JUNE’S POV
"I am displeased with the manner in which your mother has been treating me, Miguel," I expressed with frustration evident in my tone as I paced restlessly across the floor of my living room. Miguel rose from his seat and approached me, attempting to offer solace by placing his hand on my shoulder, but I rebuffed it, consumed by anger. Despite my best efforts, his mother remained unmoved to my charms, intensifying my indignation.
"I sincerely apologize for my mother's behavior towards you," Miguel stated solemnly, endeavoring to pacify me, though I had already reached a boiling point.
"This situation exceeds what I bargained for, Miguel," I stated firmly, locking eyes with him. It had been a week since the dinner, during which time the bond between Miguel and I had flourished. We confided in each other, building a strong friendship, yet his mother's hostility made my life unbearable. Although Kathlyn openly disapproved of our relationship, Miguel remained steadfast in his commitment.
"I understand, I will increase the stipend." he muttered softly, drawing me into a reassuring embrace. Despite our platonic relationship, thoughts of a deeper relationship with Miguel lingered in my mind. His unwavering support provided me with a sense of comfort as I found myself leaning into the hug, seeking solace in his embrace before pulling away with a contented sigh.
"I will address the situation with my mother, I assure you. You need not worry," Miguel reassured me, but I responded with a disbelieving snort. "I've heard that promise before," I retorted.
"Oh, come on!" he replied with a soft chuckle, throwing his hands into the air dramatically.
"Anyway, I think it's time for you to get going. My schedule is quite packed. I need to fetch Lily from school and run some errands at the grocery store to procure the items your mother requested." I mentioned as I hurriedly roamed around the house in an attempt to tidy up a few things and ensure that Lily didn't feel neglected.
"I can assist you in fetching Lily from school," Miguel offered, and I raised an eyebrow, curious as to why he would offer his help.
"That is, if you don't object," he added promptly, and I pondered whether to allow him to pick up Lily or not. He was a man, and I was hesitant to entrust my child to... I abruptly shook my head to dispel the rest of the thought once I realized where my thoughts were leading. I had known Miguel for some time now, and while I couldn't entirely bring myself to trust him, I still had no doubt that he had Lily's best interests at heart.
"I could certainly use the additional assistance," I said sincerely as we both left the house.
"Excellent! Is there anything I should be aware of?" he inquired as we both made our way to our respective vehicles.
"Here is a spare key to the house.” I stated, handing him the key. He looked at it like I had just give him the key to a treasure box.
“Please ensure she completes her homework once she returns from school before indulging in television. There's some food in the fridge, warm it up in the microwave and serve it to her, then give her the vitamins. They are in the red bottle in the top cabinet in the kitchen. There are also some snacks in the fridge, she can have those, but in moderation. Under no circumstances should you give her ice cream, please. If she protests, inform her that she is not allowed to have any until Sunday. Understand?" I asked as I provided Miguel with a set of instructions regarding Lily.
"Understood, ma'am!" he responded with a playful salute, causing me to chuckle softly. I had never left Lily alone with any man before, not even Bryan, but for some reason, it didn't seem too challenging to leave Lily with Miguel.
"Wait... aren't you supposed to be at work though?" I inquired, furrowing my brow to shield my eyes from the glaring rays of the setting sun as I gazed up into his eyes. He was a rather lofty gentleman. Just as I was on the verge of opening it, he graciously opened the door of my car for me.
“Thank you.”
"Perks of being the CEO, darling," Miguel replied with a mischievous wink as he walked over to his own car and drove off. I gazed at the disappearing figure of his car and pondered how we had reached this point. I sighed deeply and drove off. I had too much on my plate to simply linger and contemplate about Miguel Lyon.
Even as I attempted to dispel the thought of Miguel from my mind, it persisted throughout my drive. Miguel possessed an undeniable attractiveness. I observed how girls swooned over him whenever we were out together, casting disdainful glares in my direction. I understood that this was all a facade, and it would not last. The duration, however, of this charade remained unknown to me.
Lost in contemplation, I failed to notice a young lady crossing in front of my car, resulting in a collision.
"Jesus Fucking Christ!" I exclaimed in terror as I swiftly exited the car. What had I done? Why had I not been more attentive to my surroundings? Was the individual injured?
Kneeling before the victim, I discovered that she was breathing normally. She possessed ginger colored hair, pale skin, and delicate freckles adorning her cheeks.
"My sincere apologies, are you injured, miss?" I inquired, carefully examining her for any visible wounds. Fortunately, none were present. The lady winced slightly in discomfort as she opened her eyes, clutching her sides, likely due to the impact of the collision.
"I deeply regret this incident. Allow me to take you to the hospital," I said, a trace of panic evident in my voice. Extending my hand for her to grasp, she hesitated before accepting. Onlookers continued with their activities, treating the situation as mundane. Such occurrences were commonplace in New York. However, my decision to stop and assist set me apart from those who would simply drive away. Assisting the young lady to her feet, I estimated her age to be in her mid-twenties. She peered at me with emerald eyes, cradling her ribs with one arm.
"I apologize for my lack of attention. My name is June," I stated, placing a hand on her shoulder apologetically. She regarded me with a perplexed expression, seemingly disoriented.
"Can you hear me?" I asked, snapping my fingers in front of her face to ensure she comprehended my words.
"Yes, I'm Griselda," she replied, then began to walk away, leaving me slightly stunned.
"You must accompany me to the hospital, miss, to rule out the possibility of a concussion," I insisted, walking alongside her.
"I am fine," she insisted, but I remained unsatisfied with her response. She had just been struck by my car, and I felt compelled to ensure her well-being. I trailed after her, and we eventually halted by a water fountain. She sat down, gazing at the flowing water. The tranquility of the surroundings did not escape my notice. We both settled in silence, listening to the water's gentle flow and the rustling of leaves in the warm evening breeze.
