When The Obstinate Billionaire Meets The Lovely Orphan

Jonathan Campos

“The sky is beautiful today. “ Carol hugged me from behind and buried her face in my broad back. "Are we going to leave here, to a place of our own?”

I jerked her hands away, no time for sentimentality, and walked away, a little dizzy.

“The party hasn’t even started, kitten,” I said and walked into the house.

“Hi.” The loud music in the background nearly drowned out my voice.

“Are you Jonathan Campos? She leaned closer and whispered in my ear. Your hot breath made the hairs on my body stand on end” are you here, crashing?

I laughed. No one throws a party in this city and doesn’t invite me, it goes unpunished.

“Let’s say yes” I brought my body closer to hers and also spoke low in her ear. "Are you accompanied?”

“You’re very brave” she looked at me and took a sip of her drink. " Does Ravi know you’re here?

“Everyone knows I’m here” she smiles, but I can’t decipher whether it’s a funny smile or a mocking one" do you want to go outside, so we can talk better?

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she says, and immediately her gaze strays to something or someone behind me. His expression changes, letting me know I’m in trouble”.

“What are you doing here?”

I almost didn’t hear what he was saying, but I felt his hand land on one of my shoulders. I knew that voice. Likewise, I turned, and my eyes collided with Ravi’s, who had a furious expression on his face.

“I told you not to come to my party” his hands grabbed my collar, and he pushed me to the wall. "You’re itching to get another spanking, aren’t you, Jonathan?”

“Nobody throws a party in this city and doesn’t invite me” I let out a loud and mocking laugh. “The only one who took a beating here was you. There are even some marks here on your face, check it out”.

He closed his fist, ready to punch me, but the girl stopped him.

“It’s not worth it, Ravi,” she held onto one of his arms.

He still had the annoyed expression on his face. I knew why Ravi hated me so much and that stretched back to high school when he saw me kissing the girl he was in love with, and after that I heard her say that she liked me too. Since then, he has created a stubborn dispute that only existed in his head and nobody else. He was obsessed with proving that he could be better than me at everything.

“Your girlfriend is a hottie,” I joked, just to tease him. "Are you afraid she’ll fall in love with me too, Ravi?”

He warned them not to mess with her.

“Or what? My expression changed. My jaw tightened”.

“I’m not his girlfriend” she got in between us “and I don’t want confusion here either”.

Ravi didn’t say anything. He looked at me as if he were evaluating me, and then he grabbed the brunette’s arm and left, forcing her out of the house. I went back. The girl didn’t resist. She went with him, as if she knew this was the best decision.

“Since she’s not your girlfriend,” I said, and he stopped in the middle of the backyard, still holding the brunette’s arm, “you won’t mind if I stay with her tonight”.

“Not over my dead body” He turned and looked at me.

“It’s not like that,” I approached. “I challenge you to a split. The loser gives up on conquering the brunette”.

“My name is Natalia” she interrupted us “and I’m not a trophy to be disputed by the boys, so forget it”.

“I accept,” Ravi said at once.

“Which is?” Natalia seemed not to believe “by God, you can’t do that, Ravi”.

“See you out there” he completely ignored Natalia, and I realized how tireless he was disputing anything with me.

“I’m going to beat you,” I offered a provocative smile. “You know that, don’t you?”

“We’ll see” He placed a finger on my chest and touched it.

He looked at me one last time and walked out of the house. Natalia watched everything in disbelief, but didn’t make any gestures, returning straight away to the party. I know that even if I won this race, I probably wouldn’t keep it, but challenging Ravi and beating him one more time would be like I did.

Needed a drink, I believed. I walked back to the party, filled a glass with a shot of vodka mixed with something else, and when I was ready for the fun, I watched as Carol ran after me.

“What’s this about cracking?” She had short black hair.

She was wearing a black dress, but Carol wasn’t as attractive as the other girls at the party.

“News travels” I said, walking back out of the house. “It’s just a car race”.

“Too risky,” she continued.

I took a sip of the drink and found the taste strange.

I watched Ravi, leaning against the car, waiting. Likewise, I took another sip, it was hot, and I didn’t like that mixed with the vodka.

“For what reason?” she asked me, and it took me a while to understand.

“From Reich?” I asked, and I know she won’t like the answer “conquer a brunette”.

