Valeria entered her room and saw Arthur and Luciano standing with worry written all over their faces.
"So?" Arthur asked. Valeria didn't reply to them, even though they were on the verge of losing their minds. She picked up a glass and poured herself water.
"Vionessa suspects that I have a grudge against her family!" Valeria blurted out. Arthur frowned. Valeria looked pale.
"Are you okay , Val?" "Did the old witch hurt you?" He asked and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"No, she didn't; she didn't hurt me, but for a moment I thought she discovered the truth about my identity ."
Valeria stuttered. Luciano came forward and held her hands.
"That's the reason why we are here, to protect you " . "As long as we are here, Vionessa or anyone from her family will not be able to harm you in any way." He reassured.
***
Selena walked down the stairs and saw an unfamiliar figure in the living room. His back was facing her, but she could tell that he had an astonishing physique.
He was wearing a black top and a pair of black trousers. His hands looked so strong that she felt her throat go dry from just looking.
The man turned, and Selena felt her heart skip a beat. If she was impressed before, now she was speechless.
The man before looked like he was made when God was in an excellent mood. His skin looked so pale, like that of a baby, and his lips.... His lips were so pink that Selena wondered if he was wearing a lip liner. Her eyes moved to his chest, and she swallowed hard. His chest looked so strong-his pecs were almost bulging out of his shirt.
And his tattoos....
"Good day, ma'am." Arthur greeted. Selena blinked and snapped out of her daydream She nodded and left. She couldn't say anything because she knew she just embarrassed herself.
Without thinking, Selena ran into the hallway with her cheeks flushed and her eyes closed. She didn't know when she bumped into someone.
Selena closed her eyes and expected to fall. But a pair of strong hands caught her; she managed to open her eyes, and she almost fell again.
The man in front of her looked like the man that she just saw in the living room. He had the same face, the same pink lips.
From the way he held her, she knew he was stronger. She stood awkwardly before she could melt into his embrace.
"Did you disappear from the living room?" Selena stuttered; she was still trying to gain her composure. Luciano frowned, but he smiled when he realized something.
"Oh, that wasn't me, ma'am; that was Arthur, my twin brother." He said with a smile that made Selena uneasy.
"I'm Luciano, by the way."
He said and brought his hands forward for a handshake. Selena took his hand; her eyes still didn't leave his face, though.
"I'm Selena, Selena Ravenmoor."
She replied. Luciano nodded and left. Selena sighed in relief. She dealt with one, and a few minutes later she fell into the arms of the other one.
"This isn't good." Selena exclaimed and went upstairs.Xavier stopped by the kitchen to take an apple.
He saw Valeria washing dishes in the kitchen, and he decided to troll her.
"You are becoming quite comfortable here, aren't you?" he asked as he chewed the apple. Valeria sighed.
She didn't know if Vionessa was worse than her son at this point. "Is there anything you need, sir?" she asked. An idea hit Xavier, and he nodded.
"I want chicken soup made with only chicken breasts, and I want Chinese sushi." He said calmly. Valeria nodded, but she didn't know what was coming next.
"I want you to buy the ingredients from the market by yourself.
Xavier blurted out and dropped a credit card on the kitchen counter. He looked at his wristwatch and then at her.
"I want it done in less than two hours." He said it calmly and left. Valeria cursed inwardly. If Vionessa was an old witch, then Xavier was a wizard. She quickly rounded up the dishwashing and left.
It's a good thing that she took catering classes before coming to work as a full-time helper for the Ravenmoors.
The house was quiet until Vionessa came in with someone. Selena was in the living room when they arrived.
She saw the familiar person beside her mother, and she jumped for joy.
"Aunt Vina!" she squealed and ran into the woman's arms. Ravina caught her, and she smiled.
"Hi, Aunt." Selena greeted after the woman kissed her hair. "Have you been a good girl, Selena?"
Ravina asked with a smile. "Yes aunty, and if Mom had said you were coming, I would have organized a welcome party for you!"
