The Spanish Billionaire's Baby Trap

"Lolalita!" A child's voice screamed as a form barrelled through the Inn's entrance door.

Lola was having a conversation with Mrs. Piper, the cleaner, about increasing her working hours and pay. The old woman had been with her since she started the Inn a year ago and had become family.

The scream came again. "Lolalita! I finished them all."

Lola turned around to see the excited ten-year-old gunning towards her. She smiled at the sight of his wide smile and brown bangs bouncing off his head. Ale lived next door, and he always came around after school to help as much as he could.

She saw his empty hands and gasped inwardly to match his excitement. She crouched to his height and ruffled his hair. "You sure did, champ. I'm proud of you."

His cheeks reddened, and the smile almost split his face in two.

Ale volunteered to pass down flyers to all the people walking through Calle Huertas on a daily basis. It was the little way he could help Lola's business, and she appreciated him, but Lola didn't want him going farther than home and entangling with strangers and strange environments.

"Did you finish your homework yet, and how's Valeria doing?" She asked, and he bobbed his head, responding. "Mama's as happy as a puppy!"

"That's great, Ale. Well, here you go." Lola brought out a euro note from her fanny pack and handed it to the kid. Ale was jumpy with glee. She high-fived him and he dashed out of the Inn, skipping with each step.

Right after him, a customer came along and Lola disposed herself to the man in a black button down, where the first many buttons were undone. Shades covered his eyes, and he was also new to Madrid. Lola immediately amped up the charm.

He was here on a business trip, and was looking for a place to pass the night. Ale had worked his magic because more and more customers flocked in until the entire fifteen rooms were booked for the night.

~

She went up to her room and closed the door behind her. Lola rested against it for a moment, shutting her eyes tight. A sigh rolled out from her lips, but she wouldn't let it get to her. She had come this far on her own and she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

Lola stopped before the tiny statue of the lady of Guadalupe standing on the short wooden platform against a wall. She was waiting for a call today and her hopes hung high. For five years, she had worked her butt off for this and even though it had put her at a substantial loss, buying back that property meant everything to her.

She clasped her hands against her heart and rested her chin on it with her eyes closed. Lola said a prayer. A minute later, she continued with tidying up and planning for her weekend classes tomorrow.

Lola juggled between work and education ever since her family had estranged her and her father had lost everything. She put herself through college while taking on part-time jobs as she could. Now she was studying to get her masters in business administration and finally expand Lolalita's Inn and fulfill all the dreams she had.

She would get there. It was only a matter of time because she was brave and strong. There was no other Lola Fernández that could pass off as she and Lola believed that. It kept her going.

Her cell buzzed on the table, and she lurched for it.

"Hello!" she answered without glancing at the caller's ID.

"Congratulations, Lola! We won the case. The bank has accepted your down payment for the mortgage fee. Unfortunately, the property still can't be in your name until the entire debt is cleared off."

Lola recognised the voice of her attorney, Alba, and the storm in her heart calmed. She could finally breathe. It was something, at least. She didn't expect it to be over in one day.

"Thank you so much, Alba. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"I'm glad I could help. My pro bono offer still stands if you have friends who need a lawyer urgently. There's a slot for at least three more people."

"Of course, I'll spread the word!"

Alba thanked her, and Lola disconnected the call, pumping her fist in the air. Two hours later, a package arrived for her at the Inn and Lola dug through the small box as soon as she was alone. She found a key sitting at the bottom of it and beamed.

That evening, after making sure the Inn was set and there were no more pending issues to attend to, she headed out for a place she hadn't visited in five years. Her home. When things had gone south, the bank collected her father's mansion as collateral. Every single dime they had vanished.

She took a taxi and arrived at the upscale boulevard in Sol in a matter of minutes. Her entire family had left Madrid, and only she remained behind. Lola paid the taxi fare and jogged along a cobblestone pathway, cutting through a line of trees.

She didn't bother changing out of the black tank top and faded denim jeans she had started the day with. She was too excited to wait. Lola tied her chestnut blonde hair in a bun as she walked. The view of the mansion greeted her at the end of the tree-lined entrance.

But the image she had in mind was nothing like the dump she was staring at now. Everything had changed. Not a single soul had touched the property for a demi-decade. With hesitant steps, Lola climbed onto the front porch and turned the key in the lock.

Dust and dirt poured down from the head jamb of the front door as she shoved it open. Lola coughed, swiping her palm over her nose and dusting off the particles that had stained her clothes.

The memories hit her as she walked in. The long and wide staircase leading to the second floor was directly opposite the door. Lola saw her father dressed in a suit and holding a briefcase, descending it. She heard her mother's voice and saw her come up to her father and arrange his tie, giving him a kiss on the cheek before he left every day.

She looked around and saw a life she missed. Nostalgia gripped her heart like a metal jaw. Lola quickly checked every floor and room as much as she could. Fixing things up would cost a lot aside from the outstanding debts still waiting to be paid.

She walked over to the living room and gave the television set a try. She was checking for power. The water system was dead in here. Lola waited for a moment and the flat screen came alive. Her plan was to confirm that and leave, but Lola wasn't leaving.

Fate didn't want her to. The program showing on the screen was entertainment news, and they just happened to be talking about him. The one person her heart yearned for every night as she cried herself to sleep.

The host's words rang in her ears like a broken record. Luis Ortega was coming back to Madrid.