A sadness formed on Carol’s face, but I didn’t care. Something fully focused my attention on the drink, but I gave up trying to taste it. I lifted the glass and threw the liquid over my shoulders from behind. Seconds later, I realized I had hit someone behind me.

I turned, and my eyes collided with hers. They were blue and glowed in my direction. She was wearing a turquoise blue dress with puffy sleeves. His hair was long and fair. There was an expression of surprise and hatred on his face.

“Look what you did, you asshole.” Her voice was sweet, but the timbre changed when she retorted it.

“I see,” I let out a low smile, realizing that I made even Ravi smile, “if you want, I’ll help you dry off”.

“Don’t come near me” Her cheeks reddened. There was something about her that bothered me. "Apparently you’re part of this whole mess”.

“Ravi didn’t invite you?” I mocked, and that seemed to make her even more furious.

“I don’t like this kind of party” she tried to dry herself and I continued laughing “and you’re not my type”.

The smile disappeared. Locked My jaw. She looked at me one more time, but I didn’t like what I saw in her eyes. She walked towards me, passed me, her arm brushed mine, her perfume was sweet and seemed to linger on me. Furthermore, she went to Ravi and said,

“I need you to turn down the sound” she had a different posture. She was delicate and daring at the same time. “you know that my father is sick, and he needs to rest”.

“Don’t be annoying, Leticia” Ravi seemed to know her well “It’s not midnight yet”.

“Loud only until ten,” he continued gesticulating. She was also insistent, “​​if you don’t duck, I’ll call the police”.

“All right?” Ravi raised his arms as if he was surrendering and then directed the word at Carol.

“Do me this favor, Carol?”

Carol nodded and went back into the house to do as Ravi asked. Even though there was a rift between him and me, our friends were each other’s friends.

They turned down the sound minutes later.

“Satisfied?” Ravi asked, but Letícia didn’t say anything. "Next time I’ll invite you to the party, to see if that way you’ll stop picking on me”.

“I waive the invitation," he started to walk back to where he came from “your parties, besides being bad, are very poorly attended”.

She turned, looking me over from head to toe. I barely knew her, but I hated her like I did. I know he was talking about me, and my blood boiled.

“You’re really stuck up, huh, girl”.

She smirked, turned, and walked into the next house. Of all the women I’ve met, none provoked that feeling of disgust like the one that Letícia provoked in me. I tried to ignore her and the feeling she ignited in me, making sure I never saw her again.

“Pleasant neighborhood, huh, Ravi!” ionized.

“Better her as a neighbor than you”.

He offered me a smirk and got in the car, waiting for me to do the same. I left the last events behind and focused my attention on what really mattered at that moment.

I got into my dad’s favorite BMW while Ravi drove his Land Rover. Sometimes I envied him for having his own car, but despite not having one of my own, due to the punishment imposed by my father a year ago, the BMW was more powerful. Of that, I was sure.

I would certainly go another year without my own vehicle if my father found out that I took his car without permission.

Ravi made the engine roar. There was no one to authorize our departure. He raised one of his hands and started the countdown: 3

“Cowardly son of a bitch”

What more could I expect from a guy who hated me?

I walked towards the man and checked his heartbeat.

“Please God, don’t let this man die. I don’t want to be arrested”

This idea of ​​prison almost paralyzed my ability to think. The man was still alive. I could just run away from there, but fear neutralized me. In my mind, if I stayed, maybe I could get away with it without having to go to jail.

Took my cell phone out of my pocket and 911.

“I ran over a man, please come quickly”

I showered a truckload of trouble on me. That man lying on the ground. Someone damaged my father's car. Disobedience, traffic violation. Drunk driving. How many years would I be in jail? Ten, twenty years? Maybe less or nothing if my dad posted bail? Could I answer freely? My head was buzzing with all the possibilities of the crime I had just committed. At least I was being brave enough to stand there and take the punishment I deserved.

The ambulance arrived, along with the police, in less than ten minutes. I still hoped the man was alive. Paramedics immobilized him and placed him on a stretcher. My heart eased. I know it’s a miracle that the man is alive, and despite the braking, the impact was hard, or maybe I braked enough not to kill him.

A police officer approached, identifying himself, and started asking me several questions. A Breathalyzer test was done. I’m fucked. The police officer ordered my arrest right away. He told my rights while handcuffing me. I closed my eyes. It was a nightmare, I’m going to wake up at any moment, but when I realized I was already inside the car, I was being directed to the police station.

