On Our First Attempt

Chapter One

"A live-in house keep." Valeria exclaimed.

"What? Do I look that cheap?" Ariana queried.

"You are so impatient, you should ask for the pay first." Valerie said.

"How huge could the pay b......"

"$100 per day." Valerie interrupted.

"Huh..... that's...."

"Not enough? Let's make it $200." Valerie said.

"Calm down, that's too much." Davina replied.

"So are you in?" Valeria asked.

She was still awaiting Ariana's response when her husband Mr Carlos Rodriguez walked up to them with their two kids.

"Hey, what took you so long?" Valeria asked.

"Your kids where taking turns using the toilet." Carlos said.

"Who's she?" He asked.

"Oh, isn't she pretty?" Valeria asked.

"Yeah she is but that doesn't answer my question." Carlos replied.

"Hy, am Ariana Lee." She greeted.

"Oh, nice to meet you, Carlos Rodriguez by name." Carlos replied, giving her a handshake.

"Oh you finally mentioned your name." Valeria wondered.

"Sweetheart, I was looking for a Live-in house keep for K." She whispered to her husband.

"He's so not going to like this idea." Carlos said.

"But he'd have to accept it anyway." Valerie.

"Mummy let's go home." Valeria's children nagged.

"Yeah, we should." Valerie said. "Call me when you finally make a decision, but make sure it's before tomorrow, or the offer goes away." She said, handing her card to Ariana who was still wondering whether to accept the offer or not.

After Valeria and her family left, Ariana sat there for a while before she decided to go back home, still holding Valeria's card tightly.

When she got home, she couldn't eat anything as she was still pondering over her encounter with Valeria.

"She must be crazily rich to pay a house keeper that kind of money." She wondered.

"Whatever, I didn't ask her for it, she decided to bless me with it so I got no other choice than to accept it because am in dare need of it." Ariana finally decided and immediately she picked up her phone and called Valeria to inform her about her decision.

"I will text you the address. So make sure to come early tomorrow, and you should come with everything you'd be needing for the duration of your stay." Valeria said.

After the call ended, Ariana went into her room and started arranging the few stuff she'd be needing. She also packed the rest of her belongings and kept it with her neighbors since her rent would be expiring in eight days time.

KINGS PALACE, SUMMERLIN.

Throughout the rest of the day, Kyle remained angry and transferred his aggression to anyone who mistakenly got on his bad book. He decided to go back home early as his chest was still in pain from the burn that was caused to him by the hot coffee. He couldn't wait to get home before he angrily tore his shirt off his body as he felt like unbuttoning them would be time wasting. He had to pretend all through the day that he was okay so as to not humiliate himself further.

"Hey, why would you do that......oh God what happened to your chest?" His sister exclaimed.

"Oh sis, you're already here?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, what happened to you?" She asked worriedly.

"Oh, I think someone sent a b***h to kill me today but thank goodness she didn't succeed." He said.

"What? How did that happen?" She asked, even more worried now.

"Hey Valeria, you worry too much, you should already know Kyle always exaggerate things." Carlos said as he came out of one of the rooms in the penthouse.

"But take a look at his chest. Kyle, tell me exactly what happened." Valeria requested and Kyle narrated the whole ordeal to his sister. He didn't fail to express his hate for Ariana but was sure to omit the part where she insulted the hell out of him.

"I told you he was exaggerating, now you see." Carlos said.

"Does that person wanna give you another scare. Please this scar is more than enough, I don't want you getting another scare again." Valeria said, touching an old scar on Kyle's body, which made him sad.

Valeria was much more worried about his brother condition than what he said, so she brought out the first aid box and started applying ointment to his burns.

"Ouch.... be gentle, it hurts." Kyle lamented.

"You should be grateful she's doing it, if I were the one you would already be crying by now." Carlos mocked.

"That's why I didn't ask for your help. Where are my nephew?" Kyle asked.

"They are already sleeping." Valeria replied.

"Oh that reminds me Kyle, I got you....a.....live-in house keep." Valeria said.

"WHAT? WHEN DID I REQUEST FOR THAT." Kyle fired at his sister.

"Come on K, you can't keep living in this mighty place all alone. If I weren't here today who would have dressed your wound? and don't mention Lucas, Jason or Miguel." Valeria asked.

"Who then did you expect me to mention, they are the only once I have aside myself and you." Kyle complained.

