Chapter Four
997 Words
I sat at my desk, my notes sprawled out in front of me, highlighter in hand as I tried to focus on the upcoming quiz. Supply and demand curves, profit margins, net income… It all blurred together, but I needed to get through it. I couldn’t afford to slack off, not after being given the opportunity to study while working as a maid.
The door to my room suddenly swung open with a loud thud.
I jumped, my heart racing as Theo barged in without so much as a knock.
“What the hell, Theo!” I snapped, glaring at him from over my notes. “I’m trying to study here. Get out.”
He ignored me, storming further into the room. His expression was dark, his jaw clenched tightly. “You think you’re funny, huh?”
I frowned, completely confused by his anger. “What are you talking about?”
“The fake name,” he spat. “You gave me Liana’s fake name.”
For a moment, I just stared at him, blinking. Then it clicked, and I couldn’t help the smirk that spread across my face. So he finally figured it out.
“I told you,” I said, leaning back in my chair, “her name is Ursula.”
Theo’s eyes narrowed, his fists clenched at his sides. “Cut the crap, Delilah. I know that’s not her name.”
“Well, of course, it’s not,” I shot back, crossing my arms. “You really believed me when I said she looked like Ursula from The Little Mermaid? That’s on you.”
Theo took a step closer, his anger palpable. “Why would you lie about something like that?”
I shrugged, unfazed by his outburst. “Two reasons. First, I don’t like your attitude, and I don’t think you deserve someone like Liana.”
He scoffed. “And the second?”
I hesitated for a moment before meeting his gaze. “I have a crush on Liana.”
For a second, his anger faltered, replaced by confusion. He blinked, as if trying to process what I’d just said. “Wait… are you a lesbian?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Theo. I’m not a lesbian. I just like what I like, regardless of their sex.”
He stared at me, clearly baffled by my answer. “That’s... weird.”
“Of course you think that,” I muttered, turning back to my notes. “You only find it weird because you don’t usually encounter someone like me.”
For the first time since he barged into my room, Theo fell silent. He stood there, arms crossed, his frustration still simmering beneath the surface, but he seemed unsure of how to respond. I didn’t bother pressing the issue. I had more important things to focus on, like passing my quiz.
“Look,” I said with a sigh, turning to face him again. “If that’s all you came here for, can you please leave? I have studying to do.”
Theo, however, wasn’t finished. “I want Liana’s real name,” he said, his voice firm. “And I’ll pay you 5,000 pesos for it.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. Five thousand pesos? He was really that desperate?
“I don’t think so,” I said, shaking my head. “You—”
Before I could finish my sentence, my phone buzzed on the desk. I picked it up and saw a message from Aunt Brenda.
"Del, can you help? Our electricity got disconnected. We’re behind on payments."
I sighed, feeling a pang of guilt settle in my chest. Aunt Brenda had always done her best for me, and the least I could do was help her out when she needed it. But 5,000 pesos would go a long way in paying off that bill.
Reluctantly, I looked back up at Theo. “Fine. I’ll tell you her real name. But,” I added, raising a finger, “if you want me to help you woo her, you’re going to have to behave properly. And increase my salary.”
His eyes lit up with interest, the tension in his shoulders easing. “Help me… woo her?”
“Yeah,” I said with a shrug. “You clearly don’t know the first thing about impressing a girl like Liana. If you want a shot with her, you’re going to need all the help you can get.”
Theo’s lips twisted into a smirk, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious,” I replied. “But my help comes at a price. And I’m not just talking about the 5,000 pesos. If you really want this to work, you need to increase my salary.”
Theo stared at me for a moment, clearly weighing his options. Then, to my surprise, he extended his hand. “Deal.”
I raised an eyebrow, staring at his outstretched hand. Was I really about to do this? I hesitated for a moment before shaking his hand.
“Alright,” I said, pulling my hand back. “Her name is Liana. Liana Sandoval.”
Theo’s smirk widened, clearly pleased with the information. “Liana,” he repeated, as if testing how the name felt on his tongue.
I rolled my eyes, turning back to my books. “Don’t get too excited. I’m not helping you because I want you to win her over. I’m helping you because you’ll owe me. So don’t screw this up.”
Theo chuckled under his breath, heading toward the door. “Oh, I won’t. Trust me.”
As he left the room, I couldn’t help but shake my head in disbelief. Theo Fontalva trying to woo Liana Sandoval? This is going to be interesting.
But for now, I had to focus. The quiz was in two days, and I needed to pass if I wanted to keep up this charade.
- Writer
