Maid For Him

Chapter 24

Reese***

"So tell me, Rickel." My mother took his hand into hers. "Do you love my daughter?"

My breaths came in short pants. Why would my mother ask him that? They just met!

Rickel smiled at my mother. "Love doesn't come close to describing what I feel for her."

My throat was parched. Why the hell would he say that?!

"Excuse me. I'm going to get some water." I hurriedly left the room.

I stood by the water fountain with my back against the cold wall. Did Rickel really mean what he said? Did he really love me? He can't. He must be lying.

Come on Reese. He's your fake boyfriend. Nothing he says is real.

I drank some water and tried not to think about what Rickel said.

"Reese? Is that you?" I spun around too quickly and some of the water spilled on my blouse.

"Denise? Hi!" I tried my best to sound excited. "You're working here now?"

She twirled so I could see her uniform. "Yes darling and I'm also married." Her finger was decorated with an expensive looking ring. A pang of jealousy hit me as I took her hand and admired her ring.

Denise and me went to high school together. I was always an A student and she had always struggled to keep her grades up. Now she's a nurse and I'm a freaking maid. She's married and I'm playing house with a millionaire who will never get married to the likes of me. 

"Oh my gosh. This is gorgeous. You are very lucky." I congratulated her.

She was beaming from ear to ear. "My husband works here too. He's a doctor."

Great. Rub it in my face.

"So what brings you to local Puerto Rico? Are you finished with school?" She asked when I didn't respond to her boasting.

I shook my head. "No. I'm just here visiting my mother. She fell and now has a broken ankle."

"Oh my! That's terrible. What room is she in? I'll make sure to take good care of her."

I took her to my mother's room and she chatted.....well boasted all the way there.

Rickel was the first person she saw when she entered the room. "Hmmm......who is this?" She whispered into my ear. "He is fine!!!!"

"He is also mine. Isn't my mother the one you're here to see?" My tone was a bit defensive but I didn't care. I was tired of hearing about her perfect life.

"Mrs. Rivera. How are you feeling?" She went and hugged my mother.

Rickel came and stood beside me.
"No jealousy remember? What if I wanted to score with a Puerto Rican girl before leaving?"

"She's married." I hissed at him.

He chuckled. "Hmmm looks like someone is falling."

I rolled my eyes at him as the intercom informed us that visiting hours would end in the next five minutes.

Denise said her goodbyes to my mom promising to give her special treatment. She winked at me before leaving.

"Don't lose this one Reese. He's a keeper. Trust me."

"Ok bye, Denise. It was nice running into you."

She left and Rickel kept smirking at me. I didn't want to know what he was thinking right now.

"Mrs. Rivera, I brought something for you." Rickel said and handed my mother the big brown envelope.

I had completely forgotten to ask him what he had in it. My mother took it with a smile and opened it slowly.

"I don't understand." Her face looked confused. "You got me a picture?"

Rickel smiled. "No. I got you what's in the picture."

"What?! ¡Dios mio! You got us a house?!"

"Yes." Rickel beamed.

"Come give your mother-in-law a hug. I can't believe this!"

A house? He got my mother house. What was he up to?

I walked around the bed to get a look at the picture. It was a two storey house with a pool in the yard. Why would he buy my family a house?

"Is it a prank?" My mother asked, still in shock.

"No mam." Rickel answered. "The papers are all inside."

My mother couldn't stop rejoicing and I couldn't stop over thinking.

They announced that visiting hours was over and Rickel went to shake my mother's hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Rivera. I promise I'll visit again to see how you're settling into your new home."

"Thank you so much honey. I can see that you will take good care of my Reesie for me."

"I'll try my best."

Rickel was surely a damn good actor.

I hugged my mom for a long while then told her goodbye and we left the hospital.

"Why would you buy us a house?" I asked once we were back in the car.

"Because your mom needed it."

"So? That's not your job. I am going to pay you back." I folded my arms. I didn't want to feel like I owed Rickel anything.

"Ok Reese. Do what you please." He backed out of the parking lot. "I have to be at a work event by 7p.m. Can you show me Puerto Rico before we leave?"

That idea cheered me up somewhat. "Sure I'll show you around, but are you prepared to get dirty?"

"I love getting dirty. Don't know if you can handle me when I am though."

I ignored his answer.

"Turn here." I ordered him.

He was still smirking, not knowing that I was going to take him on the world longest zip line.

"You ready?" I asked once we got there.

"Ready for what? I'm not going on that thing."

"Why? Are you afraid you won't be able to handle the ride?" Now it was my turn to smirk.

"Reese. Y-You don't understand. I have a huge fear of heights."

"Ok then. I guess I'll be cooking chicken for dinner when we get home."

"Dammit." He said then started cursing under his breath as he pushed pass me. "Let's get this over with."

Before they finished strapping him up he turned to me. "Reese, if I do this you are coming with me to my work event tonight and that's an order!"

"Quit stalling!" I laughed at him.

They sent him off and I didn't know he was the one screaming until I heard the workers laughing at him.

"You ready to go on?" One of the workers asked me.

"Oh no. I'm not going on that thing. I'll walk around and meet my boyfriend at the other side."

The word boyfriend felt so foreign leaving my mouth. I need to pull my emotions away from this fake relationship before I end up getting hurt.

Rickel was fuming when he saw me walking toward him.

"You didn't do it! You tricked me."

I shook my head. "Are you crazy? That thing is too damn scary for me."

Rickel grabbed me and spun me around so my back was against his chest. "You're going to pay for this Reese and I don't want your money."