Chapter Two
1333 Words
Gabbi stared at the broken glass with a sigh, got a broom and begun to sweep it all up.
" Señora what are you doing!.”
Camilla, the aged housekeeper she had hired exclaimed softly as she wrung the broom away from her.
"I broke some glass, I will clean it," she said but Camilla would not hear of it so Gabbi let her go on.
She had met Camilla two days ago, the older woman was haggard and in desperate need of a job so she had offered one because the woman reminded her of her nanny a long time ago, but Camilla was - extremely grateful for the position and insisted on doing almost everything even when she had helped Gabbi find most of her staff already.
"Non I am here for such, why hire staff if you will work" she tittered and Gabbi had to force a resigned sigh, the sounds of a drill sputtering and dying off somewhere made her straighten when Camilla spoke.
"Señora I called some girls over, some of the best cooks this side of Balas" she said as she chucked the broom.
Smiling indulgently she moved towards the kitchen where true to her word five girls stood with food carts.
"Camilla you should not have" she sighed but the older woman only scowled which made the girls stand straighter.
Gabbi watched each girl with veiled interest, two seemed to quake in their shoes and she decided they just wouldn't do so she glanced at the other three.
"What is your name, " she asked the girl at the edge who shocked her by sneering.
"I am Alessia Sandreski, and my meals are top-notch so I suggest you let the rest leave so we can talk business" quite taken aback she schooled her expression and look to the others.
" I am Saraphina Di Monte" the next girl tittered looking as if she planned to crawl out of her clothes which alarmed her because she was unsure what that meant, the two timid girls introduced themselves and finally the young lady beside them spoke.
"I'm Hana McCoy, Colorado born and bred" she drawled making Gabbi smiled.
" That is wonderful, haven't seen an American since I got here" she exclaimed making the other woman smiled.
" I came here for vacation, saw the place, and couldn't go back. Met my love and had not much reason to" Hana replied, smiling softly grinning Gabbi turned to the women. She was a little nervous,she needed someone talented and someone who would have a vision for this place similar to what I did.
" I will taste the food and pick my best three," she answered as she reached for a fork.
First, she tried the haughty princess's food and while it was good she found that the woman's self-righteous sniffing was too condescending for her, next was miss slutty and Gabbi was thankful for her poker face because she managed to not spit the food back out, hurriedly tasting the rest she made her decision.
" Hana, Aloisa and Bea please let Camilla show you to the living room." she glanced towards her housekeeper, grateful when the woman obliged her, Alessia sputtered before walking away head high in imagination, while Saraphina grinned softly before walking away.
Gabbi's sigh of relief did not escape Camilla's eyes.
"Come let us join them" she pleaded to lead the way and was grateful when the elderly woman remained silent.
In the end, she chose Hana and not because the others were not good, Hana was more approachable and had eased everyone within seconds and from what she had said she seems to be of the same plans as I was.
I wasn't just trying to grow a business, I wanted a place where family could come and have fun with one another.
This place touched my life years ago. It was time to pay it back.
"So we will discuss your pay properly at a later date but I am grateful you accepted this job" she offered as she walked the woman out.
"It's a good position and I am also thankful" Hana replied, both remarked how lovely it would be to have another American around before parting, grinning Gabbi headed inside to complete the more dreadful task of furnishing.
She finished deciding on what colors to use for her curtains very close to sunset, surprised that she had worked so long she moved on downstairs. It was quiet since the workers were probably gone. She looked around for Camilla but couldn't find her anywhere so she went outside to watch the sky.
A play of bronze and blue swatted the sky white clouds hung behind like shy maidens, smiling she leaned on the doorpost when movement caught her eye from the bushes likely rabbits deciding to ignore the She moved on towards the beach although she had some horrible memories out here from her meeting with Salvador she couldn't say all the memories were bad which was why she had been willing to come back here years later.
She caught glimpses of a body across the sand m, she froze it couldn't be what she thought it was .She eyed it and shook her head before turning away, then it moved, fear gripped her making her curse before urging her feet towards the body even she she gulped loudly.
She walked slowly expecting something to jump at her but nothing did, she startled when her hands met with skin,and he groaned jumping in fright Gabbi stared at the man that lay at her feet he was handsome- she sighed looking at him, beautiful features, straight nose that seemed almost godlike and a poet's lips, he looked quite dead which almost made her pout ruefully but then he groaned and she nearly smacked herself- dead men did not groan.
Leaning over him she shook his shoulder but he did not stir.
"Hi are you ok" she whispered leaning further into him which then sent a tiny waft of alcohol into her nose she pulled away in surprise then leaned in and sniffed him and surprise changed to horror and disgust, he-he was quite drunk she scoffed in annoyance.
She lifted his head freezing at the knot she felt there as well as the sticky fluid,she pulled her hand away– it was blood.
"What is - oh," Camilla said, pausing by her although she had never noticed the woman she immediately took charge calling out to Pablo one of the constructors who was for some reason on the beach side.
" Is he injured?" Camilla asked and she scowled.
" Yes and drunk too," she said as Pablo arrived and taking in the scene to help.
" Do you think it's bad? " she asked and Camilla only smiled.
" Maybe, we will call the doctor and have him look" she mumbled.
" He likely got so drunk and fell overboard his ship" she muttered wryly.
"Boys will be boys" she tooted, moving right behind Pablo and the drunk.
Of course she knew that she didn't just know why she had to accommodate his stupidity.
The doctor came and looked him over,he had a concussion and a stab wound in his abdomen, nothing deep enough to cause trouble but just enough to watch him.
She was in first watch, she checked in on him,and at some point just sat there watching him as he slept. He looked so peaceful, like he had not just been stabbed and likely hit on the head.
Gabbi wondered just what he had gotten himself into to have these wounds.
He was so handsome, didn't look as if he could hurt a fly, she lifted her hands to his face and you he'd him softly , he stirred and she pulled away.
Swallowing tightly she warned herself, she was not letting a handsome facade fool her again. She had been there done that didn't need a repeat.
- Writer