Leticia Albuquerque

It was about midnight and the sound of the house next door was so loud that I could feel my bed shaking. I got up, highly irritated. João couldn’t sleep. The man didn't feel pain anymore. He didn’t complain either. He mumbled something when I left the house, perhaps to avoid the trouble I would cause. But their efforts were in vain. When I found myself, I was already there.

When I returned, he was still awake, now sitting on the bed.

“Are you okay?” he asked me, intrigued, and I took a while to answer the question.

“I am,” I replied, but I knew there was a huge frown line on my forehead.

“You don’t have to go there every time they decide to have a party” João was so concerned about not bothering others that he allowed others to take away even his peace. "They are good neighbors”.

“There is nothing good about disrupting the tranquility of the entire neighborhood." My voice came out harsh. ”Ravi is so lazy, and he has some horrible friends”.

“What was happening out there?"

João was already a gentleman of more than sixty years of age and, due to experience and coexistence, he knew me better than anyone else. Between his question and my answer, there was a silence, as I was still trying to understand the turmoil of feelings that were taking over me.

“Nothing to worry about. “I shrugged when I remembered that boastful boy. “I hope I never meet that man again in my life”.

“Who are you talking about?”

“Father” I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down, throwing all the memories of that meeting to the back of my memory “it’s a pastime for you to be sleeping. I don’t want to receive complaints from Maria tomorrow, telling me that you slept all day”.

“Maria has nothing to complain about,” he snorted. He seemed irritated just by remembering her “are you sure you’re okay?”

”Better now.” I offered him a calming smile. "Tomorrow we’ll talk more about it”.

But we didn’t talk. I didn’t want to talk more about the events of that night, or remember Ravi’s parties or his annoying friends. I turned off the light and said my prayer one more time.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, as she hung her wornout bag on the jamb attached to the entrance wall.

I looked at the clock and found Maria’s perception of the time strange. It wasn’t even twenty minutes past her normal arrival time.

“It’s absurdly cold outside” she was still in a hurry to speak “and there was a horrible accident with my neighbor’s husband last night”.

“How did it happen?” I strained the coffee, and the smell was always wonderful.

“He was run over,” she seemed worried as said, “he was returning from his delivery work, when a car hit him. Miraculously, that man did not die”.

Maria walked towards me and filled a cup with coffee, not waiting for me to pour it into the carafe.

“Was it really that bad?”

“Extremely serious.” he took a sip. "He underwent surgery last night and is in a coma”.

“I’m sorry, Maria,” I looked at her, forgetting to drink my coffee. “Was the driver arrested?”

“He gave himself up” he took another drink. "He was driving drunk”.

I looked at her, really scared and thoughtful about the accident.

“How absurd,” my eyes bugged out. “I wish your neighbor a good recovery and that this driver is stuck for a long time”.

“I hope so.” He took the last sip of his coffee. He put the glass down in the sink and seemed to return to his own reality. “And how is João doing?”

”Asleep” that was when I remembered that I needed to drink my coffee before going to work “and due to the events of last night, he won’t wake up so early”.

“Another party?”

“It wouldn’t be news” I took a long sip and looked at her. "Don’t let him go hours without eating”.

“I’ll try to accomplish this impossible mission,” he said, “but don’t worry”.

“Thanks, Maria” I put on my coat and grabbed my purse. "See you tonight”.

I heard her say, “go with God” as I walked through the door. An icy wind hit my face, and I shivered. I hurried down the street when I saw Ravi at the door of his house with two other boys. None of them looked like the man from the night before. I sighed in relief. But Ravi looked worried. He didn’t notice me passing by, but he’ll soon hear from me when I knock again on his door, to let his parents know he’s been having a good time while they’re away.

“Good morning, champion.” I ran my hands over his back, while I bent down to be at his height. "Did you sleep well?”

“Like every night,” he smiled, and they mostly made his teeth of milk. “She had small eyes and her hair was straight”.

“Do you have your breakfast yet? I asked”.

“I was waiting for you”.

Gustavo was an orphan. His parents had died in a car accident when he was just two years old. No close relative wanted to stay with him. Now, at the age of six, the Mother Teresa Orphanage was the home he had, and I was the family he knew.

