Meant to Be
      Chapter 2
 

I walk into my mothers room and slam the door with a loud bang. From the bathroom I hear her call out.

“Michelle…is that you honey?”

“Yes Mama. It’s me.”

“What took you so long. Did you get my milk?”

Crap! The milk. I realize that, that man, infuriated me so beyond reason that I forgot to get another glass of milk.

“No mama, I’m sorry. I didn’t. I sort of ran into a little problem.”

Mama appears in front of me with questioning eyes. “What kind of problem Michelle? You didn’t go and get yourself in any kind of trouble now, did you? I’ve told you how Mrs. Santos can be. She’ll fire me in a heartbeat and not think twice about it. Please tell me you didn’t go beyond the kitchen into the rest of the house. Please.”

“No mama, I didn’t get into any trouble and I didn’t leave the kitchen, but I did run into the jackass of all jackasses!”

“Who are you talking about Michelle, and watch your language please?”

“Sorry mama. I don’t know, I didn’t catch his name. He was to busy being a pompous ass. Mama why do you insist on working for these jerks? I know it’s been rough since daddy died, but you deserve better than this. You don’t have to do this for me. I can quit school and get a job. You can move out of here and I’ll support you.”

“Don’t you even speak of that Michelle Bauer. You hear me? I promised your daddy on his dying bed that I’d see to it that you got a college education and if that means that I have to work my fingers to the bone day and night for Carmen Santos and her family, then so be it. They pay me good money and that money is putting you through medical school. Besides, it’s not that bad Michelle. Yes, Carmen is difficult to work for sometimes, but Danny Santos has never been anything but nice to me. I guess you could say he sort of evens things out.

“Which one is Danny?”

“Well, he’s about 5’10, with dark curly hair and deep dark eyes, and he’s never failed to be polite to me and treat me with the utmost respect. I guess you could say he’s a mobster with a heart of gold.”

“Well mama, from the description you just gave, it sounds to me like the “mobster with a heart of gold” is the pompous ass I just ran into in the kitchen.”

“Michelle Bauer! If I didn’t know any better I would say you were a little bit taken by this man.”

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND MAMA????” I scream. “I would never, ever be interested in the likes of someone like Danny Santos. Trust me on that one. He is definitely not someone………….”

My tirade is interrupted by a knock on the door. I fling it open and standing before me is none other than that lowlife bottom feeder mobster with a yellow rose between his teeth and a glass of milk in his hand. As soon as he sees me the corners of his mouth form into this beautiful little smirk and I just want to wipe it right off his smug little face with the palm of my right hand. His grin is even wider now and I notice how beautiful and white his teeth are. He’s actually quite handsome, but this attitude of his is beginning to wear thin on me. He removes the rose and speaks.

“Well, if it isn’t the “milk thief.” Hello again ummm…..Michelle, right? Yes, that’s it. How could I forget.” He sticks his chest out, holds his chin high and announces my name – “Mi-chelle Bau-er.”

When he is done, he leans in so close to my face I can feel his breath hot on my cheek. “Did you notice how I said your name with…… pride? I didn’t interrupt anything, did I Michelle? I could have sworn I heard my name mentioned as I prepared to knock on your door?”

I shove him away from my face totally incensed by this man. “How dare you!”

“I can’t believe you were eavesdropping on my conversation!” I scream.

“I was not eavesdropping Michelle. As a matter of fact, you’re voice was raised so high you saved me the trouble of having to put my ear to the door and that I should thank you for, so…..Thank you.”

“You really are something Mr. Santos, you know that. You have a lot of nerve barging into my mother’s room when she isn’t feeling well just to pick a fight with me. And if you think that stupid rose is going to make up for the way you treated me in the kitchen, well then you can just……..”

“Oh puleeeeeeeze………Don’t flatter yourself Michelle.” He leans in close again, but this time his lips are practically touching my ear and he is whispering. “If you stop right now with this little fantasy of yours Michelle, you’ll be able to save yourself quite of bit of embarrassment and perhaps you’ll be able to salvage some of that dignity you just lost.”

Pulling away he strokes my right cheek with his index finger and it sends a shiver up my spine. I am so beyond furious with him right now I can’t even see straight, let alone think of a good come back.

“Besides Michelle, I came to see your mother, not you. I figured that since you were so incredibly rude by strutting out of the kitchen without another glass of milk for her, I thought I would do the honors and bring her one instead.”

He pushes by me, nearly knocking me into the door, and sits on the bed next to my mother. My mouth is agape and my mind can’t even register what just happened. What I witness next has me more confused about this man than ever.

“Hello Maureen.” He leans over and kisses her on the cheek. “I understand you’re not feeling well. You sure wouldn’t know it though – you’re looking as beautiful as usual.”

My mother blushes as he slides the yellow rose behind her ear. Pulling back to look at her, he shakes his head and says “Nope. Just what I thought. The rose is beautiful, but it doesn’t even compare to you Maureen.”

She is embarrassed now and drops her chin to her chest all the while trying to hide her big smile with her hand. “Oh Daniel! You are too much. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better. Thank you.”

“My pleasure Maureen. If there’s anything I can do for you, let me know. I’ll inform my mother that you will be taking the weekend off to rest.”

“No Daniel, please. I can’t afford to take two days off without pay. Besides, your mother will be very angry.”

“Don’t be silly Maureen. You need your rest. And don’t worry about the pay. I’ll see to it that you are fully compensated for the two days you will miss. I can’t have my best girl falling apart on me, now can I?”

“Thank you Daniel. Thank you.”

“My pleasure Maureen. Take care.”

He hops of off of the bed and heads towards the door, never taking his eyes off of me. I hate to admit it, but after the scene I just witnessed, I may have misjudged this man. As he walks towards me, I start to see him in a whole different light. He may actually possess a heart in that bowed out chest of his. Could it be…….? I’m shaken out of my daydream when I feel his hand on my chin. He lifts it up so that our eyes meet and he says in a deep sexy voice “Tell me Michelle. Were you able to salvage any of that lost dignity while I was speaking to your mother? Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone about your little fantasy.” He smirks and walks out the door.

I am flabbergasted! All I can do is call out “JERK!” and slam the door.