The next day. "Boss, I have the report about the girl from yesterday" Ian said. Abuela gave a small nod.
"Melissa is a twenty two year old lady from Indianapolis. She lives with a twenty four year old Sunny who's from Chicago and a twenty three year old Ariana from London" Ian said.
"She's twenty two huh? She's so young, yet so smart" Abuela said. She looks at Ian. "And the child?" She asked. "Sofia is the daughter of their late friend"
"I see... Her past?" Abuela asked. "It only states that she is an orphan. There's no mention of an orphanage or a foster home... It's all blank. Not just hers, her friends too" Ian said. "Interesting.... What could this little birdie be hiding?" Abuela asked.
**Back in the apartment**
Melissa laid down on the couch when her phone rang. Dean's name appeared on the phone screen. "Dean.. it's been a while since you called" Melissa said.
"There's a problem" Dean's voice sounds urgent. Melissa sat up immediately. "What is the problem?" Melissa asked. "Someone searched about you online"
"What? Who would want to know about me?" Melissa asked. "I don't know but this person seemed persistent about it so I gave them what they wanted but I was cut offline so I didn't finish forging the information" Dean said.
"Fuck me" Melissa murmured. "You need to be careful over there. Whoever did this, has the resources to dig in deep... I will stall them for now. In the meantime you need to find a way to relocate ASAP" Dean said.
"I am not running away from this. Ariana and Sunny has finally found somewhere they belong. I am not going to ruin that for them" Melissa said. "What about you? Everything you've tried so hard to protect would crumble" Dean said.
"I'm tired of running... I no longer know what I'm running from anymore. Is it my family or the thought of being rejected... I am here with people who I'll burn the fucking world to protect" Melissa said.
"Do they know the truth about you? Have you told them that you're the reason why...."
"Dean enough.... I can't tell them. They'll hate me if they knew the truth. It's better to be hated by everyone and be loved by them. Try your best to make a fake documents for now" Melissa said. Dean sighs from the other end.
"Alright.... You owe me big time for this" Dean said. "Deal" Melissa said. The call ends. "Papa bear.... Which sandals do you suggest I wear?" Sofia asked.
"What do you need a sandal for?" Melissa asked. "We have an ice cream date today remember?" Sofia said.
"No wonder you've been well behaved. I should have known there was something behind the kind gestures" Melissa said.
"Get dressed before I'm done" Sofia ran upstairs in excitement. Melissa wore an oversized hoodie, she applied perfume on herself. She tied her hair in a lazy bun.
"What are you wearing?" Sofia asked. "I'm dressing for comfort" Melissa replied. "You're dressed like a hobo, a broken hobo" Sofia said. "Don't be dramatic... Let's go" Melissa said.
They got to the park. Abuela sat on the same bench from yesterday. "Good afternoon Abuela, sorry we're late" Melissa said. "Good afternoon Abuela... Papa bear made me late for ice cream" Sofia said. Melissa rolled her eyes.
"It's alright. I saw an ice cream shop around the corner, let's go get you an ice cream" Abuela said. Sofia immediately held Abuela's hands as she chatted freely.
Melissa could notice that Abuela isn't your typical grandma. She had a skull tattoo on her neck, a gold watch. Her cane had a snake on it's handle and was decorated with golden vine around it.
This woman could be dangerous but for now she doesn't pose a threat. They got to the ice cream shop, Abuela bought whatever Sofia touched.
"Um.. Abuela don't you think that's a lot of sugar for that body" Melissa asked.
"Let her have whatever she wants" Abuela calmly replied. Sofia refused to seat with them, she wants privacy with her ice cream.
Melissa sat down awkwardly facing Abuela. "What happened to her mother, if you don't mind me asking" Abuela said.
Melissa paused remembering everything. How Willow, Sofia's mother got involved with the wrong crowd. She was an orphan like them, they promised to protect each other no matter what. Unfortunately Willow fell in love with an Italian Mafia leader.
He got her pregnant, he abandoned her but when she gave birth, he came for the baby. They did everything to hide Sofia but Willow died in the process. That's why Audrey, Willow's sister took Sofia when she was two and vanished.
"She died" Melissa managed to say. "It must be difficult for you to take care of her all by yourself" Abuela said. "Well it's by God's grace I'm able to try" Melissa said with a smile.
"And the dad?" Abuela asked. "He died before she was born" Melissa simply said. Abuela watched Melissa to find a sign of deception. Unfortunately Melissa has spent her entire life based on lies. Lying seemed natural to her.
