When The Obstinate Billionaire Meets The Lovely Orphan

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 crumpled the paper. If this girl was thinking that I would obey her orders, she was sorely mistaken. I decided to wander around the orphanage. There were three more sisters who worked there, and they were nicer and friendlier than Adelina and Letícia herself. As for her, I didn’t see her again all morning. Maybe he was running away from me or avoiding me. Children lined up for the meal. There were fifty orphans living there. There were children of all types, sizes, and ages. There were two babies in arms, and I was wondering what would lead a mother to abandon a newborn? That’s silly, I thought. If I accidentally had a child with any girl, I would certainly do the same. The son was a burden I didn’t want to carry.

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 watched him walk back to his room as I ran my hand over my face. I couldn’t take that routine anymore, the constant demands, the endless tasks. Marcelo didn’t even ask how my morning at the orphanage had been. If I was fine, hungry, or tired. He only cared about showing everyone that he was being a good father, punishing me for the mistakes made. I hadn’t had lunch yet, and maybe I wouldn’t have the chance, as company obligations always came first. He was a great boss, with the other employees, with me there were just demands and endless discussions. He seemed to take pleasure in torturing me.

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.