Valoreign

Chapter II: When I Met HIm

Rhea

It was a bright sunny morning when I met Lucas Valoreign, I got up at 5:30 in the morning, went on a jog, came back and did a little bit of online school. By 7:30, I was out the door with a piece of toast in my mouth and on the way to work. I worked at a little cafe called Benny's at the time. It was a local cuisine in Los Angeles, California. The city of famous people and Kim Kardasian.

When I was younger, I would here stories from both my mother and father how they met in this fated and glamorous city.

My mother came here when she was younger to be a model. She was from Ribeirao da Ilha, Brazil. A village but very cultural and honestly gorgeous in its own right. She wasn't rich but she wasn't super poor but saved up enough money to come here to America. She was and still is gorgeous. She met my dad when she was lost in LA and knew very little English. He apparently worked in some marketing company and went on a run for some coffee. He saw my mother -who was practically homeless at this point- and stopped to watch one of her street dances that required a lot of hip movements let's just say that. He complimented her and gave her a twenty dollar bill and left. It was history from then on.

To say I was the product would be stating the obvious.

Then the accident happened... I was five when it happened.

My dad's office building caught on fire due to a gas leak and well.. he didn't make it. My mom was devastated. She was crying and weeping in Portuguese. She kept screaming Por que você tem que me deixar? Which means Why did you have to leave me?

Ever since then, it's just been the two of us. Well until she got sick. I was fourteen, when my mother fell ill to Breast Cancer. I thought that everything was finally over, my life is doomed to be miserable. First I lose my father and now my mother? My aunts and Uncles supported us by sending us money but it wasn't enough to survive off of. I had to find a quick buck or two aka sell some drugs to make ends meat. Most of the money our family members sent went to the hospital bills. However, the one person that actually could support us, refused to even give a cent. My billionaire uncle decided that my mother was also now a gold digger and left us dead practically.

If you haven't noticed, I'm not very fond of Tio. He doesn't even like his own daughter.

My father's side of the family offered me to stay at their house but I refused, seeing as how I could pay for my own apartment thanks to drug dealing.

There wasn't room anyways.

As soon as I turned 16, I got a proper job. When my mother had to be admitted into the hospital. That was when we found out she had stage four cancer.

So I quit school and started to work more. I kept up with my grade though. We have this one computer that I saved up for by not eating a lot. Its decent but it helps me get with online school so I'm not complaining. My mom didn't want me to miss out on education because of her so she told me to finish.

And now here we are, seventeen year old me walking to Benny's to make some cash for my sick mother. Benny's was a thirty minute walk from my house, hence why I had to get up early if I wanted to get paid. I had to be there by eight o'clock because its around rush hour.

Not to mention, the old man's complaining is sometimes a pain in the ass if you ask me.

I enter the small diner and cafe with a big eager smile full of rainbows and happiness and greet Benny when I see the old coot scratch his butt.

"Hey Benny!" I say stepping in through the door with a little jingle. "Get over here brat and clock in. We don't have time to waste so stop wasting mine!" He shouts.

Benny was an old guy that was slightly grumpy but an overall sweet guy. He would give a good glare before shouting at you to get back to work, then he would proceed to always scratch his butt and yell at the cooks. Gotta love the old coot right?

'Well good morning to you too'

"What crawled up your ass, old man?"

Benny whips his head towards me beat red as I snicker at his red hair pokes out of his cap. His teeth grind as I walk behind the counter to clock in with a proud smirk on my face.

'Make Benny angry, check!"

"Hey Rhe- Bear! Good morning!" I hear a sweet voice say.

A grin crawls on my face as I turn around and am greeted by a red head waitress.

"Hey Kenny"

Kendra was one of the few people in LA that I actually genuinely like. She knew the struggles I was going through and would sneak some food to me in the back occasionally behind Benny's back. She's a little older than me at the ripe and happy age of twenty. She's a red head with brown eyes and freckles all around her nose. One of the kindest souls on the planet and would never spread or speak a bad word about you. Also, she's Benny's daughter.

Ironic, isn't it?

