Chapter 8

Sunny got to work that morning, she just couldn't focus on anything. Mariana walked up to Sunny. "Hey, is everything thing alright? You've been staring out the window for a some time now and it's making me worry" Mariana said.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I get easily distracted lately" Sunny said with a nervous chuckle

"You want to talk about it?" Mariana asked. Sunny exhaled sharply. "I'm fine, really. It's just personal stuff" Sunny said.

"Well if she says she's fine then, don't push it. Anyway Sunny could you help me keep this box in the storage?" Diego handed the box to her without waiting for her reply.

Mariana objected but Sunny said it was alright. She took the box to the storage room. She sat on a chair, thinking about the possibility of Melissa never returning to them. It feels lonely without her.

Melissa has always been like the mother hawk protecting her little ones. Sunny placed the box on the table. She wondered how things ended up like this.

Ariana didn't come home last night, Sofia keeps asking after Melissa, Audrey is a complete mess and she just can't pull herself together.

Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. "All that's left is to plan their funeral" Sunny whispered. The door to the storage room creaked open bringing Sunny's attention to the door. Alejandra stood in front of the door.

Sunny jumped up immediately, wiping her tears away. "Um, chef I didn't know you were there. H....how long have you been standing there? I..it doesn't matter, I need to head back to the kitchen" Sunny said. "What are you doing here?" Alejandra asked.

"I came to drop this box but now I'm leaving" "Why are your eyes swollen?" She asked. "My eyes are swollen? Really? It's probably the dust from the room. Anyway I'll get going now" Sunny said.

Alejandra watched her dash out of the room. "What's up with her? I thought I heard her crying" Alejandra muttered.

Back in the company Ariana couldn't remember wherever happened the previous night, it felt like a blur. She could only remember waking up in Roberto's house but how she got there she couldn't figure it out.

She's aware that it was awkward this morning waking up in her boss's house. There was a tense atmosphere between her and Roberto.

"Ariana, where's the coffee I asked for?" Jessica, Roberto's fiancee asked. "Um, I'm so sorry I honestly forgot. I'll get it right away" Ariana said. "Is Roberto in?" Jessica asked. "He's still in a meeting" Ariana replied.

"He's ignoring me on purpose. I'll still wait for him" Jessica said. Ariana's phone rang, she answered but no one replied from the other end. {I wonder who that could be. Could it be Sunny calling me from another line?} Ariana wondered.

She ran her fingers through her hair. {I really need to return home, Sunny must be worried about me. She doesn't deserve the stress but Audrey is home. I guess I could let go of the hate besides she just lost her husband. I'll have to go home tonight}

Jessica gasped. "OMG" Jessica said in horror. Ariana's attention was brought back to Jessica. "No way, Roberto was with another woman last night" Jessica said. Ariana sat quietly. "Do you know anything about this?" Jessica asked.

"Unfortunately I don't interfere with Mr Roberto's personal life. It's best you confront him personally" Ariana said. Jessica stormed into Roberto's office. Ariana sighed in exhaustion.

"Roberto!!" Jessica yelled as she entered the office. "Jesus Jessica would you stop yelling. This is a company not a club" Roberto said. "Who is she?" Jessica asked. "What are you talking about?"

"The bitch you took home last night" Jessica replied. "Wait your mouth" Roberto said. "Oh so it's true you took a bitch to your house" Jessica said. "Jessica I won't have you talk about her that way. The earlier you read the sign clearly the better for you" Roberto said.

"After everything I've done for you" Jessica said. "What exactly have you done for me? The only bitch here is you. You're nothing but a gold digging hoe who thinks I'd fall for her shit" Roberto said.

"You called me a bitch? Well FYI this gold digger is stuck to you like glue and there's nothing you could do to get rid of me" Jessica said with confidence. "You seem to forget who I am" Roberto said as he made his way towards her.

He grabbed her by the neck and squeezed it like an empty can. "I could kill you right here and right now. I could dump your body in a trash bin and make it look like an accident so don't talk to me in such way" Roberto said with a wicked smirk on his face.

There was a loud crash from behind. Turns out Ariana saw the whole scenario, she brought the coffee she promised Jessica. Roberto quickly let's go of Jessica as she gasped for air. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude but I knock but..... It's better I leave" Ariana picked up the broke pieces and left.

Roberto sat on his chair. "Get out of my office" Roberto said. {Shit I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. She saw the whole thing. Hold on a sec, why do I care what she thinks? Why was I pissed when Jessica called her a bitch? I need to get my emotions in check}

Ariana dropped everything in a trash can. "What just happened? Was he going to kill her there? If I didn't show up he would have... No stop saying rubbish" She said as she tapped her cheeks hard.

"Why did he sound so scary, I have never seen him that way before then again I don't know him that well. If he can attempt murder then it's best I keep my distance" Ariana said.

Work was over, Ariana was able to avoid Roberto the entire day. She went home, she figured there's no need to avoid everybody, she has to accept the fact that Melissa is gone and no amount of alcohol she takes that could bring her back.

She slowly opened the door. Sunny was on the chair crying her eyes out. "Sunny? What's wrong?" Ariana asked. Sunny ran up to her and hugged her. "I was worried about you. I was scared when you didn't come home last night"

"I'm sorry, I got drunk last night but don't worry I ended up in my boss's house" Ariana said. "I'm glad you're safe" Sunny said. "Where's Audrey?" Ariana asked.

"She's in Melissa's room, she has come outside since. She's going through a lot right now. Melissa and her husband just died so it's pretty hard for her right now"

"I'll go talk to her" Ariana said. She went upstairs and knocked gently on the door. "Audrey it's me, I'm coming in" Ariana said. Stepping into the room Audrey sat on the edge of the window. "Audrey could you come down from the window, it's dangerous"

"You're right you know, I seem to hurt the people I love" Audrey said. "No, that's not true" Ariana said. "I'm cursed with bad luck" "Don't say that" Ariana said. "I've lost people who are dear to me. I should end my life at the spot"

"If you jump out this window what do you think I would do? What do you think Sofia would do? Knowing that she's next door to you. Do you want her to see her aunty's lifeless body laying on the floor?" Ariana asked. "I'm trapped, what do I do? They'll come for me and I don't want to put you'll in danger" Audrey said.

"We'll figure something out, we always do" Ariana said. "Ariana I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken Sofia from you guys. When my sister had her I knew it was best she stayed with you but somehow my family got to know that she was still alive and I had to do the only logical thing by keeping her safe but turns out she's safer with you than me" Audrey said.

"You could have told us, we would have willingly given her to you than to sneak into the house and take her" Ariana said. "At least I left a note" Audrey said. "Yeah, a note that says I'll be back soon" Ariana said with a smile.

"Get your dumb ass off the window" Ariana said. Audrey came down. "Did you know Sofia said she say papa bear this morning waving to her. I guess she's still using her imagination" Audrey said as she sat on the bed.

"I really want to believe her, I really want to believe that they're out there. I don't want to believe that they're gone. I guess I'm being in denial but how do you explain to a five year old that they're both gone?" Audrey said.

"It ain't gonna be easy but we'll get through it" Ariana said. Audrey hugged Ariana. "Come on let's go meet Sunny, she's worried about you" Ariana said.