Chapter 1

Estella’s pov

I took a deep breath as I sighted the mansion that had been my home for two weeks now. The stately manor loomed at the end of the oak-lined drive, its stone façade draped in ivy and towers rising like a fortress against the sky.I felt the thrill of excitement whenever I thought of working for the last family I ever thought I would work for.

The Mendez family.

I averted my gaze to see Ezra,the family chauffeur beaming at me through the rear mirror.He was always a jolly fellow.

“ Everything okay ma’m Estella?”

I felt old whenever he called me that but I knew he was only being respectful.

“Sure, Ezra.Just tired from prepping all night.”

Last night, my assistant chef and I had an all-night prep marathon, ensuring every ingredient we could come across was portioned, labeled, and ready for service.

“Ah..I’m so sorry.You don’t know?”

“Know what?”I piqued up with interest.

“Well I overheard Don Simon telling his bodyguard that they would be expecting a visitor .I’m yet to tell but it looks like an important visit”

Don Simon was the first child of Boss Pablo and Ma Esmerelda.They had three children but I only knew Simon and Alda,their last child and spoilt princess.

Although I rarely saw the family, except during working hours ,I knew I hadn’t seen their third child ever since I started my job here.

“I’ve been willing to ask.What about the other child of your boss.I’ve never seen….”

“Don’t tell anyone I told you this”Ezra cut in.His facial expression had turned sour now””Arman Mendez.He’s like the black sheep of the family.Rarely at home but a good one also.He moved away about a year ago and it’s been that way.”

“Wow.”I knew I shouldn’t be prying into the matters of the Mendez family and I could see the melancholy on Ezra’s face so I let it be and tilted my head to look out of the car window.

Walking through the foyer minutes later,the chandelier's crystal echoed in the polished marble floor, while sunlight poured in through expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Hey”I chirped at the bodyguards ,their movement choreographed while maintaining situational awareness to stay far from danger.

“Hey lass…Haha..Look at her ass”one of them called

“Shutup..Dom!!she works here!!”his fellow said looking at him in disbelief.

Women are often uncomfortable or afraid of men, but we usually don't talk about it. ... Men are constantly treating us like we're less than they are.

I huffed out a sigh and increased my pace,motioning to the kitchen scullery.

An hour later,I was prepping a guacamole paste with my assistant cook ,Heather .She focused more on trying to make the tacos bread into perfection.

Heather moved to my side giggling from ear to ear

“Whatsup?”she chirped

I loved her usual enthusiasm and I wondered what it was this time

“Well.I have some good news”

“Good news?”

“Yeah.The prodigal son of the Mendez family is coming back “she announced as though she was on stage for a performance.

I scoffed in amusement ,my thoughts drifting to what Ezra had said earlier.

“Well that’s a good one.I’ve never seen him around and I think the idea of a complete family is a good one”

I said and moved to look out of the window

The farmers were busied up with weeding the grass.But then what caught my attention was Don Simon.He was talking to one of the bodyguards as they walked to the car garage and caught me staring ,giving me a double take before he looked away.

I scurried back to the kitchen island to continue my cooking.

I felt weirded out because he never seemed to notice me,not at the breakfast lunch or dinner table,not even when I bumped into him few days ago

He always looked impatient but I knew it was a thing of the Mendez family

The Mendez family had a business in tow.A large winery but I knew a mafia family when I saw one

The mansion.Countless bodyguards in suits.Countless worker and the workers having a restriction to some buildings around .

I had gotten the job offer after Ma Esmeralda had reached out to my food blog.The pay was a good one and Esmeralda had taken no time to include the conditions.

Anyone that knew the Mendez family knew they were strict except from the likes of Alda.She preferred fashion more much to the distaste of Boss Pablo.It was obvious with the way he always shunned her at the dining table.

Minutes later:

I knocked and waited before I moved into the room holding a tray of green tea and crackers biscuits in tow.I couldn’t help but observe the expensive taste of Ma Esmeralda’s room.

Not like it was the first time I was seeing this but the vanity set in front of me was the biggest I had ever seen.

She had a lavish sanctuary with plush carpeting, silk-lined walls, a private balcony, a walk in closet and an attached, spa-like bathroom with marble floors and a soaking tub.

I walked close and placed the tray before turning to see Ma Esmeralda stepping out out of her walk in closet.

Her face lit up as she noticed my presence.

But it didn’t hide the tired look that enveloped her features.

Esmeralda was sick.

She didn’t want anyone else making her food and even made me serve her food in her room whenever she couldn’t make it to the family meal.

She adjusted her robe and moved to lay on her bed

“Good day ma.I brought your tea and biscuits.Sorry,are you going to be joining the others for dinner?”

Esmeralda shook her head weakly and pulled the duvet over her.

“Pablo is taking me out for dinner “

I was surprised she was sharing such information with me but regardless,Esmeralda had been nothing but nice to me since getting employed..

“That’s nice.Do you need my service for that?”

“Actually I do”Esmeralda said,laughing with humor.

Wrapped in velvet, she lay frail against the silk pillows, her face a pale contrast to the rich mahogany, a diamond bracelet hanging loosely around a wrist that had become entirely too thin

She looked so pale but her beauty was one you would call peculiar.

Being a mother of three had done nothing to her .I could see from a portrait beside bed stand.

But being diagnosed with pneumonia was not a good one.

“Okay …so what do I need to get ma?”

Esmeralda laughed weakly and waved her hands

“Just help me choose a dress for tonight.I need to look good “she said giving me a look of approvement

As I searched through the thousands of expensive wears,I kept getting indecisive the more I searched.Everything looked rich and were all nice ideas for a date.

“You know I’ve never been so happy the way I am right now”I heard Esmeralda call from the room..

I moved to the closet door to give a listening ear holding a black gown that I had chosen finally

“Perfect”Esmeralda said and waddled up to take it from me.

She moved to check the gown in front of her dressing mirror.

“I’m so glad you’re happy ma.And once again I want to thank you for employing me “

I couldn’t deny I was getting broke before Estella proved to be my destiny helper.I had stopped receiving orders from the blog and it was getting frustrating.

“Oh please..it’s nothing..I should be thanking you because you’ve been nothing but competent to me..I’m sorry it was sudden also but Pablo insists I have a personal chef till I recover.”

I nodded and moved to stand at the other end of the room.I often lingered around to know if Esmeralda needed anything else.

“Also,I would want you to cook a good meal tomorrow night because everyone would present”she said smiling hard at the last part of her statement

And by everyone ..she meant?I tried to act like I didn’t know the answer to that giving an oblivious look.

“My younger son is coming back after all this years”she explained,staring into space,obviously lost in thoughts.

“That’s so good ma.I can see the cause of your bright mood” I said in a dry tone.I didn’t know what else to say,I wasn’t used to sentiments and I knew family life came with a lot of sentiments.

And me not having any …what can I say..I grew up in a foster home.My foster parents saw it more as a responsibility than a passion.

“Exactly”Esmeralda muttered and gestured towards me.

“That’s all for now,dear.I trust you make everything perfect”she said ,one corner of her mouth lifted in a lopsided grin and then it was gone.

As I walked back to my sleeping quarters,I felt the discernment that my job here was only getting started.