She replied with a smile. Ravina chuckled They both went inside the house together, and they wouldn't stop talking.
Vionessa smiled as she watched them. Selena isn't one that warms up to people or associates with people.
Ravina is one of the few people that she opens up to And that is no surprise, because Ravina is Vionessa's childhood friend and Selena's godmother.
She left Puerto Estrella for over twenty years after being involved in an accident, and this is the first time she is visiting the place after all these years.
They used to meet in places for vacations; Selena even stayed with Ravina for some years, but this was the first time that Ravina set foot in the country after all those years.
Xavier came downstairs and greeted her. He wasn't surprised to see her-his mother had already informed him that Ravina was visiting.
Typical Vionessa telling Xavier everything. Meanwhile, in the market.
Valeria was throwing curses everywhere. She didn't understand why Xavier hated her.
She hates him too, but it's for a good reason. Xavier ruined her life in a way, so it was expected that she hate him.
But Xavier? He doesn't have any reason to hate the new maid, but for some reason he does.
From the moment he set his eyes on her, he has been showing her different shades of hostility.
Valeria sighed and collected the last items.
She checked the time, and more than twenty minutes had passed Sh*t! She cursed and packed the bags.
On getting to the mansion, Valeria continued cursing. She still couldn't understand why Xavier was acting like a b*tch.
Valeria went to the kitchen and started preparing the meal. She loved cooking, so that made her calm down.
Valeria finished cooking, and she served the food to Xavier. He took the food and looked at his time.
"Right on time." Valeria said confidently. He shot her a hard glare.
She turned to leave, and he asked her to stand there.
Valeria nodded and cursed inwardly. Xavier tasted the food; he chewed slowly and raised a brow.
"I know it's good, sir." Valeria said again she knew she was being cocky, but she could trust her cooking skills.
Xavier continued eating, and he looked at Valeria. She had a proud look on her face, but she had the right to.
"So, sir, is it good?" she asked with a tone that made Xavier frown.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." He whispered and continued eating.
Inside Vionessa's study, Ravina sat opposite her with a glass of wine in her hand. Vionessa smiled as she looked at the woman in front of her.
She hasn't aged a day. Ravina was a beautiful woman, so beautiful that she still looks stunning in her fifties.
Her long brown hair fell down her shoulders. She has pink, plump lips, beautiful eyes, and a pointed nose that made her look so young.
"So what don't you like about the girl in question?" Ravina asked.Vionessa frowned. "Well, for one thing, she is beautiful-not beautiful, actually; she is slutty ". Ravina chuckled.
"And?"
"And I think she has a grudge against me and my children." Vionessa stated as she tapped her fingers on the table. Ravina chuckled.
"Well, then why haven't you fired her yet?" she asked. She knows Vionessa, and it is unlike her to ignore someone that she suspects.
"How well do you know me, Vina?" Vionessa asked.
"I haven't dismissed her, because I am keeping my friend close and my enemy closer!" She stated firmly. Ravina laughed out loud.
"You think she is your enemy?" Vionessa shrugged her shoulders. Ravina smiled, revealing her beautiful white teeth. She looked at her friend and said;
"Oh Nessa, you haven't changed ". Vionessa smiled, which was rare; she is always being bossy and bitter.
"Well, I'll have to see the girl in question before I give a verdict." Ravina said and drank her wine.In the kitchen....
Valeria was preparing something for the staff. The meal is her and Luciano's favorite, and she was making it for the both of them, actually.
The smell of the soup went out of the kitchen; it got to Ravina, who was passing by, and she decided to check the kitchen. She walked into the kitchen and saw a girl.
The girl was bending her head to add something to the soup, and Ravina couldn't see her face. Her hair was made into a ponytail, but it was still disturbing her.
Without thinking, Ravina walked to her side and held her hair. Valeria was stunned, but she didn't raise her head. She knew it wasn't Dorian, so she stood still and continued.