"But they don't live with you, neither do we. Look K, this lady is really very nice, you know you once told me I have good eyes for people. Just trust me on this one." Valeria urged.

"You know I can't share my house with anyone except you, so how do you expect me to live with a total stranger?" Kyle asked.

"You have to learn it K, you can't continue like this. She's moving in tomorrow and that's final except you don't want to see me here again." Valeria threatened.

"I can't believe you are doing this sis." Kyle said and angrily walked out on his sister who was feeling fulfilled with her plans.

"Val, don't you think you are pushing him too much, Don't make things worse for him please." Carlos advised.

"I'm just worried about what Doctor Hawkins said. What if he continues like this, it won't end well for him and if we don't try to change him now, it might never be possible." Valeria said.

"But you still have to take things easy." Carlos said.

"Sure I will." Valeria replied.

"Lest I forget sweetheart, I got a call from the movers that our house is ready." Carlos said.

"That's great news dear, when can we leave?" Valeria asked.

"We could go by tomorrow if it's okay by you." Carlos suggested.

"Sure, sure....... afterall Ariana is coming tomorrow, I don't want us to make her feel uncomfortable." Valeria said. She and her husband went back to their room as it was already past bedtime.

Early the next day, Kyle left for work before his sister could wake up because he was still angry about her decision.

Carlos decided to go and double check their new home which was also situated at Summerlin North, so as to ensure everything was in check before his family moved in. Making Valeria and her boys the remaining occupant of the house.

Valeria made sure to prepare dinner whilst awaiting Ariana's call and her husband's return.

After few hours of waiting, Valeria's phone rang and she was happy to see that it was Ariana.

"Are you already here?" Valeria asked on accepting the call.

"Yeah, am right in front of the tallest building in Summerlin North, don't tell me I would be staying here." She wondered.

"Yes you are. Wait until you get to the penthouse. Go to the security post on the first floor, I will give them a call to direct you here." Valeria exclaimed.

Ariana did as instructed and after few minutes, she saw herself in a huge and super fast elevator. She marvelled at the beautiful sight of the world which she could see as the elevator moved upward.

"Welcome sweetheart. It's really great to have you here." Valeria said as she opened the door of the penthouse to let Ariana in.

"Wow, you are super rich, am sure you know that right? Because Penthouses always belongs to the owner of the building except in rare cases." Ariana wondered.

Valeria chuckled "Uhmmmm......this actually is my brother's property." She said.

"Woah, he must really be a great guy and am sure he super generous and nice." Ariana complimented.

"That's too much compliment for a person you haven't met you know." Valeria said, walking her into the dinning table and offering her something to eat.

"Well, it rare to see such hardworking youngsters who ain't rude like the lunatic I met just yesterday. Can you believe he fired me on my first day at work, she also fired the head staff who employed me." Ariana explained as she settled down to eat with Valeria.

"You have a point there, but hell how can you get fired on your first day? That's outrageous." Valeria exclaimed.

"Yeah, you can say that again. The bastard was way too rude for me to handle but I sure gave him a piece of my mind before leaving his god-damned office." Ariana explained.

"I trust you did, that's one reason I like you, you don't accept defeat and neither can you be oppressed. That's a great quality every lady should possess." Valeria complimented.

"Woah, that's too much compliment for a person you just met." Ariana said, mimicking Valeria.

Valeria laughed at her childish act. "You're so crazy you know that right?" She said.

"I'd take that as a compliment." Ariana replied and afterwards there both ate in silence. After few minutes of eating, Ariana asked of her kids and was told that they were still sleeping.

"You are so great at cooking and your house is looking sparkling clean, so why do you still need a house help?" Ariana wondered.

"Uhmmm....I said earlier that this was my brother's, I don't leave here but this is where you'd be staying with my brother." Valeria explained.

"You don't mean it." Ariana said.

"Yes I do Ana, Once my husband returns now I would be leaving this place with my family. You don't have to worry about cooking all the time, he barely eats so just take care of yourself and my brother for me. The room by the left is all yours so feel at home, okay." Valeria explained. You only need to do one thing for me." She said.

"And what's that?" Ariana asked.

"Never let him know you have a baby." Val said.

"Why's that?" Ariana asked.

"It's something personal." Val said and immediately stood up to wake her children up and get them ready before their father arrived.

