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Chapter Fourteen:
"What do you mean he knows your parents?" AJ is surprise of his statement.
"I was talking with your dad earlier and he said my parents were great parents." He states.
"Yeah, your parents probably were great parents. I said were because I don't know yet if they are alive." She agrees with his dad.
"My mother is alive I can feel it." He calls out a bit hurt that she assumed they are both dead."
"Oh okay, just calm down." She is a bit frightened.
"I need to swim or be alone." He walks out of the store.
"Alberto." She runs after him. "Alberto, talk to me, what's wrong?"
"Your dad knows my parents. Your dad probably is the cause of them out of my life." He utters without thinking.
"No!" She shakes her head. "He wouldn't do that. He is a decent person who has a horrible past."
"Oh, your mother died. News flash, it happens to all of us." He calls out very irritated right now. "At least you still have your dad. I have to live with my step father that doesn't care about me." He expresses.
"No, I mean that we lived near a factory when I was born to when my mom died. She died from pneumonia just like your dad did. The fumes got into her lungs from being a stay-at-home mom. I thought we were on the same page with one of our parents that died from pneumonia, but I was wrong." She wipes her eyes and runs to Phil who is a safe distance. Phil glares at him and walks to where Romeo and Angelle are. With being the bodyguard for them, he knows actually where everyone is."
Alberto feels bad that yet again he assumed. Everything is piling up and he pushed away the only person that he can talk to about this. He sits on a bench with his hands on his face.
"Hi, young sir." A woman greets. Alberto looks up to see the woman sitting down with him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just had a fight with my friend. Well, I hope she is still my friend."He sighs.
"Can I offer some advice?" The woman asks.
"Why not?"
"Never assume on anything. Believe that everything can happen the way you want it to be. If you try to fix things yourself that shouldn't, you might lose everything. I know from personal experiences." The woman advises.
"Thanks, but it is more complicated than that." He explains.
"It is only complicated if you make it complicated. Just explain it to her." She lays her hand on his shoulder before she leaves.
"Alberto, we are going." Phil calls out coming back to get him.
"Go home without me I will take the bus." He suggests not ready to face AJ or Romeo.
"I can come back after I drop them." Phil asks knowing it is not a great idea for him to be in the same car right now.
"No it is fine. Tell them I will at their home soon." He walks away. Phil feels bad for them. He sees the connection between AJ and Alberto. They just need a little push. He heads back to the car alone to the surprise of all of them.
"Where's Alberto?" AJ asks looking around to see if he is coming.
"He is coming later. He wants to be alone." Phil informs her.
"You are coming back for him, right?" She asks concern. Phil shakes his head knowing it is not what she wants to hear.
"What? Don't tell me is going to take the bus." He nods.
"Princess, just leave him for now. I will make sure he come home safe." He promises.
"Okay, I trust you. You never break your promise." She smiles.
"That's right, princess." He smiles back a bit nervous on this promise.
"Come, let us pick out the decorations for the stairwell and tables." Angelle shows her the decorations she has chosen so far.
"Okay."
When they got home, AJ and Angelle are distracted by the decorations. They got out of the car with smiles and laughter.
"Sir, you need to tell Alberto you know his parents." Phil advises.
"What if they hate me when we do find his mother? Alberto could blame me for not saving his father before."
"Romeo-" Phil only speaks his first name when he is serious. "Are you 100% sure you can find her?" He nods. "You need to be 100% sure because if you can't you will not just hurt Alberto, but AJ as well."
"I know we will find her I feel it." He says with confidence.
"Then I hope you do." He walks to the security office.
"Hey Phil." He turns around. "Thanks. Tell everyone I am out."
"No problem."
Romeo gets back into the SUV and heads back to the mall.
Dawn and Sergio are lying asleep on Dawn's bed. They went through three rounds. They couldn't tear themselves away from each other. A few moments later, Sergio wakes up with a grin on his face. Part of it is that he still has Dawn for his plan. The other part is that he is happy to share this level of connection with her. After reminiscing what happen earlier, he gets dressed quietly to continue his plan. Before leaving, he kisses Dawn on the head to see her smile. He exits quietly in once again heading to Romeo's office. He finally gets there without any interruptions. There he unbolts the hinges of the safe to get one USB. This surprise him, but he puts the hinges back to look like it was never opened. He sneaks back out to contact his boss.
Romeo drives to the mall to his surprise to already see Alberto at the bus stop.
"Alberto." He calls out through the opened window.
"Oh Mr. Mendez, you didn't have to come back." He rubs his neck nervously.
"I do have to come back. We need to talk about our conversation before." He opens the door.
"It is okay. I just probably assume that you knew them." Alberto stays put.
"Come on Alberto, we actually need to talk. I also promised AJ to get you home safe. She is concern for you." He hopes it will help. He knows he screwed up, so it is his job to fix it.
"Why would she be concern, I yelled at her? I embarrassed her in the mall. She probably doesn't want to see me right now." He slumps down on the bus bench.
Romeo gets out of the car and locks it. "She does want to see you. I know you know she likes you. Sometimes, she can be over eager to help, but it will take a lot more than probably what you said to lose her. She has been through a lot, so stop assuming and just go with the facts."
"Yes, a lot of people keep mentioning that I assume a lot." He chuckles. Even though they continue to tell him that, he can't help it.
