Starting with 'firm' steps

Sara woke up feeling fortunate and grateful to life itself, so long ago that she felt neither peace nor tranquility. A whole long year to be more exact, from the moment she had to leave the orphanage when came of age, given that institution rules prevented her from continuing there. Even so, using her charm and with the help of her foster mother, managed to overcome obstacles until she turned 19 when finally said goodbye to the place that she called ‘home’ for more than 15 years.

Outside the orphanage, things progressively got complicated, to the point of running out of money because of the difficulty of finding a job. Without experience and plunging more and more into poverty, she ended up wandering the streets, some days with more or less luck, others mired in absolute misery, but without losing faith. She knew that one day everything would change, everything would be better and just now, sensed that day had finally arrived.

At 8 in the morning, Sara decided to go on stage and practice some dance. She kept the idea that she had been hired to dance, therefore, even if she didn’t like it, she should fulfill her role. Maybe I could find a way to offer customers an interesting show, but without having to show so much skin when wearing such bold clothes.

She was an irremediable dreamer!

She had been trying for almost 2 hours, but nothing was as good in real life as she planned in her mind. How clumsy I am! Dance? How can I think of it? It seems I have two left feet! She kept criticizing herself loudly, annoyed at her lack of grace and lightness to dance. Your entire life had been a permanent confrontation with herself, she felt that if wanted to be accepted by others, she should become the best representation of her. Always the best, in behavior, in cleanliness, in classes … in everything. I hated feeling like a mistake from the creator. Maybe that's why my parents abandoned me. How could someone love me if I'm not perfect?

That is why she always refused to give up, despite all the painful situations she had to face. In her life, everything ended in an internal struggle … her internal struggle, nobody had to know about their weaknesses ever.

**«»**

As Carlos had told her last night: ‘This place has cameras everywhere so if you try to stop by smart, I will realize immediately’. Upon detecting the movement, the sensors and cameras were activated by what he was observing, very entertaining, every attempt by Sara to perform a decent dance that could be presented to the customers of the bar. He was very funny, seeing the constancy of this girl, how stubborn and insistent she was.

When will she understand that she is not made for these things! He thought as he laughed out loud.

Carlos Mon’tblank was a kind of walking armor. Before the world he always presented himself as an intolerant and cynical being, sometimes insensitive and very embittered, distrustful, and demanding always. His life had not been easy, since he was a child he had to fight with claws and teeth to get ahead, as he grew up, he managed to take his career and business to the top of success. The Mon’tblank Bar was his reason for pride … ‘The girl of his eyes’, the place where he obtained the fortune, hadn’t achieved in his personal life, that’s why he was so demanding with everyone.

Perhaps, that was the reason why Sara had accomplished, a true feat … to make him change his mind. Carlos saw in her all that tenacity, all that enthusiasm, and courage, that he had when things in his life went from bad to worse. Many people around him, ironically, those who had a duty to take care of him, they just ‘sat in the front row’ to see him fail and take away all the goods and money that his parents had inherited. Except for his beloved Nonna, who from the moment of his birth was like his second mother.

Despite all the damage and pain, suffered, he was never discouraged. Despite his youth and, against all odds, he knew how to overcome each obstacle and move forward. In that sense, Carlos felt empathy for Sara.

He decided to walk around the bar … no, in reality, it was his custom every morning to square the accounting. Sara continued immersed in her practices, after all, she would never allow ‘a simple pair of left feet’ to defeat her.

“What are you supposed to be doing?”

Hearing that sudden voice, Sara lost control of her feet and unable to balance she ended up crashing, hopelessly, against the ground. However, as soon as possible, she managed to stand up to answer her boss.

“Mr. Carlos, I … I swear I’ve only been here on stage. I haven’t touched anything! I came to practice a little.” At that moment she felt more scared than when she was alone, in the middle of the night, the first day she arrived in that city.

“And, apparently, so much practice, it has not helped you much,” he criticized her odiously, reminding her of the recent fall.

“I will achieve it!” The malicious comment bothered her too much, but she bit her tongue and took a deep breath, not to mention more. “I just need to practice.”

Carlos with his inseparable cynical smile and negative head movements, amid his arrogance, understood that the young girl wanted to strive to please him, all his employees always did the same, but the insistence of she bordered on absurdity.

He went to the collections area, but before…

“Enough of dancing, I already assigned you to another area. So, stop wasting your time.”

“But I promised—”

“Do not contradict me! You will not dance! Focus on your assignments and nothing else!”

