Chapter 10: A Request

Arielle held her briefcase tightly against her chest as she thought over her words in the elevator. She didn't enjoy how quickly the numbers changed as the heavy machinery pulled her further up- closer to seeing him again. That's what this had felt like and what it had quickly become. Work had gone from doing mere math, organizing her boss' schedule, and fulfilling assignments- to pondering how she would face him for another day.

Arielle hated to admit it, but the night before had been a hectic one. Her mind had fought to create new scenarios. Scenarios that simply weren't real and unfruitful to even consider. Such as the one she pondered over during the late hours. What if she entered her small home and a pair of intruders were not hiding amid the darkness that they had created?

Arielle's close friend, Julia, had reached out to her that night. Her chipper voice practically sang over the phone, sharing why she hadn't made it to church earlier in the day. Her talks of adventure and dreams went on for nearly half of the phone call before she asked Arielle how her day had been.

She fought back a dry laugh as the points of her day collided painfully in her mind. How had it been? She thought to herself dryly. Why I've only dealt with two intruders who thought to destroy my peaceful afternoon? Nothing too shabby?

Arielle sighed. She wouldn't ever be so sharp in her words towards Julia nor would she speak that way even to herself. What she had gone through was a serious matter. One she could hardly wrap her head around.

"It wasn't the best that it could be." Arielle began and soon dove into the details. Everything from the delicious breakfast her mother had whipped up for them to the unexpected visitors she had run into. More so, that they had planned to run into her. She listened as her friend gasped on the other line. She wasn't too surprised by her reaction. How else would a sane person react to hearing that their best friend's home was broken into?

Julia spoke at a mile per minute as she began to ask an array of questions, one after another, at a quick pace. She could hear it in her friend's voice. Julia was trying everything she could to cheer up the exhausted intern, even offering a short Bible study through the entire book of Philippians, but Arielle's mind continued to race, threatening to leave her behind.

They eventually concluded postponing the much-needed Bible study. Arielle still felt a tug to read it. She began carefully combing through the first chapter but dozed off just before the second. Her mind was full, but her body had become drained by the day's events.

Arielle watched as the elevator's numbers became higher and higher. She blew out a breath in anticipation, but her mind continued to bring her back. Trying to be in that house, let alone sleep in it, made her horribly uncomfortable the night before. Although she knew that God would protect her and Mr. Marquee's men were on a night shift just outside- she couldn't help, but feel as though they tainted a beautiful place for her.

Her home was filled with memories of her dad. She witnessed her mom and dad share genuine star-filled gazes in their small kitchen. They would dance in the living room when their wedding song would come on the radio. They still had a radio in the house then too. She witnessed true love within those short walls. Every meal included each person sitting around their minuscule table that would extend in size when they had guests over.

She learned how to walk in that home, how to make pancakes in that kitchen, how to do her hair for school- everything. She first learned of God and repented on the couch in her living room. Her house held beautiful memories and now it held memories of them. Her intruders.

Arielle prayed for the strange and dangerous men that broke into her home. She didn't know what it took for someone to become like that, but she assumed it must have been something horrible.

But it wasn't until afterward that Alexander arrived. She felt different around him and she didn't know what to do about that. When their eyes locked from across the road, Arielle found it hard to look away. She couldn't. Well, she could, but she didn't. His dark eyes, unlike the dark eyes of her intruder, were warm and welcoming. She knew that he cared for her, although she didn't quite know why.

And regardless of how much she enjoyed that moment, she recognized a problem. Her resolve- for a moment it felt as though it had torn down. Not completely, but something cracked. She needed to be away from her boss and work from a distance. So now here she stood, with her briefcase held tightly against her chest and mouth puckered like a fish as she drifted deep in thought on how she would request this from him.

"I believe it would be beneficial if we were to go our separate ways," she mumbled under her breath in practice, but she immediately groaned and shook her head "no" at her attempt. "Erg, no. It sounds like I'm trying to break up with him and we're not even together. Try again." She whispered.

"Although you are very experienced and detailed in your field, I think it would be best for me to work around those who are doing my exact job." No. Something about that felt choppy and incomplete. Besides, she didn't know if she wanted to ever own a business of her own one day, but she didn't want to flush that idea down the drain. She had yet to bring such a large prospect before God and she would have to seek Him diligently on such a matter.

