A/N I know Alberto Del Rio is his ring name, but for the case of this story I'm gonna refer to him by it. I'm also not a spanish speaker so you'll notice the lack of spanish in the story...sorry.
I pulled my car to a stop in the parking lot, throwing the shifter into park, and cutting the engine. It was my first day of work and I was late. Wonderful.
Grabbing my purse and backpack I quickly hurried inside the auto mechanic shop, walking in, glancing around watching the numerous mechanics bustling about around the numerous cars that were in different bays. I walked into the garage area, my eyes watching all the people moving, listening to the sounds of engines and other tools working.
"Hey! You're not supposed to be back here!" A deep voice yelled to me, as a large man approached me, his overalls covered in grease as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Actually, I'm looking for Gus." I said proudly, standing up as straight as possible.
"I don't care who you're looking for, you're not allowed to be back here." The cocky man said, pointing me towards the waiting room.
"Scout?" A voice yelled across the garage, getting my attention. I smiled as I turned and saw my grandfather walking out of the office area, his arms open wide.
"Papa!" I exclaimed, hurrying to him, immediately hugging him tight as he held me close. I smiled back at the large man I had talked to earlier, watching as he rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, before walking back to the car he was working on before. I followed my grandfather into the office, as he closed the door behind me.
"You were supposed to be here at 8." My grandfather spoke, walking to the other side of the desk, sitting in the chair.
"I hit traffic. I've only been back in town for a week, I guess I forgot about the traffic." I admitted blushing, as my grandfather watched me from across the room.
"And how's the apartment working out for you?" My grandfather asked, as I smiled.
"It's perfect." I lied about the small place, that seemed like it was barely bigger than a closet. Glancing out of the window out into the mechanic shop, I saw the numerous mechanics looking back at me, all of them talking and I'm pretty sure I knew what it was about, turning back to my grandfather.
"They already hate me." I admitted, sitting in the chair.
"You'll earn their respect soon enough." My grandfather spoke, not looking up from the paperwork he was writing.
"I was thinking…maybe I should do something else…just for a little while, then I can slowly work my way in." I admitted, glancing up to my grandfather, who put the pen down on the desk.
"I spent good money putting you through mechanic school, then more money for you to get your business degree for a reason. This shop has been in our family for years, I started this business for my grandchildren." My grandfather spoke proudly.
"Grandchild." I corrected him, as he smiled, getting to his feet walking towards me.
"The best granddaughter in the world." My Papa corrected me, placing a gentle kiss on my head.
"Come on, let's feed you to the sharks already, so they can get some work done today." Papa spoke, pulling me to my feet, grabbing me by the hand, leading me out of his small office.
I stood next to my grandfather as he called all of the mechanics and employees to the center of the garage, all of their eyes on me, as I shifted uncomfortably. I could see their gazes and most of them already hated my guts, and this was not gonna get any better.
"Alright listen up. This is my granddaughter Ruby. She's a certified mechanic, and will be working in here starting today. One day she'll run this shop, so I expect all of you to give her the same respect you give me." Papa said, as I groaned and grimaced. That was probably the worst thing he could have said to a group of people who already hate my guts. I put on a fake smile, waving to the employees, as all of them stared back at me with frowns and anger filled faces.
"Must be nice to be grandpa's girl." One of the mechanics stated, causing the others to laugh as they started to disperse. This was going wonderful, I thought as I ran my hand through my hair, watching as they slowly continued back to the cars they were working on.
"Yeah. They really hate me now." I said softly, watching as my grandfather smiled, before leading me over to one of the nicest cars I've ever laid eyes on. I walked around the beautiful car, it was perfect. I had never laid eyes on a car like this in my life. I had always loved cars, I guess growing up with my grandfather and being around the garage it was bound to happen, but this car was just perfect.
"I figured you could handle this one." Papa said with a smile, watching as I walked around the car. My eyes growing wide as I looked to my grandfather.
"Are you sure? I mean this car is really expensive." I said worried, as my grandfather laughed out loud.
"Don't be silly, it's only an oil change. I think you can handle it Scout." Papa said, patting me on the shoulder, before walking by and making his way back into the office area. I took a deep sigh, placing my purse and backpack to the side, as I pulled my tool bag out of my backpack. I slipped on my overalls, before raising the car on the lift and started the oil change.
Getting the oil changed and complete, I wiped some of the grease from my hands onto my overalls, before giving the car a quick check of the fluids, washed the windows, and proceeded to check the tires. Noticing one of the tires was a little low, I glanced around the garage, seeing the air hose at the bay across from me. Seeing the large mechanic I ran into this morning working in that bay, I sighed before walking across the garage.
"You mind if I borrow this?" I asked, reaching for the air hose.
