09| trouble

Claudia

After a long drive, the car seems to finally find a stop. I shift in my seat, trying to fight my tired eyes and so that I'm aware of my surroundings.

My eyes land  on the mansion before me-- my lips parting. It was huge but exquisite all at once. It was the type you only saw in movies. Then my eyes catch something.

There were two bull dogs.

I freeze. My heart pounding inside my chest.

The door opens and I'm met with the chauffeur, who was looking at me expectantly. "Ma'am?" I look at him. "You have to come inside," I gulp at this.

"I can't,"

"Why's that?" Issak appears,  his brow arched. "She's afraid of dogs," Diane answers for me and I sink into my seat once she says it. "Ma'am, I swear I'll protect you,"

"They're both on a leash, Claudia. They won't bite you,"

"But they've never seen me before," Isaak sighs. "Please, Claudia," After I hear his pleading tone that sounded so exhausted, I finally got the courage to step out of the car.

I didn't want to become a problem already. He'd done so much already.

I got out the car with the help of the chauffeur. He left Diane and I at the entrance, just to enter the car again. "Is he not coming?" I look up to Isaak. Isaak shakes his head signaling no. "He has to fetch Luciano,"

Of course, his a chauffeur. Damn me and my dumbass. 

My heart thumps at this name.

It's like I had almost forgotten I was here for him.

Focus now.

I exhale.

Isaak guides us, near the entrance. There are two men who I assumed were guards. Both of them wore shades and matching black and white suits. They stood beside the two bull dogs that looked like savages.  The two men both nodded once they saw Isaak. Isaak mirrored their actions and I frowned.

How come there was  so much security? Diane and I look at each other simultaneously. She probably thought the same thing as me.  I shivered; due to the coldness of the weather.

He presses his finger against something that was adjacent the entrance gate and it automatically opened. The dogs began barking causing me to wince and place my hand on my head that was a throbbing  mess. Diane quickly rushed behind me, only causing the dogs to get angrier. One of them inched closer and I covered the sight using my hands. My heart was beating faster and faster. Diane buried my face into her neck so I could not see anything. My eyes were closed shut.

"Sit," I hear Isaak's voice. The dog growls. "Now,"

Then finally, there was silence. I kept my eyes shut.  I was still in Diane's arms but she walked with me slowly. After a short while we had come to a stop. "You can open your eyes now," She says. I flutter my eyes open, slowly. We were at the doorstep.

Once I had adjusted to the light again, the first thing I saw was the big house again. It  was painted white, but the roof and windows were all black. The car was parked right next to what I assumed was the garage. I don't know if it was because the clouds were gathering up but the view fit perfectly with the way the house looked.

I got into the house, taking in it's vanilla minty scent. Before I could even get the chance to get a closer look at the interior, I see a young woman strolling a older woman in a wheelchair. "Grandma?" I beam at the sight of her. My heart aches when she fails to look my way. She was focused on whatever is going on in her head.

"It's me," I fight back my tears, a lump stirring up in my throat. "Who are you?" My heart sinks, despite me expecting this, I still had hope that she'd remember any little thing about me. But she didn't even recognize me. My heart sinks, I bury my head into my hands, fighting back tears.

It's okay,

It's okay, Claudia.

Just breathe.

No matter how much I tried telling myself it was okay, my heart broke because I knew it wasn't. I knew it would only get worse from here. It was not going to be okay.

I look up and I see a young girl, most probably 17 if not 18. Her dark brown hair is tied back. She's dressed in a maids uniform, her small hands still wrapped the back of the wheelchair. Her eyes hold pity as she witnesses the interaction before her. "You must be Ms Ramirez," Her smile is rather a sad one than a happy one.

"Claudia," I nod. Wanting everyone to let go of the formality. "What's your name?" I ask her.

"I'm Anna. The one who's been taking care of your grandmother,"

"Anna," I smile. "how old are you?"

"I'm 17, but I'll be legal in a few months," She smiles brightly at the thought. Anna seems like a sweet girl. She almost looks too innocent for this world.

What would I know, right? I barely know her.  You might be telling yourself.

I'd know because I see my 14 year old self in her. She was still naive, she seemed like the person who looked forward for tomorrow. The one who woke up with a smile on her face every morning-- which shouldn't be a bad thing. Thought too bad the world could rip that away in a matter of seconds.

"Anna, I think I'm hungry ," My grandmother says. "Oh yeah? Well, what do you want to have for lunch today?"

"I'm planning on making a big meal for my husband's and I anniversary tomorrow. It's been 25 years since we've been together now.  Who would've thought ," I find it hard to digest her words. My heart shatters, this time the tears build up even quicker. "Grandma," I take her both her hands in mine. "grandpa died. Years ago," I tell her.

"Nonsense," She pushes me away as if I had burned her.

"Okay, we'll start preparing everything later then, Sydney," Anna tells her.

Despite all the hurt I feel, I exhale and blink away the tears. This was only the beginning of 4 whole months.

□□□

After lunch was prepared, I couldn't find it in myself to take a bite but rather save it for later. "Ms Ramirez?"

Claudia please.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to see your room?" A man in a suit asks me. He had tiny scars on his face. He didn't seem dangerous, instead he shot me a beautiful smile.

As much as I wanted too go have a look and gush with Diane, I was not in the mood. "No, thank you. I'll be fine,"

"Alright, well, let me know if you need anything," I nod and the man disappears further into the hall. I sigh as I awaited for Mr Rivera to arrive. Hours had already passed and it was nearly 9pm.

I don't know how long I stayed on the sofa, scrolling through social media and reading online books, I ended up losing track of time and drifted off to sleep.

□□□

Luciano

After minutes on the road, the car stops and I know I had arrived to my destination. Diago, my chauffeur, opens the door and I step out. Not stumbling like I once did before, I land on both my feet and don't stagger.

"Sir," I hear Diago. "The lady is here," he says and I instantly knew who he was talking about.

"When did she arrive?"

"This afternoon, she had some trouble coming here though," My jaw clenches, I remain calm and don't move,"

Trouble?

"What kind of trouble?"

"Well, Sir, there was this guy. He was causing a little bit of a scene. If it wasn't for Isaak, I don't know what would've happened," Diago, just as I like it, tells me everything. I gather all the information and decide not to ask more. I walked straight and I hear him follow from behind. "Is Isaak here?"

"Yes, boss," He sounds like he wants to say more but he shuts his mouth. I'd ask if I actually cared but I didn't. Whatever it was, I'd find out either way. The door opens and the scent of my own house, makes me sigh in delight. There's an unfamiliar scent that was coming from the kitchen, something I was not usually used to. "What is that?" I ask.

"Boss?"

"Where's Anna?"

"I'm here," I hear the familiar voice. "Anna, what did you do to my kitchen?"

"I didn't do anything, I just let them take charge of the whole kitchen, while I just ad-"

"Who's them?" My voice lowers. Instead of Anna herself answering, someone else does. "Me,"

"Well, I mean, us too,"

The voice sounds familiar. I feel my face twitch slightly as I'm trying to remember where I heard it from.

Her aroma;  coconut and a hint of raspberry. "I'm Diane," I hear the other nonchalant voice while the other takes a while to speak. Realization later sinks in.

I know her.

Her voice was heavily familiar.

Her silence exposed her.

Of course it was her.

"And we've met before, I'm... Claudia," Her name rolls out her mouth. "It's nice to meet you, again,"