Falling For the Unexpected

Chapter Eight: Surprise!

Harriet's POV

It has been four days past, since the tree-picking accident. I do feel better now, since the three of them looked after me for the past few days. And in the first night, Victoria's voice boomed around the house while he scolds the poor baby Lucas.

By the way, Lucas had been nicer to me. Nicer than before. Whenever, we have a conversation, that only lasts for a few minutes because of my bitchiness, he's staring straightly into my dark brown eyes. The kind of eyes that all of Romanovas have. He stares at them like he wants to grab it.

Creepy.

While Luke is being all angelic, me? Its the same old mean and bratty sixteen-year-old.

In the past days, we still carried on with the training. The workers were very welcoming, I say. Eric showed me the process of the ranch business. From getting the fruits, cleaning it, sending it to the mainland and giving it out to the regular sellers. And then viola, Romanova Ranch gained money. The half of it goes to the owners (which is us), the half of the remaining half goes to the budget of the ranch and the left ones goes to the workers' salaries. And their salaries are just in the range of around $90 every month.

How can they manage planning on a budget for that?

After taking a shower and dressing up with a turqiouse sundress, I got downstairs.

Staring out the deserted living room, I decided to look at the calendar.

Its almost a month of staying in here. Glad, I survived this hell. One thing caught my eye, and that's the date of today. Encircled with red ink. What's with today? Fruit-shipping again?

"Good morning, Miss Harriet!"

An old voice entered the room. Eric.

"Oh same to you. Eric, why is the date today encircled?"

I asked him while he cleaned up the coffee table that filled with Vicky's embroided cloths and materials.

"Its Victoria's birthday today. She's turning 49 years old. We did not get the chance to greet her, she left early to manage the shipping on the city."

He told me. It her birthday today? There is no sign that it is.

"No party? Or any celebrating event?"

Asking Eric, I stared at the calendar. He shook his head.

"We, the ranch people are thinking to throw a surprise party for her. But we're running low on the budget."

He answered me sadly.

Suddenly, an imaginary light bulb appeared above my head and

soon, I was smiling ear-to-ear like a goat. Eric slowly looked at me, knowing what I am thinking.

"No Miss, no. Do not spend your money just for Vicky. We are servants!"

Worriedly, Eric reacted. I turned to him and gave the simplest smile.

"You people are my ohana. And you are worth it to be given a special gift for your wife's big day. A birthday is a thing to celebrate!"

Eric suddenly hugged me tight. His smell of lemongrass did not irritated me, instead I hugged back.

"Thank you."

He said. I gave him a nod, running out.

A few minutes later, all of the workers of the ranch, including Eric and Luke gathered round in the old ranch gazebo.

"People! We all know that today is Victoria's birthday. So that is why, I have planned to give her a surprise birthday party that she deserves."

I announced while stepping up on a chair, so that they will see me. Curse my height. Even though Im in my heels already, Im stills small. Ugh.