"Once more." She whispered to herself. Arielle took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Okay. Hi, Mr. Marquee. Working alongside you has taught me many necessary skills that are vital to this field of work and I've felt a high sense of gratitude to learn from someone as accomplished as yourself." She began.

"You have?" A deep voice rang out.

Arielle blinked in surprise. She had been so lost in her thoughts and her practice, she hadn't realized that the elevator had stopped and the doors opened. In front of her stood Mr. Marquee and Claire.

"Oh, hello." Arielle practically squeaked. How much did he hear? She questioned inwardly. She steadied her breathing. It wouldn't matter if he heard her or not. She would have to do this and there was no reason to allow her emotions to gain any control over her word or actions. This was the wise decision to make.

"Hello," he chuckled. His mood swiftly changed as he looked over at Claire and nodded toward her. "Thank you for all of the help Claire, we are done here." He said to her dismissively.

"You need to think about this Alex," Claire replied with widened eyes. They briefly darted from Alexander to Arielle. For a brief second, Arielle thought that she saw something flash in her eyes and if it was what she thought she had seen, it was nothing good.

"It's Mr. Marquee to you. Now please," he waved his hand forward gesturing toward the elevator. Arielle quickly moved out of it. She knew that Claire would not want to stand so close to her. The manicured woman seemed to noticeably hold a distaste towards Mr. Marquee's intern. Just how she glared at Arielle reminded her of Megan.

Hmm, Megan had been away for a while. She realized.

The elevator doors closed with a scowling Claire on the other side, but Mr. Marquee remained unfazed and turn his attention to Arielle. A joy-filled smile immediately brightened his features.

"So you were saying," he encouraged. He stepped away from the elevator doors and watched his intern from a distance. It was enough of a distance to make her feel comfortable and for that, she was grateful.

"Oh yes, that." Arielle sighed. "I wanted to request to be placed somewhere else." She announced calmly. Her briefcase had no longer been keeping her heart from hammering out of her chest, but she found that it wouldn't look professional if she had to hug it as though it were a stuffed animal.

"What? That isn't what you said on the elevator." His brows furrowed. She could see that his shoulders had tensed up, but he fought hard to keep a calm demeanor.

"Um- I uh- I said that because I wanted to word this properly, but you already heard it, so- I'd like to be placed somewhere else." Her words tumbled sloppily over themself and she groaned internally. This was not what she had practiced. She shook her head and ignored the way it went. Arielle believed this to be the right thing, but would he stand for it? She wondered.

Arielle looked up at Mr. Marquee, waiting for his response, but she didn't have to wait long.

"Why?" He retorted. She could read the genuine shock on his face. He hadn't seen this coming and she couldn't blame him entirely. It seemed that the furthest she was willing to go was introducing the silent treatment and yesterday turned that all around. They spoke, albeit briefly, but they spoke. And their eye contact- Arielle could easily memorize the flecks of light brown that were placed about in his dark eyes if she so wanted to.

"Well, I just find it to be distracting to work directly with you in your office," Arielle explained carefully.

"Why is that?" He pushed.

"Well, Mr. Marquee-"

"That's Alexander to you." He corrected her. She recalled his correction toward Claire earlier and shook her head again.

"No, no it's not, Mr. Marquee. And that is exactly why I think I should work elsewhere." Arielle's response was firm, it had to be. He was pushier than even he seemed to realize. Although he was a kind boss and protective, she wasn't blind to the special treatment. Sure, she only had his bodyguards due to Lorenzo's tactics, but even then- Lorenzo was only after her because he saw what Arielle hadn't seen until now.

He liked her.

"Mhm," Susan cleared her throat. The two nearly jumped through the ceiling as they realized that they were not alone nor were they in his office. Susan sat at her desk as she did every morning. Her hands had paused mid-type on the keyboard as she watched them.

"I just didn't know if you wanted my ears or any ears besides your own, to hear this," Susan commented.

"You are right, Susan," Alexander replied and he shot her an appreciative, yet professional smile. "You can follow me to my office then, Arielle." He curtly instructed Arielle before he began turning around.

"I don't know if that is wise, Mr. Marquee. May I stay out here with Susan?" She asked before he could begin walking away. Her question caused him to pause.

