"What are you doing?" Sandra asked.
Yvonne had been in a rather good mood lately and Sandra now spotted her with several ingredients in the restaurant locker room. Yvonne was currently flipping through a few magazines looking at different desert recipes.
"Christmas is coming up so I was planning to make chocolates" Yvonne replied.
"It's not even Valentine's Day yet. Who are you planning to make them for?"
"Just someone I'm really thankful to" Yvonne replied a secret smile and a blush.
"Sounds like someone special" Sandra pointed to a recipe for chocolate hearts that she found rather adorable.
"Why don't you make something for Castiel. It is your first Christmas" Yvonne suggested.
"Why should I give him anything?" Sandra said with exaggerated annoyance.
"I did buy too much sugar and mix so you can have them in case you change your mind" Yvonne reached inside the bag and took out a few boxes.
"Thanks" Sandra said taking the ingredients from Yvonne.
That night, Sandra stayed awake to use the kitchen. She cooked up the chocolate and made them into little face shapes. Some of them were smiling but some were scowling or sticking their tongues out. She was reminded a lot of Castiel as she decorated them. She sent Castiel a text to meet her tomorrow night at the mall so she could give him his very first personalised Christmas gift.
Castiel got out of his car and spotted Sandra immediately. She was dressed in a pink coat which looked rather adorable. He walked up to her and then spoke.
"Why did you want to meet here?"
"I asked you nicely to come out and meet me, can't you be a little nicer?" Sandra said after taking a few deep breaths so as not to hit him.
"It's cold. Let's go inside and eat" Castiel said. He noticed the bag in her hand but refrained from asking what it was.
"Follow me" Sandra turned and began walking into the mall.
"You're going to drag me somewhere and get me in trouble again, right?" Castiel sighed but followed her inside anyway.
They entered a cafe and Sandra quickly ordered two lattes. Castiel sat down on a couch and waited for Sandra to join him. Sandra walked over with two cup and handed one to Castiel.
"Coffee is free here" Sandra said before sitting down.
"That promotion wasn't made for free loading customers like you" Castiel replied.
"You have no respect for customer service or care. I worry about the future of your company" Sandra said with a wink.
"But what is that?" Castiel pointed to the bag.
Sandra flushed which made Castiel instantly suspicious. Sandra held it out to him without a word and he pulled out a box from inside. He stilled in shock when he saw the homemade chocolates.
"It looks bad doesn't it? It tastes really good though" Sandra reached out for the box only to have Castiel hold it away from her.
"They're mine, don't touch them!" He said. Sandra flushed as he shut the box and put it back into the bag.
"You like them?" Sandra asked shyly.
Castiel smiled and that was enough an answer for Sandra. The loudspeakers overhead began an announcement.
"It is time for our weekly before Christmas event. This time win a free cell phone! All participants please come to the second floor. No registration required. You can enter this event in pairs. This event is sponsored by Amoris Group"
"Let's go!" Sandra grabbed Castiel's hand and dragged him all the way to the second floor.
"What! No! Let go!" Castiel kicked and screamed all the way but Sandra ignored him.
They got to the second floor and Sandra's eyes widened at the sight of the cell phones.
"We have eight couples here today. Whichever couple can hold onto their partner the longest, will be the winner!"
"Hey, I can buy you a cell phone, you know" Castiel whispered.
"But this is something fun. I'd rather win it with you" Sandra whispered back.
"Ready? Time starts now!"
Castiel held Sandra bridal style and Sandra couldn't stop blushing at the look he was giving her.
"Do you know if anyone finds out that the president's son is doing this, it'll be all over the news tomorrow" Castiel said.
"Just shut up. You'll lose your energy faster" Sandra said. Couples slowly began falling and soon only Castiel and Sandra were left with another couple.
Just then, Castiel froze. Sandra looked up and her eyes widened. Standing right in front of the stage was Castiel's mother Anlina. She seemed shocked but then glared at both of them. Castiel immediately let go of Sandra and she fell to the floor. She quickly scrambled up as the host declared the other couple the winner. Anlina immediately ordered the body guards who grabbed Castiel and dragged him off. Sandra followed them out and watched Castiel get tossed into his car and taken away leaving her along. Anlina glared at her and entered her own car and left.
Yvonne shivered in the cold outside Nathaniel's studio. In her hand was a bag full of her special homemade chocolates that she had made specially for him. She could feel a blush coming on as she thought of his sweet smile that she couldn't get out of her head since their little pretend date. She heard giggles and glanced up. Nathaniel stopped short when he noticed Yvonne standing right outside his door. Yvonne's face fell when she spotted his arms were wrapped around two beautiful older women.
"Yvonne, what are you doing here?" Nathaniel asked.
"I came to give you these" Yvonne replied quietly.
"How long have you been standing out here?" one of the girls asked with a sweet smile.
"You nose is all red!" The second said in arm.
"Come inside for tea" Nathaniel stepped forward and unlocked the door. Yvonne started to refuse but the two women dragged her inside. They entered and seated themselves on the sofa and Yvonne spotted all the gifts on the table. Her face fell as she saw the extravagant ribbons and large gifts.
"You can put yours there" Nathaniel said pointing to the table.
Yvonne placed her gift there and then quickly excused herself. Nathaniel sighed and followed her out taking her gift with him. He grabbed her by the arm to stop her.
"Leave me alone!" Yvonne slapped his hand away.
"Yvonne, acting is acting but it creates problems if you misunderstand" Nathaniel said.
Yvonne sighed but she knew he was right. She was deluding herself.
"I'll hold onto these until you find the real person you want to give them to. Thank you" Nathaniel turned and entered his studio. Yvonne watched him go and then ran off.
"Did anyone call for a taxi?"
