17 - The Aftermath

Valeria

I haven't slept in weeks. I couldn't get the idea of being a killer three weeks ago out of my head. I was a simple girl, who worked hard to help her father, but now I am an orphan who killed her mother for killing her father.

Mrs. Gonzalez was kind enough to give me a month's break. I went back to my parent's house to stay there for a while because I felt weird staying at the villa doing nothing. Coming back to this house brought a lot of memories and nightmares, but I have no choice but to stay here.

I haven't seen anyone from my workplace in three weeks, and I feel a little bit better because every time I see them, I remember what I did. Not that it has left my mind while staying here.

I go sometimes to my neighbor Matilda to get my mind off things and thankfully, Charlotte is coming tonight to stay with me for a few days. She called me two days ago and learned of what happened. She couldn't come until today. I still have one week before I go back to the Gonzalez's and I cannot wait. I really missed them and missed being there. I missed my job and I feel like I am ready to move on a little bit.

My phone buzzes and when I pick it up to check who sent me a message, Charlotte's name appears on the screen.

It reads, 'Want me to bring Fodos?'

I smile and type back, 'Sure. Get me the strawberry one.'

She quickly types back, 'How could you eat ice cream in a strawberry flavor?'

'Shut up and come already.'

She sends me the angry emoji with an 'ok' on the side. I laugh to myself at her childish actions, knowing for sure that I will be scolded when she arrives.

We have been eating Fodos ice cream brand since forever and I always get the strawberry one. She hates strawberries because one time a boy in 5th grade dumped strawberry juice on her hair. Since then, she loathes the fruit.

The doorbell rings and I run to it, pulling it open. Charlotte stood behind it with a huge grin as she holds the Fodos bag in her hand. Her red suitcase stood beside her, but she doesn't pay attention to it as she comes in and slams the door shut.

"Girl! Oh my god, I have missed you!" She screams, pulling my body toward her in a tight hug. I hug her back equally tight until she faked coughing.

"I love your house."

"Thanks...by the way, your bag is still outside."

"Oh, god, I am forgetting things." She sighs and shakes her head.

I open the door to get the bag inside when I see legs beside it. I look up and my eyes land on Lorenzo's amused ones.

"Mr. L-Lorenzo?" I stutter, too shocked from seeing him in front of me.

"Hello, Valeria." His smooth voice breaks my shocked state.

When I don't say anything, he cocks his eyebrows as if asking if I am going to let him in or what. I quickly mumble a sorry and tell him to come in. He's a gentleman for getting Charlotte's suitcase inside with him.

"You have a lovely home," he says but quickly comes to the realization that my father just died in this house not a month ago. "Sorry..."

"It's okay." I shrug. "So, is there something going on?" I ask as I walk to the living room where Charlotte is standing, frozen to her place as she gawks at Lorenzo.

Before he could say anything, Charlotte jumps in, making me palm myself.

"Val, who is this?"

"Char, this is Lorenzo, my employer, Lorenzo, this is Charlotte, my best friend," I introduce them to one another, already feeling jealous for no apparent reason.

"Nice to meet you, Charlotte," Lorenzo politely says, holding his hand out for her to shake.

"Nice to meet you too," she replies, shaking his hand.

"Anyways...so?" I cut in the middle and ask Lorenzo to answer my previous question. I cross my arms above my chest, making my breasts pop up a little.

"Yeah, I just came here to ask you if..." He stops mid-sentence, turning to Charlotte, who is still staring at him like a piece of meat. "—can we talk inside?"

"Yeah, sure." I glare at Charlotte, who giggles.

We go to my room and Lorenzo closes the door behind us. Thanks to my good mood today, I cleaned my room.

Lorenzo looks around the room and smirks. I follow his line of vision only to see my bra hanging down the bed.

How the fuck did I not see it before?

"Nice bra."

"Shut up," I pout, earning a chuckle.

"Anyways, I came here to ask you if you would like to accompany me to an event."

"Me? Why?" I ask in confusion. Why would Lorenzo Gonzalez take me as his plus one to an event?

"Well, since you took the oath of omerta that night, you became a member of the Spanish mafia. I usually ask someone from the mafia to come with me, and I decided to ask you."

The night I killed my mother, I had to take the oath of omerta the same day. It was crucial as it was their tradition and I didn't want to mess with their traditions.

"Yeah, but Sir I—"

"Just call me Lorenzo for god's sake." He shakes his head in disapproval.

"Lorenzo..." I say. His eyes darken for some reason and I don't dare say his name again. "Okay, I'll go. When will it be?"

"Good. It's on the 28th, which is in two days. I will send you a dress to wear, okay?"

"You really don't have to. I can buy one for myself."

"I treat all my dates to the event, Valeria. Please let me treat you too."

"Fine." I reply, not liking how he wants to dress me up like a Barbie doll.

"I'll see you then," he says with a smile.

"See you."

He leaves my house and I join Charlotte in the living room to start the Harry Potter movie marathon. We love Harry Potter movies and we always watch them together.

Charlotte starts asking me question about Lorenzo and why he came. I couldn't really tell her the mafia parts of the conversation, but I eventually told her that he's taking me to an event. He insisted that it's a date, but I know it's not. Just like he said, he asks for someone from the mafia to accompany him to such events.

"Are you feeling better, Val?" Charlotte suddenly asks in the middle of movie number one.

"Yes, Char. Thanks for being here," I reply, hugging her.

"Always, Val."

I smile at her and nudge her arm and we giggle.

It's one of those nights that make me think how lucky I am to have Charlotte in my life. She is the best person and the only person I truly care about after my father. Of course, I care about Mrs. Gonzalez and Sarah, but Charlotte is different. She is family and the only one I have left.

"By the way, don't think I didn't see the way Lorenzo looked at you."

"What do you mean?" I chuckle.

"He likes you!"

"Of course, not!" I laugh. "He is my employer. He is practically my boss."

"His mother is your employer, Val. Besides, eyes don't lie."

"Apparently, they do because your eyes are lying to you," I reply with a shrug.

"Fine, you'll see," she says.

"No, you'll see."

I don't pay attention to what she said and I try my best not to think about it. I know for a fact that Lorenzo would never look at me in any other way other than his maid. Besides, I don't even like him. He was rude to me and I still can't get how he hurt me in the kitchen that night, despite the numerous times he had apologized. I forgive him, but I can't seem to forget. But he also treated me so well after that, especially when my father was at the hospital, even if Mrs. Gonzalez practically forced him.

Still, nothing could ever happen between Lorenzo Gonzalez and I.

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