Melissa didn't want to accept the offer, everything inside her screamed it was a bad idea but yet she finds herself outside Abuela's house.
"I am so going to fucking hate this so bad" Melissa groans in exhaustion. The gates opened automatically, Melissa stepped inside the building.
"I knew you'd make the right choice" Abuela said from the door. "You didn't exactly give me a choice" Melissa said indifferently.
"I knew you aren't foolish enough to put your friends in danger" Abuela said. "When do I start?" Melissa asked.
"You start tomorrow morning, I'll take you to meet my grandson" Abuela said. "I can't wait" Melissa said with a fake smile.
Back in the restaurant, Alejandra was busy in the kitchen. She has been avoiding Sunny ever since she watched the cctv footage where she kissed Sunny.
Alejandra didn't know how to act after that incident. Alejandra's phone rang breaking the silence in the kitchen. She answered in hesitation. "What?" Alejandra said.
"Code red" Antonio said. "What? Right now? I'm busy" Alejandra said. "This is not a joke Alejandra... This is a serious situation" Antonio said.
"Christ on a stick... For fucks sake... I am on my way" Alejandra took off her apron, she grabbed her jacket as she dashed out.
"Mariana you're in charge till I get back" Alejandra said as she left the room. Alejandra hopped on her bike and drove home.
She took off her helmet the moment she got to the house. Code red means Abuela has a target she wants erased and with the urgency of Antonio's voice makes it harder to ignore.
Alejandra storms into the room like a mad lion. "Who do you want us to erase?" Alejandra asked the moment she entered the living room. Abuela sat on her chair with her cane in her hands, she didn't respond.
"Abuela tell us who has been keeping you out of the house lately" Antonio insisted. "I don't want anyone dead, it's quite the opposite actually" Abuela said calmly. "You want to protect someone?" Alejandra asked in confusion.
"A girl and a child" Abuela said. "That's new. Since when did we start offering protection?" Antonio asked. "I don't need to explain myself to you" Abuela said.
"No wonder, Roberto said he saw you with a girl and a child in the park. I thought he was bluffing but turns out it's true" Alejandra said.
"Will you introduce us to your new toys?" Antonio asked. "They aren't toys... Lisa is full of surprises and Sofia is just a bundle of joy" Abuela said. Alejandra sat down on a chair.
"I thought this was an emergency, I had to leave the restaurant for this?" Alejandra asked as she massaged her temple. "I told Antonio not to disturb you" Abuela said. "Well since I can't return back to the restaurant then I'll go to my place" Alejandra said.
"By the way, I found something disturbing in the cctv footage in your restaurant Alejandra" Abuela said with an eyebrow raised. Alejandra flinched instinctively.
"What could that be?" Antonio asked in curiosity. "Nothing... And I hope it remains that way... Right Alejandra?" Abuela asked. "Yes Abuela" Alejandra said. Alejandra returned to her penthouse.
The door bell rang few hours later. "Who the fuck could that be?" Alejandra went to the door. "Roberto I swear if that's you, I'm going to blow you fucking...." She paused when she saw Sunny standing in front of the door.
Alejandra quickly shifted to that distant, mysterious and unreadable expression. "What are you doing here?" Alejandra asked. "Umm... Good evening chef... Chef Mariana asked me to bring this to you" Sunny said.
"What is that?" Alejandra asked. "I have no idea, she just asked me to bring it to you" Sunny said. "Come in, drop it on the table" Alejandra said.
Sunny didn't move. "Didn't you hear me? I said come in" Alejandra said. "Chef I have something urgent I need to do so I wouldn't want to waste much time here" Sunny said as she stretched the package to Alejandra.
"That wasn't a request" Alejandra's voice was low and deadly. Sunny didn't have a choice, she entered inside the house.
She couldn't help but notice how Alejandra's house is much fancier then she had expected. Expensive and rare paintings hung on the wall, a beautiful transparent piano displayed in the room. A massive television covered the wall, beautiful vases sat on expensive tables.
Sunny didn't wait for Alejandra to show her the kitchen, she just guessed. Sunny placed the package on the counter, she avoided eye contact with Alejandra.
Sunny turned to leave. "Sunny" Alejandra called out. Sunny paused in her tracks. "Did something happen last night?" Alejandra asked. "Like what chef?" Sunny's voice was so firm but her heart is in chaos.
"I don't know... I don't remember what happened last night" Alejandra said. "Nothing happened chef. I didn't see you last night, I left early" Sunny said. Alejandra gave a small nod.
Sunny left the house. Alejandra let's out a sigh, she didn't know she was holding her breath the whole time. "Why did she lie? Did she hate it?"
Alejandra ruffled her hair in frustration. "You left early? I saw you broke down in my office. Why did I kiss her in the first place? Now Abuela knows, if I don't distance myself Abuela might hurt her" Alejandra said.
The next morning Abuela picked Melissa from the house. Melissa could only curse inwardly since Abuela took care of Sofia's education. Abuela even gave Sofia a private car for school so Melissa didn't have a choice.
The car stopped Infront of a familiar building. "Get down" Abuela said. Melissa came down from the car. "Follow me" Abuela said.
Melissa followed Abuela in silence. A bodyguard opened the door for them to enter. "Abuela what are you doing here?" Antonio asked.
"I hired an assistant for you Antonio" Antonio's breath was caught in his throat. He was surprised to see the lady he had been searching for, for three months now, standing in his office.
Abuela took Antonio's silence as approval. "Antonio this is Melissa. Melissa this is my grandson, your new boss Antonio. You will be his new assistant" Abuela said. Melissa gave a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"I didn't know you were busy employing random people Abuela" Antonio said but it was a secret message that meant {Where did you find her Abuela?}
"I know you've been working hard so I wanted to relieve your stress" Abuela said but it actually meant {You have been looking for her so I decided to speed up the process}
"I never mentioned needing an assistant" Antonio said which also meant. {You have no Idea how long I've searched for her. She saved my life once}
"You don't have a choice, I have employed her already so there's no need to reject her" {I know, I was tired of watching you mope like a wet puppy. She's here now, protect her}
Antonio sighs. "I don't have a say... Alright, she can stay" Antonio said. {Thank you Abuela}
"Treat her well" {I'll do anything for my grandbabies} Melissa stood there not understanding what the hell is happening.
"Melissa your office is beside his.. would you like to check it out?" Abuela asked. "Sure" Melissa replied. They left Antonio's office.
Antonio couldn't help but smile faintly, now that Melissa is here he would protect her.
Later that afternoon, Melissa handled Antonio's schedules, she arranged his folders alphabetically. She brought coffee just the way he liked it. Melissa got to know her colleague, even the the receptionist that was rude to her before is now friendly.
Eventually work was over, Melissa got home. She collapsed on the couch. "How was your first day of work?" Ariana asked. "I don't want to talk about it" Melissa said. "I had a wonderful time in school" Sofia said.
"That's wonderful to hear baby" Sunny said. "I think I'm drained both mentally, spiritually and..... I don't know the words that could express how I feel right now" Melissa said.
"I made dinner" Sunny said. "I'm not hungry, you guys eat with me" Melissa said. "Was work that bad?" Ariana asked. "Ugh.. I need one month of therapy" Melissa said as she heads to her room.