Chapter 2.

"Buenas Dias sir." Zoëlla greeted as Alejandro entered the kitchen.

"Dónde está mi café?" He asked ignoring her greeting.

"It's here." She said handing him his black coffee with milk and no sugar. It was warm just as he liked it.

He drank the coffee as he checked his phone to see if he had new messages from the office.

"Buenas Dias Ale." Kathy greeted as she walked in dressed in her morning robe which stopped mid-thigh exposing her olive skin and long legs.

"Good morning Kathy." He added making Zoëlla shocked as to why he didn't answer when she greeted.

"Espero que te haya gustado tu café?" She asked as Zoëlla stared at them at the corner of her eyes while she stirred the pot of sauce.

"No estuvo mal Ella lo intentó." He added as Zoëlla smiled sadly at the food she was cooking.

"Kathy, Layla would come and pick up some files in the afternoon. They are on my bed so do well to hand them over to her." He stated.

"I might not be around so Zoëlla will handle that." She added.

"Whatever, just make sure she gets them." He added as he dropped his mug on the counter and left. Kathy went to her room as soon as Alejandro left and then Zoëlla continued with her work.

"Would they ever like me?" She asked herself as she drained water from the Italian pasta. After cooking lunch, she cleaned the kitchen, the hall, the bedrooms and washrooms and then took out the trash.

The doorbell rang right after she took the trash out so she hurried to get it.

"Hi."Layla greeted awkwardly.

"Holla, how may I help you miss?" Zoëlla asked.

"Erm-um-- I came to pick up some files." She stated.

"Okay....but can I offer you a cup of water or juice?" Zoëlla asked shocking Layla. 

Wow, she's pretty and polite as well. Layla thought.

"Miss?" Zoëlla called breaking her daydream.

"Juice will do thank you," Layla said as Zoëlla brought her the juice and hurried to get the file.

She picked the file and looked at her surrounding before closing the door and hurrying down.

"Here you go." She handed over the files to Layla who set down her empty glass and took the files.

"Thank you, dear and it's nice to meet you Zoëlla." She added.

"Welcome Layla, hasta logo." She added as she walked her to the door and then came for the glass. She cleaned the water droplets off the table and washed the cup in the kitchen.

She dished out lunch for all the domestic staff and herself since Kathy and Alejandro were not joining them.

After lunch and cleaning the plates she retired to her room to rest. She got snacks out of her bag as she binge-watched a series on Netflix.

"Hi, Kathy." She answered the phone.

"Zoëlla I won't be joining you guys for dinner tonight...in fact, I won't be home for about a week so I need you to take note and it's almost 5:00 pm you need to get started on dinner. Alejandro will be back by 8:00 pm." Kathy ordered.

"Okay...I will have fun wherever you are." Zoëlla added.

"Graçias Zoëlla, hasta logo." She said hanging up.

She decided to prepare Paella for dinner. She hurried to the kitchen and started. First, she heated one tablespoon of oil in a large paella pan over medium-high heat.

She then added chicken and sauteed it for  2 minutes on each side. She then took out the chicken from the pan and added sausage and prosciutto then sauteed for 2 minutes. 

Then took it out from the pan and added shrimp, and sauteed for 2 minutes. Remove from pan. Then reduce heat to medium-low. She added onion and bell pepper and sauteed for  15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then

added tomatoes, paprika, and 3 garlic cloves and allowed to cook for 5 minutes. She added rice and allowed to cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

She stirred in herb blend, broth mixture, chicken, sausage mixture, and peas. And bought to a low boil; cook 10 minutes, stirring frequently. She added mussels to the pan, nestling them into rice mixture.

And allowed to  Cook for  5 minutes until shells open. She then discarded any unopened shells. And arranged shrimp, heads down, in rice mixture, and cooked until shrimps were ready. She sprinkled  1/4 cup lemon juice.

She then removed it from heat and covered with a towel, and let stand 10 minutes. 

She checked the time and it was 6:30 pm. She went upstairs and showered hurriedly and dressed and came down as she dished dinner to the rest of the staff since they lived in just like her.

She set the table for her boss as she cleaned the pans, pots and plates used to cook the food. 

Alejandro rubbed his temple as he walked in. He was tired and hungry.

"Good evening  Sir." Zoëlla greeted as she took his briefcase and coat upstairs into his room.

"Where's Kathy?" He asked as he entered the room.

"She said she wasn't going to be home para una Semana." She added heading out.

"Okay...bring my dinner upstairs." He ordered.

"Si," Zoëlla added as she descended the stairs. She dished his food out and took out a box of his favourite juice and set it on the tray along with the food covering it with a napkin.

She knocked on his door and waited for an answer. He opened the door as he had his towel on his waist and water droplets glistening down his hair and arbs. He looked breathtakingly hot.