Yes, this girl was going to be a problem.

Carlos was beginning to realize that he had not hired an employee but a terrible headache.

“Yes, as you say.” The young woman replied feeling that she had failed, but strangely and at the same time, a great relief. Deep down she had to accept that the dance was a big … big nonsense.

“Do you know how to make coffee?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, I need a good cup.”

She hurried to prepare it. At another time, she would have felt intimidated to see the gigantic kitchen full of marble and stainless steel that occupied the place, she could not even predict with certainty what all these modern appliances were used for, but last night, while Renata helped her to put on makeup and dress, she saw a small coffee maker installed near the dressing room.

**«»**

While Carlos counted the earnings from last night, Sara arrived with a cup of coffee for her boss, who looked at her with his intense blue gaze while, cautiously, took a small sip. The coffee looked good, smelled better, but why deny it, he was demanding and very distrustful, even more with his food and drinks. If that coffee was not up to par, he would let you know immediately.

“I hope you like it.” She felt so intimidated by the man’s scrutiny that she only begged silently.

Maybe I should have used less sugar or maybe more. God that all is well!

“You do not like coffee?” Carlos asked after surviving the first drink of that cup, he thought it wasn’t too bad. “Why don’t you bring for yourself?”

“Yes, I like it, I just didn’t think—”

“Go and search, I already told you not to miss the opportunities … they may not be repeated,” he said as he took out a small box with biscuits and placed it on the bar.

Sara poured herself a cup of coffee and ate the delicious cookies that were inside the box. Her stomach was practically empty, she ate nothing since breakfast the day before and, although living in the streets she got used to spending long hours without eating, in fact, just now her hunger was as intense as her desire to get ahead and succeed.

“What happened to your family?”

“I would like to know that too,” she sighed and paused. “One day they left me there, in the orphanage where I grew up, according to Mama Rosa, my adoptive mother, I was only 3 years old … although the truth, I have no memories from that age. I thought that maybe my father abandoned my mother and I ended up becoming a difficult burden for her and that’s why she preferred to give me away.”

She finished her brief and sad story by shrugging shoulders, with a little in resignation, and very disappointment in her words.

“And the orphanage? What happened? Why did you end up living in the streets?”

“Everyone must leave the orphanage at the age of majority, without a profession and any help, the life becomes a real torment, I could not get a good job, so I ended up without money and homeless.”

“The marks you have on your body. What are they?” He had decided not to ask since the private life of his employees was not his problem, but the curiosity ended up prevailing.

“Marks?” Deep down, she knew what he wanted to say, but it was not something she could, or would like to talk to her new boss.

He looked at her with obviousness, pointing at the same time, to her arm, where a bruise was visualized, leaving Sara with no choice but to give a credible answer and solve the interrogation.

“Well … I…” She stuttered, nervous at first, looking back at the floor, clearing her throat to gain time until a good excuse quickly came to her mind. “Living on the streets is complicated, it’s a constant struggle for everything … for water, for food and even for a safe place to sleep,” she said, remembering the fight in the square.

Carlos listened carefully, without returning his gaze, what the young woman said was something he had already imagined, so he did not ask any more questions and continued to organize the accounting.

Sara, on the other side of the bar, breathed calm knowing she had convinced him with her answer. She looked at him while she had breakfast, for the first time she took the time to detail her boss.

He was a very attractive man, without a doubt, he cared a lot about his appearance and his way of dressing because when he met him, he looked elegant, he was even more during the work night and just now, so early, he still looked impeccable. His beautiful blue almond-shaped eyes were so intense that it was impossible not to be intimidated by his gaze, his body was muscular and strong.

As strong as his bad character, she thought and smiled.

It was complicated to calculate his age since if she got carried away by his appearance, he could well represent a maximum of about 30 years, but if she took into account the bitterness of his character and temperament … easy she calculated more than 40!

As soon as Carlos finished his work, he went to perform some tasks. He was still restless about having to leave a stranger in his business, but he hoped he hadn’t been wrong in his evaluation of the young woman, and he also hoped she was smart enough not to miss the opportunity he was giving her.

“Stop inventing, today is Friday, so the workday will be longer and there will be more demanding customers.”

Sara nodded, as she always did.

**«»**

That weekend was full of joy and satisfaction. Helping the caretaker mothers of the orphanage to serve the food had prepared her to be able to carry a tray with many dishes, quickly and without making mistakes. Her sympathy, so own and natural, made it easier for to get along with some of her co-workers and the good deal with bar customers. Since leaving the orphanage, she got used to little sleep and being alert until late at night, which was also very useful for her.

