The Maid and the Millionaire

Chapter Two

Belle blinked from her musings when she saw Sir Carmine waving his hand in front of her face. He looked amused while looking at her.

“Oh, gosh! Y-yes, Sir Carmine?” Belle said, a bit embarrassed.

“I said that I’m Carmine Oerick Falcon. You can call me Carmine or Oerick, if you prefer. Just don’t call me Sir, it made me feel a bit awkward.” Carmine grinned as he introduced himself. “I just bought this place a few weeks ago that’s why I’m still needing some house staff. I already have a guard at the gate, gardener, and a cook. I still need a few cleaning staff for the whole mansion. Your friend, Dana, recommended you after telling me that you’re looking for a job.”

Bella just nodded as she stared at Carmine. She already knew what Carmine was telling her because of Dana. She was more fascinated looking at Carmine while he was speaking. He has such a manly voice.

“Do you have your resume with you?” Carmine asked her.

Belle blinked for a while before nodding. She took a folder from her bag where her resume was, and gave it to Carmine.

She felt herself blushed when Carmine started scanning her resume. There was not much on her resume since she only finished high school and she lack working experience.

Carmine looked back at her after reading her resume.

Well, it’s okay for Belle if they just ended up staring at each other the whole time. She won’t mind. She mentally grinned at the thought. Yeah, Carmine can stare at her for as long as he want, and she bet that she won’t get tired staring at Carmine’s handsome face.

“I don’t really have any strict rules in this house. As long as everyone’s doing their job properly, the there won’t be any problems. After your work’s done, the you can just do whatever you want on your free time. Just don’t invite any strangers or friends you have to visit without me knowing it. I want us to have a friendly atmosphere in this house just like a family. I don’t believe on being strict or a snob with the house staff. That would be troublesome and exhausting.” Carmine explained to her.

Belle smiled while nodding. So he want them to be a one big happy family, her mind started imagining some scenarios, where they end up being a family in a huband and wife sort-of way…

“Ms. Santiago, it seems that your attention is preoccupied with something else.” Carmine called her attention with amusement.

“Sir Camine? That’s not it, I just…” Belle bit her lip. She could feel her cheeks heating up. It’s embarrassing that Sir Carmine was noticing her mind wandering on her fantasies about the two of them.

“I told you just call me Carmine.” He reminded her.

Belle nodded. “Ah, yes. Sorry again, C-Carmine…” she said a bit awkwardly and shyly.

“Anyway, I heard from Dana that your mother is sick. Is it okay for your to be staying and working here while your mother will be living alone while you work here?” Carmined asked her with concern.

“It’s fine, Carmine. She’s fine now, she just doesn’t need to be stress out, that means she needs all the rest she can get. She can also just text or call me if she needs something. I also asked some of our neighbors to look after her once in a while while I work here. My mother is the main reason why I wanted to work here actually.” She explained to him.

Carmine nodded. “I guess that’s about it. You may start tomorrow. I know that you still need to pack some of your things at home that you need to bring her with you. So, I guess you can do that today when you go back home.” He told her.

Belle stared at Carmine, like if he was for real. “That’s it? I’m hired? You’re not gonna check my background or ask for some other credentials?”

Carmine shrugged. “Yeah. What do you expect, a Spanish inquisition?” he asked amusedly.

“No, but -” Belle bit her lip. Why was she even protesting her luck? Carmine already hired her. Did she wanted him to second guess his decision? Of course not! So, she better get act together and stop herself from asking about his decision with hiring her. That also means she’ll get to see his handsome face everyday.

“Well, guess I’ll just see you tomorrow.” Carmine broke on her reverie while he looked at his watch. “I also need to go already. I have a meeting this morning. Well, later.” He nodded at her before he excused himself and left.

While Belle ended up staring at Carmine’s retreating form until he was gone from her sight.

“MY GOSH, Carmine is so hot and handsome!” Belle blurted out while fanning herself. Dana came back at the receiving room after Carmine left.

Dana nodded in agreement. “That is so right, Belle.” She agreed with her friend’s assessment.

“It’s like I still can’t believe that there’s a gorgeous man like him that exist in this world. He looked and acted like one of those heroes in a romance novel.” Belle declared with so much adoration and giddiness while hugging one of the throw pillows on the couch. “Gosh, I love him already!” she delared enthusiastically.

Dana rolled her eyes. She flicked Belle at the side of her head. “Wake up from your fantasies,. Belle. Don’t forget that Sir Carmine is our boss. It’s okay to have a crush on him, but don’t cross that line any further or you’ll just get hurt in the end.” Dana reminded her with a sigh before she rolled her eyes. “Besides, if you don’t restrain yourself, you might end up harassing Sir Carmine, and that’ll definitely get you in so much trouble and a restraing order from him.”

Belle pouted. “You made me sound like a maniac with the way you’re talking.”

“Aren’t you?” Dana asked with amusement.

“Of course not. I’m too pretty to act like a maniac” Belle made a face. “Don’t tell me that you’re not crushing on Carmine?” She prompted.

“Since when did you started calling Sir Carmine by just his first name and without any honorifics?” Dana asked curiously.

Belle shrugged. “While we’re talking earlier during my brief interview. He told me to call him by his name only because he’s not much older than me.”

“How come he never suggested that to me?” Dana frowned.

“Why does it matter. You don’t like him anyway, or do you?” Belle asked curiously.

“Well, I got a crush on him the first time I saw Sir Carmine. Whoever doesn’t have a crush on him is definitely blind, but like I said, I won’t overstep my bounds. Yes, he’s good looking, and he’s good to look at, but I know that it’s impossible for a guy like him to really notice and like me. You know me, I don’t believe in fairytales and happily ever after.”

“You’re just being a cynic.” Countered Belle. “You’ll always such a killjoy.”

“I’m only being practical.” Dana muttered. “And if Sir Carmine even for a second, which is impossible, got attracted to either one of us, I bet he’ll just fool around and he won’t be serious in the end. That’s why I’m reminding you as your best friend to don’t expect your fantasies to become a reality, you’ll just get your heart broken.” She advised. Her voice sounded sad, as well as the look in her eyes.

Dana sighed as she looked at her friend. She understand why Dana was skeptical about falling in love. Since Dana fell in love once and got her heart broken. She fell in love with rich guy, but he left her in the end when the guy’s parents learned that Dana came from a poor family and she didn’t even have a degree in college. Since then, Dana seems to loathe on the idea of falling in love.

“Not all guys are like your ex-boyfriend.” Belle pointed out.

Dana shook her head. “Maybe Sir Carmine is not like my ex, but I bet he won’t marry someone like us. Anyway, why don’t you go back home and start packing your stuff, instead of fantasizing about Sir Carmine.” She suggested instead.

“Okay, fine.” Belle said as she stood from the couch she was sitting on. “I’ll just see you tomorrow. And remember that you already said that you don’t like Carmine, that means he’s all mine!” she said with a grin.

Dana shook her head. “Say hi to your Mom from me. Tell her to just relax and not to worry about anything.”

“Sure, I’ll tell her. See you.” Belle said with a wave of her hand before she left.