Sandra glanced towards her right and spotted Lysander on his motorbike, flashing her a handsome smile. She smiled and climbed on behind him.
"How did you know I was here?" Sandra asked, when he stopped at a red light.
"The fireball rang"
"What?"
"Castiel told me to come pick you up. He said there was trouble" Lysander replied.
They stopped right outside her home and Sandra got off.
"Sandra, can you promise me something?" Lysander asked.
"What?"
"If anything happens, please tell me about it"
"I promise" she turned and walked up the stairs to her parent's apartment.
Anlina frowned as she looked through the pictures that Mr. William's had provided for her. They were pictures of Sandra and Castiel at the ice rink, at McDonalds, spending time with Sandra's family and also their kisses at the park. Anlina threw the photos onto the floor in frustration and looked up at Mr. Williams apologetic face.
"Her father is a dry cleaner and her mother is a massage parlour worker. Why did you not tell me this before when she came for the auction at our home?" Anlina was beyond angry.
"I thought he was bullying her and making her feel inferior. I had no idea that this was going on between them" Mr. Williams said.
"How did she get into our school?"
"Madam, you were the one who admitted her into the school" Mr. Williams pointed out. "She was the girl who saved the boy from committing suicide".
The door of the study burst open and there stood an irate Castiel.
"Don't bother that girl" Castiel said, glaring at his mother.
"What did you say?" Anlina softened her tone.
"I said don't bother her!"
"I don't know what you are talking about. Oh, are you talking about that girl I saw you with at the mall? Do you think your mother is that free to just go after one person? In my position, I have no time to be concerned with such trivial things. I am the President of Amoris Group!" Anlina's voice rose at the end.
"If you say so, then we're fine" Castiel turned and walked out.
"Mr. Williams, get the car ready" Anlina said.
Lysander got off his bike and then noticed the bag hanging off then handle bars. He opened up the box and smiled when he saw the little chocolates inside.
"So they've passed the cute chocolate stage?" Lysander frowned.
He heard his front door open and Castiel step into the living room.
"Where did you get that?" Castiel asked.
Lysander shrugged and held out the box. The chocolates were for Castiel, not for him. Castiel grabbed the chocolates and began eating all of them.
"Why are you here?" Lysander asked.
"I feel like something's going to happen to her after tonight. What scares me the most, is that something will happen and I won't even know it" Castiel replied.
"You know Sandra's made of thicker skin that that. Don't worry. You shouldn't be afraid either. You know we're right behind you if you need anything" Lysander stood and wrapped an arm around his best friend.
Castiel smiled and stuffed another chocolate into his mouth.
Will sighed as he got up from his laptop to answer the door. His mother was busy in the kitchen and his father was watching the news. He pulled opened the door and gasped. Standing right in the doorway was Anlina Martinez, Castiel's mother. Will stepped back with wide eyes.
"Will? Who's at the door?" Bob asked. He glanced at the front door and stood up when he spotted the well dressed woman at the door.
"If it's Mrs. Greaves from next door, tell her we haven't seen her cat!" Irene stepped out of the kitchen and gasped.
"Is someone here?" Sandra walked into the foyer and then stopped short when she saw Castiel's mother.
They quickly invited Anlina inside and seated her on the couch.
"You must be so surprised that I came over unannounced" Anlina said with a sweet smile.
"I have heard so much about you from your son" Irene said.
"Has Castiel been here before?" Anlina asked.
"Many times. You have raised a good upstanding young man" Bob replied.
"I'll get straight to the point then. I believe that people when they are born, have their status and a world to which they belong. Castiel is a man who must handle the entire Amoris Group when he grows up. As his mother, I will do everything in my power to ensure my son is up to this task. In order for grass to grow well, you need to get rid of the weeds. The disgusting, nasty weeds that poison the grass" Anlina explained.
Sandra blanched as she realised what Anlina meant.
"So you mean that our Sandra is a weed?" Irene asked.
"It is a relief that you understand my meaning" Anlina replied.
"Normally you spray string pesticides to get rid of the weeds. But this time..."
Mr. Williams stepped forward and placed a briefcase on the coffee table. He opened it up to reveal money placed neatly inside. Bob and Irene's mouths dropped open. They had never seen that much money in their entire lives in one place before.
"It's one million dollars" Mr. Williams announced.
"If you need more, I can give you more" Anlina said. "I was also at fault for letting my son stray away. Just sign this contract that you will not meet my song under any circumstances and we shall leave you alone"
Sandra stared at the document Mr. Williams placed in front of her. She bit her lip and then stared at her mother who was eying the money. All their debt problems would be over and they would be able to expand their business if they took the money. Sandra took the pen in her hands but her mother stood and rushed into the kitchen. Sandra looked over and her mother emerged holding a bowl of salt in her hands.
Sandra let out a yelp of surprise when her mother poured the salt right on Anlina's beautifully styled hair. Anlina screamed and Irene emptied out the entire bowl.
"Get out right now!" Irene screamed.
"You just made a big mistake" Anlina warned.
"Whether it's a big mistake or a small one, no one calls a child a weed right in front of her parents. Get out right now! Bob, close that briefcase and give it back!" Irene said loudly.
"You won't regret it? I'm not that generous to offer twice" Anlina said.
"Meeting a woman like you twice is something I wouldn't be so generous to do either" Irene said.
Anlina stood up and walked out. Mr. Williams closed the briefcase and followed Anlina. Irene sat down on the sofa and sighed as she heard the door slam shut.
"Mom, that was awesome!" Will crowed.
"Where did you find all that courage?" Bob asked.
"I can't believe you would do that" Sandra nearly cried as she hugged her mother.
"Money might be everything to me but pride is even more worthy" Irene said.
"Mom, she'll come down even worse on us now" Sandra said.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it" Irene said.
I hate Anlina. I really really hate her!