"Well assuming will not get you any answers you need. It also might get you in trouble with the wrong people." Romeo advises. "Now about your parents." He goes back to the topic he wants to discuss with him.
"No, you don't have-"
"Alberto, we will find your mother. I am 100% sure we will. When we do, I will explain everything. Don't lose faith that we won't no matter what anyone says." He needs to get that out there, even though, it is not the full truth.
"Thanks Mr. Mendez." He appreciates that he has passion to find his parents as much as he does.
"Now, do you have a tuxedo for the party?" Alberto shakes his head. "Well, let's get you one. No escort of my daughter will wear just any suit.
"Mr. Mendez, do you mind if I call AJ to tell her I am okay. I assume-" Romeo stops him. "I know-" Romeo nods. "I know that she will be concern."
"Of course, you can call as we walk inside the mall after I park."
Alberto dials her number. "Daddy, did you find him? Is he okay? Are you coming home now?" AJ greets with an excitable tone.
"Hello AJ." Alberto smiles at her excitement. There is not response for a few moments. "AJ."
"Hi." She is embarrassed with how she reacted before. "Umm… you heard everything before, didn't you?"
"Yes I did."
"Well, umm… I am glad you are okay. You seem distraught earlier." She nervously speaks.
"Yeah, I am sorry for what I said. I keep assuming everything and it almost cost me you; the person I don't want to lose." He says sincerely.
"Aww, yes you should stop doing that. I can forgive you this time, but next time I don't know." She utters with a happy tone.
"Thank you. Your dad and I will be home soon. We are just looking for a tuxedo to wear for your special day." He informs her.
"Okay, just make sure it matches my dress." She giggles.
"Of course, I would never get one that doesn't match." He chuckles.
"I will see you later." She says hopefully.
"Yes you will." He answers. There is a brief pause until they hang up.
"Is everything good?" Romeo overhears part of the conversation.
"It is." He gives him back his phone.
Romeo and Alberto are home with a full outfit for Alberto. He got a new tuxedo, 2 dress shirts, 2 ties, 2 pants, socks, and dress shoes. Of course, AJ is right there at the door to greet both of them. She gives Alberto a great big hug still concern that he didn't come with them before.
"Hey, I am right here. I am back just like I said on the phone." He hugs her back.
"Yes I know." She lays her head on his chest.
"I'll put these in your room." Romeo takes the bags with him to let them have their moment.
"I can do it." AJ breaks the hug to take the bags from her dad. "I want to make sure it matches with my dress."
"Of course it does. You don't trust your father." He pretends to be offended.
"I do trust you; with my life. However, with clothes sometimes if you are by yourself." She discloses.
"That is all I needed to hear." He pecks her on her cheek before he heads to security office. He wants to check up if anything interesting happen while he was away.
"So, do you want to see me in my tuxedo?" Alberto asks very grateful that Alberto paid most of his outfit. He was willing to pay for it, but he insisted.
"Absolutely, you are going to look so handsome. We are going to be the best dress couple there." They walk to his bedroom.
Alberto goes into his private bathroom to put on his shirt and pants. While he does that, AJ searches how to tie ties in case Alberto doesn't know how. He comes out so AJ can put on his jacket and tie. In the interview, he wore a clip on tie. Romeo didn't like it so he brought him the real one that you have tie yourself.
"Umm… do you know how to tie a tie?" He asks embarrassed. What man doesn't know how to do that?
"Of course, I will show you." She ties his tie explaining the direction as she does it. She does a simple way to not confuse him. "There you go." She fixes it a bit.
"Umm… can you show me again?"
She chuckles. "Come here." She brings her laptop to them. "Here are some videos on how to tie a tie. There are many different ways. Please start with the easy ones and work your way up."
"Okay, but I think the way you do it." He pouts.
"Fine, but don't tell daddy. You need to know at least one way just in case daddy ask how to." She warns.
"Don't worry, I will be ready." He says with confidence.
She titters. "Let me see you." They walk to the full length mirror. He puts on his shoes before the look at the mirror. "My escort is one handsome man."
"I look very distinguish; I feel worry to be your escort." He sees the pictures from the dinners that they go and he has to up his game.
"You are worry to be escort whether you are in a suit or normal clothes. Now changes your clothes, you are far too sexy to stay in them." She chuckles. "Plus, we need have it pressed before the party."
"Well you look beautiful in your dress, so we are a perfect match." He responds back. "Please untie my tie." He leads forward. They are about inches apart. They feel the tension growing until AJ snaps out of it.
"Umm… I am going to tell Angelle you are here." She quickly heads to the door blushing. "When you are done, meet us at the pool." She doesn't look at him.
"Sure, I will see you there." He grins.
Sergio is on the phone with his boss in the den.
"Yes, I have got the secret. It must be a lot of information because it is on a USB."
"Interesting, send me the files on the USB by email. Afterwards, keep the USB with you just in case you need it. You can blackmail them if you need to." His boss orders him.
"Sure-"He unloads the file. "There is only one file here." He looks at it with an odd expression. "Oh well, I have send the file." He tells his boss.
"Good, just use your insider to find more about the Mendez household and family. When we have enough, we will continue our plan."
Next chapter is AJ's birthday. How do you think it will go?
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