Chapter 3 That's What I Wanted To Hear

• "Hello. Who is this?"
• "Hello boss, it's Zoe."
• "Zoe, where are you? Your work started a while ago."
• "I'm very sorry, Mr. Johnson. I had an accident and I'm currently at the hospital. I'm sorry for not being able to work today, you can deduct it from my salary. I apologize."
• "The hospital? Are you okay, girl?"
• "Yes, Mr. Johnson. I'm sorry for not going to work."
• "Don't worry, you never usually arrive late or miss work. Since it's the first time, I'll let it slide. Let me know when you're discharged. You can take the rest of the week off, I won't deduct it from your pay, don't worry."
• "Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson. Thank you very much."
• "Alright, I'll hang up."
• "Yes."
• I smile knowing I had a good boss. Mr Johnson is a 41-year-old man, who never had children or a wife. He owns a small Italian restaurant near my house."
• I have worked for him since I turned fifteen. I'm seventeen now, and in four months I'll be of legal age and finish school.
• I started working for him to save up enough money for university. I also have two other part-time jobs. One at a coffee shop, where I work on Mondays and Tuesdays from two in the afternoon until midnight."
• At Mr. Johnson's restaurant, I usually work on Fridays after school and all day on Saturdays and Sundays. While on Wednesdays and Thursdays, I work at a bakery after classes until ten at night.
• Whenever I finish work and get home, that's when I sit down to do my schoolwork. Although I usually do them at school, that way I don't worry when I get home after work.
• With what I earned from my three jobs and what my grandmother earned, we had enough to live comfortably.
• When my mother married my father, she managed to have the house they bought together put in my name. She was always very smart, she knew that this way I wouldn't have to worry about having a roof over my head.
• My father left us after becoming addicted to gambling and alcohol. Then my mother found out that my father had a lover and a child with that woman. Two weeks after she found out, she died in a car accident and since then I've been alone with my grandmother.
• He didn't want anything to do with me, according to him, I was his misfortune. It was my grandmother who took care of me after my mother's death and I am grateful to her for taking care of me.
• It wasn't easy for her to take care of her granddaughter alone. My grandfather died of a heart attack before I was born, he had no more children and the only daughter he had died young. Therefore, our family only consists of her and me, but it seems that destiny had planned for a new member to join us.
• "I think I have to call grandma to give her the news."
• I sigh several times and get nervous before calling her.
• Usually, my grandmother is a sweet woman, but she has her Spanish temperament.
• "Grandma."
• "Zoe? What's wrong, my girl?"
• "I... I'm at the hospital, don't be scared, I know you. I'm fine, something has come up and I think you should come."
• "I'll be there in ten minutes."
• "Be careful, please."
• "Wait for me, my girl, I'm on my way."
• "Okay, I'll wait for you."
• I hang up and at that moment Mrs.Clarisa enters the room.
• "Could you call your family?"
• "Yes, thank you very much. Here you go."
• "Will your mother come?"
• "No, she died many years ago. My grandmother will come instead, she won't be long."
• "I'm sorry about your mother."
• "Don't worry, it happened a long time ago."
• She is about to speak when out of nowhere my stomach starts growling loudly and I feel embarrassed.
• "I'm sorry."
• "Have you eaten anything?"
• "No, ma'am, I didn't have time to eat."
• She looks at me with a hint of pity and reaches into her pants pocket.
• "Here, take this money and go to the cafeteria for something to eat. I'll stay with Mia, and take care of her until you come back."
• "Don't worry, I can wait for my grandmother to arrive."
• I try to give her back the money, but she refuses to take it and instead, pushes me out of the room.
• "Go on, get something to eat."
• I am about to talk, but she closes the door so I can't object. I smile at how kind she is.
• I smile at having come across someone like her.
• I turn around and go to the cafeteria for something to eat, take a few steps, and feel someone grab my arm and push me against the wall.
• "Is it her?"
• "What's wrong with you?!"
• "It is her, young master, she said I will burn in hell."
• I hear the annoying voice of the woman from before, I look at her with anger and then at the person holding me against the wall.
• "Let me go, you're hurting me."
• "Apologize."
• "Apologize? I didn't do anything wrong."
• As soon as I say those words, I feel him throw me to the ground and grab my hair forcefully, making me look into his eyes.
• "I said, apologize!"
• "No."
• "Why?"
• "I didn't do anything wrong, she was the one who kept insulting me. I won't apologize for telling the truth."
• "You're lying."
• "I'm not lying."
• "Yes, you are. Not only did you tell me I would burn in hell, but you also slapped me, I didn't do anything to you."
• "You're a liar, lady."
• That person must be over twenty years old, although his beauty stood out, his eyes conveys a lot of fear. This makes my instinct kicked in again.
• "I'm sorry."
• "That's what I wanted to hear."
• He lets go of me and then throws me to the ground.
• "Let's go."
• "Yes, young master."
• He leaves, feet over my hand. I don't make any noise of pain. The woman approaches me and whispers before leaving.
• "You will be the one to burn."
• I look at her with hatred still lying on the ground, while she looks at me with superiority. I watch them leave and notice the tattoo he has on his hand, it is a falcon.
• "I swear you will regret it someday."
• I stand up angrily for giving in to my fear of this man. I'm not usually like this, I've always been someone with a strong character. Although I was born in New York, my Spanish blood was the one that came out the most when I got angry.
• "You will regret it, I swear."