Niña POV
Las Vegas
November 2022
"Look who's here, it's Ugly Betty."
Niña tries to ignore what she just heard as she reaches her cubicle at Galaxy News. It was the pretty Perry Parker - the news anchor. The news anchor who can't write news her irritated mind screams.
She's been working as Perry's news prompt writer for two years now and Pretty Perry bullies her all the time. Alright, she does look like Ugly Betty but at least she has brains! This Perry girl just knows how to read. Sometimes, she's been tempted to sabotage her and write horrible stuff to flash on the prompter - but she controls herself as she needs this job. She wants this job. She wants this career - away from her life in Spain - her life from the Lopezes.
"Let me correct myself, it's the virgin Ugly Betty." Perry chews her gum and looks at her as if provoking for her some high school cat fight.
As if virginity is a crime! I'm from a conservative Catholic family, you *****!
Inside Niña's head is screaming curse words she cannot utter so she just hands Perry some notes for the 5PM news flash.
"For 5PM newsflash." Perry takes the sheet of paper from her hand. "Angel's the name, Perry." she answers in an intentional cold tone.
"Such a sweet girl, Angel." says Perry and then goes back to doing her make up. "Ugly Betty is such an angel."
"Apparently the only thing she can do." Niña manages to whisper.
At 5PM, Perry anchors the news flash while Niña, or Angel as she's known in Las Vegas, watches from a distance in the studio - waiting for her time to shine.
"It's Andy Sachs in the studio." whispers a male voice.
She takes a look at the owner of that familiar sweet voice. Nathan. Tall. Tan. Handsome. Her little office crush.
"Really? Devil Wears Prada-Anne Hathaway-Andy Sachs? Not Ugly Betty?" she answers back.
Nathan smiles the sweetest smile in Galaxy News. "Yes, Niña Angelina Lopez. You're Andy Sachs. You're smart. You make impossible things possible. And you make things around here easier and lighter."
Why his words make her heart flutter.
"Oh my goodness. You know my name." she glances at Perry who's doing what she only can do - read. She remembers all the bullying this b**** did to her and Nathan's words somehow lighten up the pain. "Thanks, Nathan. That's so kind of you."
"Why don't we grab a dinner and some wine tonight?" Nathan whispers again.
She immediately puts her hand on her neck as the heat of Nathan's breath touches her skin. Dinner and wine with Nathan? Her heart makes a little happy jumps inside her chest. "Sounds good."
*****
"My Niña's looking good." her Mama greets her as she enters Lopez Restaurante - the Las Vegas branch of the family business, the one her Papa established when they moved here. Now her Mama manages the Spanish restaurant.
"Sure? I'm not ugly Betty?" she asks.
"No, honey. It's that Perry girl again, isnt it?"
She gives her Mama a side hug.
"But a little update on the wardrobe will really do you good."
She makes face at her Mama's statement.
"Mama, make this dinner good please. I like him." she says as they walk to the counter.
"Who is this guy again?" her Mama asks as they reach the counter. "And you're wearing the necklace. Are you giving him the ring?"
YOU ARE READING
Somewhere to Start
FanfictionRight after the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Carlos spent the night partying his exhaustion away. But in the morning, he woke up next to a woman wearing what seemed to be a wedding ring - which looked exactly the same as what was on his ring finger.