“I need to go say my prayers,” he reminded him, “and only then will I have coffee with you. Can you wait?”

“Of course I did. I stood up, still looking into his eyes”.

“Wait for me in the cafeteria and in twenty minutes I’ll be there”.

On one of those days, weeks after the party at Ravi’s house, while I was praying in the chapel, the sister entered the room with hurried steps. Standing next to me, with the grumpy air she always had, she brought me news that made me very uncomfortable.

“We received a court order” I stood up, looking at her with wide eyes. "A condemned boy will come to the orphanage to perform community service here”.

“And you accepted?”

“The big house belongs to the government,” ​​she remained with a not very pleasant expression. "We only maintain the orphanage because of donations from public bodies. We cannot deny it. Nor should we”.

“A criminal inside the orphanage?”

Sister Adelina said nothing about my comment.

“You will be responsible for supervising the boy,” he informed me. "He arrives on Monday”.

“I can’t…” I stammered, finding that an affront. “I already take care of the children, I won’t have time for that”.

“It will continue to take care of it,” he said. "It will only have one more member”.

“But…”

“No complaints.” She held up her hand in a stop sign. “You’re well paid to work. So work”.

I watched as the sister turned her back and hurried out of the chapel as quickly as she came. I collapsed onto the bench behind me and wondered what God’s purpose in my life was for all of this.

Jonathan Campos

The cold handcuffs rubbed against my wrists, leaving them red and irritated. I am taken out of the police car and directed to the chief’s office. He was a young man and seemed to know my father well.

”Jonathan Campos?” He looked at me, intrigued.

“Yes,” I said, but I couldn’t see the man’s eyes.

“Your father won’t like it one bit when he finds out you’re here”.

I looked at the deputy and opened my mouth to say something related to my dad, but he got up and said,

“You’re entitled to a call.” I turned my face back, and he was standing with the door open, waiting for me to leave. "Call Marcelo and let him know you’re here”.

”Aren’t you going to interrogate me?”

“Certainly,” I got up and approached him. “You have the right to a lawyer, and you should be aware that anything you say can be used against you”.

He came around behind me and took the handcuffs off. I sighed in relief. He led the way, so I could make the call, and as I walked there, I thought how lucky I was to have stopped at the police station where the sheriff was my dad’s friend. The impression I had was that he was somehow trying to favor me.

I stopped in front of the counter and looked at the phone in front of me. My blood froze. In a few minutes, I would be getting the biggest lecture of my life.

“What are you waiting for, kid?” There was a police officer in front of me with an expression of few friends “if you wait just one more second, you won’t be able to call”.

I swallowed hard and picked up the device. I dialed the number and waited for him to answer. It was already two o’clock in the morning. He called once, twice, three times, and on the seventh call a voice on the other end almost made me lose the courage to go through with it.

“Hi dad” I closed my eyes while throwing the bomb “I was arrested”.

“He was arrested.” Maybe I went too fast. "What have you done this time, Jonathan?”

”When you get here, I’ll explain." My voice was calm, but inside there was chaos. “I’m in the city’s 35 PD”.

There was silence on the other end of the line and I know what that meant: Marcelo had his eyes closed, and his fists clenched, trying not to lose control.

“Whatever it is, just know that you’re pretty fucked up with me”.

The door opening dispelled all my thoughts and the figure of my father standing right behind me brought out other fears. Marcelo sat next to me, silent, but the look he gave me was like an entire book thrown into my head. The delegate sat across from us. My judgment would begin there.

“They arrested Jonathan for drunk driving” Marcelo passed his hand over his face “and for being run over”.

“Did you hit someone?” His voice rose.

“He called emergency services himself and stayed at the crime scene until the police arrived”.

“It was the bare minimum.” He fidgeted in his chair. I knew my father well, and I knew he was holding back from making things worse. "Were there any deaths?”

“No, but the man is in serious condition in the hospital”.

“Mercy” he lowered his head, passing his hands over his forehead, drying the sweat “and now? Will Jonathan get arrested?”

“He can answer freely, after he pays the bill”.

I watched Marcelo get up and walk around the room a few times.

“You deserve to be locked up”. He stopped beside me and pointed his finger at me. His eyes bugged out with every word pronounced “he deserves to stay here, so, who knows, stop being an irresponsible brat”.

