I

CHAPTER 1

A party full of distinguished and luxurious guests attending a birthday party. The party is going well but there is someone missing, someone who's always likable, someone who is the most favorite part of the family, and someone who is the most favorite.

Tonight's celebration is the 18th birthday of Rachel, the youngest grandchild of the Leone's family.

"Where is she?" Rachel asked her mom and dad.

"I texted her and she said she'd arrive for about ten minutes," her mom answered.

"She'd better not forget my present" Rachel said with a little attitude.

Her cousins and other relatives just laugh and giggle at her reaction. They knew that it's her special day so she is allowed to be spoiled, but only for today.

Suddenly the crowd is divided into two groups, like they are making an aisle for someone. One of the people who sees who's walking closer to them smiled.

"Finally, you're here. She's been looking for you nonstop" Glenn walked closer to the person and tapped its shoulder.

When Rachel heard her cousin Glenn speak to someone, she looked at who it was. By the time she sees its face he excitedly runs and hugs the person.

"OMG you finally came. '' Rachel excitedly spoke while jumping up and down and clapping her head like a child.

"Who would miss the party of my baby cousin?" The person voiced while pinching Rachel's cheeks.

Rachel smiled wider when she heard that.

The crowd gave the person a tight hug, a tap on the shoulder and smiles. An old glamorous woman looked unto them wondering what was going on there. By the time she saw a glimpse of someone, she hurriedly walked into the crowd of her family.

"Alexis" the old woman called out.

All heads turn towards the old woman and spread out a little to give her some space.

"Abuela '' Alexis spoke with a big smile and slowly walked into her grandmother's arms.

"I missed you too, mija, '' her grandmother hugged her tightly.

After a mini reunion the party continues. Rachel together with her grandmother and cousin Alexis sat on the couch, inside their home to have a catch up. The trio talked about the trips that Alexis had traveled. Rachel is very close to Alexis that is why she misses her so much.

"I thought you would not attend on time for my birthday" Rachel said with a little sadness.

Alexis stood up and sat beside her cousin and tapped her hand.

"Before I left I told you I'll be back on time, right?" Rachel just nodded and wore a small smile.

Alexis stood up and pulled her cousin up to stand with her, their abuela watching their every move. She knew how close her granddaughters are

"Come, follow me. I have a surprise for you" Alexis said and Rachel couldn't contain her happiness when she heard that and let out a little cheer.

"Abuela, you should come too. I have a surprise for you too" Her grandmother nodded with a smile and followed the two outside.

They finally arrive at the spot where Alexis said she had a surprise for them. Some of their family members follow the three of them wondering where the three are going, Rachel's parents, Alexis' father and some of their cousins including Glenn.

Alexis opened the back of her trunk and showed the boxes inside her car. There are three boxes, the color green, red, and black with a gold ribbon on it. She grabbed the black gift box that has a golden ribbon and handed it to Rachel.

"I know you've been annoying me for a while to get you this. I hope now you will shut up" Alexis joked and everyone laughed.

When Rachel opened the gift received from her cousin, her smile got so big and her eyes twinkled. What's inside the box is a green Gucci crocodile tote bag.

"I remember your face timing me and telling me that this bag is always gone before you get the chance to see it" Rachel jumped and hugged Alexis so tight and kept mumbling thank you.

Everyone laughs too because Rachel gives Alexis a shower of kisses. While Alexis kept retracting her face away from her cousin. Though she loves her baby cousin so much, she hates it when she gives wet kisses on her face.

"And this is for your Abuela" She grabbed the green box, which is the biggest box of the three.

Her grandmother was clueless of what was inside the box, thinking about why it was that big. It can't be any jewelry, a fragrance or a scarf. What could it be?

Alexis nodded towards her grandmother giving her the hint to finally open it.

When it was opened it revealed a beautiful vase with a lot of details on it. Her grandmother's eyes lit up with joy, she felt so delighted. Her grandchild really knows how to please her. She really knows that her grandmother loves pieces of art, especially handcrafted ones.

"Another piece to be added to my collection. Thank you, mija" her grandmother thanked her, giving her a hug and a kiss.

"Now Alex, is that other gift for me?" Glenn jokes.

"I'm sorry bro, it's not for you" Alexis walked closer to him and tapped his shoulder.

They all know who the other gift is for. It's for Alexis' mom, who couldn't attend the party because she just got out of the hospital three days ago. Alexis bid goodbye to the debutant and wished her a happy birthday once again. Before she left she gave everyone a hug, it's been a month since the last time she saw them, because she's been traveling.

She's been missing everyone, especially her mother and abuela. When she heard her mom had a little accident she was worried, so she Facetimed her thrice a day.

"Mom, I'm home" she yells when she got inside their house. She looked into their living room but there's noone there, so she walked towards their kitchen and saw a housemaid. She asked her mom.

The maid greeted her young lady that she hadn't seen for a month and then told her that her mother was in the garden. Alexis thanked her and gone to find her mother.

She hid her gift behind her back as she was walking closer to her mom. She didn't notice her asher back is faced towards Alexis.

Alexis hugged her mother from the back and said, "I missed you mom" when she heard her daughter's voice it made her smile.

She turns around and faces her beautiful daughter. Alexis then showed what she is keeping behind her back. She handed the red box to her mom and helped her sit down on the nearest chair they could find. When they made it to their gazebo. Alexis tells her mom to open the box for her to see what she bought for her.

When her mom opened the box she gasped. "You didn't have to buy me this one," Gretta, her mom said.

"I saw you looking into this bag when we went to the mall a month ago. When I was buying a gift for Rachel I saw this and told myself I had to buy this for you" Alexis explains and gave her mother a smile.

Gretta feels the warmth in her heart. She knew her daughter kept tabs on everything. She is happy to finally have this red Gucci Dionysus python shoulder bag. She is glad her daughter remembers.

"How's your leg now?" Alexis asked with a worried look and a worried voice.

"It will be better in a few weeks, " said the doctor. For now it's not that bad compared to that day I had an accident" her mom said with a small smile.

The two catch up on what had happened while she was away, and her mom asked her if she did meet someone while she's been traveling.

She wanted her daughter to finally date someone, because it's been two years since she had her last relationship. When she heard Alexis didn't have time to find someone she made it her mission to put her only child on blind dates.

She knew Alexis will be mad about it but will still comply just to make her mom happy. Gretta needs to plan and find suitable people to date her daughter. Of course she should choose someone who is Alexis type.