It had been a month since Zoëlla had worked with Alejandro. She had learnt to get used to his crazy mood swings. One day he's nice and the next minute he is rude.
She'd learnt the meals that he loved most and those he didn't like.
She could tell how his eyes lit when his favourite foods were served and how he hardly ate a plate full of the ones he didn't like.
She had been hearing from Kathy, once a while who was living her life to the fullest, travelling around the world.
She, Sia and Edwardo had become good friends.
"Hi Zoëlla, Layla greeted as she walked in with her boss." They had some files to finish off since it was getting late Alejandro suggested they complete them in his house.
"Holla Layla, Holla Sir." She responded to Layla's greeting and greeted her boss who waved her off.
She served their dinner and took it to his study room as he had requested. She placed the tray on the centre table and dished out the food.
It was Paella. She could see the smile on her boss's tired face.
"Disfrute de su comida," Zoëlla added as she was about leaving the room.
"Zoëlla, Layla would be sharing your room with you for tonight. I hope you have something that she could wear tonight and tomorrow morning?" He asked.
"Si sir." She stated.
"Very well then," Alejandro said as she left the room.
Layla and Zoëlla talked through the night. They both got to know about each other.
"She qué?" Layla said amused.
"Yeah, the two-timing puta was shagging Luciano all along, before I even caught him cheating," Zoëlla added.
"I'm so sorry Zoëlla, in all you've got to work with a rude boss," Layla added.
"It's fine, I've gotten used to him and his tantrums." She said as they giggled.
Zoëlla woke up earlier than usual, she searched through her suitcase for office wear for Layla.
She's such a nice girl. Zoëlla thought.
She picked a maroon off-shoulder office dress that stopped at the knees and a black blazer, then pencilled heels for her. She neatly ironed the clothes and hanged them in the closet.
She prepared breakfast for both of them and waited for them to come downstairs.
"Good morning Zoëlla, thanks for the clothes I'd return them tomorrow," Layla added.
She looked stunning in the clothes. The dress hugged her curvy figure perfectly.
"No, Layla eres Como Una Hermana pequeña para mi." She said as she served her boss his coffee and a sandwich and Layla a cappuccino and muffins.
"Have a nice day at work." She said to them as Steve took Alejandro's suitcase.
Alejandro held his tummy as Layla helped him into the house.
"What's wrong with him?" Zöella asked concerned.
"He's sick, I think it's from something he ate outside," Layla stated as Zöella helped them upstairs.
Zöella went to the kitchen to prepare soup for her boss. She decided to prepare Sopa de Pollo con Fideos.
She peeled and coarsely chopped vegetables and then heated a large skillet over medium heat. She then added the olive oil and garlic and sautéd the vegetables for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
Then she added the chicken backs to the pan and allowed the chicken to brown for 2 to 3 minutes. She added water and bay leaves and allowed them to simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
Then sprinkled salt to taste. The chicken will be soft and practically falling off the bones. She removed the chicken from the pot and separated the skin from the bones.
She put pieces of the meat back into the soup pot and added oregano and gave it a good stir. She increased the heat making the soup boil fast.
She broke dry noodles in half and added them to the soup. She cooked until the noodles were done. And then dished out a bowl for her boss.
She set the soup on a tray with water and then carried it to his room. Layla had left for home so Zöella had to feed him and made sure he took his drugs.
She set the food on the table and helped him sit up with the help of his pillows.
She began feeding him with the soup patiently waiting for him to chew the meat and noodles before giving him another spoon.
"Estoy lleno Zöella." He added pushing the spoon away. She set the bowl of soup down and helped him take his drugs.
"Get some rest, Sir, you'd feel better when you wake up."
"Thanks, Zöella." He yawned as he fell asleep. Zöella cleaned up the kitchen and dished herself a pot of soup and then headed for her room.
She went through her mail and still she had not received any email for an interview with the companies she'd applied for.
How long was she going to be his maid? She questioned herself.
The pay was decent. She had been able to save up a lot since she wasn't paying any rent, not bills. But she had to get a job that qualified her status.
She was an MPhil holder. She thought as she lay on her bed.
She recalled those days where she had a decent job and where everyone had repeated her. But now all the people she helped had long forgotten her and the efforts she made towards them.
