4 Bringing Her Closer
The next day,
It was a hot Wednesday afternoon and it was time for the lunch break of some office workers. The streets were bustling with people and there were many people gathered in front of a cafe.
It was clear something was pulling the people's attention towards this small cafe. Through the glass windows, one could see two equally beautiful women who were setting tables and cleaning the counters and seats.
"I guess it's time we let them in" one of the women said in a calm and cool voice. Ivory skin, average height and one curvaceous body through an orange Tee and coffee chinos. Not to mention her straight shoulder-length ruby fusion hair, hazel eyes and kissable pink heart-shaped lips. This woman's appearance was simply an attention grabber.
The woman next to her, was of the same height and had an hourglass figure. She was tying a green apron and was wearing the same clothes as the other woman. Her long wavy pure-diamond blonde hair was tied into a messy ponytail, her sea blue eyes were clearly visible now she had tied up her hair, matched with her pink bow-shaped lips and porcelain skin, she also stood out.
"Helen, please take this seriously" the blonde said "The manager is counting on us" she walked behind the counter
"Seriously, Maria?" Helen asked "When was the last time I took anything seriously?" she asked as she changed the 'closed' sign to an 'open' and moved away from the door with a smile "Please come in and welcome to Là Cafe" she added as people began to pour into the cafe and fill up the seats
Even though many of the men that came to the cafe didn't come to eat, but to watch Maria and Helen, they still always paid for their meals especially when it was the two of them in-charge of serving.
Maria and Helen were not slow when it came to taking orders and serving. It was the lunch break and they didn't have time to tire out.
"Helen, please hang in there" Maria said as Helen carried two more trays to two different tables. It was already twenty minutes into the lunch break and Maria knew it would soon end.
After Helen delivered the last trays, people began to pay for their meals and leave the cafe. Some minutes more, and barely anyone would be coming through the doors.
When the last customers left, Helen and Maria could finally enjoy a breather
"Thank goodness" Helen sighed as she rested on the counter "They finally left"
"Thanks for the good work again girls" the manager shouted from inside his office and Maria chuckled
"So, I'm guessing we can take a break" Helen sighed as she sat on a bar stool with her head resting on the counter
"Didn't sleep well?" Maria asked as she sat next to her
"Mm-hmm" Helen hummed "I spent my time trying to stop possible nuisances from touching my heavenly body, at the bar" she groaned
"I was lost in a maze for some hours because of Mr Mark's twins" Maria giggled "And now, I have to make a decision on whether or not I want to be their personal nanny. Full time"
"Seriously?" Helen exclaimed as she sat up "Isn't that Mark dude a super rich dude? The same guy whose butler called forty-nine million dollars for a house, too cheap?"
"So you were actually paying attention?" Maria said "I never knew"
"So, what's your answer"
"I'm thinking about it"
"Thinking about it?" Helen exclaimed "Have you gone nuts?" she asked "Do you know that the clothes you came back with are of the latest brand?"
"Really?" Maria asked shocked "I only know the phone is of the latest model"
"Of course you do" Helen said while rolling her eyes "You're a science nerd" she sighed "So, what's stopping you from saying yes?"
"I don't want to leave you to be working three jobs by yourself" Maria said
"I'll be fine" Helen waved "Who knows? Maybe the money you earn would be able to satisfy the both of us. I'd still be working but most of the money will be coming from you"
"I..."
"Or, do you like the small one thousand dollar apartment we're both living in?" Helen asked
"I..."
"Or the fact that you and me have numerous debts to pay?" Helen reminded
"Don't you think that you're..."
"There's also the possibility we won't have food and clothing for the next month" Helen pointed out seriously before sighing "It makes me wonder..." she reduced her voice "...why of all the countries to run away to, you chose New York?" she asked and Maria clenched her fists
"That man...doesn't have men here" Maria whispered "He's only a gangster. Him causing trouble in a country filled with mafias, don't you think it would be very stupid of him?" she asked with a smile
"Good point" Helen said with a nod "So, what are we gonna do about our current predicament?"
"We..." Maria was about to say something when she noticed Helen's eyes on her new black phone. She and Helen looked at each other before Helen picked up the buzzing phone and saw the words 'Mr Mark' displayed on the screen
"It's Mr Mark" Helen said before turning the phone to face Maria "Aren't you supposed to answer it?" she asked and Maria took the phone from her "Please put it on speaker. I'd like to hear"
"Fine" Maria grumbled as she picked the call and put it on speaker "Good morning, Mr Mark. Is there anything I can help you with?"
Mark let out a sigh "Have you made up your mind yet?"
"I was still..."
"Before you continue, I'd like to tell you that this job comes with the benefit of a penthouse in Mill Neck, a high pay and....several other things" Mark coaxed and Helen frowned
"I'm sorry, but are you trying to bribe her?" Helen asked
"Oh. I'm on speaker" Mark said "You must be Helen. I'd recognize that tigress voice anytime"
"How do you..."
