Maite's POV

Things have been looking up for us. Diane was able to have the courts enforce the agreement with my mom petitioning the court for me to be a temporary guardian during the school year for Cata.

"You know you are so gross right…" Cata just looks disgusted by the sight in front of her.

"Do you realize how lucky you are? Your sister's tacos make me cry like legit cry!" I start laughing because I am flattered but Kiki looks a mess.

"You clearly haven't had many tacos in life. Maite's tacos are decent but our whole city has really bomb tacos and so much variety. If you went to Mexico, you would probably die…" Cata is not far off. Kiki just might croak from the sheer amount.

"Oh, my goodness let's do that! There's like spring break we can go right?!" Kiki has become my best friend in my time here it's nice to hear her get excited about something since Morgan dying. Like she finally might start moving on and letting go of the guilt.

"Plus, the guys are like seriously hot… like seriously hot…" The mind of teenagers I swear.

"Shouldn't you be doing homework or something?" I wonder if she has finished it all because she hasn't done anything since we got to the apartment.

"I did all my assignments during your office hours."

"Can't you like do what teenagers do nowadays." Kiki is disgusting… speaks with her mouth full and Cata rolls her eyes.

"These kids are clearly not on my level, but it seems like you two are trying to get rid of me, so I'll go to my friend's house."

"Do you want me to drive you?

"I can just Uber…" She looks at me like I'm crazy. My sister might be the best among teenagers, but she is still a teenager.

"With whose money?!" I really don't want to leave but money doesn't just appear, and she needs to know that.

"Umm… mine?! Like my mother loves me! She gives me money every week for stuff and you already know how our mother is she has emergency plans for emergency plans." Ugh this definitely sounds like our mother and the smug smile doesn't leave her face. She just walks to the door with her purse.

"Text me when you get there and when you leave!"

"Okay herm." My sister gives me a smile and I just wink, and she leaves.

"Fuck my life…"

"Franco has been texting me asking me where I am because my shift started! I switched the shift with Stephanie. I gotta go and get this shit fixed. I can't get in trouble." I go with her since she didn't drive here. We show up at the hospital and this is the last place I would think to find my sister. I can tell she is just as surprised to see me.

"Funny running into you here beautiful!" I give my precious baby a hug and think of how lucky it is to have her so close again.

"Yeah, I know right, I'm just waiting on my friend. We are going to meet up with some of our friends later, but he came to ask his mom for some money for the movies so I'm just waiting on him." I hold my tongue because I want to grill my sister on this boy and see if she likes him, but she would kill me if I did it here or at all. Teenagers are so hot and cold sometimes if she likes him, I will let her tell me.

"Hey, you ready to go?" I see the boy and he is cute and now I just quickly scan him up and down and smile.

"Oh, this is awkward umm this is my sister Maria… Herm this is Cameron."

"Pleased to meet you Cameron you may call me Maite. Are you a being a bad influence on my sister?" His eyebrows raise to his hairline.

"I doubt it… no one can make Trina do something she doesn't want…" He smiles after he says it and it seems he is proud to say it.

"That certainly sounds like my Herm… Do you guys need a ride home from the movies?" My sister rolls her eyes at me.

"Absolutely not… we'll just take an Uber… We will be going now." She starts pushing her little friend he almost trips over himself.

"Oh well it was nice meeting you Ms. Maite…" I can hear my sister mocking his words and I laugh. Now I'm by myself waiting for Kiki who knows how long that will take. I hope she doesn't get in trouble.

I finally see Kiki but there's two ladies in front of her that look so alike I reckon they must be sisters. The one with the bob looks at me like we've met. I can see Kiki talking to the other one for a sec.

"Hi… I'm Hayden I was wondering if I could speak to you for a second?"

"Umm… do we know each other?" I'm skeptical but Kiki doesn't say anything so maybe the lady isn't dangerous.

"I know you… like the whopper, fuck the Big Mac…" Oh my goodness does she know how to get my attention. I see Kiki and the other lady chuckling…

"Is that so?" The lady closes her eyes and if I didn't know any better would think she was meditating.

"The person you love most in life is EZ Rock." I just look at her and wonder what her game is.

"It clear to me you knew my father or of him. You have my attention…"

"Can I buy you a drink? I would like to run a proposal by you."

"I'll hear you out… Give me a minute…" I walk up to Kiki

"Hey what did Hayden want with you?"

"She wants to talk business… Do you have to work?"

"No Stephanie showed up she was just in a minor accident and her phone broke but she's here."

