Legal Question in Business Law in California

I am a female massage therapist. I began working on a client 4 years ago out of a public chiropractic office. I had many other clients at the time. He fired his regular home therapist and hired me to come as a house call. The house calls demanded more of my time forcing me away from other clients - 3 x a week for 3 hours at a time. As he began to note that this schedule was taxing me, he begged me to retire and stated he would take care of my bills. He moved me into an apartment of his choosing nearer to his home, paid for my car and slowly began taking over my finances. At first, the arrangement was mutually beneficial as I began to heal. Then he began to make other demands of me and began constantly to scream at me and bully me in addition to asking me to perform sexual favors which I declined.

When I found my voice, I tried to end the 'business' relationship, still refusing his sexual advances. He threatened me and pulled all financial support from me. As he is much more financially well off than I, I cannot afford the apartment he set me up in, my car and other financial obligations that are in my name for which he was assuming financial responsibility. I also no longer have a business because of his demanding schedule taking me away from the clientele I had cultivated. Today he made a demand on me about making an accounting of everything or he would place a lien on me and all my interests.

1) Can he do this? What are my rights?

2) Can I get a restraining order??

3) As I continued to perform the requested massage therapy services, I believed what he was giving me was payment per our original agreement. Could I have to pay him for what amounts to my wages?

Help?

1 Answer from Attorneys

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