Page 62 of Mafia And Maid
How could I have ever believed that he really wanted me?
The same thoughts keep going around and around, but I know I have to get back to the kitchen. Finally composing myself, I open the door.
And I run straight into…
Her.Miss Skinny Minnie. I thought my evening couldn’t get any worse—but fate hasn’t finished with me yet.
She looks down at me, a sneer dancing across her expression. “Stay away from him!” she hisses.
“What?” I stutter. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand—”
“Of course you do. Do you think I haven’t noticed the way he keeps looking at you?”
“You must be mistaken. I’m just the maid here…”
“Just the maid?” she snaps. “Stop with the stupid lies. I can tell that you’re much more to him than just an employee. But he’s mine, do you hear me? Mine. It’s been planned for ages, and I don’t need a fat girl like you waltzing in and trying to steal my man.”
I open my mouth, then shut it, completely lost for words.
“Do you think he would want to be seen in public with someone like you?” she snarls. “He’s rich and powerful, and he needs someone like me by his side. Someone who looks the part.Someone who doesn’t stuff her face and actually bothers to look after herself.”
She laughs as she looks me up and down. “You’d only make him a laughing stock. Everyone would know that he was only with you because he feels sorry for you. Why else would a man like him be seen with someone who looks like you?” she spits.
Her words slice into me. I wish I could just put them down to her being a mean girl, but I know what she’s saying is true.
Because I could never fit into his life.
He can have any woman he wants. And, of course, he would choose someone like her over me—someone who’s thin and skinny.
Because that’s the very least a man like him deserves.
***
I’m gripping the edge of the kitchen counter. Thank God, Sheena and her family have left now. I try to move, but the events of tonight just keep replaying over and over.
I can't believe that he brought that woman here. And even worse, I had to serve them dinner, pretending to be nothing more to him than the maid.
But now I realize that’s what I am to him—just the maid. And I’ll never be anything else.
I hear his footsteps approaching. “Hey,” he says softly, stepping into the kitchen.
His voice is soft, concerned, but I don’t turn around. I’m not ready to look at him, not when my emotions are still so raw.
“Hey,” I murmur. I can't look at him and instead occupy myself with the dirty dishes as they taunt me about the awful dinner and everything that's just happened.
As he takes a step closer, I can feel the warmth radiating from his body, but it doesn’t comfort me like it usually does. His voice is low as he speaks. “I’m sorry, Rosa.” His tone is sincere and genuine, and it tugs at my heart, even though I don’t want it to.
“For what?” I ask, finally turning to face him. I wish that he could say something to make this all go away. But I know that's not going tohappen.
He looks genuinely pained. “You should never have been put in that position tonight.Ishould never have put you in that position. I’m sorry.” He takes another step closer, reaching out to take my hand.
But I pull away. Because I can't let him comfort me after that.
He lets his hand drop to his side, his expression filled with regret. “I didn’t invite her to hurt you. I swear, it wasn’t like that. Marco arranged this dinner ages ago—before I’d even met you—and I completely forgot all about it until I arrived home tonight and found Sheena and her family here. It’s totally my fault. I’m so sorry, Rosa.”
I want to believe him, but then I remember the way she smiled at him—and the hurtful words and insults she said to me outside the powder room.
“It’s not like that between us,” he insists, his voice practically pleading now.