I Don't Need Anything Else

26: Poor Person Thing

Valentino

"I thought you said you were done with her?"

Rio and I sit in the front yard and watch as the whole neighborhood goes up in chaos. It's the beginning of the day and the kids are late to school, the moms are nagging, and the car's broken down. The smell of a smoking car, an egg breakfast, and freshly cut grass. All of it is home to me.

"She's not what I thought," I tell him.

The night the video of her threatening Griselda's classmates went viral, I told him I was never going to talk to her again. That night, I went to her mansion to tell her I would not be working for her. After 3 different security checks, they let me in. As I wandered through the maze of hallways of her mansion, I heard her voice and followed it.

"We don't have a position open for a bodyguard though?" one of her workers asked.

"Then make one," she snaps. "I have 4 friends that need this."

"You want me to open up 4 positions?"

"No, neanderthal! One position. Just open up one position. That one position will help 4 friends."

"Is one of the 4 friends taking the job?"

"No, it's an idiot who thinks I'm evil."

"Well you did scream at children," the worker mumbles.

"To protect my friend!" Elena screams. "Whatever, think whatever you want," she spits. "Do what I'm telling you and don't ask so many questions."

To protect us? That's when I realized, there's more to this than I thought. She was opening up a position, not just for me, but for the girls. Elena was right. I was an idiot who thought she was evil.

Because this whole time, Elena's been showing me a different side of her. A better side of her. She doesn't show it as obviously as others but it is there, in her subtle gestures, in the depth of her words. Maybe she doesn't even notice it. But I feel it.

I'm sure there was a reason this happened and Griselda seems happier than ever so there was no damage done. After what was supposed to be her apology, I realized maybe I was wrong. She was mad, yes, but she also sounded disappointed and I can't help but feel like it was in me.

After hearing the conversation about the position, I felt disappointed in myself too. I didn't even give her a chance to try to explain. I was too frustrated because I only get like this with her. When I'm with her, I don't think things through the way I usually would.

Anyway, I messed up and I owed it to her to not be such a jerk.

"I'm not done with her," I tell Rico. "Not at all." I turn to face him. "Don't look at her like that again."

Rico raises his hands up. "What did I do?"

"You know what I'm talking about," I said more sternly than I meant it. "When she came here that night." He starts to laugh. "I mean it. I know you're just trying to make Stephanie jealous but still."

The air stiffens and Rico looks at me to see if I'm being serious.

Rico chuckles, "She's doing something to you."

I scoff. "Just because I ask you not to look at her like a dog?"

"Because you care."

*******

William, Maria, and the stylist swarm around Elena's room.

William knocks on the door. "Elena, come out."