Chapter 210 - Listen to Arnold - mdtres
Guadalupe
"Look, Lupe, today at the meeting with the other five men who are part of their trusted circle, when Simón showed your picture to tell them that you're part of our family, Mole and two others were captivated by your beauty, and Arnold didn't like that." My heart raced.
"Daughter, we're telling you this so you know, but it doesn't guarantee anything. As we said, he's a superior version compared to all his brothers. Roland always says, 'Arnold has something innate that makes him cruel.' I don't want to get your hopes up. I'd be happy if he settled down with you, but that's my wish, not necessarily his," commented Inés.
"The truth was in his attitude," added Gladis. "We're here because the looks our husbands exchanged at his reaction made us notice too. I love this family; they've restored my confidence in myself. I don't want a rotten apple sowing discord and breaking that brotherhood. They form an unbreakable bond of friendship."
"Was Arnold jealous?"
"It seems so," commented Mrs. Luisa.
"And Lupe, we ask you to make an effort from now on to call us without the word 'Mrs.'," commented Mrs. Diana. "We know how much you respect us, that's already clear. I won't pay attention if you call me 'Mrs.' again. You know, I'm Diana." My eyes welled up.
"I'll try. I don't believe in anything about the blond guy. I don't like sharing, and he seems like a man with many women."
"That depends on you," said Inés. "Let's wait and see what happens."
"You're right about that. The good thing is you're already here, and I feel at ease. I know my princesses will be well taken care of with lots of love. Tomorrow we'll spend the whole day until ten at night doing many things, the men too. We'll let you rest."
I said goodbye to all of them. As soon as I closed the door, I started jumping around and covered my face with the pillow to muffle my happy squeals. The blond guy likes me! When my euphoria ended, I put the pillow back on the bed and noticed Arnold standing at the door, arms crossed, with that mocking expression on his face. I wanted to punch him.
"Don't you know how to knock?" He shamelessly shook his head.
"Can I know the reason for your happiness?" You, my happiness is you.
"It's none of your business, but I'm so happy I'll tell you. I'm jumping because they told me how much money they'll pay me, and that means I already have three semesters covered, plus the two I've saved. I have half my degree paid for. Happy now?" he confirmed.
"Kiddo, I came to give you another piece of news to help with your university savings." I frowned, and he didn't move from the door. "I just talked to your dad and proposed that you stay at my apartment in San Antonio. I'll only be there three days a week.
"We can share it, and you'll save money on transportation. The place you found is far from both universities you'll be attending. My apartment is just a few blocks away.
"You can walk to and from, and your business administration degree will be at the same university where I'll be doing my degree and specialization." I gaped. "Stop that look. It's not charity. Your dad is going to pay me for it. He didn't accept it for free."
"We're not used to getting things for free. That's why we work."
"That's exactly what he said." He smiled.
"Thank you, blond guy." I felt an urge to hug him. Could I ask for more from life?
"You're welcome, kiddo." I rolled my eyes. "Now you can keep jumping, but there are rules for living in my house. They're the same ones I told your father." I raised an eyebrow. "No boyfriends in my apartment. There are cameras. I'll know if you bring men when I'm here working, and I promised to report to your father."
"And the same rule applies to you."
"No." Idiot.
"Don't worry. When I have a boyfriend, I'll do what couples do in other places, maybe at his house." With my usual indifference, I responded, "Thanks. After all, you're not so heartless or a troglodyte." He remained serious.
"Lupe, university is a different story. Just be careful with married guys. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
I didn't pay much attention to his comment. I was so happy that I fell asleep until dawn. I woke up several times, being in a strange bed always hit me hard while I got used to it, it could take weeks. Since I couldn't sleep much, I got up early.
I went into the bathroom, did my business, took a shower, washed my hair, got out of the shower, got dressed, and started brushing my hair. I should cut it, it was too long. I need to wait for it to dry to braid it. I left the room, went downstairs, the house was beautiful, I heard voices and stopped.
"Why do I have to stay?" Arnold said.
"Arnold, you're the right one, it's not to undermine anyone's abilities, but you have everything it takes to take care of our kids, plus if something happens, you'll be able to handle it perfectly."
"That's just talk, Simon."
"Miguel and I will be at the forefront of what's coming, Cherry will arrive later, from the clinic she goes to the place where the men will meet, the rest goes with us."
"Are you ditching me?"
"No, idiot," that was Gustavo's voice. "I woke up with something strange in my chest, I mentioned it to Simon, among the group, the only ones with the head to think about everything are Roland and you, Roland is not here, we have you, you know we've always seen that in you, you can think of everything at once, we know you'll take good care of our kids."
"The most boring thing for Arnold and if the kids get a scrape, they'll shoot me. Everyone laughed. "Don't mess with me. While you guys are on an operation, I'm playing babysitter to six kids and two old ladies."
"Arnold, I'm not lying when I say something is going to happen."
"And it will happen!" My Blondie responded. "You have a saint's mouth, what you say always becomes reality, why do you think Simon listened to you?"
"You see, you're able to see things, like Roland. The house was designed by the boss, it has all the same compartments where there are weapons, there are cameras, an alarm system that will alert us if you need help, plus Cherry's protection car is in the garage in case you need to leave." I got scared hearing that, the one speaking was Mr. Miguel. "My son is in your hands."
"Now, if you screwed me, I have the reasons for your lives in my care," Arnold replied.
"It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations." I jumped in fright, next to me was Anibal, it was six in the morning.
"No..."
"Relax, little Mexican. Gustavo has never been wrong with his premonitions. Listen to Arnold and don't be fussy." I stared at him, how much had Arnold told him about me?
"We are special men, you need to learn that we like... that women challenge us, but at the right time, not when we're threatened. Ask Diana what happened when she got defiant. You'll help Arnold if you listen to him when the time comes." I nodded.
I turned around and headed to the other end of the house, I got to the kitchen and found Diana drinking something, her face looked a bit pale.
"Good morning, ma'am... Diana."
"That's better. Good morning, or more or less, every morning is a struggle, the vomiting, during the day it normalizes, my baby is as demanding as his father." Her belly was starting to show. Ines arrived with some kind of water.
"Here, Dianita, I have to go, I need to get Cherry out of that clinic, she already told me Clarisa woke up, but they had to sedate her because she was shocked not to see her breasts, Claudia already called me and we'll both be with Clari." Ines left, saying goodbye to us.
"Diana," I felt strange calling her that, "what happened the day you disobeyed some of them?"
"I disobeyed Miguel and out of pride I wanted to do whatever I pleased. We were under threat and the result was, death of one of his workers, Ines's broken hand," when I met them, Ines had her hand bandaged, "a strong blow to my forehead, a bullet wound in Miguel's arm, and eight dead from the attacking group." I opened my eyes wide. "Listen to Arnold, if he says, under the bed, Lupe, it's under the bed, not the closet, not the bathroom, it's under the bed. Trust them, they know how to do their job."
"Yes, ma'am."