"It's just an oil change, why do you need it?" he asked with a sneer, not even looking up from the engine.
"Just trying to do a good job." I responded.
"Right, cause you went to school, so all of a sudden you know how to do everything." He sneered, slamming the hood of the car. I grabbed the air hose and started walking back towards the bay I was working at.
"That's right, get back to working on the car of our best customer, you better not screw it up, or grandpa might get angry!" He yelled, causing the other mechanics to chuckle, as I got back to the car, filling up the tire, trying my best not to let them get to me.
I focused my best on the car, the mechanics ignoring me like the plague, so I did whatever I could to make sure the car was in perfect running order. Laying on the small cart, I rolled myself under the car, letting my feet hang out from under the frame, as I examined the engine from underneath. I froze hearing my grandfather's and another man's voice approaching, and closed my eyes. What now. I felt the car dip, knowing my papa was leaning against the frame.
"Scout! Come on out here, I want you to meet someone." Papa said loudly, tapping my foot with his.
"Papa please, I really don't want to meet anyone else today." I said, trying my best to keep my voice steady. Today was horrible, and I didn't need it to get worse.
"Alright, enough of that." Papa responded with a laugh, grabbing my foot and pulling me out from under the car. I opened my eyes, seeing my papa standing above me, looking down at me with a smile. I turned to see the other gentleman, my stomach immediately filling with butterflies, as my blue eyes met his dark ones. I took in his groomed appearance, his black hair slicked back, a wide charming smirk on his lips. He wore a black blazer and pants, with a white button up shirt, and I couldn't help but inhale and could smell his cologne from my spot and it smelt wonderful. I could feel my skin turning red, as his eyes skimmed up and down my body, taking in my appearance, when I heard papa speak.
"Scout, this is Alberto." Papa said, pointing to the other man, as the man's dark eyes met mine again, and I blushed, looking away for a moment.
"Hi." I said in a soft tone.
"You gonna come up here sometime bonita?" Alberto asked, looking down at me, as I continued to lay on the cart. I blushed, nodding my head, sitting up, jumping back to my feet, as quick as possible. Just now noticing my hands and face were covered in oil, as was my overalls. I did my best to wipe as much of it off as quick as I could, before I watched Alberto turn to my grandfather.
"Your granddaughter is beautiful." Alberto said with a smile, causing my Papa to laugh.
"I'm gonna leave you two alone." Papa said, shaking Alberto's hand before walking back towards his office.
"Watch out for him Scout!" Papa warned, looking back to us from the doorway of his office, as I glanced to Alberto who chuckled softly, giving me a wink. I glanced around the garage, noticing the other mechanics watching my every move, as I shifted uncomfortably, turning towards the small sink that sat between bays, washing my hands, as Alberto walked around his car, he seemed to be inspecting it.
"So the oil's changed, I put in a high grade oil. Checked all the fluids, washed the windows, and checked the tires for you as well." I spoke, drying my hands with a paper towel, before tossing it into a trashcan and standing next to the car, as Alberto continued to make his way around it, before standing next to me a smile on his lips.
"Did you do that just for me bonita?" Alberto asked, crossing his arms across his broad chest.
"Bonita?" I asked confused, as he smiled wide.
"It means pretty in Spanish." Alberto informed, grabbing my hand with his, lifting it to his lips before placing a gentle kiss on the back of it, sending chills down my spine. I swallowed hard, softly pulling my hand back.
"Papa was right. I do need to watch out for you." I said with a shaky voice, my skin a deep red as I looked everywhere but back to the man standing across from me. I walked towards the front of the shop, as Alberto followed, grabbing the paperwork and began to ring up his costs. I tried not to notice, as he leaned against the counter.
"Gus told me you just got back to town." Alberto said softly, his dark eyes looking into mine, as I glanced to him.
"Yeah, about a week ago." I said politely, looking back to the computer.
"I'd love to show you around town." Alberto said with a smile, as I blushed again, focusing more on the computer.
"I used to live here, I know my way around town." I said nicely, hearing him chuckle.
"Then I'd love to show you some new places." Alberto added. I handed him the receipt, as he grabbed the paper from my hand, his hands taking mine in his, both of his hands covering mine. I blushed as I let my hand rest in his.
"Don't make me beg, bonita." Alberto said softly, his accent making the words sound exotic.
"Don't take this the wrong way Alberto, but I think you're too rich for me." I admitted, gently pulling my hand back.
"There is no such thing…" Alberto responded laughing, as I held his keys out, Alberto holding his hand out below the keys as I dropped them into his hand.
"and I never take no for an answer bonita." Alberto finished with a wink, before making his way back to his car, driving it out of the shop.