Zoëlla dropped the tray of food on his table and headed out as she let out a sigh of relief.

She entered her room with her heart pounding just as her phone rang startling her as she answered it.

"Hey, Sia." She answered. She was one of the maids she'd met at the agency. They both talked into the night about their bosses and work.

Alejandro had enjoyed his Paella so much yesterday. He wasn't a fan of it so yesterday when he opened the food and saw it he became angry.

He wanted to throw it away right in front of her face but thought otherwise because he was hungry and tired thus he couldn't go out to eat.

He took one bite of it and suddenly it's flavours burst into his mouth as he moaned. It was delicious and he didn't even realize when he was done with his food.

He even took the plates to the kitchen himself after the meal.

"Buenas Dias, Zoëlla." He greeted her as he entered the kitchen.

"Buenas Dias sir." She responded shocked. 

She placed his coffee in front of him as she left to the backyard garden to pick herbs to prepare food for the day.

"Thanks for yesterday, I enjoyed the meal. I really don't like Paella but yours was wonderful." Alejandro complimented.

"You welcome and contento de que te haya gustado." She added smiling as Alejandro was about leaving.

"Sir, your collar is not fastened well." She added as she approached him about helping him when he held her hands and threw them down.

"Listen here puta, you work here is to cook and clean not whatever you tried doing just now, watch yourself. I'd never fall for a lowlife like you. Just because I complimented you doesn't mean I like you get that into your Cabeza dura, you understand ?"

" S-s-s-si Sir." She said wiping tears off her face as he left to the office.

"It's okay Zoëlla." Edwardo the young bodyguard consoled her. 

"Edwardo hice algo mal ?"She asked sobbing.

"No you didn't, just do you and don't let him get to you. You're a nice and intelligent person but circumstances brought you here." He consoled.

"Graçias Edwardo." She added getting up and clearing the kitchen as Edwardo went to his duty post. 

Sia came through to her place as they weren't far from each other, besides they were neighbours.

It's been three weeks she heard from Daya. She had called her but no answer. She hoped she was well.

"What do I get you to eat ?" She asked her new friend.

"Anything dear." She added as Zoëlla headed to the kitchen, she heated the some of the leftover paellas for her and left some for her boss just in case.

She dished out a plate for her and got a bottle of water and juice for her.

"Thank you," Sia added as she took a bite out of the Paella moaning.

"Zoëlla this is damn good." She added as Zoëlla smiled.

"Thanks," Zoëlla added as she began preparing dinner which was Carrillada.

How was he going to face her? He asked himself as his driver drove him home.

She meant no harm after all. Well, she is his maid and he could talk or relate to her anyhow and no one could do nada. He thought nodding.

"Hi Emilia." He said through her phone. 

"Sweety Estoy en tu casa." She added.

"I'd be right there in a moment." He added hanging up as they reached home. He got out of the car and entered the house. 

"Babes." She said as she hugs him.

"Have you gotten food to eat?" He asked as they climbed the stairs.

"No, I was waiting for you." She added as they entered his bedroom.

Zoëlla set the table for them and waited as the descended the stairs.

She microwaved last night's paella and added it to the table. She served her boss and then later Emilia.

"This tastes horrible!" Emilia exclaimed while she knew very well she was wrong.

"I'm sorry ma'am, I can prepare something else for you." Zoëlla reasoned.

"Oh shut up Puta." She added throwing the got plate of Carrillada unto her arm making her shriek in pain.

"Emilia, Que demonios fue eso?". Alejandro asked angrily as Zoëlla rushed outside leaving them behind.

Luckily she had money on her so she flagged down a cab to the hospital and asked Sia to meet her there.

"Oh come on, she's just a maid they deserve that treatment." She added nonchalantly.

"If that's how you treat your staff fine, but not mine we're done I can't be with a heartless woman like you. Get your stuff and go." He added.

"No me dejes volver a verte en mi casa Porque si lo hago, solo Dios sabe lo que haré." He said as he hurried outside.

Where could she be? He thought to himself.

He had called her number but to no avail. He sat outside as he saw his driver drive Emilia off which was the least of his worries. 

Zoëlla's burns were severe because the food was hot and because she had soft skin it made it worse.

They wanted to admit her but she refused as she left with Sia.

"Graçias Sia, hasta logo, Buenas Noches." She told her friend as she got out. She met her boss seated with his head in his hands.

"Sir, is everything okay?" She asked.

"Oh Zoëlla, thank goodness you're safe." He trailed off as he saw the bandage on her hand.

"Sir I'd be clearing the table." She said as she entered the house.

"Don't, I'd let Edwardo do so, go upstairs and go rest." He added as she left for her room wondering what had happened to her boss.