreed to speak with Mr. Edwards. She followed him into his office and shut the door behind them.

"Bindu, I know I hurt you last night. I am truly sorry I hurt you. I swear I didn't know you were a virgin. I have fallen in love with you and have been wanting to ask you to marry me for weeks."

Phillip knelt on one knee, pulled a small jewelry box from his jacket pocket, and opened it. The box contained a wedding set including an engagement ring with a large solitaire diamond. Holding the box out to Bindu, Phillip spoke again. "Julia and I both want and need you to become part of our family. Please, stay and be my wife." Phillip pleaded with the beautiful girl standing before him.

About then, Julia could not stand the waiting any longer. She ran into Phillip's office and saw her father on his knees before Bindu. She instantly knew he had proposed to her. She, and her father, had discussed this a few days earlier. The little girl ran to her father's side and knelt beside him. She held her hands up to Bindu and pleaded. "Oh please say yes, Ms. Bindu. Please be my new Mommy, and Daddy's new wife. We love you and need you." Tears were beginning to form in Julia's eyes again.

Bindu was not unmoved. She began tearing up as well. "Oh, Mr. Edwards, er Phillip, I am unworthy of being your wife. I..."

"Nonsense!" Phillip sternly interrupted. I know all about your failed marriage. I had my office manager, Mr. Jaitley, tell me all about you and your past before we left for NY. Forgive me, but that's why I didn't expect what I found last night. I knew there was something special about you the first time I saw you. I know about your failed marriage. I know your parents are disappointed in you. I even know about the young man's proposal that you turned down so you didn't hurt your friend."

Bindu's head was bowed as a tear fell down her cheek. "But Sir, I am unworthy to...."

'You're in America now, Bindu." Phillip continued. "None of that matters. I know how important it is to you to be accepted by the family of your future husband. Let me assure you, they will love you as much as I do."

"Me too, Daddy. Me too!" Julia chimed in.

"Yes, you too Julia. You see, Bindu, you have already been accepted by everyone in this family that matters. Julia and I accept, want, and need you. We love you, Bindu. I love you. I asked you again. Will you do me the honor of becoming my bride? Will you marry me?"

By then Bindu was in tears. Could this man really not care about her past? Would his family really not care? Her dreams had been broken and crushed so many times before. Did she dare dream again. She did have deep feelings for Phillip. She and Julia seemed to have a special connection. She glanced at Simone's picture one more time.

Again she heard Simone speak to her mind. 'Let your heart be your guide, Bindu. You must take care of our family.