"Sunny are you alright? You look beat" Melissa said. "Papa bear... I have to see Abuela tomorrow. She wants to take me for ice cream date" Sofia said.
"Alright baby, I won't forget. Why don't you go play on your iPad while I talk to mama bear for a while" Melissa said. "Okie dokie" She said with a thumbs up.
Sofia ran to her room. Sunny slumps on the sofa. "Today has been a nightmare" Sunny said. Melissa sighs in exhaustion as she sat close to Sunny. "Well I'm here if you want to talk"
"Today my boss said she liked me" Sunny said. "It's a good thing right?" Melissa asked. "Not as a friend.... More than that" Sunny whispered.
"Hold the phone... She's not straight? Wow.... That took me by surprise" Melissa said.
Sunny holds her hands from shaking. "Yeah.... She said I should take my time to think it through... Then I had to deliver a flower bouquet to Alejandra's restaurant. I saw a man propose to her.... That was when it hit me that she's freaking straight and she's never going to see me the way I see her. All those nights of drunken kisses meant nothing"
"That's messed up.... Do you like your boss tho?" Melissa asked.
"I'm tired of falling for all my employers. It's better to remain single than to have your heartbroken again. I don't want to agree to my boss out of pity but I actually like her but I can't get over Alejandra" Sunny said.
"My advice for you is simple. Take all the time you need before answering the question. Think with your heart before answering. As for Alejandra, there's nothing you could do that would ever make her become gay. She has a legacy to keep... Being in a relationship with a girl would tarnish their image"
"You have someone who is willing to go out with you without shame or fear of what people would say. Then again it's your decision, choose wisely and remember no matter what your decision might be I'll always be here supporting you" Melissa said.
Sunny hugged Melissa. "Alright it's time you go to bed" Melissa said.
"What about Sofia's outing with Abuela?" Sunny asked. "Don't worry, I'll handle it" Melissa said.
"You are the best aunty ever" Sunny said. "Alright, alright don't get smart with me lady. Go to bed" Melissa said.
The next day Melissa took Sofia to see Abuela. "Abuela!!! I'm ready for the ice cream date" Sofia said.
"You look like you've been through a war" Antonio said. "I had to chase that menace round the entire house so she could take her bath" Melissa said.
"Hmph I hate water" Sofia said. "Alright go upstairs and get your secret weapon... Ian is waiting for you" Abuela said.
"Okay Abuelita" Sofia said. Melissa and Antonio follows her upstairs. Chloe stormed into the house. "Abuela!!! I'm so happy to see you" She said.
Abuela gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Same here Chloe" Abuela said. "My parents are here to see you" Chloe said.
"Abuela.... It's been too long" Fredrick said. "How long has it been?" Carmen asked. "Why the surprise visit?" Abuela asked.
"We were in the neighborhood so we decided to drop by" Carmen said.
Inside the room. "What could she be looking for?" Antonio asked in a whisper. "You'll see" Melissa said. Sofia took her bag pack and dragged a suitcase.
"Help me with this will ya? Where's the chivalry nowadays when you need one?" Sofia asked.
She hands the suitcase to Antonio. "Be my knight and shining armor will you"
Antonio looks at Sofia with a puzzled expression. "Sorry" Melissa said in a silent whisper.
"Abuela I'm ready!!" Sofia said.
Melissa paused when she saw the faces of the people who sold her for a couple of bucks and a pack of cigarettes.
She remembers everything Dean said. "Have you forgotten what they made you do? Don't you remember the things you had to do..."
"You know, you have panic attacks each time you remember that faithful day. What if you see them and you lose your composure?"
She tried slowly walking upstairs. "Papa bear where are you going to?"
"I... Um... Think I forgot something upstairs" Melissa said. "I don't think so... I have everything I need right here" Sofia said. "I'll go check.... give me a sec"
Melissa went upstairs. She could feel her heartbeat racing, her breath came in short gasps.
Melissa felt dizzy, she grabbed a table to stop her entire body from trembling.