"We can meet up later when I am done with Hayden…"

"Yeah that's cool… Oh where's my manners this is Elizabeth… She's my dad's boo thang…" Elizabeth's eyes pop out her head.

"Wow Kiki… nice to meet someone who can make my sister look embarrassed." We shake hands and laugh. I told her it was nice to meet her and hug Keeks and tell her I'll text her in a few.

"Okay Hayden you have my attention."

"Let's meet up at the Metro Court my proposal I'll buy you lunch." Free lunch for me, I guess. I drive myself to the Metro Court and find Hayden sitting and I wave to her. As I am walking some girl bumps me hard. I look up and I get ready to apologize because I don't know how I missed anyone but when I look into the woman's eyes, I can't place what I see but there's something I don't like she is with another woman. They are both rubias maybe, but one is older.

"I apologize I didn't see you…" I try to be cordial to her, and she just looks blank like a robot.

"That's okay we all make mistakes…" The woman grates on my nerves. She sounds so condescending it makes me want to curse but I see her game.

"Yes, that is true isn't it…" I say politely and toss the iciness right back and excuse myself from the ladies and walk over to Hayden…

"Hey, you okay it looked like you bumped her hard?"

"Yes, I am fine… She is the one who did the bumping I am sure of it. I don't know what her problem is…"

"I'm sure I see a slight bit of her problem. I think she likes Michael who is Carly's son, but Michael is in a relationship with Sabrina. She's a nurse at the hospital. My sister told me they are dating. Looks like Nelle might have a crush on Michael." Does this Nelle know I dated Michael? I don't believe in coincidences ever that's for fools and dreams.

"Michael's mother was the older blonde lady?" I feel a lump in my throat, but I quickly swallow it.

"Yeah, she is, I'm sorry I didn't bring you hear to gossip. I did mention I have a proposal for you… I am the CFO of the hospital and I'll be honest it has been trying to keep the hospital afloat with its overhead costs… budget cuts… patient bills etc. When I saw you in the hospital, I just saw a light bulb and had to take a chance."

"Why me?!"

"Why not you? Your father was a game changer-"

"My father was a soda salesman…"

"We both know he was more than that and you're better than him…" The emotional manipulation is a nice touch and it is working because my stomach hurts.

"The emotional manipulation is really gold standard but what do you want from me?"

"I want your expertise… If you take the job, I don't want you to think of me as a boss but a sounding board. I am open to your ideas. I want the hospital to succeed and to hire back staff and make the hospital a marquee institution again, but the debt is really cutting into it's success."

"I am touched you have such a faith in me without even knowing me…"

"It wasn't me… well I do mean what I say but I read it in a magazine when I was in Mexico for a meeting once. It was your father being interviewed and he talked about your prowess."

"Well my father was never one for exaggeration… I don't know if you get this much but you have a striking resemblance to Rachel Berlin." She looks startled and freezes and says nothing.

"I don't care who you used to be Hayden, but I will only accept your proposal if you promise me to never do what your father did."

"I wasn't expecting anyone to know who I used to be but that was dumb huh?" I give her a smile to take some of the edge off. I dig into my rice pilaf and cut up some of the chicken breast and I just give her a shrug.

"Hi Ladies, sorry to interrupt I was just seeing how your meal is?" It is Michael's mother and I look into her blue eyes and it's clear he has his mother's eyes.

"I am really enjoying this Greco-style chicken. If I close my eyes, I could swear I taste Chanean peppers. It is really good." Michael's mother looks impressed but even more it makes Nelle sour and that's seems like it will be a new activity when I see her.

"Yeah the chicken is really good… mmhmm." Michael's mother almost rolls her eyes at Hayden, but she doesn't say anything.

"That's the recipe of our executive Chef, Tasos he is actually from Greece not sure what town, but I'll be sure to let him know what you think. Thank you for dining with us at the Metro Court… Hayden…" Carly smiles at me and leaves Nelle makes a slightly dramatic exit with turning fast and her hair twirls. I feel eyes on me, and I already can feel who it is, and I just cross my fingers he doesn't do this again.

"Carly…" I look to Hayden for anything and it's her turn to shrug.

I can hear Carly talking to her son and making a fuss over him and it makes me smile a little. I stop paying attention to them and get to know more about Hayden. I find myself genuinely liking her she is quick-witted and clever.

I find myself loving to make friends with assertive women they tend to not take bullshit but are usually your fiercest defenders. I realize I am going to need her if I am going to get the board to approve my position.