Knowing Sara’s situation, some colleagues were in charge of giving her food and clothes to help her, at least, until she could get her first earnings and begin to fend for herself.

**«»**

In his eagerness to wanting to control everything, Carlos maintains very strict supervision over his staff. Not surprisingly, in his office, he had a complete wall full of monitors connected to cameras strategically located throughout the place, in addition to the large window with polarized glass, in which he observes a good part of the movement of his business from the comfort of its elegant office, discreetly located in the highest area of ​​the property, whose access stairs are, to some extent, hidden within the immense kitchen area.

The fact that Sara was the new employee didn’t exonerate her from control, but quite the contrary, in her first two weeks of work, she was exposed to constant calls for attention and observations from her boss. Like the rest of the staff, she worked hard to offer the best and provide quality care to each client, perhaps more than the account, which was reflected in the speed of service by staying longer than average at each table.

“Why do you take so long? Sara, organize yourself better, you are very slow!” Carlos didn’t let her even breathe, he lived demanding more and more. After all, he knew that this girl had more potential to prove, he just made sure to give her the necessary motivation.

“I swear I’m putting all my effort.”

“It’s not enough! You must be faster.”

“Very well, as you say!” Sara protested, emphasizing the last sentence. From day one, she had promised to be the best and was really giving her all, and even more, to get it. She didn’t understand why her boss was never satisfied with anything. She would do everything possible to achieve her goals, but be honest, she knew that deep down, her insecurities were beginning to show.

This conversation was repeated once more and the truth, ‘the drop was already overflowing the glass’, she simply did not understand, had already made changes in her routine, she was faster, although she sacrificed part of the good service for the speed. She wanted to show Carlos that there were several ways of doing things well, not everything had to be so strict and inflexible, but of course … he was the boss and therefore, it was he who had the last word.

**«»**

One of those nights in which Carlos was in a good mood and coming down from his office to socialize, he noticed the table Sara was attending, where there were old friends and regular customers of the bar, so he went to greet them and, as it was obvious, he would take the opportunity to evaluate the young woman’s performance.

It would be a real pleasure for any woman to see such an attractive man, to walk directly and decisively towards her, above all, one like Carlos Mon’tblank, who always looked so elegant and impeccable. As he advanced, many women in the place devoted insistent and nothing innocent looks, but for Sara, seeing him approach was a real torment.

Amid nervousness, she could only slightly close her eyes and beg that her boss diverts to another table, but … Since when was she so lucky? Since when was heaven listening to her pleas? The answers to her questions coincided in a very obvious … Never! She knew that nothing in the world would free her from that awkward encounter.

“Very good night, how are you all?”

“Carlos, good night!”

“Excellent as always.” Answered another of those present at the table.

At that time, Sara was serving some snacks and drinks, smiling non-stop in a desperate attempt to hide her nervousness, especially remembering all those occasions when her boss had corrected her, but as soon as the customers started talking, she felt increasingly safe and confident.

And, how not to do it? If, to her surprise, they kept throwing compliments.

“Delicious food, good drink, and excellent service. There are few places where one feels so well attended.”

“Especially by our waitress tonight, she is adorable and has served us wonders,” said another client.

Carlos was glad that the young woman was doing a good job, although somewhat surprised because he thought she was bothering the client with so much conversation, but apparently, he was wrong. While listening, he looked at Sara before she left the table, in turn, she also looked at him, challenging him, being more than evident the satisfaction she felt when she heard the opinions of customers, so much that she couldn’t hide her mischievous smile while raising one of her eyebrows, triumphant. Carlos’s face, as always, showed no emotion, but as soon as Sara turned her back and left, he also smiled.

**«»**

Sara was quaint and friendly to everyone but Carlos always saw her as a girl whose ‘tantrums’ constantly irritated and bothered him, and every time he wanted to rebuke her, she uses her beautiful smile and the tenderness of her big brown eyes, by managed to make him forget … What the hell was it that made him angry? He sensed that, sooner than he imagined, he would have his hair full of gray hair because of her. She, for her part, was completely happy and, as recommended by her boss, took advantage of each of the opportunities presented. She always carried with her a pleasant personality and an infinite desire to learn a little of everything, which pleased Carlos, although he never said anything about it. This sum of qualities was what kept Sara working in that place.