"How was your morning so far? Did you eat breakfast? Did you get enough sleep? You look tired, I can get you some coffee if you'd l-"

I roll my eyes and sigh, did I mention she's always trying to take care of me?

"Kendra please! Enough with the babying. I'm fine thanks for asking. As for the coffee... you don't mind right?"

She giggles and shakes her head,smiling brightly as she turns on the the brewer "Most definitely! Hold on just a sec Rhea" She is honestly one of the kindest souls.

"Hey Rhea, Kendra" Liam the cook says appearing out of nowhere. Good god and all things holy, he really needs to stop doing that.

"Morning Liam! Here Rhea, take some café?" she says with a wink.

I giggle a bit "Obrigado"

Liam looks at us back and forth "Are you two speaking Spanish?" I sigh. He always thinks I speak Spanish.

"Its Portuguese Liam" Well...

"You said thank you right? Finally! I'm understanding something"

We all laugh until we hear the door's little bell jingle. Immediately, I go to the register and compose my 'happy but slightly miserable on the inside' face as I'm about to take this lady's order.

"Hi, welcome to Benny's, how may I help you?"

She was a short middle aged woman in a skirt. Her glasses framed her greenish blue eyes with her strawberry blonde hair down to her shoulders. The group she came with sits in the corner. They looked like they did business with suits. One had sunglasses on and the other looked oddly familiar but was talking on the phone.

"Hi I was wondering if I could have a quick double shot espresso and two regular coffees, one with sugar and the other just plain black. I would also like to have your strawberry pancakes, Pecan strawberry pecan crepe, and-" She stops for a minute and looks to the two men. She then pauses and looks back at me before walking to the gentlemen in the corner. I look to Kendra and gave her a look that meant: Does she want me to cancel her order?

Kendra shrugs at me and looks to the two coffees that she already made. The short strawberry blonde comes back. Guess she does want her food after all.

"Please make that two strawberry pancakes but one with bananas and pecans. Also, add some orange juice and a glass of water."

"Right away ma'am. That will be 35.78"

She hands me forty dollars "Keep the change love, you people need it anyways." I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes and strangle her neck. She's one of those people it seems.

"It'll be ready in about twenty minutes."

She nods and walks back to her table and starts to browse on her phone. I turn to Liam and give him the ticket and he nods to me.

"How do you say: What a b***h in Portuguese?" Kendra says with a scowl etched on her face.

I laugh and look at the lady who is not paying attention to our conversation.

"Que puta"

She giggles and repeats it after me "Que puta"

We both laugh and turn to the table to see the man that was on the phone walk up.

"Não agradeço que você ligue para minha secretária."

I freeze. Oh s**t he knows Portuguese.

Kendra turns to me confused as ever.

"Desculpe senhor" I say tilting my head to the side "Você fala português?".

He nods "Yes, for a matter of fact I do." British. This dude is a Brit judging from his accent.

"Lucas Valoreign. You are?" I reach out my hand getting to give him a handshake.

"Rhea Sommerton Sir" I say as we shake hands.

"Pleasure is all mine, Ms. Sommerton. May I ask why you are here working instead of being in a classroom?" Oh dear. Here we go .

"I quit school. I take online classes now" I'm not embarrassed to say I quit going to public school. I did it for a reason anyways.

"May I ask why?" he says with genuine curiosity laced in his voice. Hmm no judgement yet it seems.

"May I ask why you are asking why?" That was a tongue twister for sure.

"Just out of curiosity my dear. I have come from New York on a personal and non personal business trip. My old friend's wife is very ill. "

"Well I'm sorry for her. What does she have?"

"Stage four cancer" Just like mom

"My mother has Stage four cancer as well. That's why I'm here. My father died when I was young"

"I'm sorry for your mother. Catia is a dear friend of mine and doesn't deserve this. Especially after Mike... " he trails off. Catia and Mike are my parents names. What a coincidence.

"Those are my parents names. What a coincidence"

He looks up at me with an eyebrow quirked. I see Kendra no longer standing there and most likely served this man and his party their food.

"Is your mother from Portugal or Brazil?"

"Brazil"

"Ribeirao da Ilha?" How did he know? Now that I think about it.. This feels like an interview.