Most of them had stabbed her in the back and leaving her to her fate.
Alejandro got out of bed already feeling better. He knocked on Zöella's door.
"Come in." She stated. She had changed from her work clothes into bum shorts and a big sweatshirt that stopped mid-thigh.
Alejandro entered and sat on the couch beside her bed.
"Sir, are you okay? You shouldn't be out of bed now." She stated genuinely concerned.
"Estoy Bien, Zöella." He said.
"Alright, Sir." She sat on her bed. There was an awkward silence for a while before Alejandro spoke up.
"I'm so sorry for treating you bad Zöella, I thought you were like all the others." He added.
"It's fine Sir, I understand since we're not in the same status. It's bound to happen." She stated as Alejandro sat close to her on her bed.
"I'm sorry, let's start on a clean slate." He added as she hugged him. She felt warm and loved.
Her heart beat rapidly against her chest. His hair smelt of pineapples. He smelled so delicious.
"Okay, Sir." She broke the hug. "Call me Alejandro dear." He said getting up.
"Graçias Zöella for everything." He smiled.
"It's fine Alejandro." She said as he walked out shutting the door behind him.
"What the hell just happened?" Zöella thought audibly.
Alejandro and Zöella's friendship had become strong. They stayed up and talked for hours when Alejandro came from work. "Zöella, I need you to be my plus one for a charity ball tonight." He added. "A ball, I don't think I'd fit in with you fancy people Ale." She called him by his pet name. "Eres Una Mujer deslumbrante, Zöella, you'd fit in perfectly." He flattered her. "Thanks, a que hora es el baile de cardiac?" Zöella questioned. " It's at 8 p.m, I'd pick you up at 8:30 pm." He added smirking. "Always fashionably late huh" Zoëlla asserted. "It's fun that way, I'd pick you up later." He expressed as he headed to work. "Hola Sia, I need your help. It's a dress emergency." She told her friend. "I'd be there in a few," Sia added as she hung up and heading out making sure the house was locked. Her bosses always travelled were hardly home. Within a couple of minutes later, she was ringing the doorbell to Alejandro's residence. Zöella got the door for her friend and led her to her
The relationship between Alejandro and Zöella had bloomed into a beautiful friendship. They could stay up late talking after Zöella was done with her chores."How is your new life treating you ?" She asked Sia who had come to visit her friends.She was no more wearing the maid uniform but a beautiful floral dress paired with 6-inch open toe heels.Her hair was held in a tight ponytail and her simple makeup complimented her face. In all, she looked stunning.She had met Mr and Mrs Casagrandes son, Miguel Casagrande, a business tycoon. He was down to earth and jovial.The two clicked as soon as they met and they were working into a relationship."It's fine so far, I'm loving every bit of it and Miguel is such a Buen chico." She sighed dreamingly. "Alguien Esta enamorada (Someone is in love)" Zöella teased her friend."You're just one big tease. Anyways, what's going on with you and Mr Sexy Alejandro ?" She asked her friend."Well, nothing much, just hanging out as friends do." She empha
“Alejandro, why did you bring your domestic staff here with you? What is she to you?" His dad yelled. "Papa, calm down Zoëlla is my friend and a nice person, you'd like her when you get to know her." He reasoned. "I can see where this is headed, you'd end up falling for her and would want to marry but I don't approve and would never." The man barked. "Querida, cálmate, es una Buena chica y sería una Buena esposa. (Darling, calm down, she's a good girl and would make a good wife). ” His mom said. “Never would I agree for that buscador de Oro para casarse con mi Hijo. (Gold digger to marry my son.)" He added walking out. "Ma, No tengo intenciones de casarme con Ella. ( Ma, I have no intention of marrying her)." Ale reasoned. "Just give it time and you'd realise I was right." She said as she walked off. Zoëlla lay on her bed talking to her best friend Sia. "I hope you're having a good time there?" She asked. "Sia, I'm not. A su papá no le gusto. (His dad doesn't like me)." She f
