Preparations

Alicia got up earlier than usual, as she wanted to have her suitcase packed for the trip to Miami. She was excited about the trip. Since she married Gabriel, she hadn't traveled anymore, as there was always a new excuse not to take her on his trips. Once she had packed everything in her suitcase, she went to the company.

— Good morning, Laura.

She greeted the receptionist at the entrance. In his first month, Luis had been in charge of introducing all the workers and had started friendships with many of them.

— Good morning, Alicia.

Laura responded with a smile.

—How are you?

— Very well, has the boss arrived yet?

— Yes, he just arrived.

— Ah, ok, thanks, then I better go up.

Alicia arrived at her desk, saw several papers and one of them was the contract for the secretary who would be substitute in her position. Axel had to sign it. So Alicia took it and knocked on the office door.

—Come in!

It was heard from inside the office. Alicia entered and went to Axel's desk, where he was sitting.

— Sir, the contract for my substitute for my position was sent from human resources; your signature is needed to authorize it.

— Very well, I'll sign it now, and by the way, I didn't ask, but where did you get it so quickly? Practically overnight.

— Sir, the truth is, I only reviewed the resumes filed from the last interview for my position and made some calls.

— Well, you know; I just hope you do your job well.

Axel responded signing the contract.

— I hope so too.

Alicia said.

— Did you make an appointment for her today?

— Yes, sir, I told her to come at 10:00 so I could explain everything to her.

— Okay, and the itinerary, do you have it ready?

— If it's ready, I'll send it to your email for you to review. I'll also let you know that the flight is at 2:00 in the morning; we have to be at the airport at 1:00. For baggage checks, I booked first class.

—Ok, that sounds perfect to me... Well, that's all, let me know when the secretary arrives and don't forget to send me the email.

—Yes, sir, I'll do it now, with your permission.

Alicia left the office, sat at her desk, checked the contract, sent the itinerary to Axel's email and organized some documents. Hours passed and the phone on her desk rang.

—Alicia? I have a girl who came for the position of substitute secretary.

—Oh, yes! Please tell her to go to the fourth floor. I already have her contract here. Thank you.

—Ok, I'll tell her now.

Alicia waited for the secretary to arrive. When he saw her come in, he saw that she was very pretty, she had tanned skin and curly blonde hair.

— Good morning.

— Good morning.

Alicia answered.

— You must be Cameron Rodriguez. Isn't that right?

— Yes, yes, it's me.

Cameron smiled.

"What a nice smile." Alicia thought.

— Nice to meet you. I'm Alicia Torres, Mr. Axel Caballero's secretary. You'll be my substitute while I travel with the gentleman. The office can't be left alone. You'll take care of any documents that need to be forwarded and any appointments that come up in the gentleman's absence. I've organized everything for you and if you need anything, you can call me. I'll leave my number, okay?

— Ah, okay, fine, that sounds perfect to me.

— Very well, look, here's your contract. Read it, review it carefully and, if you agree, sign it. The boss already signed it, so all that's left is your signature.

After a few minutes, Cameron came back with the signed document.

“Done! I signed it.”

He handed the document to Alicia.

—Ok, one question: did you have the interview with the boss or was it just the resume that remained?

—Only the resume remained; I was waiting for my turn, but they told us that the position was already filled, but that we should leave our resume.

—Ah, okay, then, to introduce you to Mr. Caballero.

Alicia and Cameron approached the office door; after knocking and being allowed in, they entered.

Axel was sitting, twisting his neck, since he had slept badly the night before and it had been hurting since that morning. He was trying to relax a little when he gave the pass to whoever was knocking on his office. He knew it was Alicia; he already knew her way of knocking on that door. When he entered, there she was with this other girl.

—Sir, I want to introduce you to Miss Cameron Rodriguez. She is the substitute.

—Miss Rodriguez, nice to meet you.

Cameron's eyes widened because this man was what she had wanted for a long time; he was handsome and rich.

— Nice to meet you, sir, I'm here to serve you.

The girl smiled, and Alicia smiled with her.

Axel saw that Cameron smiled and, along with her, Alicia. He gave a slight smile to Alicia, ignoring Cameron, but Alicia didn't notice this.

—Miss Torres, could you leave me alone with Miss Rodriguez?

—Yes, sir, no problem.

Alicia left the office towards her desk, leaving Axel alone with Cameron.

—Well, Miss Rodriguez, you will be in charge of this area. I hope you know how to do your job well and that you do it as well as Miss Torres has been doing.

—Yes, sir, you can count on it.

— Now you will go to Miss Torres, ask for your contract and take it to Human Resources. I'll wait for you after lunch; I'll accompany you to the door.

Alicia was sitting at her desk making some notes on pending items left in the office; she wanted Cameron to be as comfortable as possible so that the work would go properly. Suddenly she saw a rose near her nose, she looked up to see that it was Luis.

