Chapter 3 Bad news

No... She can't be serious. I look her in the eyes and I don't believe it. The girl in front of me is proposing that I marry her boss. Do I have a sign on my forehead that says how desperate I am?

"Do you consider me your friend?" I question with wide eyes.

At the exact moment, I see her nod like crazy, I grab my purse, open it, and in a couple of seconds, I manage to pull out the small mirror that I always carry with me. I look at myself, and I burst out laughing when I see that I don't have any sign that says I'm dying to get more money than I earn.

"What are you looking for?" she asks, sounding worried. "Are you feeling okay?"

I try to believe that she wants to help me, but a part of me tells me that she's either joking or that she just wants me as her plan B, since she can't marry her boss. No... I need to know why she didn't ask me for something else. Well, she can't ask me to marry her boss and especially not to leave my house! I'll accept if her proposal is a job, but getting married, no...

"I'm looking for the sign you found on my forehead," I shrug, lower the mirror to look at her, "you can't give me that kind of joke. I appreciate that you consider me your friend, but you can't ask me to..."

"You're asking me to marry a stranger, a man I don't know, you're crazy," I try to take a deep breath, but this girl doesn't make it easy for me... "I don't want to get married, I can't sell my dignity, I know I need the money, but not like this, no..."

"Please, I don't understand Italian, excuse me if I offended you, but I need you to think about it, to consider that my boss needs you, and you need him," her words grow in my mind. She stands up from her chair, walks around the table, and stands beside me. "Think about it, I'll give you all night to answer me tomorrow, there's not much time left, I prefer a thousand times that it's you and not another cat who wants more than she can get, and I'm not talking about leftovers, I'm talking about real money, money that can help your family and that once and for all you stop worrying if you can make ends meet or not."

Am I that obvious?

"You're crazy."

"I'm leaving, I don't want to pressure you, my boyfriend is waiting for me... Relax, you can stay here, everything that will be brought to you is already paid for, don't turn it down, not when it's a gift for me, please, think about it." Those were the last words before she walked away, leaving me feeling like a complete idiot.

I feel offended, she knows more about my life than I do, about hers, it's hard for me to process everything she's said.

Ha... Her boss needs a woman to get him out of his problems, a small problem that he can't solve. Pufff, he must be an old man that no woman can pay attention to...

What? I hadn't thought about whether the man he desperately seeks is an old man or an egocentric guy. Wonderful! I look up at the ceiling and unintentionally start speaking in Italian; thanking God for the sign I asked for, marrying an old man!

"I don't remember if she told me I was old or not, to hell with it! I don't have to dwell on that. If I do, then I'm considering her proposal, and that's not me, not when I'm committing a serious crime. I'm in this country to work hard and not to commit fraud that could jeopardize my visa here.

"Good afternoon, miss. Here's your coffee. The assorted snacks that the young lady ordered have already been paid for, and she was here before you entered."

Oh, God!! She already had it planned.

I thank the girl. I intended to tell her that I wouldn't accept anything that woman had paid for. However, after looking at it for a couple of seconds and hearing my stomach growl, I thanked her for being so kind and efficient. It's clear to me that hunger is a bitch, as my mom used to say, "it's forbidden to disdain food, be grateful and enjoy your meal."

I miss you, Mom.

Now that my mom has come to mind, I feel like calling her. I have a huge feast in front of me that I can't miss. I've been saving up for the monthly payment I send, and I haven't had the opportunity to treat myself to whatever I want to eat.

Lucero is an out-of-control devil, she knows how to seduce me and make me feel on top of the world, but I can't make such a difficult decision.

After saying "Enjoy your meal," I look up and see that the girl was still waiting for me to say something.

"Thank you."

"I knew those blue eyes and red hair couldn't be from here..."

"Hmmm?"

"I'm just kidding. Your accent gives you away. You're so beautiful," she says with a laugh. I'm stunned to see her cheeks turning red. "I'm sorry. I hope you enjoy your coffee."

That felt strange. I place the coffee cup on the table, and before the girl faints from embarrassment, I tell her that everything looks delicious, but I don't think I'll be able to eat everything my eyes see, so if it's not too much trouble, can I have it packed up?