"You are my intern." Mr. Marquee replied calmly, or at least it seemed to be a manufactured calm.

"You don't treat me like one," Arielle answered bluntly.

"What?" His voice was low and he had now fully turned back around to face the once quiet, but currently, outspoken woman. He was astonished by her accusation. He always treated her like an intern, better even!

"I'll excuse myself," Susan mumbled. Yet, neither one acknowledged her, likely due to not hearing her, Susan thought. She grabbed her phone and made her way toward the elevator.

"Open. Open. Open." Susan whispered under her breath as she waited on the elevator doors to welcome her in.

"You treat me as more than an intern, Mr. Marquee." Arielle countered.

"Wouldn't any intern want that?" He asked in an exasperated tone. Most interns wanted the opportunity to work at such an established company with room for growth. He would be happy to give her a permanent job once her internship ended! But here she stood wanting to be removed from his mentorship.

"Yes, but not in the way that you're doing towards me." She tried to explain. Her own voice began to match his as their understanding of one another bounced off of the walls, never colliding or coming to an agreement.

"What do you mean, Arielle? Stop being cryptic. Please." Alexander pleaded. His eyes had softened, but only to a degree. Arielle could see that his guard was still up much higher than it usually was.

"I mean- I- I-" Arielle searched for the words.

"Spit it out." He pushed.

Arielle's eyebrows furrowed. Would she say what she thought to be true? Would it be right to say it? "I believe that you have unprofessional feelings towards me, Mr. Marquee."

Those words practically echoed and replayed in his ears. The sound in the room became silent as the two stood there alone. Alexander stood stock still. He had made it apparent by asking her for coffee just a little while after meeting her. He didn't know if he was surprised that it took her this long to find out or the fact that she seemed to feel nothing in return.

"Well..." He began.

"Well?" She asked.

"Well, I do." He finally replied in a nonchalant tone. Her eyes widened as the shock began to settle in.

"You do!?" She yelled.

"You just said that I did, why are you acting so surprised!?" She watched as he treated this as though it were a casual situation that could be easily forgotten. He looked at her as though she were the crazy one.

"Well I didn't expect to hear it I guess!" She threw her hands ups.

"Am I supposed to apologize?" He asked incredulously while waving his hands around. She was convinced that any outsider looking in would accuse them both of becoming mad.

"Maybe! I don't know." Arielle responded at a quick pace. "I really love this job, Mr. Marquee, but this- I don't know if I can handle this." She explained. Her gaze was filled with sadness as reality sunk in for her, for seemingly the first time.

"Well, what would you have me do? I can't make these feelings go away. I don't know why I have them Arielle-"

"It would be best to call me Ms. Burnes and to allow me to work from afar." She answered. That truly would be the best solution besides her quitting altogether, but Arielle would be lying if she said that the idea wasn't tempting.

"I saw the way you looked at me yesterday." He shot out desperately. He didn't need her to want him romantically right now, but he knew that if she distanced herself even further, it would likely never happen.

Arielle's jaw dropped. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't pretend you don't know." His voice had returned to a normal level and he took a step toward Arielle, who promptly took a step back. She shook her head at the persistent man.

"Please move me so that I can do my job in another part of the building. It can be nearby, just not in your office." Her voice had come to a calm level once more. This hadn't gone the way she had hoped nor planned, but she would at least have settled for a civil exchange.

"Or else what?" Alexander asked with a sigh.

Arielle took a deep breath and held her briefcase closer to her side. "Or else I quit."

Alexander gave a dry laugh. "You're not being serious." The smile on his face and the look in his eye made her realize that he truly didn't believe that she would take it that far. She fought against the anger that was building up within her.

"But I am," Arielle said with a sad smile. "I don't know where this is going, but I don't like it Mr. Marquee."

"Could you answer me this one question? Please?" He dipped his head lower, as though he were sharing a deep secret and she wondered why. Susan had long abandoned the lobby and no one else worked on this floor.

Arielle sighed. "What is it?"

"Have you felt anything towards me?" Arielle sucked in a breath at the blunt question. She watched him as he studied her. She could see a look of hope in his eyes. She wondered if he struggled to gather the attention of other women, but she knew that was clearly false from the examples of Megan and Claire alone. Why did he want it from her? What could she offer him?