"What about you Abuela? I mean your family" Melissa said as a lady brought an ice cream to the table. "I have a grandson and a granddaughter" Abuela said.
"You must be proud of them" Melissa said as she tastes the ice cream. Her eyes sparkled in excitement. "No wonder Sofia loves ice cream" Melissa said.
Abuela smiles in satisfaction. "I'm glad you like it" Abuela said. Melissa knew something was off when she tasted the ice cream, it wasn't because it tasted good but because she tasted drugs. She smiles at Abuela.
"You know Abuela, if you wanted to take me somewhere, you could have asked. Drugging me wasn't necessary" Melissa calmly said still eating her ice cream. Abuela expression shifted from shock to amusement and respect.
"You knew the ice cream had been tampered with but still you took it" Abuela said.
"I trust you won't hurt us... Besides why kill someone if you already went through the trouble of finding out her identity?" Melissa asked.
Abuela seemed impressed. "You knew?" Abuela asked. "You're not the only ones with connection. Not everyone wants to relive their past. I want a clean start but everything I told you about myself wasn't a lie" Melissa said.
"I could kill you here and now" Abuela said. Melissa gave a hallow laugh.
"You're not a tough as you claim to be. You didn't drug Sofia's ice cream, that's why I didn't panic. Also why go through all this stress just for me? Am I that interesting to you Abuela?" Melissa asked.
Abuela gripped her cane tightly. How was Melissa able to detect her plan without hesitation. "I have one request.. wherever you take me, place me an a soft bed" Melissa said as she slumped on the table. Abuela sat down in amazement.
Melissa woke up on a soft bed. The air smelled of something sweet and expensive. Melissa made her way to the door, her head throbbed badly.
Stepping outside the hall was brightly lit, expensive painting hung on the wall. Gold and beige danced round the walls like magic. "I will inform madam you're awake" A maid said.
Melissa heard Sofia's soft giggle from a room. She pushed open the door, Abuela sat beside Sofia silently watching her. "You're up" Abuela said without looking at Melissa.
"You did place me on a soft bed" Melissa said. Abuela didn't reply. Melissa sat beside Abuela. "Are you going to tell me why you brought me here?" Melissa asked.
A maid brought a tray of food to Melissa. She took the spoon to eat. "Aren't you worried that I'll drug you again?" Abuela asked. Melissa sipped water from a glass and sighs in refreshment.
"Nah... Why would you waste such expensive pills just to make me scared. I'm here now, there's no need for the mysterious aura" Melissa said. Melissa ate the food like she didn't have a care in the world.
"I have a preposition for you" Abuela said. "All this for a preposition?" Melissa asked with a raised eyebrow. "A job, to work in my company as an assistant" Abuela said.
"All this bullshit for a job? In your company? Are you freaking kidding me?" Melissa asked.
"I find you reliable... I know you will be a good fit for the job" Abuela said. "I am not going to accept it Abuela... I'm sorry" Melissa said.
Abuela took a deep breath. "I am willing to offer you any amount you ask for" Abuela calmly stated. "We need to leave" Melissa said standing to her feet. "One million" Abuela said.
"Sofia let's go home" Melissa said. "Two million" Abuela said again. Melissa packed Sofia's new toys and dragged her out of the door. Someone stood in front of them.
"Three million, I am not going higher than that Melissa" Abuela said. "I don't want to work for you Abuela" Melissa said. "Yet you followed me to my home"
"You drugged me" Melissa insisted. "You knew it was tampered with but you still chose to eat it" Abuela calmly said.
"With all due respect ma'am... I can't accept anything from you. This offer looks suspicious to me. Why do I have a feeling that you've been tracking me for a while now" Melissa said.
Abuela smiles. "Sounds too easy, what's the catch?" Melissa asked. "No catch at all.. just work for my grandson as his assistant while you secretly work as his bodyguard" Abuela said.
"You have got to be kidding me. How am I supposed to protect someone when I can't protect myself?" Melissa asked.
"Three million a month for the safety of my grandson. You need the money to take care of Sofia" Abuela said.
"I can't jump into conclusion yet" Melissa said. "I will pay for Sofia's upkeep. I seem to have grown fond of her and you will still get three million as your salary" Abuela said.
"I have to think about this first Abuela" Melissa said. "You have forty eight hours" Abuela said. "If I don't accept it?" Melissa asked. "Let's say Ariana and Sunny would suffer from your foolishness" Abuela said
"You really are diabolical" Melissa said with a grin. "How will I get you to stay if I don't hurt the people you love?" Abuela said. "Forty eight hours" Melissa simply said.