Ariana was dumbfounded as she just sat there wondering who the heck she was going to be living here and also keeping his son's existence away from him. Well it's not like she was going to be having casual conversation with her supposed boss.

"I hope he's as nice as I imagined." Ariana muttered to herself. As she stood up to go into her assigned room, she heard the door c***k open and saw Carlos walk right in.

"Oh Ariana you are already here, that's good because we would be leaving now." Carlos said, on seeing Ariana.

He rushed off to his wife's room and after few minutes of them been indoors, they came out and met that Ariana was no longer in the living room. They called her out to inform her about their departure and also explained to her some necessary things she needed to know.

They left afterwards and Ariana was all left alone at home. She took the opportunity to organise her things in her new room and also wash up since she felt sweaty.

As tired as she was, she couldn't help her self from falling fast asleep immediately she came out from a cold, sweet shower. Her phone rang a couple of hours later but she was too tired and sleepy to hear it ring.

Early the next morning, Valeria rushed over to check on her as she was the one who tried calling her the night before but she couldn't pick.

"Hey sleepy head, why didn't you pick your calls all night, you got me worried." Valeria exclaimed as she woke her up from the bed.

"Oh, morning. I can't even remember how I went to sleep yesterday. Why did you call?" Ariana asked, yawning.

"I called to inform you my brother travelled on a business trip and wouldn't be back till God knows when." Valeria explained.

"God knows when?" Ariana wondered.

"Yeah, he didn't tell me when he'd be coming. So we just have to wait till he comes." Valeria said.

"Oh, ok..ay...." Ariana stuttered wondering if she would have to stay in this mansion all alone till further notice but she didn't bother to ask because she felt Valeria would be there with her.

"That been said, I have to run. My boys are still sleeping when I rushed over." Valeria said as she proceeded to leave.

"Uhmmm, do you mean I would be staying here alone till he comes?" Ariana finally asked.

"Oh, yeah, any problem with that?" Valeria asked.

"Uhmmm...No, of course not. Just thinking of what to steal and run away without been noticed." Ariana jokingly said.

Val chuckled softly, "Sure, check your phone, you've been credited for yesterday." Valeria said.

"What? I didn't even do anything, why am I already getting paid." Ariana asked after quickly checking up her.

"We already sealed the deal, that means I have to start paying you. You know, I really need to run." Valeria said, rushing off the penthouse.

Ariana decided to find herself something to eat before navigating through the house. She marvelled at the beautiful setting of the house and house tidy and well arranged it looked. She was still fantasizing over the house when two middle aged lady came into the house.

"Good morning ma'am, Ma'am Valerie told us you'd be here, anything you'd like to eat?" One of the ladies asked.

"No, no, I already ate something. But who are you two?" Ariana wondered.

"The cleaning ladies." They chorused. "We got to start working now before we get fired." They said and immediately took up their different cleaning tools and started cleaning the already cleaned house thoroughly.

Ariana was dumbfounded and surprised. "Oh what the hell is my work here.?" She wondered.

"Or maybe, sis Valeria still haven't broke the news to them. They might stop coming after today, so let's just wait and see." She muttered to herself. Nevertheless she still received her pay.

She lazied around the house and ate at her convenience as she didn't have anything important doing. The next day she repeated the same thing but this time around, she decided to call Valeria over.

It was already 5pm before Valeria could come over to the penthouse. She brought some packed seafood for her on her way.

"What's going on here Valeria? What's the reason am really here?" Ariana asked with utmost seriousness.

"Haven't we gone over this before? What are you on about again? Or didn't you receive your pay today?" Valeria questioned.

"Save me that please. I might look dumb but at least am a bit smarter than I look you know. Why did you bring me here when you already have house keepers?" Ariana asked.

"Where are they?" Valeria asked, feigning ignorance.

"Maybe I should just leave, since you are bent on keeping the reason am been here away from me." Ariana said as she stood up to start packing her things.

Valeria quickly stood up and held her hands, "Hey Ariana, it hasn't gotten to that." She said.

"It's gotten past it Val. Come on, I trusted you and came here so if you really want me to keep that trust, you have to tell me what am doing here." Ariana lashed at her.

"Ok let's get seated, if you really want to know why you are here, we have to sit and talk." Val said.

Ariana went back to sit down followed by Valeria.

"Okay. Am all ears." Ariana said.