"Nothing that I can decipher," Arielle answered honestly.

"But that isn't nothing at all." He replied with hope in his voice.

"It's best to count it as such," Arielle responded shortly. Alexander wouldn't admit it, but that caused a stinging pain in his chest. Romantically, for a moment, he felt his heart crack.

"Okay, that's all that I needed to hear. I am very sorry for crossing the boundaries, Ms. Burnes. You are free to work beside Susan today. I still need you on this floor." He instructed. Arielle nodded and began to open her mouth to respond, but he continued. "I'll hold the small meetings in my office today so it is off limits soon. I'll gather the papers that I need you to look over, and when you're done, I'll check them over for a review. Before then, please grab me my coffee." He spoke robotically and then offered a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, before turning away and walking toward the large office doors that Arielle knew, she was no longer welcome in.

But that was what she wanted. Right?

Arielle shook her head. Her thoughts were getting out of hand and that was exactly why she had to stay away from Mr. Marquee. She needed to do what her mother said to do. Pray. Maybe a break would do her well too.

The cafeteria wasn't as full today and Arielle could hardly fathom why. She would have happily welcomed the mild distraction of the overwhelming sounds of the crowd. It felt as though it were too loud to think at times, but now she was stuck with her thoughts.

"Pray." Her mom's voice rang through her mind. It was one word, but still, the most powerful advice that she had ever received. She could simply go to the One who knew all things.

Arielle said a short prayer and internally promised that she would spend more time with the Lord today. She needed to lean into him. Her mind was becoming a battlefield and she wanted to go back in time to when she could think clearly.

Jeremy stood at his coffee stand as usual and Stella stood nearby laughing at whatever he had said. Arielle smiled at the duo and immediately greeted Stella once she grew closer.

"Good morning Stella!" Arielle called out cheerfully.

"Oh! Hi Ari! How are you, girl?" Stella replied with a large smile. She opened her arms for a hug and Arielle briefly leaned in for a short one.

"I'm making it through by God's grace." She smiled. She hoped that they couldn't see the sadness and confusion dancing behind her eyes. It was more than Arielle could understand at this given moment or any given moment for that matter. She didn't know why this effected her so.

"Aren't we all?" Stella sighed dramatically, earning a chuckle from Arielle.

Jeremy watched the two quietly. He smiled at their interaction. He moved from foot to foot, waiting for Arielle to greet him too, but when it didn't happen, he spoke up.

"Hey Ari." He waved over.

"Oh hi! I'm sorry Jeremy. I was so excited to see Stella and my mind-"

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." He smiled.

"I'm sorry. How have you been?" Arielle asked. She blinked a few times in an attempt to re-calibrate her emotions. As one could assume, it didn't help, but thankfully neither person seemed to take notice.

"Just okay. Nothing fancy really happens down here. We aren't all given the opportunity of being on the top floor like you." He chuckled.

Arielle shook her head. "Each floor has it's perks." She shrugged. "Do you mind if I steal Stella from you for just a moment?"

"Go right on ahead. Same coffee for the boss?" He waved them off.

"As always!"

"Right on it." Jeremy watched as the women walked away from his coffee stand and he sighed. Arielle had already made it clear that they couldn't be close friends and he could see the fruit of that already. No matter how interested he was- he had to respect her wishes. He sighed and began making the bland coffee that Mr. Marquee requested everyday.

"Time to let her go." Jeremy whispered to himself in defeat, but a weight lifted off of his shoulders. It wasn't easy trying to impress someone all the time. He could be her friend from a distance.

"So what's up?" Stella asked. The two women approached one of the many empty tables littering the cafeteria. There were hardly any people around which was an odd setting for the busy building.

Arielle breathed out a sigh. "I don't know anymore. My mind's become so clouded lately."

"Hm," Stella frowned. "Well, does it have anything to do with a guy?" She asked.

"Why do you ask that?" Arielle didn't know if news had gotten out about Mr. Marquee's strange behavior around. She didn't view Susan as the kind to tell others, but she wasn't so sure if she shared the same thought process about Megan and Claire. She could only hope that they wouldn't speak poorly of her as she wouldn't do of them.

