1 Chapter 1, The beginning of a new life
Only yesterday, Erika left her hometown of Graz for Paris, and she already missed her home and her sister, for whom she actually came here.
Sabine needs an expensive operation, and Erica can't accept that nothing can be done. So now, at ten o'clock in the morning, she is sitting on a bench in the central square, with only a couple of dollars in her pocket, so she did not expect that she would spend the night somewhere other than the street. Still, after gathering her strength, she began to look for at least some work through the ads on the buildings.
And looking at each sign, picking up all the brochures, she went a long way until she came across a small bakery at the entrance, which has a sign saying "Baker required".
The girl went in with great hope and turned to the salesman for the cash register.
"If you'll excuse me, I'd like to talk to the receptionist about working as a baker," Erica said.
"Okay, wait a minute," and with that, the salesman left, and Erica looked at the small cafe in this bakery, which gave off a special sense of comfort.
Everything was done in light colors, only in some places you could find coffee shades. But the seller did not lie, and a few minutes later a woman in a yellow suit with a white shirt approached Erica.
"Hello, I would like to get a job here, if you haven't accepted anyone yet", the girl greeted.
No, we haven't accepted anyone yet, "the receptionist said, and the girl smiled inwardly", But you don't think I'm just going to let just anyone in?", Erica shook her head in agreement, " So for now, you'll be an intern for three days.
"Can you start today? "Yes, of course," the woman said.
Within half an hour, our heroine was standing in uniform in front of the head baker, his name was Fabien.
After asking the girl about the theory and other things, he put her in the bread shop. While Erica was doing her work, Fabien would approach her, and each time Erica was afraid that she had done something wrong. If she is not accepted, there will be no second chance, and this money is needed now more than ever.
"Hi," one of the employees decided to meet Erica.
"Hi," she said back.
"I take it you're a candidate to work with me?" he asked.
"To work with you?" the girl did not understand.
"Naturally, I am the best worker in this shop,"the guy praised himself.
"Andre, stop messing with the girl's brain," Fabien said, suddenly appearing for the guy," You have a whole pile of orders, so do not distract yourself from work.
"We'll talk to you again, pretty girl," Andrei finally whispered and went to his workplace.
"Well, you're doing a great job, Erica. Where did you study?" Fabien asked.
"I am self - taught," the girl replied, "My family is very poor and therefore I could not afford further education after school," said Erica.
"You're not from around here?" the man asked.
"Yes, I am from Grasse, Provence," she replied.
Fabien shook his head in understanding and went on to control the workflow. The closer the end of the shift approached, the more Erica wondered what she would do after it ended. There's nowhere for her to go, and she's clearly not staying here. Who would leave a little girl here, not even a working girl? Still, when the shift was over, Erica and Fabien were cleaning up their shop.
After cleaning, when Erica came out of the building and sighed in frustration, a guy came up behind her and whispered in her ear, "I said we'll talk again, pretty girl".
The girl turned abruptly and said indignantly, " Why do you call me that?".
"Is that wrong?" You look fresh and sophisticated, " the guy began to throw compliments," Anyway, where are you going now? Andre asked.
"Me? I have nowhere to go," the girl said softly.
"And why not?" he asked.
"I just arrived in Paris this morning and I don't have any money," she explained.
"Come to my place," Andre said without hesitation.
This stunned Erika even more. It's awkward for her to spend the night with an almost unknown guy, and she has never had a relationship, which made her even more constrained.
"Don't be alarmed. Just helping out as a colleague", the girl said, but that didn't shake Erica's doubts at all.
The guy smiled and said", Especially since I could use a nice girl.
After that, Erica looked at him with great doubt, he laughed and said, "Not what you think.
A girl for help around the house.
"Well, you know, I'm a guy and I'm not really friends with this, and the specialty of a baker does not affect my cooking, so I do not cook much".
After a little thought, the girl agreed, but set conditions so that nothing bad would happen. And since Andre has a two-room apartment, he will live in the hall, and she will live in his room. Well, while they were walking to his house, Andre decided to get to know Erica a little better.
"Why did you come to Paris?" he asked.
"I have a sick sister and she needs surgery. The amount, of course, is almost impossible, I probably won't even succeed, but I try to reassure myself that I can do it", Erica replied.
"How much money is required?" Andre asked.
"Oh, don't worry about it," the girl said.
"I might have that kind of money", he chuckled.
"Is that why you work as a baker?" Erica asked.
"Don't judge people by their lives. Maybe I just like this life. but you're right. I don't have that kind of money. But I strive to make my life better", Andre winked.
So to speak, in honor of the acquaintance, " the guy asked.
"Don't waste it," Erica said.
"Come on, I don't mind", Andre playfully grabbed the girl's hand and dragged her to the ice cream stand.