She apologizes repeatedly, thinking I want to leave because of her or that she's harassing me, but it's not like that at all. The night has fallen, and now that I think about it, I can't take a taxi, and a train. I doubt it, so I have to walk.

"You don't have to apologize. On the contrary, I want to thank you for being so beautiful. It's just that it's already dark, and I have to walk home. Next time, I can come earlier. Thank you again."

"Oh, if that's the case, then I'll take this. I'll bring everything packed up in a couple of minutes, and don't worry, the house pays for this," she says, winking at me.

What does the house pay for?

Shit, I have to pay for the packaging. How could I have asked for packaging? I could have told her that I have a bag in my purse where I can put the snacks and the rest... Ah, now I'm showing extreme stinginess.

"Thanks, I'll finish the coffee," I lift the coffee cup and take a sip. "Mmm, it's delicious."

"My name is Heidi and I won't be long, please wait and don't leave," the enthusiastic girl spoke to me with great confidence, again carrying everything on the tray to pack it up.

This makes me very uncomfortable. Should I ask her to help me get a job here as a waitress? The problem is that the job would only be for the night shift or on weekends. No! It's too audacious to ask for that.

After taking another sip of coffee, I remember that I have to call my mom. I take my phone out of my purse, and while the girl comes back, I'm going to call her.

"Hello," she answers on the second ring.

"Mom, how are you? I've been thinking a lot about you."

"Honey, you called just in time. I didn't want to worry you, but we're alone, and I don't know what to do. I'm sorry, honey, but you have to know that your father had a mini-stroke, and now he needs a different type of medicine."

"What?"

Tears begin to fall, my heart beats uncontrollably, and the urge to run away right now is enormous. I abruptly stand up from my chair and the first thing that comes to my mind is to run and find Lucero with the intention of asking her to help me send the money my mother needs for the medicine. I can't abandon them. They need me now more than ever.

Oh God, please don't let my father go, not now.

"Honey, I'll call you back later. The doctor wants to talk to me."

"Mom, please wait... Don't hang up."

In the blink of an eye, I lose my balance, trip over my own feet, and fall face-first on the café's sidewalk. In front of the café! Shit, shit, shit... Both hands are on the ground, but gentle hands surround me to help me up. I'm dead embarrassed. How stupid! I have to gather the courage to look up.

Oh my God! Who is that man?

"Are you okay, miss?" he asks, putting his hand on me as soon as I stand up.

What? Is he talking to me? He speaks to me while putting his hand on me.

"Thank you very much," I say, quickly wiping away the tears on my face.

I control myself not to lower my gaze too much because I feel embarrassed. The man is very young and handsome, tall, in a gray suit, white shirt, and black tie, with straight brown hair and shiny green eyes that look at me attentively. I need a moment to let my breathing return to normal.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Adal Müller," he murmurs in a husky voice.

I shake his trembling hand, we greet each other, and when our fingers touch, I feel a strange and exciting shiver that runs through my whole body. I quickly withdraw my hand, feeling uncomfortable. It must be static electricity. I blink rapidly to the rhythm of my heartbeats.

"Pleased to meet you," I blush, and all I want is to disappear. At some point in my life, I made a wish, but I never thought it would come true. "I'm sorry... Oh, I was on a call," my eyes widen, I search my phone desperately, and as soon as I find it, I grab it and the first thing I do is check if my mom is still on the call.

Oh, she hung up.

"I can help you with something, miss..." he says in a concerned tone.

"No, I have to go, I just remembered I have something important to do, I'm sorry." I turn to look him in the eyes, and he smiles, showing his white and perfect teeth. I hold my breath, he's so handsome and seductive.

I shake my head, pushing away those thoughts and focusing on what really matters right now. "Are you sure?"

Damn! He just noticed my nervousness and the pounding of my heart. His green eyes shine with curiosity. Shit! Shit! What does he want? My eyes move to those full, crimson lips, his mouth confuses me. I swallow.

"Have a nice day or night, goodbye, and thank you." Those were my last words before running away. I have to call Lucero, I just hope she answers. My mother won't answer, and I'm worried that something else is happening. What should I do?

God, I don't need you to keep putting men in my way, I need the job and the money! I may want to leave right now, but reality makes me put my feet on the ground and think that I have to keep working, my parents need me, I'm the only person they have, and now I can't falter. What do I do? What can I pawn? What can I sell?