Stella shrugged. "Just curious." She replied while smiling, yet Arielle didn't miss the knowing look in her eye.

"Is there something you know?" Arielle asked slowly. She looked around the cafeteria. It was slowly beginning to fill up with more people.

"Just something I'm inferring. I don't know much." Stella shrugged. Arielle didn't realize how easy she was to read when her demeanor wavered.

"What are you inferring?"

"Your boss- our boss." She corrected. "You work around him because he's mentoring you. It seemed like you handled one man's crush and set pretty healthy boundaries with him. Jeremy's been more tame as of late." She complimented.

Arielle nodded. "Yeah. I had to. I'm here to work, not to find love." She expressed. Arielle tapped her fingers against the table at a specific tempo. The soft drumming brought her back to a simpler time. It was the broken down rhythm of a song she grew up listening to.

"That's a calculated way to nervously tap one's fingers." Stella joked.

"I'm not nervous Stell. I'm- I don't know."

Stella blew out a breath and leaned back into the plastic and metal chair. "Well whoever it is, just tell them like you did with Jeremy. He was understanding. I hope you don't mind that he told me by the way."

"I don't mind. I would have figured. You two are best friends it seems."

"Ha! Looks like that, huh? We used to be rivals in high school, but we were just dumb." Stella laughed.

"Rivals? Over what?" Arielle felt intrigued. Anything to keep her mind off of Alexander. She thought to herself happily, but her eyes widened which caused Stella to tilt her head in confusion. Before her concerned friend could as what was wrong, Jeremy made his way over.

"Hey don't leave me out of this story." Jeremy's voice could be heard from a couple feet away. He held to drinks in his hand and set them both down in front of Arielle. He then smiled and grabbed a seat near Stella.

"It would be hard to leave you out of it when you're practically the main character." Stella sung while laughing, seeming to forget the short interaction between herself and her friend just seconds before. Which was good. It was likely no big deal, right? Arielle never acknowledged Mr. Marquee by his first name, but here she was thinking about him and calling him Alexander in the safety of her mind. It meant nothing though. A simple mix up, she encouraged herself.

"Well I'd like to tell the story if you don't mind." Jeremy sung back to his best friend. Arielle stared in amusement as the two bickered. They got along better than they realized. It was hard to picture them as rivals.

"In high school I was the class president for two years straight. Picture this," he began while dramatically framing his hands to form an imaginary picture screen. "Junior year, freshly freed from braces, and ready to win class president for the 3rd year in a row and this one-" he shot his thumb over to the sheepish looking Stella. "Decides that she wants to run as a newbie, So she began a homely little campaign-"

'Hey! It wasn't homely!" Stella corrected. "It took a lot of time and energy. I was new to the school and had won class president two years in a row at my last high school. I wanted to keep the tradition going, but as a new student, I needed to gain the trust of my peers." She explained, defending herself to Arielle who was simply shaking her head and smiling.

"You mean you had to bribe them?" He asked sarcastically and his eyes were brightly shining as he grinned at his friend.

"It was not a bribe! I didn't know that your campaigning skills were so lackluster! Anyways, Ari, I baked for hours the night before and brought in free cookies, cupcakes, brownies, muffins, and even gluten free and sugar free options." She shrugged. Arielle's jaw dropped. She had helped her mother cook many meals, especially during their times of grief, but even then, Arielle couldn't remember baking for hours. Her mother had learned to cook efficiently and bake simultaneously, perfecting multiple meals for the entire week within just two hours. Yet Arielle still hadn't learned to do as her mother had.

"You say that like that's an easy load." She expressed with wide eyes. "I can hardly make a three course meal before nightfall, let alone host my own bake fair. You're clearly talented." Arielle laughed. She leaned against the table and absorbed the detailed and wholesome story that they spun together. It meshed beautifully, as a woven piece of fabric. A thought fluttered to her mind. She believed that even if her presence wasn't there, they would find a way to reminisce on something like this. The memory seemed to jolt them to life.

"Yeah, the students definitely thought so." Jeremy commented while shaking his head in disbelief. Arielle noticed the smile that he threw Stella's way while the golden haired woman remained clueless of his stare. His eyes were filled with respect and admiration towards his previous competition. "She won. Fair and square." He seceded.

