The Secret Life of a Cartel Wife

• 5 • Gustavo

Since that night when Abelardo brought me home I've seen quite a lot of him in the past couple weeks. He's become a regular at the restaurant, eating his breakfast , lunch and dinner there. I kind of like him being a regular , I mean I can't complain. He tips great , is super respectful , can have a real conversation and he's quite a piece of eye candy . Even though I like Abelardo coming around not everyone at the restaurant feels the same. For one Eduardo isn't too thrilled that his boss is around everyday now. I also sense that the other girls aren't happy with all the attention I get from Mr.Santiago Abelardo Salazar. It doesn't help that he won't allow anyone else wait his table but me. I cannot let them get to me though , with the extensive tips Abelardo leaves me I've been able to start saving some extra money. Which means I'll be back in school soon. That's all that I want and I don't care if they don't like it.
 
      "Buenos días Mr.Salazar " I said approaching him as cautiously as I usually do.

       "Jaqueline Guadalupe Solorio stop calling me Mr.Salazar .".

        "I'm sorry Santiago , I just think it's appropriate to be formal with my boss.".

        "Still not your boss " he said slightly scolding me before picking up his menu.

         "Santiago can I ask you a question?".

         "Nu-uh! My name isn't Santiago either. ".

           "How exactly do you know my middle name ?" I said ignoring the fact that he didn't actually allow me to ask him a question.
  
              "Call me by my name and then we could talk " he said hiding behind his menu as if he was actually interested in ordering something different today.

                "Abelardo " i said slowly , every letter just rolling off my tongue.
     
                "How do you know my middle name ?".
  
          Maybe it was the way I said his name , or maybe I annoyed him but he looked up at me taking in my every physical feature . It made me nervous. I had never been looked at that way . Or maybe I had but I just never paid attention long enough to notice. His gaze made me anxious , what runs through his mind when he looks at me like that ?

                " you told me " he said returning his gaze to his menu.

                " No I didn't " I said snapping back to reality .

                 "Yeah you did , the other night . You introduced yourself by your full name ".

                  " I never ever ever ever have told anyone my middle name . ".

                    "well there you go , I guess I'm special ".

               " Abelardo I'm serious , I don't tell anyone my middle name, there is no way I told it to you ".

               "I'd like to order now , I mean if it's fine by you?".  His smirk was intentional and he knew exactly what he was doing.

                "Let me guess , un jugo de naranja y fruta picada . Right away Salazar ." I said turning around.

                "Actually flaquita , id like to try something different today. ".

                 I playfully rolled my eyes before turning back around and standing before him again. I extended my hand to take his menu from him ,silently asking for it with my eyes. He handed it to me and our hands lingered in the same place too long for it to be a casual exchange.

                "Like what ? Instead of orange juice you're going to order an apple juice ?! No way ! ".
   
           "Actually I want a coffee today".
  
             " wow ! Way to change it up on me ! can I pick your breakfast today ? Im kind of bored of bringing you the same thing.".

           "I didn't know my breakfast choice bothered you some much " he said shrugging his shoulders lightly.