"Anyways, you know how my family is...I'm being pressured here" Mark interrupted Helen "Dan and Cia have stopped listening to anything their mother and I have to say to them. They're also throwing tantrums.....which have never happened before"
"Mr Mark, you sound exhausted" Maria said
"Exhaustion will become a part of my everyday life, if things carry on like this" Mark said "So, have you come to a decision?" he asked and there was silence for some time
"I'll be the kids' nanny" Maria said
"Oh, that's a....wait are you serious?" Mark exclaimed making Maria and Helen to be taken aback
"Is something wrong?" Maria asked
"No, no, no. Don't worry about it" Mark said "When are you planning on starting?"
Maria glanced at Helen who was smiling from ear to ear and giving her hand gestures to go on with the conversation
"If it's okay with you, I'll start tomorrow" Maria suggested but Mark went completely silent
Unknown to her, Mark had an ecstatic look over the phone. His mind was allover the place, with the happiest of thoughts
"Mr Mark? Are you still there?" Maria's voice dragged him back to reality
"Yeah. Sorry about that" Mark said while sitting up and writing some things down on paper "I'll send Frank to pick you up tomorrow and bring you to the meeting place. There are a few things I'll need to go over with you"
"Okay"
"And lastly, you calling me 'Mister' makes me feel like I'm forty. I'm actually twenty-nine. Just call me Mark" he said before hanging up without waiting for her to reply
"Sounds like you both got the job, and also didn't get the job" Helen said
"I'm actually not worried on getting the job" Maria smiled while placing the phone on the counter
"Why?"
"Because, my whole body feels like I know him. When most people talk to me, I usually feel uncomfortable" Maria said "But, talking to him and his family, I feel unexplainably calm. Like I'm safe there"
"That's surprising" Helen sighed "But, he didn't ring any warning bells for me either. Him messing with me, only made me feel like hitting him real hard the next time I meet him"
******
Meanwhile,
"Ahhh" Mark hummed while sitting behind a desk with a large grin on his face. His mind was filled with happy thoughts that didn't want to go away "I think I'll surprise them with the news later"
"Someone seems to be in a good mood" a person said and when Mark looked up, he saw Gabriel leaning on the office door post with a raised eyebrow
Mark gave him a fox's grin, "What brings the CEO of Wayne Corp, to his CFO's office?" he asked with the same smile
"Your smile ticks me off" Gabriel said as he entered the office with a frown on his face. He stood next to Mark and stared out the large glass wall of the office "I came to check up on you" he said "You and Vivian left the hospital in a hurry, yesterday. I thought something bad happened" he glanced at Mark "But, that annoying look on your face, says it all went well"
"I hired the babysitter, to be our new nanny" Mark said and Gabriel placed his hand over his face as his shoulders moved up and down. "What's so funny? I'm serious" Mark said with a neutral face
"It's just....you try too much" Gabriel said with a stolid face and a mocking voice "We both know how disastrous and annoying those kids of yours, are" he started "I'm not saying the babysitter won't last longer than the others. I'm just saying, she might last long, but not until the new born is old enough to make Dan and Cia responsible"
Mark couldn't bring up another foxy grin, neither could he say anything against that simple statement made by Gabriel. What he was so worried about, was Maria leaving after a few days; just like the other nannies.
Within the span of four years, he had hired more than thirty nannies for Dan and Cia. And each of those nannies had quit within the span of three days into the job.
Mark blew those thoughts away and tried to calm his mind while pinching his brows. Then, a thought had come to mind: Unlike the other nannies, she had never complained of the child being a nuisance or asked him to pay hospital bills.
With that, Mark smiled and looked at Gabriel with a cocky grin, "She'll last. She's not like the others" he said before sighing "You know, she's also good at listening to others and really knows how to get along with children. Maybe you could..."
"Enough" Gabriel cut him off with a stone cold voice "That's a personal matter that me and my family will settle with the help of PROFESSIONAL doctors"
"And how's that been going?" Mark asked "Those 'professional' doctors couldn't help her. And neither could you and your family" his smile grew "Now to talk of how you all allowed her to seclude herself, how are you all supposed to help her? Maybe what she needs is..."
"Don't" Gabriel said as he walked away from the glass wall with clenched fists and glared at Mark "Don't ever...bring this up again" he added before leaving Mark's office and slamming the door shut
Mark's smile faded in the wind and he sighed "Maybe I shouldn't have pushed him too far" he said before staring at a small notepad on his table.
[Step one: get Maria to work at the mansion]
Seeing the first sentence on the notepad, Mark couldn't remain down, as a smile appeared on his face. Because, right next to the sentence, was a tick.
"The other stuff after this....is going to be really hard" Mark said as he shut the notepad and put it away in his desk drawer. "However, it time to move on to step two"