After putting in the ingredients, Valeria raised her face, and she froze. Ravina froze too, and for a moment the both of them just stared at each other quietly.
"Who are you?" Ravina asked the moment she regained composure. Valeria blinked and said, "I'm, I'm Valeria ".
"Valeria Rune." She completed it
"Good day, ma'am." She greeted her. Valeria didn't know who the woman before her was, but from the clothes she was wearing, Valeria knew she was rich.
"Hello, Valeria, I'm Ravina Vance ".
"Vionessa's friend." Ravina said with a smile. Valeria raised a brow. "Oh, ma'am, you didn't have to help me." She said quickly. Ravina chuckled.
"Chill out, girl, it's all good ". "You are so beautiful, by the way; you shouldn't be cooking and cleaning; you should be a model!" Ravina stated with a smile. "Oh, ma'am, you are just too kind." Valeria said, waving her hand.
. "No, I'm being serious; you are a beauty." Ravina said sincerely. The aroma from the food wafted through her nose, and she felt her mouth go wet.
"You like moqueca soup?" Valeria asked. Ravina nodded.
"But you might want to stir it again ". Valeria nodded and stirred the soup. Ravina still held up her hair and told her to use a hairnet next time.
"Do you want to try it?" Valeria asked, and Ravina nodded.
"Oh I haven't had these in a while!" She says excitedly. Valeria dishes out for Ravina, and she eats it right there.
She closed her eyes and savored the feeling of the good food. Valeria watched her with a smile on her face. Ravina finished the food with a satisfied look on her face.
"Oh, you, Valeria, you are an angel. I loved that!"
"I'll eat this for dinner!" Ravina stated and left.Valeria chuckled as she saw her retreating. This woman was nothing like she expected her to be.
As Vionessa's friend, Valeria expected her to act like an old b*tch. But she was the opposite. Maybe not all rich people are bad after all, Valeria thought to herself.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Dorian came and told her to get dressed. She didn't ask questions, and she changed.
He took her to the garage, and Valeria was shocked by the number of cars that she saw. In one section was the Bugatti; there was a black one, a blue one, a pink one, which was obviously for Selena, and a white one.
On the left-hand side, Valeria spotted two limousines. She couldn't even bring herself to count all the cars. Just how rich are these people?Dorian noticed her gaze and waved.
"Oh, most of them are Xavier's."
He said. Valeria's smile flattered immediately. She quickly slid into the Mercedes W196, which apparently was the least expensive car in the garage.
Valeria fastened her seat belt and looked ahead. What if she burns down the whole garage?
Will that be enough to make up for all the pain these people caused her? She shook her head unconsciously.
They might just buy new cars to replace the old ones.
"Where are we going?" she asked Dorian.
"To the market." He replied. Valeria nodded; she thought as much.Soon they arrived at the market, and Valeria was shocked to see that Dorian took her to a local market.
What shocked her the most was that he was mixing with local folks properly, even though he had to wear a disguise. They got ice cream together, and Valeria smiled as she watched Dorian eat his ice cream.
Their little date came to an end, and they went home. Valeria couldn't deny the fact that she had a great time with Dorian. After finishing up her chores, she went to sleep.
Valeria frowned when she heard someone knocking on her door.
She checked the time, and it was already past two in the morning. Valeria walked groggily to her door, rubbing her eyes.
She saw the face that she didn't want to see this early.
Xavier stood in front of her door with his hand in his pants pocket. He was wearing black sweatpants and nothing else.
His full chest was on display, and Valeria frowned. She had a long day and needed some sleep.
"My girl is hungry; I exhausted her, and she needs to eat ". Xavier said nonchalantly. Valeria's frown deepened. Xavier's eyes moved from her face to her body.
She was wearing a black pair of pajamas that didn't cover much of her body. The shirt was sleeveless, and her shoulders and neck were bare.
The shorts too were revealing her beautiful white thighs. "Get dressed and go prepare the food." Xavier said after giving her a strange look. *ssh*l*! Valeria cursed and went into her room.