"Yes, how did you know?" His eyes blue widen slightly

"Are your parents by chance Catia and Mike Sommerton?" Okay this is getting slightly weird....

"Yes... " I say reluctantly

"By God, you grew. Why are you here instead of school?! " Okay, who the hell is this?

"Okay who are you and how do you know my parents?" This dude is f*****g weird. How the hell does he know my mom and dad?

"Mike and I were college friends. He was also my roommate and my best friend. I remember when he told me about Catia and how the two of them had a child, you." So this man knew my dad....

"If you're living like this, come to New York with me Rhea. I own a school of the highest regard that I insist you go to. It could pave a good path for you and your future. I insist you come to New York. After all, I owe it to your father." He says with a face of pleading and...guilt? Why would he be feeling guilty?

"I'm sorry Sir I can't. My mom is here and I need to keep paying her hospital bills and I can't leave her. especially not now."

"Please Rhea, I'm sure your mother wo-"

"I said no Mr. Valoreign. Now if you will excuse me Sir, your pancakes are getting very cold. Kendra can heat them up for you. Enjoy your meal Sir." I say stubborn to my word as I starting to turn away.

"Wait" He pulls out his wallet and slips out a card. He slowly pushes his card to me. I take the card and gaze at the gold and white paper.

Lucas Valoreign

Chief Executive Officer of Valoreign Industries and Corp.

Manhattan, New York

45 Lanton Street, 12003

917-567-9032

Holy s**t this guy is that billionaire! He knew my Dad?!

"Let me know if you want to change your mind" he says as he walks out the door. His secretary quickly asks for a container, which I hand her. She utters a small thank you and rushes out the door with the other man.

Later that day, I decided to see my mother. She stayed in the hospital and went under constant surgeries. Well.. the ones I can barely afford at least.

I just got off from my second job as a waitress at some fancy hotel. Visiting hours are almost over and the hospital is a ten minute walk from here.

Should be enough time I hope. I have thirty minutes left for my mom and then I have to walk home.

By the time I got to the hospital, a bunch of visitors have already left. My mother was on the third floor in room 316. I got to her door and knocked slightly.

Once I heard a faint "Come in" that sounded like my mom. I opened the door to see my mother lie there on the hospital bed with the best smile she could make.

"Minha filha"

I give her a small smile to assure her that I was okay and not going to break down into tears.

"Oi mamãe"

I give her a kiss on her forehead and grab a chair to sit down next to her. I grab her hand and wrap them in mine.

"How are you meu pequeno amor?" I stroke her cheek.

"I'm good. There was a man that came in today. He said he knew you" She smiles and looks towards the window with the city lights shining brightly.

"Lucas Valoreign, Sim?".

I nod "Sim".

"Go"

I look at her with a quirked brow. My hazel green eyes that match her's oh so perfectly widen a bit "What?".

"Go. Goa Rhea. He visited me today and told me about your talk. Go. I will be fine.".

"Nenhuma mãe, No I can't leave you here. I won't go".

She smiles and lifts her hand ever so gently and rests it on my cheek. "I love you minha filha. Go, that is my wish for you"

I take her hand into mine and nod. "Okay"

I kiss her cheek and look at the clock. Visiting hours are officially over. It won't be long until they kick me out. I look back to my mom and see her mouth an I love you. "Eu também te amo, mãe" And blow a kiss. I get out the card and dial the number into my phone.

"Hello, This is Lucas Valoreign speaking"

"I want to go"

"Very good Rhea, I'll pick you up and take you home. Pack because we have a long flight tonight."

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Dictionary:

Não agradeço que você ligue para minha secretária:

I do not appreciate you calling my secretary.

Eu também te amo, mãe:

I love you too, mom

Você fala português?:

You speak Portuguese?

Nenhuma mãe:

No mother

Desculpe senhor:

Sorry Sir

Meu pequeno amor:

My little love

minha filha:

My Daughter

Ribeirao da Ilha is a village that is very old and has a lot of culture. They are very in tuned to their roots and is one of the lovely cultural places in Brazil!

Hope you liked the chapter!

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Adeus

Ciao

Goodbye!