My aunt is sitting in front of me.
"Done, I recommended you," she says with a proud smile.
"Thank you," I reply as I check my cell phone and notice that they have already received my resume. It surprises me, since it's not office hours. I look at the time: 4:00 a.m.
"Don't these people sleep or what? They must be exploiters," I think, frowning.
But seeing the hope reflected in Trini's mother's face, I take a deep breath and decide to think positively.
"When is Emma's surgery?"
"There's no date yet," I say in a thin, tired voice.
She gets up and signals to Trini.
"Let's go, Vale needs to rest," she says, and Trini comes over to hug me tenderly before leaving.
I close the door softly and go up to my room. I lie down next to Emma, hug her, and close my eyes tightly. Like a gust of wind, the memory of my adoptive parents comes to my mind... giving me everything, educating me carefully, without me knowing that, in reality, they were just preparing me to be their son's wife.
My biological mother had worked for them. She died when I was very young, and they left me in the care of that family, who were supposed to take care of me.
I abruptly cut off the memory, sitting up suddenly with my heart beating like a drum. I was out of breath.
One day I found letters from my aunt, always asking about my mother and me. That's how I managed to contact her, that's how I had family again. But she doesn't know anything about my past, and I want it to stay that way. I want her to think that I was just a naive young woman who got pregnant by an idiot who abandoned us. It's easier to live with that version.
I go to the bathroom, and as I pass the computer, I see an email notification.
> We appreciate your interest in working with us, but we have already chosen another candidate. In the future, should another vacancy open, we will take you into account.
"Idiots... as if that job were to attend to the King of England," I murmur sarcastically.
I'm upset. It frustrates me, it offends me. I didn't want to work there, but it makes me angry.
"Anyway, who wants to work in a corrupt company full of men who think they're the center of the universe?" I grumble to myself as I brush my teeth.
I keep talking without a filter, arguing with no one, until a little voice interrupts me.
"Mommy..."
I stop immediately and come out of the bathroom. Emma is sitting on the bed, rubbing her little eyes with her hands. I get on the bed and tickle her. She laughs, and when she's fully awake, I pick her up and take her to the bathroom.
While I brush her teeth, she sticks her cheek to mine, and we look at each other in the mirror. The reflection moves me... she's identical to me. A mini version of me, with that angelic face that heals everything.
I dress her carefully, comb her hair into two pigtails, and then I get ready. I've always liked to match our clothes. Today we're wearing blouses of the same color: she with denim pants and me too, only she with sneakers and me with heels.
I put her little bag across her chest, the one she doesn't let go of even to sleep, and I grab mine. We leave the house and I put on my sunglasses.
"How's my princess?" says my aunt, bending down to pick her up.
Emma wraps her arms around her.
"Hello, Auntie," my daughter says, leaning on her shoulder as if her refuge were there.
"They already responded about the vacancy," I tell my aunt. "They already chose someone else."
I see the disappointment on her face and something else, but I can't figure out what it is. I know that deep down she wants me to stop working in that place. She doesn't trust them... but I've already gotten used to it.
"How's the most beautiful princess on the planet?" says Trini, showering Emma with kisses.
"How beautiful! Where are you going?"
"I want to take Emma to the mall," I reply. "In fact, we were coming to you first so we could go together. Do you want to come?"
"That's a silly question!" says Trini, running back to her house, and I laugh.
"I start working in an hour," my aunt says as she checks her watch.
"You were supposed to have today off... that's why I asked for mine, to coincide with you."
"That's right, but a woman my age can no longer afford to risk getting fired."
"Aunt, that's not the point. They have to respect your schedule. Did they ask you nicely? Will they give you another day in return? Besides, you're young and beautiful too."
And I'm not lying, my aunt has managed to maintain herself despite being a widow.
She looks at me tenderly, but avoids answering.
"Take care. I'm getting late," she says finally, leaving a kiss on both of our foreheads.
And with that, she tells me more than she thinks. I know her boss is a bastard who has no consideration. Hopefully the day he gets fired, they'll at least give him company stock, because she takes care of it as if it were her own.
Trini comes out quickly, and then my aunt.
"I'll take you," I offer.
"No, you guys go. I'll take the usual bus."
"Aunt, that's not an option. Let's go," I say, opening the door.
"Let's go, Auntie!" Emma adds, and that convinces her.
She gets in without arguing anymore.
"I don't want you to fight, Vale," she warns me.
"I won't," I assure her with a smile.
We arrive at the company. It's the second time I've come, and I'm still impressed by how huge and luxurious it is. Tinted windows, automatic doors, an elegant fountain in the center. It seems like another world.
My aunt gets out, says goodbye with a kiss, and enters the building.
Suddenly, I hear a strange noise in the rear tire. I get out to check.
Just when I bend down, a deep voice startles me:
"Parking here is prohibited."
I turn around immediately, and I can't help it... for a moment I feel like my mouth is hanging open.
The man in front of me is obviously someone important, he looks quite good, and his presence is something that doesn't go unnoticed.
***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***
Updated 80 Episodes
Download
Like this story? Download the app to keep your reading history.
Comments