HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Twenty Nine

The guests start arriving soon, and I personally would expect Zion to be running around, welcoming the guests as part of the family. But no, he is glued to my side.
Some visitors come by and greet Zion totally ignoring me, but he low-key forces them to greet me too.

"So, where are Rosalia's parents? I didn't know that you had siblings."

He blinks, a muscle in his jaw twitching a little. "I don't. Rosalia's mum is dead. She was my sister."

I immediately snap my mouth closed. Why did I have to ask?
"I'm-"

"What are you sorry for? You didn't even know," he interrupts me

"I'm sorry for your loss and asking about it. You don't want to talk about it and I shouldn't have asked."

He shakes his head. "You shouldn't apologize for being curious. If anything upsets me, I promise I'll let you know. I'll talk about it someday. Not today."

Someday? Is he planning ahead? Does he plan to keep me around for long?
Not that I have a problem with it, but he has managed to catch me off guard many times today.

"Oh dear. Here are the love birds!" Someone points out.

It's a woman within a group of women accompanying Mrs. Thompson. They all look rich, they probably met in a fancy golf club or something along those lines. They carry Chanel bags, wear Gucci gowns and other fancy brands.

"Marble," I stand up to greet her. I don't care what the other rich women think of me. "How are you feeling now?"

"I feel fantastic. I don't know what kind of witchcraft you are using on my son but keep it up," she laughs, entangling herself from the hug she initiated. Before completely letting me go, she leans in again and whispers. "Is it the sex?"

"Marble!" I jerk away from her in embarrassment. I know nobody around us heard the statement but wow. This woman has no filter, does she?

"You can't blame me for asking," Marble shrugs. "For the past weeks, he hasn't left my side at all except if the company needs him. I am getting all the premium care from my son for the first time."

"Mum!" Zion whines. "I'm standing right here."

"Nobody cares," his mother ignores his whines. "Go and check if Rosalia's cake is ready. And get drinks for the women, good wine."

Zion huffs and walks away, not without winking subtlety at me. What is happening?
He suddenly shows interest in me?

Then it hits me that he is doing all that because his mother thinks that we are a couple.
But what about the dinner? Did he mean it?

"He looks so happy now," Marble looks at Zion's figure as he disappears from our view. "You make him like this. I like him like this."

"I do nothing of the sort, Marble," I dismiss her attempts to give me compliments I don't deserve. "How can I possibly do all that on my own?"

"I know that you aren't in a relationship, Natalia."

I turn abruptly and look at Marble in shock. She knows? How did she know? She is definitely going to ask me to stay away from her son. Especially now when I actually want to pursue a relationship with him.

Talk about bad timing.

"Don't look so shocked," she laughs again, "he explained everything to me. I know that it's not your fault and I caught you off guard. You actually thought I was going to dislike you?"

"Zion told you?" I can't seem to understand anything.

So, if he explained to his mother, why did he invite me here? Was his mother an excuse to lure me? What in heaven's name is he planning?

"These days we spent together are my favorite moments with him. After a long time of being separated because of misunderstandings, we finally reunited."

"We spent so many hours talking and he told me the truth. You seem like a very good girl and my son seems to like you. Why not be in a real relationship? What is stopping you?"

"Your son don't like me at all," I blurt out

"Do you like him then?"

This conversation is so awkward. I can't sit here and discuss with Zion's mother about how much I like Zion. It's awkward.

"I'll take your silence as a yes," she breaks the silence. "My son can be thick sometimes but he will eventually realize that you are good for him."

"Marble-"

"I'll pay you," she starts and my eyes widen. Why exactly does she sound like Zion? Does she know about my hunger for money? "I'll give you any amount of money you want for you to stay with my son. He likes you and he will realize it soon. You won't have to wait for long."

Shouldn't she be paying me to stay away from her son? Why is she paying me to stick around? It's a good deal. I'm getting paid to spend more time with the man I like. I should be jumping up and down in excitement.

Then, why does it feel wrong?

"What is it? Do you want the money in cash? I brought some cash with me, we can meet up later for more," she thrusts a heavy envelope into my hands.

My hands don't move at all.

If I take this money, I'll be rich like I always wanted. I'll open up my business, support Jeanette's pregnancy and save up some more.

No. This time, something within me screams that it's a bad idea.

"I won't take it," I thrust the envelope back to her. "I'm willing to be with your son with or without the money. Besides, he is paying me enough money and I'm not complaining."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I like your son and you don't have to give me money to convince-" I stop talking when Marble signals for me to stop talking.

I turn to see Zion approaching us. With Aimee giggling by his side.