His Side Chick

Cecilia was persistent. 

Miguel turned to her and gestured for her to follow his father before the old man changed his mind about her.

"Don't just sit there, follow him," Miguel ordered, his voice cold and domineering.

Cecilia, however, didn't know what to do but to obey his words. She stood up with her trembling legs that threatened to separate from her knees and walked out of the dining room, as the butler walked her out to meet with the old man.

Miguel had a proud smile on his face as he knew for sure that his father would like Cecilia. His phone buzzed in his pocket as he brought it out, he frowned at the caller ID as he muted his phone before keeping it on the table beside his plate.

"Miguel, we just have to hope that your father likes your newfound wife," Julia said, wiping the corner of her stained lips with a clean napkin.

"I don't have to hope. I know father will like her." Miguel said before chewing the meatball.

Marco heaved a sigh. He didn't know what to say as he couldn't stand this version of his brother. He stood up and exited the dining room leaving his mother, stepmother, and step-sister alone with Miguel.

As Miguel ate, his eyes settled on that of the little miss. He smiled broadly at her, chewing the food in his mouth gracefully.

"Little one, I'm so sorry I didn't get to embrace you." He said calmly after swallowing the food in his mouth.

"It's fine, brother Miguel. I was disappointed too." The sharp voice of the little miss resounded in his ears as he let out a low chuckle.

"I'll make it up to you," Miguel promised, raising his pinky finger and gesturing her to raise hers and he intertwined his pinky finger with hers, sealing his promise.

Camilla was glad that her little daughter found her way to Miguel's heart. He was cold and distant to everyone in the house but was sweet and gentle to the little girl. Julia's face flushed in annoyance, she rolled her eyes at Camilla who was busy smiling from ear to ear while she enjoyed her daughter's conversation with Miguel.

"Miguel, Beatrice will be back from the States very soon and she told me she'd like to work as a model in your fashion industry," Camilla informed.

Miguel dropped his fork and wiped the stain from the corner of his lips. He clasped his hand with his gaze fixed on his stepmother.

"Beatrice?" He asked and Camilla nodded with a smile on her face.

"Does she fit in with the criteria for the fashion industry?" Julia was forced to ask, her gaze not leaving Camilla's smiley face.

"Of course. She's a well-known model overseas, I don't see a problem with it and besides, they're relatives so it should be pretty much easy, right Miguel?" Camilla directed the question to Miguel who had a scowl look on his face.

"I see no reason why not but I can't help her out. She has to pass through the strict applications of the fashion company before she can be approved." 

"What? Can't you help your sister out?" Camilla's jaws dropped in disbelief.

Miguel's frown deepened. "Other models were either approved or disapproved and Beatrice can't be exempt. I'm the CEO of MG Fashion Company doesn't mean she can get in through the back door." 

"That's unfair but Marco can get in without even passing through any procedures. Is it because she's your step-sister?" Camilla said almost yelling as she dropped her chopstick on her plate furiously.

"That's enough, Camilla," Julia interjected but Camilla wasn't buying it. "If Marco is interested in working in MG then he'll have to follow all the strict protocols and I see no reason why Beatrice would be exempted."

Camilla rolled her eyes at Julia, kissing her teeth. "I'm going to tell my husband about it. You both are being unfair."

Miguel stood up angrily, throwing shade at his stepmother who refused to listen. "Don't gamble with my business. Father isn't the owner of that company and doesn't know how hard I worked for it so you can't start saying shit in front of me. Beatrice wouldn't be allowed to work in MG even though she follows the procedures or not." And with that, Miguel stormed out of the dining room.

The latter was shocked at his last words. She couldn't believe her ears. Why was Miguel being so unfair to her? She just wanted to secure a spot for Beatrice in Miguel's company but it seems to be impossible. Her thoughts were interrupted by Julia's laughter. 

"Well, well!" Julia clapped her hands a mockery smile plastered on her face. "I don't know if you must have misinterpreted it but Gonzalez is my husband and you're just his side chick," Julia said before leaving the latter and her little daughter to embrace their fate.

Camilla's face flushed in embarrassment. She was embarrassed in front of her little daughter who didn't know what the adults were arguing about. But to be called a side chick was something she wouldn't accept.

"Mother, what is a side chick?" The little miss asked her gaze on her mother.

Camilla turned to look at the little girl beside her. Her question made her angrier. She remembered Gonzalez's warning of taking the little girl far away from the adult's conversation since she was known for storing their words in her head and now she had to face her question.

"Mother....tell me." The little girl clutched onto her mother's dress as the latter slapped her little hands off her clothes.

"Shut it, Gracia," Camilla yelled enough to frighten the little girl.

The servants who came to clean up the dining table glanced at the furious woman and the frightened little girl. The little miss's maid came to take the girl away but she was shunned by the furious miss.

"Can't you see I'm correcting my daughter?" She yelled slapping the servant across her face. The sound of the slap echoed in the room as the servants looked at the woman in shock. As if that wasn't enough, out of frustration, she scattered all the plates away from the table as she stormed out of the dining room oblivious to the fact that the butler was watching her from a distance.