30

Carla

Today is Sunday, I'm staying all day at my mother's house, I don't even want to look at Daniel's face. I am so angry that I want to keep my distance, and I don't want my daughter to see this, I don't want this for her.

After packing my daughter's bag, I take my bag with my documents and stuff and ask for an Uber.

As soon as it arrives my daughter and I get into the vehicle.

I look out the window at today's weather, the sun is not so hot, it's enough to have a picnic; my little one will love it.

As soon as we arrive, I pay the Uber and we get into my mother's house.

I kiss her face as soon as we are face to face and we enter her house, everything is as before, house tidy and everything organized, as always.

I miss here sometimes, my father is gone, but he would love to meet my princess.

I put my daughter on the floor and she starts running around the house screaming, this girl is very electric, she almost drives me crazy sometimes.

I laugh thinking about it, and go to the kitchen to help my mother to make lunch; even though she says she doesn't need my help, mum always says that, but of course she needs help, come on.

I help her peel the vegetables and make the rice, she wants to do the rest.

She makes a divine farofa, vegetable salad, wonderful beans, there's the rice I made and tomatoes with cabbage, it's delicious.

I put it on for my daughter and me and we eat in silence. It is undoubtedly the best meal.

My baby starts to make a mess while I eat, I roll my eyes and tell her.

" Daughter, you can't make a mess, I have already explained how to eat."

She looks at me with those beautiful round light brown eyes and says smiling.

" OK, Mum."

She smiles at me, but continues to make a mess. I start to laugh and my mum laughs too, she comments.

" You were worse, I'd tell you not to make a mess and you'd say no to my face and yell. You were a difficult child."

She laughs in my face and I answer her.

" Sorry mum, but I've changed, see?"

She agrees, smiling at me and squeezes my cheek.

" I know you have, you have become a good mother. Being a mother has matured you for the things in life. Even though you are not married, you have outgrown me, you are doing better than me. I love you, daughter."

" I love you too, Mom, you will always be the best, always okay?"

She smiles at me and we finish eating.

I help with the dishes and clean up the baby's mess.

Then we watch a movie, the picnic will have to wait for another day.

But our Sunday was amazing, the three of us played like a happy family; Sundays are always the best for me...

But Tuesday will be the worst day! I can't live with my mother, I have to be independent... I know I will manage.

Monday

Today is my first day at work, I've already dropped my daughter off at school and I'm deciding what clothes I'm going to wear to work... A dress? A formal dress? Oh boy! I don't know...

Well, better a dress, but I don't like it, I don't want to attract attention.

I put on a lilac dress I have, knee length. Great, perfect size; I put on silver earrings, my silver necklace and black low heels. I put on a pink lip gloss and mascara on my eyelashes. I look perfect.

I grab my purse and walk to the company.

Wow, the amount I spend with Uber I'm going bankrupt. My God!

I use Uber for everything. I have my driver's licence but I can't afford a car; now that I've got my job, maybe I can, can't I?

As soon as I arrive, I pay the Uber and go to the entrance of the company, and what a company!

As I pass the security guards, one of them refers to me.

" Good afternoon, can I help you?"

Now yes, I'll send him to see, I think smiling at him.

" Good afternoon, sir, I'm Carla, the new designer of the company, is everything OK?"

The security guard rolls his eyes and says something on the phone, then lets me pass and informs me where Mr. Juan is waiting for me.

I'm on the second floor, I'm sitting waiting for Juan.

I cross my legs and in front of me I see him coming to meet me.

He is elegant as always, and when he sees me he has a beautiful smile, how strange.

I stand up and Juan takes my hand and squeezes it lightly.

" Good morning, Miss Carla. Welcome to my company. "

I smile gracelessly and answer him.

" Good morning, it's a pleasure to be here, it will be great to work with you. "

He winks at me, smiling and says, starting to walk, I follow him.

I never tire of admiring this company, it's so elegant and beautiful.

I hear him say.

" Your office will be next door to mine, I hope you'll feel comfortable, it's this way."

He opens a door and shows me my room, it's huge and well decorated, the walls are lilac, I think all the rooms have this colour, the huge table is made of wood, wonderful, there is a laptop on the table, a printer and several other items. The sofa then, it's huge, my God. What a beautiful thing! I stare at that environment and he asks me:

" Did you like it? "

I just nod, impressed.

" All right, settle in. I'll email you your work material for today. See you later."

He leaves and makes me comfortable in my office. I can't believe I'm going to be working here. I close my eyes for a few seconds, smiling, absorbing this good feeling, but I know that tomorrow is the day I will be homeless, without a home....

" What am I going to do? I have a job where I will earn well, but I won't get paid now... I have to think of something, my daughter needs me. What the hell!"

I say the last part a bit loudly and hear the knock on the door, I jump out of the chair and see Juan opening the door.

" May I? "

Of course you can, this is his company.

But I don't say it out loud, I nod and he approaches.

" I was getting a coffee from outside and I heard you talking... Are you all right, your daughter? "

He looks worried, he puts his hand on his chin and looks at me, I don't have to say anything to him. Damn it!

" It's nothing, everything's fine."

I try to sound confident, but I think I've failed, his eyes are fixed on mine, he won't leave until I tell him, I can feel it. He seems to be very demanding.

" I just... I have to leave my flat tomorrow, that's all... Nothing to worry about. "

" But he's not yours?"

He asks me thoughtfully. Damn it, Juan, why the interest?

" No, he belongs to my ex."

He says angrily.

" What a bastard, he did this to you? "

He looks at me in astonishment and says.

" Sorry for the bad word, but he shouldn't do that, he's selling the flat and he hasn't even thought about you. I'm sorry, but I have an idea."

I raise my eyebrows waiting for him to say.

" I can help you make a good home. I hired you for a reason, you have the gift to be a designer, I feel it, I want to help you,"

you'll have comfort, you'll earn your salary for your beautiful work, and that's it? I need to get married, so I help you and you help me. It's a win-win situation. We were married for a year, without any physical contact, and after that year we simply separated. What I will ask of you during this year is to kiss me when we are in the presence of my brother and take my hand, that is all. About how we met I'll make it up... What do you think? I swear I only want to help you, nothing more than that, and this company is what my father left me, I'll lose it if I don't get married next month. Please, think about it carefully this week. That's all I ask...

He stops talking and gives me a short smile.

This guy is crazy, is that it? Look what I've gotten myself into. One more thing to mess up my whole head.