"Stay calm. You're safe here.... No one can hurt you now. You're safe.... Relax... Breathe.... Melissa... Please... Get a hold of yourself...." She sat on the floor.
{Downstairs}
"Abuela will you join us? Chloe has a dance recital today" Carmen said. "Abuela you promised to take me for ice cream date... You promised" Sofia complain.
"As you all can see I have to take this princess out on a playdate" Abuela said. "Who is she?" Fredrick asked.
"I'm her grandbaby" Sofia said. Carmen and Fredrick exchanged worry glances at each other.
"Antonio you'll accompany me right?" Chloe asked. "Abuela let's gooooo... Uncle Ian is waiting for us" Sofia said as she dragged her outside.
"Alright, alright slow down. I'm not built for this speed" Abuela said.
"I'm not sure. I have something to take care of but I'll ask Sebastian to drive you" Antonio said.
"Why? I trained extra hard so you can watch me" Chloe said. "Maybe some other time" Antonio said. Alejandra came out of her room. "Yo you've been home all along?" Antonio asked.
Alejandra gave him the middle finger. "Bring back my favorite" Antonio said. "Ugh" Alejandra said in disgust.
Antonio went upstairs to his room. He opens the door, he noticed something moving by the side of his bed.
He walks up to see Melissa seating on the floor. "Melissa" He said as he touched her.
"Don't touch me!!! Don't... Touch me.... They can't know I'm here" Melissa said.
Antonio noticed she was shaking. He has never seen her like this before.
"Melissa you're safe" Antonio said. "No... They know... They'll take me... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.... They'll make me do bad things again" Melissa said.
"Who? No one is here to take you away" Antonio said. "They're here... He was right... I should have left when I had the chance. Now you'll kill me" Melissa said.
"What are you talking about? I would never hurt you" Antonio said.
"Lies... Lies... He told me to never trust anyone ever again.... You'll sell me off just like they did.... I need to kill myself"
Antonio knelt down before her and hugged her. Melissa struggled to break free.
"Relax.... No one is taking you anywhere.... I will never hurt you. I will kill them all just to keep you safe" Antonio said.
"Red" Melissa said. "What?"
"Make it stop..... The voices in my head, they're telling me not to trust you. I want to trust you....."
Antonio held her head close to his chest. "Listen to the sound of my heartbeat"
Melissa listens. "Your heartbeat is loud..... Like thunder" Melissa said. Antonio laughs softly.
"Can you hear it racing fast?" Antonio asked. "Yes.... Why is it racing?" She asked in concern.
"Because I was worried about you..... You scared me" Antonio said. "I... I'm... Sorry" She said.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm sorry for making you worried" Melissa said. "I understand that you are terrified but I promise to protect you. Anyone who lays a finger on you won't live to see the next day" Antonio said.
"Including you?" Melissa asked. "Especially me" Antonio replied.
Melissa smiles weakly. "How are you feeling?" Antonio asked. "B... Better" She replied.
Chloe stood outside witnessing everything. She came upstairs to convince Antonio to reconsider but the scene before her made her furious.
She storms out to meet her parents. "What took you so long?" Fredrick asked. "Did he agree to join us" Carmen asked.
"We have a problem" Chloe said. "What could it be?" Carmen asked. "There is a flaw in our plan"
"Don't be ridiculous. Our plan is flawless" Fredrick said. "Well Antonio seems too attached to his secretary... Assistant... Whatever she is" Chloe said.
"Come on baby you must be over thinking things" Carmen said. Chloe showed them the video of Antonio and Melissa being intimate.
"We must eliminate her for our plan to work. We've worked hard to get here, I will not let some lowlife swoop in and destroy decades of planning" Chloe said.
Carmen laughs maniacally. "Indeed I raised you well. Don't worry we'll get her off the picture swiftly and discreetly" Carmen said.
Melissa fell asleep on his shoulder. "What horrible things have you suffered in the past that has messed you up this bad?" He asked.