“Calm down, Marcelo,” the police chief said. “Jonathan is a nonrepeat offender. Post bail and hire a lawyer”.

Marcelo knew exactly what I was doing on the streets of Curitiba at that time. He knew about the races I participated in, and that’s why he imposed a punishment on me not to drive his cars for a year. But I was a fearless and strongwilled guy.

“We can get on with the process, then”.

The sheriff led my father out of the room, and they decided to pay the bail. A lawyer was called and when we finally left the police station, it was already light. I kept silent the whole time, thought, and the only thing that kept me dark was the fact that the man hit by the car could die at any moment.

“I will prosecute him for a culpable crime and could face a sentence of two to four years in prison,” the lawyer was saying, “but we can revert that sentence to community service.

Marcelo listened to everything in silence, thought. He said goodbye to the lawyer and after the man left; he turned his attention to me.

“He took my car without my permission. It damaged the BMW. You almost killed someone” your breathing was heavy “lucky for you, I didn’t mention in there the other crime you commit doing cracks”.

“I didn’t mean to run that man over,” I said at last.

“Of course there wasn’t,” it was ironic, “you participate in a race, drunk, with the intention of having fun. When are you going to become a man, Jonathan?”

I did not answer.

“Since justice certainly won’t punish you, I certainly will.” He walked around to the car and got in. I went in right away “starting today, if you want to eat, you’ll have to work. No car, no stewardship”.

“Do you swear?” I mocked, even though I knew I shouldn’t do that.

“There will be a time to get home and a time to leave,” he continued, “otherwise, you’ll sleep on the street. You will pay your own expenses starting today”.

“It would be more advantageous to be arrested,” he said, and he started the car.

“Certainly yes,” he said, “prison would be more pleasant”.

My mother was heartbroken when she heard the news. Possibly, she was the only one who cared about me. They forbid me to leave the city and had to attend the city forum a few times. I was judged by the jury and sentenced to pay a oneyear sentence with basic food baskets and community services in an orphanage.

For a few moments, I wanted to be arrested to submit to those things. I was twentyfive years old and had never worked. I woke up at six in the morning every day, took a crowded bus to go to my father’s company, and spent eight hours a day redoing reports. Furthermore, I returned home and spent more than an hour on a crowded bus. I had time to go in and out of the house, and I was getting tired of that life. Now I would have to work in an orphanage.

“He’s going to go to the orphanage at eight, and he’s going to stay there until one in the afternoon,” my father would tell me. “The rest of the day, he’ll go to the company”.

“Don’t you think you’re exaggerating?”

“Do you think I’m exaggerating?” he was still furious. "It paralyzed the man you hit and will never be able to go out to work and support his family. And do you think it’s overkill?”

“I told you it wasn’t intentional”.

“And I’ve already told you that I’m not going to discuss this with you again until you learn the value of life”.

I did not say anything. I was too tired to argue with my father.

“Tomorrow you start working at the orphanage”.

“The sentence came out today, Father”.

“So what?” his words were bitter. “Comply with the court order”.

He left and left me feeling like I was living in hell.

Leticia

I got up dragging. I performed the entire morning rite without any enthusiasm. Not only that, but I left, not in a hurry, and my father was already awake.

“Why are you up at this hour? His apparent willingness amazed me”.

“Insomnia”, he said, while having a newspaper over his face.

“It’s Maria who won’t like this at all,” I commented, knowing he would be furious.

“Maria doesn’t have to comment on anything.” she lowered the newspaper and looked at me over her glasses. "You seem to be late”.

“Didn’t want to have to go to work today.” I grabbed a cup and filled it with coffee.

“Was it because of the new coworker? “he asked, looking down at the paper again.

“Coworker?” I asked. “they are shoving it down my throat”.

“It can’t be that bad, Leticia”.

“Dad,” I called him, but he didn’t look at me. "He’s a criminal. Who knows what he can do to us”.

“You don’t know what crime he committed,” she continued defending. Besides, you, as a good Christian, shouldn’t express prejudice.

His comment took aback me.

“I completely disagree with you, my father, but I’m too tired to argue about it right now”.

“And, by the looks of it, late too”.

I took the last sip of coffee, looking at him one last time. I walked towards him and kissed his already bald head.

“Behave,” I warned, and he grunted, “have a good day.”

