Married or not

Alana frowned as she watched the nurse talking to Santiago. She wasn't going to leave them alone, in fact, she brought all her work to the private lounge. It was to the east wing of the mansion. This part she didn't know. Alana guessed she had to tour the entire mansion to know all the rooms.

“Finish up, I'll be right back,” the nurse said after she gave Santiago some watercolors and other drawing stuff. Alana frowned and watched as the woman left the room when she rose to her feet and followed her out

“Are you watching me?” The nurse stopped and she sensed someone following her. Alana rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes shrewd as she stared at the nurse

“What if huh… do you think I'm going to let you out of my sight…think again,” Alana said cheekily earning a sarcastic scoff from the nurse

“I didn't know you are, the boss's wife…it's a shame it wasn't what I was expecting,” the nurse remarked sarcastically and scanned Alana from head to toe as if she were nothing. Of course, Alana didn't care what anyone thought of him

“I'll make sure you are thrown out of here madam… this little mask of yours will fall off eventually,” Alana warned in a deadly tone, her voice holding rage and authority that for a second, she saw a flicker of fear in the nurse's eyes. But like a chameleon she was, her shrewd eyes turned innocent

“I don't care what you think… I'm just an innocent nurse, you see…who only wants to earn money and pay for her husband's surgery,” the nurse said with an innocent facial expression. Alana had the urge to slap her in the first, but just then. Mrs. Marks appeared carrying a tray of snacks and Santiago's lunch

“Madam, I didn't now you were here…sir is waiting for you,” Mrs. Marks said as soon as she stopped before Alana and bowed in respect

“He's here?” She thought he had things to do since it was Saturday. She didn't need to go to the office

“Yes…well, sir came back, he's in the study,” Mrs. Marks replied with a smile and Alana nodded. Shifting her gaze to the nurse, her expression morphed into a sour one, then looked at Mrs. Marks with a faint smile

“Mrs. Marks, can you stay with Santiago until I get back… it seems he's a little shy being with the nurse alone,” Alana said, and Mrs. Marks nodded in agreement? Alana glanced at the nurse and saw how unhappy she was.

It didn't matter, as long as she didn't leave that nurse alone with Santiago. Alana feared what could happen. She was there to know exactly what was happening to the boy. Unfortunately, the nurse didn't reveal much

“I wonder what he wants,” Alana wondered as headed downstairs to the study room. The house was quiet, she only saw a few servants walking around

She had a word with the garden and knew a few of them. Slowly, she was beginning to get a hang of the house

As soon as she reached the study, Alana found it slightly open. Knocking lightly, she heard a come in

“Good day sir,” she greeted Ricardo awkwardly once she entered and closed the door. He was sitting behind the wooden desk looking at his work while Dennis stood to the sides with his head lowered. Once Dennis saw her, he smiled and greeted her

“Good afternoon madam”

“Hello Dennis,” Alana said, returning the smile with a cheerful one. Her eyes moved to Ricardo, he seemed busy. But what caught Alana's eyes was the beautiful bouquet of exotic flowers on the desk with a side fruit basket. Slowly Alana walked closer to the desk and cleared her throat awkwardly

“Mrs. Romero, it seems you took my contract seriously, didn't you? now men are lining up for you,” The man said as he looked up and pushed his chair backwards. Alana didn't understand what he meant

“I don't get it,” what surprised her was the way he addressed her as 'Mrs.'

“Well, Dennis…kindly explain,” Ricardo said, leaning back in the chair and letting Dennis explain. Alana glanced at Dennis, and he was hesitating for some reason. Did something happen

“M-madam, these are for you…sent from the office to Ms Mendoza,” Dennis stammered while showing her the things on the desk. Alana frowned and glanced at the flowers, peeked inside the basket and found a stuffed pink teddy bear, some chocolate boxes and other romantic things she recognized. Inside the bouquet was a silver-lined envelope or was it a card

“M-me? How come and from whom?” Alana was confused, she was new to Paris, so who sent the things? Glancing at Ricardo, the man had a blank expression and was busy playing with a pen

“Is this what's going to be happening… I assign you to work, and you start hooking up with my employees?” Ricardo asked coldly. His sharp eyes were fixed on Alana. Of course, she was confused. She just joined the office and barely knew all the employees

“Are you certain…sir, I don't think these are for me…there must be a mistake,” Alana said in between nervous chuckles with her hands raised in the air in surrender form. Ricardo frowned and pointed the pen he was holding at the card in the bouquet

“Take it out and read it,” he ordered sternly, a hesitant Alana glanced at Dennis, then at Ricardo and finally, her eyes fell on the card. Was this a joke, Alan reached for the card and retrieved it? Hesitantly, she tugged at it to open. But she found it already open.

Strange, but she pried it open.

“Kindly read it out loud,” the man ordered, and fixed his eyes on her. Alana didn't think so… Whoever sent the things was shameless,

“Are you sure I…”

“Isn't that why we are here? to know about your silly office crush” Ricardo remarked sarcastically and Alana nodded. It was awkward.

“Dear Alana, I only met you once, but I felt like I've known you for a long time. It's shameful to say I liked you at first sight, I hope we can be friends because you are a beautiful woman and kind” Alana read what was written aloud. Ricardo's gaze darkened even more, while Dennis muffled his mouth from laughing. Alana felt stupid, she felt like a child

“Sir this is inappropriate… I'm certain,”

“What? are you ashamed huh… the guts that hooligan had to ask me to give this to you and told me he likes you…do you take me for a fool” Ricardo said sarcastically and lashed out at the same time? Alana wanted to laugh but kept quiet. She didn't read any names and hence had no idea who sent

“From now on, focus on your work… I hate it when my employees engage in worthless things apart from concentrating on work,” Ricardo snarled. The entire time, Alana was staring at him.

“But sir, this is nothing…but some gifts to welcome me to the company,” Alana countered back with a smile and Dennis nodded. Ricardo awkwardly glanced at Dennis with a deadly glare, and he lowered his head

“I'll take these, sir… I'll thank the person on Monday, such a darling…do you want some chocolates?” She asked as she grabbed everything on the desk and blinked a few times at him. Ricardo was not happy as he glared at her before rising to his feet, and stormed away, leaving the study. Alana shrugged helplessly and decided to give the things to the servants.