Three

"Ugh!" Ximena mumbled as her tummy somersaulted yet again.

She pinched her eyes close, opened her mouth for air to drift in, and slouched into her seat as the plane decelerated.

She loathed travelling by air, but she had no choice due to the nature of her job. 

Ever since she had gotten the job as a part-time model in the current agency she was in, she had been going to different locations by air even though she could go by road.

It was a necessity because she had attempted to talk her boss out of it, but he had termed it as rebelliousness if she didn't abide by the rule.

Asides from Ximena loathing it, travelling by air was faster and safer than other means. So, she had opted to use it today despite it being a work-free day for her.

She counted to ten slowly, gripping the seat as the pilot announced they were landing.

Her heart plummeted along with the plane, and her forehead became damp.

She breathed in and out deeply as soon as it landed, but her ordeal didn't end there. Instead, it became worse.

Stumbling out, her eyes dimmed, and she gripped the rail for support so she wouldn't fall face flat on the ground.

Her vision cleared a bit as she blinked, and her stomach did a flip-flop. She sighted a trashcan not far from where she was, darted to it and retched the content of her stomach there before she would embarrass herself.

She let out a wince as her muscles contracted.

"I hate this." She murmured whilst rinsing the sour taste in her mouth with the water In a plastic bottle with her.

When she felt a bit better, she strolled around the airport, and she noticed a man with her name on a raised placard- she had contacted the man, who was an Uber driver some minutes before she landed.

Ximena waved, and he beckoned her over.

"Miss Ximena Claros?" He asked with a thick Spanish accent.

"Si," she nodded.

"Great." He grinned and then led her to a red Mazda that was parked close by.

Ximena entered, then gazed at him through the rearview mirror as he turned on the ignition.

His head was bald and wrinkles were at the corner of each eye whenever he smiled.

Ximena could only pick a few words out of whatever he was saying to her. Whilst she nodded at the rest.

Her knowledge of Spanish was limited because she had only learnt the basics.

Also, she had opted to learn French- which was her favourite language instead of it. The reason she wasn't too inclined to learn Spanish was because of her mother.

Ximena had learnt that the Witch- the way her father often addressed her by- had dumped her on her father's porch when she was a baby without a second glance at her.

She had only seen the woman once. She had gone to a fashion show with her father when she was much younger. They were far away from each other and when Ximena had waved, her mother had stared straight at her like she wasn't there.

Ximena hadn't put much meaning into it since she was quite young. But, she had been disappointed with how common the woman had treated her.

Also, she had come to terms that she had no one except her father until now.

Now, here she was in a place she had never been before, a place she never dreamt she would be in to seek help.

Her mother held the key to her being employed in her dream company and Ximena had set her pride aside to come to her for help.

The driver grinned when he noticed she had tipped, and she bade him farewell after alighting.

Ximena inhaled deeply, and let it out slowly before proceeding to the entrance of the grand house in front of her. It was a Victorian-style building, and red brick was used in decorating the wall.

She pushed the steel gate and proceeded into the quiet but beautiful surroundings

Her nostrils flared as the scent of marigold infiltrated the air and her hand went to smoothen the nonexisting crease on the flowery dress she donned out of habit.

Also, she realized her palms were clammy which was due to nervousness and at the same time curiosity that was building inside her.

Ximena wondered if the woman who was her mother would recognize her, or dismiss her like she had done when she was younger or maybe embrace her since it had been a long time since they saw each other.

Whichever it was, Ximena was hoping for the best, as well as prepared for the worst.

Her hand met air as she prepared to knock on the metal door.

A woman, probably in her mid-thirties surfaced. She was petite and chubby. An apron was tied to her waist, and her onyx eyes went wide as she gazed at her.

"Hello." Ximena smiled politely.

"I'm Ximena, and I'm looking for my mo.." She bit her tongue, and hastily corrected her slip."Jazmine Fernandez."

The maid frowned as she gazed at the young woman in front of her. It couldn't be mistaken who she was. Only the blind wouldn't notice the uncanny resemblance she shared with her boss.

She noticed how polite Ximena was, unlike the young woman who was inside her room right now.

"This way." The maid ushered her in. Then she pointed to a vast room which happened to be the living room for her to stay in.

Three brown sofas surrounded a creamy coffee table made of glass. A large television was attached to the wall nearby, and the blind of the curtains were drawn apart to show the beautiful artwork in the room.

Murals of various types covered the wall, and Ximena marvelled as she wondered how wealthy her mother was since everything in the room seemed extravagant.

A footstep sounded down the stairs, and a girl close to her age appeared. She halted at the foot of the stairs and her startled gaze stayed on Ximena before she exclaimed.

"Mother!"

"What is all this fuss, Clementina?" Said a sultry voice.

It was Ximena's turn to be startled. When she had been compared to the woman by many agencies she had been to, she thought it had been a mere exaggeration.

Even her father had affirmed it, but she was way too furious to believe she would look like someone like her.

"Who are you?" The elegant woman asked.

Ximena's heart shattered into a million pieces as soon as the word slipped out of her mouth.

Wasn't it glaring that she was her freaking daughter! She wanted to exclaim, but she bit her tongue once more to stop herself from blurting out.

"I'm Ximena Claros,” said Ximena then continued as the elegant woman in front of her didn't seem like she recognized her or the name she had mentioned.

“I think you are my mother. "

Ximena noticed Clementina's eyes had grown wider. She waited for an outburst from either her or her mother. But, none came.

Both stared at her like she had lost her mind, or maybe it was only Clementina that looked at her that way.

For all she knew, the woman who had the same features as her, the same white hair, stormy grey eyes, alabaster skin and upturned nose knew she birthed her.

When none said anything, Ximena continued. "I'm here to ask for a favour and you are the only one that can help me."

"What favour?" Asked her mother with a raised brow.

"I need your signatures on this document. It is from a firm and I was told only a well-known model like you could help me get in." Ximena rushed out.

She exhaled and handed the document in her backpack to the woman and her eyes glimpsed at it briefly before it settled on hers.

"I know you are my daughter. " She affirmed much to the annoyance of the other girl.

Ximena was glad she finally acknowledged her. A small smile played on her lips as Clementina scowled.

"You cheated on dad?!"

"Quiet Clementina. I didn't. It happened before I met your father." She dismissed with a wave of her hand.

"Oh!" Clementina murmured, eyeing her.

"However, I won't sign that document. You should look for a better offer." Her mother stated as she handed it back to her.

Ximena shook her head as her mother began to walk up the stairs. She had thought this would be a reunion but it was so awkward as she was treated like a mere commoner again.

She was sure she treated the maid better than her.

Her mother had only acknowledged her but didn't accept her.

Nor was the document signed. 

Ximena's hands trembled as she remembered the reason she had travelled this far.

She needed the money the company had to offer because of her ailing father. But, the person she thought she could run to had brushed her off like they weren't related.

Tears slid down her cheeks and she swiped at them angrily. She yanked the handle of the door and hurried out of the house before anyone would see her breaking down.

"I need another alternative, even if it is to do the impossible," she mumbled to herself.