Another child in the house

(Alana)

The lady told me Ricardo had a five-year-old son. I didn't believe it but, I wanted to ask him why none of his family members told me he had a son

did they think marriage was a joke, how was I going to be a mother to a five years old boy? This wasn't right, I was too angry to do anything; hence I started unpacking my things. The room they gave me was okay

I didn't like big rooms, although this one was like the master bedroom

“This should be burned,” I said once I took out my designs and sketchbook. I just needed to find time and a place to burn everything. “What's this?” I said once I took out a white envelope, I didn't remember having it. Maybe it was something my mom packed without knowing

With ease, I carefully opened the envelope. There was some document inside. When I pried it open, I was stunned to find something I wasn't expecting,

“No way, when did this come in!” It was unbelievable, it was a letter of acceptance. I applied for a job at several companies. I didn't mind the position as long as I had a job after university and like a dream, I was accepted by one of the most influential companies that ever existed. It was a jewelry company.

“Checking my emails,” I scrolled through my phone to check an email sent to me. It clearly stated that I had to report heading office the next day, since the email was sent three days ago. It was no use, even if I got it. I was away from home

“Darn it,” I sat on the carpet staring at my phone. Looking around the room, I still had my clothes and other things scattered. Of course, I was a neat freak, I was going to pack everything in a matter of minutes. Reading the email again, I was hooked to find the address to the head office of the company. It was right here in Paris. Was it a joke or was fate siding with me,

I rushed to take out my laptop, placed it on the bed and powered it on. The location was nearby, which meant the job was still mine. I couldn't help but smile as I searched for more information about the company. I applied to be a secretary. A stepping stone to reaching the top

I was to be at the office by 9 am sharp. Of course, I was going to be on time

“Ah, at least I'll be too busy working to be sad… I'm certain that man won't even notice,” it was pointless staying in a place where the man I was married to was a cold iceberg

“We'll just wait and see… but for now, I should find what to wear,” I said cheerfully and was about to jump out of bed when the door burst open, startling me so that I froze in place. My gaze shifted to the door and I nearly fell off when I saw the person who just walked in. Like some gangster, he had stripped off his coat and held it. His sharp gaze traveled around the room as if scanning it, then fell on me. I was standing on the bed. His expression darkened as he slammed the door shut, frightening me that I missed a step and slipped down. Luckily, I didn't fall flat on the floor, but balanced on my feet. My eyes darted around and cursed myself for scattering my things in such a way. The iceberg didn't look so pleased to see this

“This is my room, please get out,” I said cheekily and averted my eyes from him, deep down my heart was thumping loudly. My brain screaming for me to leave

“Get out,” a low growl came from the man. I glanced at him, and he was shoving my things away from the closet with his feet. How rude was he? I stared at him for a while wondering if he had a heart or if was he indeed an iceberg

“Mrs. Marks said this is my room or…” I was about to shout at him when I stopped, this was his room. Oh dear, no wonder it smelled nice and was like some luxurious room hotel. Biting my lower lip, I was agitated

“Then where should I sleep huh, tell me mister… Why did you agree to this marriage, huh? You could have saved us both the trouble and ran away from the wedding,” I blurted out in one go, having nothing to say. I didn't get a chance to talk to this man. His rude behavior was uncalled off. He didn't say a word, but managed to shove everything that was on his way to the sides and entered the walk-in closet. He should have run away from the wedding because I wouldn't have done that, I had a reputation to uphold

“Darn iceberg…where did my parents get this alien,” I muttered with a frown when he slammed the door to the closet leaving me without an answer “I should pack and find a room,” it was useless; hence I started packing my things. That lady should have found another room for me. It was clear, to me, that the iceberg alien wasn't going to sleep in the same room

After a while I was done packing, stretching a little, so I couldn't feel my back.

Oh gosh, I've never done so much work in my entire life. I missed my mom and her handiwork. I was about to drag out my suitcases when he came out of the bathroom, this time I quickly averted my eyes from him when he came out wearing a towel. For goodness's sake, wasn't he ashamed to come out with just a towel covering his lower part leaving his upper body bare and his hairy legs

“Get out, find any corner of this house and stay there…” the man muttered in a deep angry tone and walked away, I guess he was going to take a shower.

“Alien,” I muttered and made faces at him. The door slammed with a bang and I decided to leave

Luckily on my way out, I met Mrs. Marks about to head downstairs

“Don't worry, there are so many rooms ready…do you want one near sir or Santiago?” The woman asked me an obvious question,

“Far from both,” I simply said, and she stared at me with a questionable expression. I didn't mind, but I wanted to be away from that alien man and his son

“Oh, do you want to meet Santi…he's downstairs having his dinner,” Mrs. Marks asked with a smile once she brought me to another room. This wasn't a wow like that man's room but okay for me since it had everything even a balcony, a place where I could do my sketches

“No…please I'm tired…can I sleep now,” I told her with a yawn just to show her I was not interested? The lady blinked a few times as if she didn't understand my words

“Yes, Mrs. Romero,”

“Please call me Alana… that's my first name,” I corrected her, being called that surname didn't feel right at all. I didn't like it, especially when it belonged to that man

After a while, the lady left, and I was more relaxed to find clothes to wear on my first day of work. I was about to get my laptop when I realized I left it in that man's room

“Just great,”

***

When Ricardo came out of the shower, he found his phone ringing. Hence, he picked it up, answered it and put it on the loudspeaker and tossed it back on the bed as he dried his hair. He was happy the noisy girl was gone

He hated anyone making his room look like a zoo. It seemed she was one of those untidy women who left their rooms scattered with clothes

Pedro let out a curse when he spotted a red bra somewhere on the floor. She must have left it. Who knew what else she left

Gosh, he would rather not think much. It seemed he had another child in the house aside from Santiago.

“Talk to me,” he said as he turned away, and a familiar voice came from the phone

“How's the married man doing? Having your first night,” his newly found friend was the one talking, Ricardo had his level of tolerance. Yes, he was a changed man, but if someone was trying to be smart. He knew when to use his gun

“Get to the point,” he said calmly and stopped when he spotted a laptop on his bed. It wasn't his

“Well, I just wanted to inform you that… you are a lucky man… your secretary will be reporting tomorrow… it turns out, she's here in Paris,” the man said in a lazy tone, Ricardo's brow creased together. He wanted someone more experienced, the reason he wanted a secretary straight from Italy

“Right,” he muttered nonchalantly. He didn't mind as long as the person wasn't annoying and certainly not a man. Furthermore, he wanted a woman for the job, a professional, not a gullible person.