“I would prefer working from home for now.” She told Sia through the phone. Ever since they came home from Barcelona, Alejandro had gone back to his bipolar self but it didn't bother Zoëlla that much because she expected it.“Okay, that would be no problem... I'd explain it to Miguel and his parents, they'd understand,” Sia assured.Zoëlla was not from a poor family at all. Her parents and two siblings had died in a fire outbreak. She escaped this because she had travelled to see her Abuelo and Abuela. On her return, she met the demise of her once loving and caring family. She had to go and stay with her grandparents who adored her. They were against her leaving home to start life afresh, but as stubborn as she is, she still decided to leave and experience life.Her grandad was angry when he learnt his precious jewel was a maid to someone else. He just wanted her home where she belonged. She convinced him she'd be home when she had achieved what she wanted.“Thanks, Sia, you're a lif
“Hey Sia, I just sent you the files on the work you gave me,” Zoëlla said through the phone while typing on the laptop. “Okay, thanks love I'd check my e-mail and get back to you, I was in a meeting, I'd talk to you later,” Sia said hanging up. She had saved the other copy to her laptop and sent the original copy to her. Alejandro had given her some files to work on so she began with that. Carlotta sat on her bed exhausted. Zendaya had worked her to the bones. She was mad at how sometimes she was treated in her own lover's house. Yes! Her lover Luciano. He had called her up one evening asking her to pose as a maid to be sent to their house. He claimed Zendaya no longer made love to him with the excuse of being too tired from work and chores. She accepted the offer besides the pay was good and she was going to be with her lover again. Es hora del show. Carlotta thought to herself as she went back to her duty post. ~ “Tío, she's a good woman and would make a good wife to Ale. Al
“I talked to your dad about Zoëlla and convinced him that she wasn't a gold digger, but a wonderful woman. You have to prove your love for her to him so that he would be convinced the more. He still has doubts, it's up to you to clear those doubts, Ale.” Kathy added. “¿Y si Ella no me ama igual?” He asked. “Can't you see the way her eyes light up when you enter the room, or how she smiles when you acknowledge her? She clearly likes you and it's up to you to make you and her happen. Don't screw this up, Ale.” Kathy added as she walked out. Alejandro broke out of his trance when his secretary walked into his office. “Sir, you have a meeting with the Nolan group of companies in a few minutes, so I suggest we head there now,” Layla added. “Alright Layla, lead the way,” Alejandro said as he followed suit. “Abuelo, Estoy Bien, volvería a casa Cuando haya logrado todo lo que Quiero.” She added relaxing by the poolside. She was done with all the files Sia and Alejandro had asked her
Dante and Zoëlla's friendship had grown into a beautiful one and so had her love for Alejandro but he didn't seem to notice it. He was just blinded by jealousy because of the friendship she shared with Dante.He had stopped complimenting her as he used to do before Dante came in. And they didn't hang out that much as they use to do. She was working on Sia's files as she sat in her room typing. Alejandro had also stopped giving his files to her to work on anymore.What was happening? She asked herself. Her grandpa had sent her everything about the company and information on everyone she needed to know.“Does he suspect you two have something going on?" Sia asked Zoëlla and Dante as they sat at a nearby café.“I guess he does." Zoëlla sighed.“Then talk to him Zoëlla, make him understand how you feel," Dante added.“You guys are right, I'd talk to him about it tonight," Zoëlla said happily as they talked about random things.Alejandro came back from work exhausted and with a guest. He p
“¿Que está pasando aqui? (What's going on here)?" Zendaya asked almost dropping her newborn. She had seen Carlotta and Luciano having sex on the couch in their living room. “What does it look like puta?" Carlotta challenged. “¿Vas a Dejar que me hable de esta manera? (Are you gonna let her talk to me this way?)" She asked an unperturbed Luciano who shrugged his shoulders at her. “You, you're leaving this house this minute!" Zendaya screamed as she rushed upstairs and carefully put her baby in her court. Then rushed downstairs. “Puta, are you still here?" She fumed. “If anyone is a bitch, it's you. You just don't know how to treat people, you treat them like trash." She spat. “Luciano baby, I'd see you tomorrow night, I'm out of this hell hole." She sashayed into her room as Luciano got up stark naked and walked up to his room. Zendaya sat on the floor sobbing. What had she done to deserve this from Luciano? After all, she had sacrificed for him is this how he repaid her? Or