“For you too.” His words came out harsh, but I didn’t care. I left the house amused by how much he liked to tease Maria.

As I walked towards the orphanage, I kept thinking that despite the things I went through there; I felt an immense affection for that place. When I decided to go to work there, I went with the intention of being the support that I sought for so many years and did not have. I would help those children through this very difficult time in their lives. Therefore, I would not allow anyone to harm them.

As soon as I arrived at the orphanage gate, my heart froze. Was the man already there? How would he be, old, young? I was afraid of what I would find in there. I took a deep breath and entered. Sister Adelina was at the reception, but there was no one with her. I observed the environment and everything seemed normal.

“Good morning,” I said, but she didn’t look at me. “has the man arrived yet?

Adelina looked up and looked at me over her glasses. The impression I got is that she didn’t like the way I referred to her new employee.

“The man you’re referring to hasn’t arrived yet,” he paused, making me swallow hard, “and I really hope you’re not so impolite when he arrives”.

It was just what I needed, for me to be delicate with a criminal.

“May I at least know his name?” I asked, “so I don’t call him a man, not to offend him.

“Jonathan Campos,” he replied, and I was sure he didn’t know him, “and don’t give me ironies first thing in the morning, Letícia”.

Sister Adelina was a typical grumpy woman. She never smiled, at least not that I remember. She always took things very seriously, and there was no sense of humor about her. His heart was almost impenetrable, at least I had that feeling. I thought of asking him if I should stay there to wait for the host, but I didn’t have time. The door to the mansion opened right behind me and a man with an enormous belly wearing a suit walked in. But my eyes did turn to the man who came close behind.

Damn it! I know him. Soon he. It’s the boy I met at Ravi’s party.

Our eyes collided, and the expression on his face was one of pure dissatisfaction at the sight of me. The world is tiny, or maybe it’s life playing a nice trick on me.

“Good morning,” the man in the suit said, addressing Sister Adelina. “I’ve brought Jonathan to start work.

His eyes seemed glued to me, and I knew the expression on my face indicated I was short on friends.

I watched as Adelina hurried over to Jonathan and offered a handshake, unsmiling of course, and he shook it less than enthusiastic.

“Welcome,” she said and directed her gaze towards me. “This is Letícia, and she will be responsible for supervising you. It will teach you how the orphanage works and what your services will be here”.

I watched Jonathan let out a smirk. I wanted to punch him in the face, but I also noticed that Sister Adelina was looking at me as if she expected my reaction to him.

“Give the boy a compliment, Leticia,” she said.

I snorted with no intention of disguising it.

“Hi” I didn’t mean to be nice to him and that was all I managed to say.

“We already know each other,” he said, with his gaze directed to Adelina “unfortunately”.

I even opened my mouth to answer him, but the man in the suit spoke before me.

“Since we’re among acquaintances, I’ll be on my way” he smiled as if everything was fine “don’t forget what we talked about” he directed the speech towards Jonathan “and don’t forget your schedules, especially with your father”.

Jonathan didn’t answer the man, but his expression remained closed. His life certainly wasn’t going to be easy, but why should I care? He, in addition to being arrogant, was a criminal. I watched the man leave and the next thing I knew I had my attention on him again, knowing that from that moment on he would be the most constant company I would have from then on.

Unfortunately!

Jonathan

I had the misfortune of running over a man and being sentenced to work with orphaned children, but I didn’t know how cruel life could be to me, putting me in this situation. I’m facing the only woman capable of causing disgust in me. Leticia Albuquerque.

The Orphanage was in an old house and was in need of renovations, but the place was neat and clean and had an air of tranquility. While sister Adelina guided Leticia on how to proceed with me, I realized how upset and annoyed she was with the whole situation. Maybe no more than me, who would have to be locked up in that big house with her.

Her gaze flicked to mine. They were blue, and maybe that was the only beautiful thing about her.

“Follow me, please.” There was no sympathy on her face, and her unwillingness to deal with me was noticeable.

We sat in silence for a few minutes as we climbed the wooden stairs. It was already bothering me. Her presence alone irritated me.

“Who knew I’d end up here soon” I finally said, but she wouldn’t look at me. “And I’d work with you soon.

I watched her cheeks flush, perhaps with anger.

“If he wasn’t a criminal, arrogant, possibly he wouldn’t be here”.