"I apologize for the accident," I voiced softly after a brief pause, and she glanced at me. It was then that I truly perceived the sadness in her eyes.
"I had wished for death. You might have driven more recklessly," she stated earnestly, causing a pang of sympathy to stir within me.
"Would you like to talk about it?" I inquired, moving closer to her and taking her hand. Her touch felt icy against my own, and I noticed her trembling. I offered her my shawl, wrapping it around her to provide her with some form of warmth.
"I suppose I simply needed a friend. I retreat here when the burden becomes too heavy," she murmured softly, leaning her head against my shoulder without hesitation. I was surprised by how readily she let down her guard in my presence, a stranger. As I struggled to feel at ease around her, she confided in me.
"I could be your friend," I proposed, and she lifted her head to meet my gaze. Hope shimmered in her eyes as she offered a faint smile.
"Truly?" Griselda inquired, to which I nodded affirmatively. It felt peculiar to extend friendship to this woman, yet in a world often unkind, perhaps a bit of companionship was not unwelcome.
We engaged in conversation, but eventually, I had to depart. Before leaving, I pledged to meet her at that location every evening at dusk. We bid each other farewell, and as I departed, a sense of unease nagged at me. Dismissing it as mere paranoia, I continued on my way.
A few hours later, I was back at the house. I let myself in and noticed Miguel and Lily watching cartoon which brought a small smile to my face. They had not heard me come in because of how engrossed they were in the tv.
“It’s quite baffling that you are not security conscious.” I announced as I walked into the living room which caused Lily and Miguel to jump in fright. I laughed heartily and made my way to pick Lily up and engulf her in a warm embrace.
"I didn’t hear you come in," Miguel casually remarked, rubbing the back of his head with his palm.
"Naturally," I quipped, rolling my eyes.
"What caused the delay?"
"An unusual fellow," was my sole reply.
"Mum has been inquiring about our whereabouts, expressing concern. I informed her that I was delayed at the office, prompting the urgency to depart before she takes drastic measures, perhaps involving the FBI, to locate and retrieve us," Miguel declared jokingly as he donned his jacket. Lily alternated her gaze between Miguel and me.
"I am unable to leave at this moment. It is imperative that I ensure Stacy arrives here first," I explained as I took a seat.
Miguel nodded in agreement and leaned back in his chair.
"Tell me how your day went, my darling.”
"Quite uneventful..." Miguel began to respond, but I interjected, "I was referring to Lily," I stated with a slight smile, causing Lily to burst into laughter.
"Ah!" was his only response, accompanied by a mischievous grin. I attentively listened as Lily recounted her day, only pausing to address any inquiries I had. As our conversation drew to a close, the doorbell chimed. Miguel rose to answer it, inviting Stacy into the house.
We exchanged brief greetings and farewells before departing from the house. I had become accustomed to having Stacy as my babysitter. It amused me as I reflected on how recently I had been struggling to find employment, and now I was receiving a monthly salary and had a comfortable home I could call my own to live in.
A short while thereafter, we reached the Lyons estate, and a sense of trepidation sent shivers down my spine. I fervently hoped that Kathlyn's feelings towards me had softened even slightly.
"How are you faring?" Miguel inquired softly.
"Quite well, thank you," I replied, masking my true emotions with an air of calmness. He gently clasped my hand in his as we made our way into the house.
"There are my favorite couples," Lolia welcomed upon catching sight of us. She enveloped us in a tender embrace and bestowed a gentle kiss on my cheek.
"Where might the items be that mother asked you to bring? The arrangements for this engagement are truly overwhelming me, dear. You cannot fathom the extent of it," she expressed before Miguel excused himself to search for his mother.
"They are in the car. I shall proceed to retrieve them," I mentioned, yet she interjected.
"There is no need for that. One of the servants will attend to it. Therefore, kindly enlighten me, how are you faring?" She questioned as we made our way into the living area.
"I'm doing well. Where is Bryan?" I inquired when he was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, he's currently out of town. Mentioned he needed some time off."
"Time off from what?" I probed further, but Lolia simply shrugged. Bryan and I hadn't engaged in a meaningful conversation since then, and I could only hope he was faring well.
Miguel re-entered the room, his mother trailing behind. He extended his hand towards me, to which I readily acquiesced.
"You know, I have never witnessed any displays of affection between the two of you. Not even a gentle kiss on the lips or the cheek," Lolia remarked with a quizzical expression.
"Now that you mention it, I don't believe I have either," Kathlyn remarked elegantly as she settled into one of the chairs.
Miguel and I exchanged glances before turning back to the women who had requested a kiss.
"We are not particularly fond of overt displays of affection," Miguel quickly declared, seeking to fend off their insinuations.
"Well, as you are no longer in a public setting, why not proceed and bestow a kiss upon your soon-to-be bride," suggested Kathlyn. Lolia concurred with a nod. A sense of nervousness crept into my belly, causing a lightheaded sensation.
I gazed into Miguel's eyes, which were filled with a myriad of emotions, as he quietly uttered, "Let us simply agree to their demands." Unable to muster the courage to speak, I simply nodded in agreement.
In a sudden moment, his lips forcefully met mine. His tongue leisurely traced the contours of my lips, savoring me. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt the electrifying sensation that flowed through my entire body. I gently encircled my hands around his neck as he embraced the small of my back, drawing me near. His invigorating scent of mint and vanilla enveloped me, and I couldn't help but discern that he tasted like succulent blueberries. As the kiss intensified, I couldn't shake the thought that perhaps it was merely a facade, even though it felt undeniably genuine to me.