— I told you I would make it up to you, didn't I?

Alicia smiled and blushed.

— You shouldn't have bothered.

— It's no bother, Alicia, come on, let's go to lunch!

Luis said; Alicia got up from her seat and took the rose.

— Come on, I have to tell you something, too.

Alicia said.

There was Axel watching the whole scene with Cameron, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

— Miss Alicia's boyfriend is cute, don't you think?

Cameron turned to Axel.

— Whatever... Then I'll wait for her after lunch.

He entered his office and closed the door.

Alicia and Luis arrived at the cafeteria; It had become her favorite place because it was close to the office.

—Sit down, Alicia, what did you want to tell me? You have me intrigued.

—It's nothing important, just that we won't have lunch for a week, because I'm going on a trip with my boss for the Miami business.

—Oh! Why didn't you tell me anything?

Luis said sadly.

—I didn't know anything, she just told me, yesterday, because we didn't have lunch together and then that happened.

Alicia lowered her gaze sadly.

—By the way...

Luis said.

—What happened yesterday, what was it?

—I fell... Gabriel came, I took his hand, I held it wrong and I fell, but it was nothing, everything was fine.

Luis sighed with an air of annoyance. It had been two months since Alicia had told him everything that happened with Gabriel and that had him very upset.

—I'm very upset with Gabriel, why does he do such things? I don't understand. Why do I waste the opportunity that...?

Luis stopped, staying silent while Alicia looked at him.

— What's wrong, Luis?

She asked strangely.

— Alicia... I... Well...

Luis sighed.

— I want to talk to you about something important, but... You know, I'd better wait for you to come back; let's talk about something else. I hope your trip goes well and good luck.

— Umm, okay, you've already left me intrigued, but I'll wait.

— Yes, please.

Luis smiled.

"If I waited 12 years, I can wait one more week."

Luis thought.

Luis and Alicia continued talking and eating. Lunch time was over, so they returned to the company, said goodbye, Alicia went up, put the rose next to her and smiled.

—Alicia, I already handed my contract to human resources.

It was Cameron who interrupted that moment; Alicia shook her head and looked at Cameron.

—Perfect!

—The boss told me to come back after lunch.

Cameron notified Alicia.

—So? Ok, leave it, I'll call him to ask.

Alicia took the phone.

—Sir, did you apply for Miss Rodriguez?

Alicia asked.

—Yes, please, both of you come in.

—Right away, sir.

She hung up the phone; Alicia and Cameron went to Axel's office.

—Miss Torres, you're going to leave now to arrange everything, to meet us at the airport at departure time, and Miss Rodriguez, you'll stay with me for the rest of the day.

Cameron answered very enthusiastically, since she would be alone with the boss.

— Yes, sir.

Alicia thought that she had already arranged everything, but she could say goodbye to Abril before traveling.

—Yes, sir.

Alicia answered.

Alicia left the office with Cameron, explained some things to Cameron and, when she finished, said goodbye to her. She went down the stairs, headed to Luis's apartment; Luis was sitting there with his head leaning back in his seat and with his eyes closed. Luis's profile was very good; Alicia knocked on the door to make herself noticed.

—Am I interrupting you?

—No, no, you never interrupt, tell me, Alicia. How can I help you?

— I'm going home early, then I'll go to the airport, so we won't see each other until I get back and I wanted to say goodbye.

— Yes, I hope you have a good trip and don't forget me.

Luis approached Alicia and gave her a hug. Alicia was surprised; it had been a long time since a man hugged her, and it felt good.

Luis was there hugging that girl he once longed for, he didn't want to let go, her warmth was addictive, but in the end he separated from her.

— Be careful.

Alicia nodded and left; she felt embarrassed, so she didn't ask anything else. She left the office embarrassed; she prepared to go to her mother-in-law's house, as it was still early. Gabriel hadn't stopped by Abril, so she wanted to say goodbye. After 30 minutes she arrived at her mother-in-law's house and when she entered she saw Abril playing with some dolls.

— Mommy!

Abril ran to Alicia.

—I thought I wouldn't see you today, since I'm with my dad.

—Yes, my love, but you know I'm going on a trip, so I wanted to say goodbye to you.

—Yes. Mom. Celeste told me that you're going for work, can you bring me something?

—Whatever you want, my love.

__ Mmm, another doll, mommy! So that my dolls have another friend.

She smiled when she saw her daughter's smile that melted her heart. It was what she loved most on earth.

—A doll is fine.

She took her daughter in a tender hug. That afternoon they spent the day together before the time when Gabriel will pick her up. Alicia said goodbye with many kisses; Abril wished her a good trip, her mother-in-law did too. Alicia arrived home and lay down to rest before traveling. Her alarm went off at 11:00, she called a taxi and while waiting she got ready she got ready a bit. When the taxi arrived she took her suitcase and asked him to take her to the airport.