Chapter 2-The truth shall set you free
"Ortiz... My office now..." was the first thing Letty heard as she pressed the alarm on her car and face the back entrance to the night club where she worked. At first she thought it would be better to work nights as she was still hiding from Braga, but with the baby it was beginning to take a toll on her physical and mentally.
"You better have a good explanation; no somebody better had died for you to show up late for the...I lost count...what is with you?
"I…..," Letty tried to defend herself.
"I don't want to hear any more of your excuses. Hand over you keys to the wine cellar and back door." Mr Del Rio was a very cross.
"Mr. Del Rio, please, I promise I'll never be late again" Letty's voice sounded so shaky from lack of sleep and desperate that Mr. Del Rio lowered his tone.
"Look I'm sorry but I run a business here, I have the girls holding on for you until you show up. They have their own lives. You however are not cutting it here. I'm sorry".
"Please sir I need this job; you can't do this, please. I'll work on my punctuality, just give me a chance." Letty begged.
I've given you lots of chances. Letty if something is going on..."
"No... nothing is going on" she quickly evaded the topic.
"You can collect you final check in the morning, good night" Mr. Del Rio turned away from Letty. He never liked to look people in the eye when he fired them. He didn't want the image of their faces to invade his dreams.
Letty stood there like a child awaiting punishment. Her face grew red as she tried to maintain her composure. Her thoughts instantly went back to when DJ was born and he had an ear infection. He cried so much Letty became terrified. The worst part was being given a prescription for him that she couldn't afford. She remembered enduring the wails of pain for two nights straight while she did odd jobs to make up the money. She remembered breaking down in tears when DJ finally went to sleep.
At this time her eyes were already swollen with tears but she refused to let them fall.
With gravel in her voice she confessed, "I have a son, a three month old baby boy." her confessions now turned defensive, "I can't lose this job, I'm all he has, I know I lied on my application when I said I had no kids but you have to understand I needed this job, no matter what. There is no one to watch him in the day so I Work at nights while a friend stays with him at night. I'm just a little tired that's all, come on man, please give me a break." At this time the tears were flowing but Letty didn't care. She would get down on her knees and beg if she had to.
There was a dead silence in the office except for Letty's heavy breathing as she tried to regain her composure.
Mr. Del Rio pushed himself away from his desk and reclined on his leather chair. "I hear you are good with cars."
Letty looked nervous as this was a part of her past life, how did he know?
"I heard it from the girls," Mr Del Rio replied seeing the curiosity on Letty's face
"Uh... Yeah...Stacy, I help her out a while ago. Her gasket was blown. I took the engine apart and replaced it, no big deal really." Letty replied wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"Very impressive, for a woman" Mr Del Rio raised one eyebrow as he spoke.
Letty started to fidget in her high heels rather nervously as she became even more irritable at the talk of cars and engines.
"Do you know I own a garage?"
"No... Sir" She replied as though she was being drilled for the army.
"Well I'm a little shorthanded; one of my mechanics was arrested for vehicular theft."
"Bummer man", Letty said with a slight chuckle as she remembered her team in LA.
"Three hundred bucks, one day a week, Saturdays. That's about two day's double shift, if I'm not mistaken."
"Yeah... I mean... Yes sir" she again replied in the cadet tone.
"You'll get some sleep, spend some quality time with your kid, and most importantly, get to my dam work on time. Is that clear?"
"Yes s..."
"Enough with the Sir already. You were requested for table five for the night, now get to work."
Letty was so excited and relieved that she still had a job, she left the office immediately before Mr. Del Rio changed his mind.
"Finally, I know I owe you for the car thing but dam girl, I do have a life you know" Stacy vented as she saw her co-worker showed up to relieve her of her shift.
"I'm sorry, girl, I over slept, won't happen again, thanks for covering for me." Letty said to her friend as she quickly picked up some menus and her waist apron.
"No problem, you'll get yours tonight" Stacy said devilish like.
"What shit you talking now?"
"Table five... Real ass holes have fun I'm outta here." Stacy exited almost instantly after.
Letty looked across to table five, it looked like a couple of college guys goofing off and looking to get lucky.
Letty rolled her eyes and whispered to herself, "Never a dull moment"