"Thank you for admitting that." She replied with a smile. "Do you take back the bribery accusation though?" She mused as her smile broadened.

"I mean is it really a false accusation?" His eyebrows scrunched as he pretended to think further on her request.

"Jeremy." Arielle knew that she said this with humor, but Stella managed to mostly conceal it with a sheath of a monotonous tone.

"Fine, I take it back." Jeremy raised his hands in defeat while sizing up his smaller friend. She grinned in approval.

"An apology?" She pushed more.

"I'm... sorry." He answered in a dramatic tone.

"Wow, you two have quite the history." Arielle joked. She lifted the scalding cup of coffee to her lips. With a gentle, powerless blow, she took a sip. The heat on her tongue practically stole her tastebuds. Arielle hissed and placed it down. Jeremy quickly turned to check on her. Neither of them witnessed the slightly pinky hue that spread across Stella's cheeks.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy rushed around the table as Arielle fanned at her tongue. She nodded helplessly, but spoke no words. Why had she decided to drink something so hot? Was she really so out of it? She scolded herself.

Jeremy felt bad for his friend. He couldn't help, but find her attempts of cooling her tongue to be adorable, but he promptly looked away. He wanted to respect her boundaries. It was hard not to stare. Even the harsh fluorescent lights of the cafeteria made her features look as though they were prepared to be displayed on a magazine. He felt foolish for swooning over her looks alone, but even her personality drew him in. She was quiet, kind, and had something more about her that he wanted to know more of.

Boundaries. He reminded himself.

He sighed and shook his head.

"Well, now that I know you're alright, I'll leave you ladies to it." He smiled. The chipper redhead pushed himself up, steadying himself with the assistance of the tabletop. There were plenty of orders calling his name. He cringed as he glanced over at the empty coffee booth. Well it was empty before, but now a small line of three customers chatted amongst themselves. He could visibly see the irritably growing on them and his glanced over to the doors that began to open, welcoming more of his regular customers.

"The show must go," he whispered to himself.

He placed on a large smile on his face and waved over at the first woman in line. "Hi Rochelle! What can I get you today?"

Arielle and Stella laughed and talked for a few more minutes, before Arielle excused herself. The time on her wrist reminded her of her duties. She was expected with a coffee before Mr. Marquee's first meeting. She grabbed his coffee. It felt as though it was made right that second due to it's heat alone. Arielle's tongue felt like a charred bush. It wasn't an appealing texture at all, but this had happened once before in her childhood and thankfully, it would go away on it's own.

Arielle bobbed her head steadily to the music playing within her mind, but she was soon pulled from her thoughts as her phone dinged. She rose a brow while carefully reaching into her side pocket. The balancing act alone could have successfully placed her on the Olympic league, she was sure of it. She managed to hold both drinks in one hand without a tray, while tapping for her phone with the other.

"Finally," she muttered as she tugged the device loose from her cardigan.

Arielle's eyes danced over the screen until they landed on the new notification. To her surprise, it was the verse of the day. It usually didn't appear this late in the day on her phone and she didn't recall downloading this Bible app. She had a different one on her phone for the past few years. Her brows furrowed, but she read it anyway.

Philippians 2:14-16:

Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing.

"Arguing." She whispered to herself.  She lifted her eyes to the elevator lights above her and sighed. She had failed to avoid an argument earlier with her own boss. Not only was it unwise, it was also deemed as rude. She stood by her request to be moved, but maybe she should have simply written him a letter. Maybe she should have listened to her mother's advice and prayed first. God always gave her the best plans and she knew this to be true.

Arielle knew that she would need to apologize for partaking in that argument, instead of pulling herself from it, especially when the tensions grew high. Her attitude overall- well she was sure that it seeped out. She knew her decision to place space between her and her boss was beneficial for them both, but maybe there was a better way to go about it.

There was.

If only she had spent the time praying beforehand- she would have known that. God nudged her to read Philippians and she didn't. She didn't spend the extra time in prayer for this and then fell into an unseemly quarrel with a witness.

Poor Susan, Arielle cringed at the thought.

Her phone buzzed again. This time from her Bible app with it's verse of the day.

‭‭I John‬ ‭1:9‬ - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

And that is what she would do.