“Is this place some kind of prison?” I was ironic, I wanted to tease her “do you only have criminals as employees?”

“In addition to being a delinquent, he’s an idiot”.

My irritation level was very high.

“I’m not a delinquent.” ​​My words came out harsh, “much less a criminal”.

She stopped in one of the empty corridors and looked me right in the eyes. She didn’t seem to be afraid of me.

“Do you swear?” he smiled, a high and mocking smile” “what crime did you commit?

“What kind of institution puts someone like me to work and doesn’t report the act I committed?”

“One that respects, above all else, privacy. Even if it’s from someone like you.”

She really hated me. It was there, something in common between us.

“I ran over a man” I didn’t owe her satisfaction, but when I realized the words slipped out, “he didn’t die”.

“But?” Leticia was the type of woman who absorbed every word she heard “how lucky for you”.

“It wasn’t on purpose,” I continued.

“Do you say that to everyone?”

“Only for insignificant people.”

When I realized it, we were almost yelling at each other while still standing in the hallway.

“Look, boy” she closed her eyes, trying to calm down “I don’t like you from the first moment I saw you, and I don’t intend to be your friend either” she opened the briefcase she was holding and took out a piece of paper “The instructions are here”.

“What is it?” I was lost.

“Your tasks” she turned her back and started walking down the corridor. “the less I talk to you, the better”.

I stood still for a few seconds with the paper in my hand, trying to hate that woman less. A boy was running down the stairs, maybe running away from someone, and he bumped into me.

“Hi,” he said breathlessly. “have you seen Aunt Letícia?”

He looked scared.

“It went that way.” I pointed down the hall ahead of me, and the boy bolted, looking back.

I turned my attention to the stairs, but there was no one there. Furthermore, I might as well have asked the boy what was going on, but that didn’t interest me. I was there out of pure obligation, and the less I got involved with those people, the better. Not only that, but I turned my attention back to the paper I held. On the front was a map of the mansion, and on the back were instructions on what I should do.

Rounds every thirty minutes through the mansion.

Do not allow fights between children.

Prepare the table for meals.

Clean the oratory every day.

Leave arrogance aside and treat orphans well.

I walked around the garden, watching the children having fun in the old and dangerous park, but Letícia wasn’t there, either. As if it had evaporated, it was gone. It showed up at the end of my shift.

“You didn’t clean the oratory,” she asserted.

“I haven’t seen any oratorios around here."

“How not?” The map explained everything.

“What map?” I questioned while I took one last look at the clock “the one I loved?”

She huffed in rage, and I laughed to see her angry.

“So you didn’t do anything I asked?"

“Stop being arrogant and treat the children well?” I asked, already getting ready to leave. "That one I certainly did”.

“I’m ordering you to go clean the oratory now.” He pointed his finger at another staircase, which led to the basement.

“I’m sorry, Leticia “I put on my coat “but my shift here is over”.

I started to walk out of the house, and she came right behind me.

“We’re not done talking”.

“I thought you didn’t want to talk to me, “I continued, walking away from her, with a smile of pure satisfaction. "The oratory is all yours. Until later”.

I wanted to turn around to see the hateful expression on her face, but I kept walking away, not caring. At least it would be fun to tease her every day.

I arrived almost an hour late at my father’s company. I barely sat down in the chair and that shadow stopped right next to me.

“What did we agree about?” It wasn’t in Marcelo’s plans to give me any time off.

“I missed the bus,” I justified myself, already straightening the pile of reports in front of me. "If you let me use the car, that wouldn’t happen”.

“No chances. Get to the stop early next time” he tapped one of my shoulders “and stop pretending to work if you don’t want this stack of papers to triple”.

I picked up one of the papers and read the first line. My stomach groaned with hunger. I dropped the paper on the table and walked straight out of the office. I took the cell phone and called Diogo.

“Shall we go out for something to eat?”

Since the accident, Diogo has not spoken to me. I knew he was traveling with his father to some first world country. My best friend since childhood wasn’t there when I needed him the most.

“I’m having lunch with Carol at that restaurant near her father’s company”.

What a coincidence, I thought.

“Great, I’ll be there in ten minutes”.

I walked there and not even ten minutes had passed before I left the company. My cell phone rang. It was Marcelo. I turned off the device.

Not today, dad. Today, I’m going to have fun.