Chapter One

It was a busy Monday morning, the sky was clear, and no sign of rain was in sight. As it had rained cat and dog the previous week.

Everyone was going about their business as it was the first day of the week, and the traffic was frustrating to those on their way to their respective offices. The case was not the same for Sofia Cortez as she was just laid off from her place of work.

“Like I said we can’t keep you here anymore, I’m only letting you go without involving external forces because of the friendship I share with your father,” said Mrs. Bortlen the manager of Haute House Boutique.

“No! You are only letting me go because the CCTV cameras here don’t function” Sofia fired back angrily pointing to the faulty cameras that stared blankly at her.

“Sofia, don’t cause a scene here, take the letter and leave, please,” Mrs. Bortlen said softly as she picked up the letter from her desk and handed it to Sofia.

“Sofia, let’s leave, There’s nothing you can do, their minds are made up,” Camilla said tapping her on the shoulder.

Sofia had worked for two years at Haute House Boutique after she graduated from college, and getting to work there was very difficult as the requirements for application were very rigid but through the influence of her father, a vacant space was given to her as the receptionist.

And now she is getting laid off because of a confrontation she had with a customer who accused her of being rude to her and her boyfriend.

Sofia insisted that she was being accused of something she didn’t do but like they say “customers are always right”, The lady and her boyfriend reported her to the manager and insisted she should be laid off since she was stubborn and not remorseful.

Haute House was a well-known boutique situated at the heart of Pachuca in Mexico City, where the wealthy come to shop expensive designer wears and perfume with limited edition and the big men come to spoil their wives and mistresses with expensive gifts.

Sofia picked up her letter reluctantly and without saying a word she gestured to Camila for them to leave the premises.

As they were about to leave Sofia collided with a young handsome man in a suit, he was oozing sexiness, his blue eyes sparkled to the lights of the building, and his sense of fashion was top-notch.

Sofia was spellbound as she has never met such a handsome young man like that in her life, he looked vaguely familiar, like she had seen him on a magazine or a television commercial all that did not matter to her all she knew is that she had seen an angel on earth.

He was being guarded by two men in suits, who followed him closely behind carrying a suitcase each.

“Are you blind?” the young man shouted at her angrily.

“You just ruined my shoes” he continued as he pointed to his shoes which had been smeared.

“I..i didn’t see you come..ing and you don’t have to be rude” Sofia stuttered.

“Pardon?”

“Who raised you?”

“You were not taught to apologize?” the young man continued as he moved closer to Sofia.

“Apologize for what?”

“After insulting me, you expect me to apologize to you?” Sofia asked trying not to make the young man notice she was a bit intimidated by him.

“Sofia you smeared his shoes, please let’s don’t cause a scene here” Camila whispered to her.

“I sincerely apologize, my friend didn’t see you coming through, please…”

Camila was cut short as Mrs. Bortlen walked up to them to find out what the fuss was all about.

“Good day señor Gustavo Alvarez” Mrs. Bortlen greeted with a smile on her face.

“Please is there an issue?” Mrs. Bortlen asked.

“No there’s no issue” Sofia replied.

“Sofia, I was not talking to you”

“She works here?” Gustavo asked as his eyes caught the name tag on Sofia’s shirt.

“Yes señor, she used to work here, we laid her off today” Mrs. Bortlen replied as she looked at Sofia.

“And why is that?” Gustavo asked with a smirk on his face, which showed he was satisfied with the fact she had just been laid off from work.

“Few customers complained that she was rude to them” Mrs Bortlen replied.

“You see, I was not wrong, a wretched being like you can’t even keep a job, and every time your kind are always the first to blame the rich for having everything”.

“It’s best you go home and let your parents teach you some manners” Gustavo said as he made to leave”.

“I apologize if I smeared your expensive shoes and wasted your time, but I won’t have you insult my parents in that manner,” Sofia said softly as she was close to tears.

“Learn some manners, and have a nice day,” Gustavo said as he walked out on her.

Sofia stood there motionless, she regretted ever coming to work that Monday morning. She could have just left when Mrs. Bortlen asked her to at least the chances of bumping into Gustavo were slim.

“I’m glad you were laid off earlier, do you know who that young man is?” Mrs. Bortlen asked with her eyes wide open.

“Well if you don’t know, I’ll tell you, Señor Gustavo Alvarez, is the son of Mateo Alvarez, who owns a conglomerate of businesses all across Mexico and the United States.” Mrs. Bortlen continued.

Immediately Mrs. Bortlen said this Camila and Sofia's eyes widened and they were in shock, Sofia was sure she had seen his face somewhere but she couldn't recall where.

Gustavo Alvarez was one of the top young men in Mexico City who was among the most successful and richest men in their thirties.

He was the only son of Mateo Alvarez and he has an elder sister Victoria Pèrez, who was already married to her prom date from high school and who is the only son of the present governor of Hildago.

Gustavo Alvarez was admired by every woman in Mexico but he paid little or no attention to them. All he cared about was the chain of businesses his father handed over to him after he fell ill.

“Is there a way I can go and apologize to him?”

“I didn’t mean to talk back at him,” Sofia asked remorsefully.

“No Sofia, that won't be necessary anymore, I will apologize on your behalf so I suggest you go home now” Mrs. Bortlen suggested as she excused herself.

Sofia stood there for some seconds regretting her outburst toward Gustavo, she felt remorseful and knew she didn’t handle the situation well.

“Let’s go Sofia before you cause more trouble,” Camila said as they made their way out of the boutique.