One thing became plainly obvious the following days. Victoria could wrap Diego around her little finger, she only had to bat an eyelid and Diego would come running.
In fact, it seemed entirely to easy. Make a little complaint and Diego would be all over her like an obedient slave.
That didn't really make Victoria feel good, that's not what she had wanted. Thankfully, ones you started to take real notice of it, it became evident that Diego wasn't a pushover at all. He didn't jump or make numbers for the Alcade, he would pretend with that indifferent look in his eyes but then suddenly vanish and Victoria could only roll her eyes as Zorro would appear shortly afterwards.
Victoria was not the only one whom realized she had a certain power over Diego, others seemed to notice to. How Victoria alone seemed to be able to put Diego into work stunning those whom witnessed it.
It was quite amusing how people actual met up just to get a glance of Diego lifting crates from the outside wagon into the store room, as if it was some kind of circus act to see the mild mannered Don doing any kind of physical labour, and of course the whispers went around. That there was more going on between the two than just friendship.
In truth that suited Victoria just fine, if everyone already thought they had an affair that would only make things so much easier ones Diego decided to come clean with her.
Though it didn't seem like he intended to do that anytime soon, there were a lot of moments where he could have, but Diego never did. Which did hurt a little bit, but in the end Victoria could only exhale, what had she expected? Honestly.
And at that Victoria halted as she looked towards the mostly empty tavern room, her eyes going to the table in the corner where she saw Diego leaning over the table, resting his head in his arms and had his eyes closed while breathing deeply in and out. Sleeping again.
Victoria smiled amused then shook her head, she had been working Diego doing the day hours and Zorro had been out at night quite often these days, a couple of bandits had ravaged the area and the Alcade hadn't cared about it at all.
Victoria sighed deeply as she headed into the kitchen and found a bowl which she filled up with her best beef broth, then cut up a piece of bread and put a healthy spread of butter on it, before completing the tray with a glass of fresh orange juice, then she took it all out into the tavern and over to Diego where she made up the table in front of him and finally lightly tapped his shoulder. "Diego, Diego wake up." she asked gently.
"Hmm." Diego groaned then glanced up. "Oh no, i'm so sorry Victoria. I'm just." he yawned deeply.
Victoria smirked amused, the man had been out all night that much was obvious and then he looked in front of him and his eyes widened.
"Victoria, I didn't order anything!" Diego exclaimed. "Did I?" he asked confused.
"No, you didn't, but you havn't eaten all day. You need to eat." Victoria commented.
"Oh, gracias." Diego blinked then held his stomach. "Now you say it, I am starving." he realized. "How much do I owe?" he asked.
"Nothing." Victoria replied amused.
"But." Diego tried.
"You've been helping a lot lately, consider it a thanks. And don't you dare slip any coins into the counter." Victoria exhaled deeply.
Diego blushed lightly as he averted his eyes. "Well, thank you then." he replied. "This sure smells delicious! You truly are the best cook in all of Los Angeles!" he beamed as he put a spoon into his soup and lifted it, then blew on it and finally took a taste and he lightened up. "Delicious!" he stated.
And Victoria beamed, happiness overwhelming her by the sight of Diego enjoying her cooking to this degree. Then she halted as she glanced away.
"Victoria?" Diego asked. "Is something wrong."
"I don't know." Victoria exhaled deeply. "Diego, how would you feel if." she started but then halted.
Wondering Diego looked at Victoria, his eyes searching her face then up at her. "Yes?" he asked in a kind voice.
"Never mind, it's nothing." Victoria bit her lip. "It's just… Well… We've known each other, basically all our lives haven't we?" she asked.
"That's true." Diego blinked surprised. "I can't say I remember it, but father said we played together as toddlers to. Apparently we both got pretty dirty pretty quick."
Victoria chuckled amused. "Yes, mother always said that." she confirmed. "Then you went to Spain, in the years where I became a woman and you became a man. I sure were surprised the day you came back, stepped into my tavern. You had grown so much, all I remembered was this obnoxious kid. But you had become a real gentleman."
"I know how you feel." Diego exhaled. "All I remembered was this girl, a very loud mouthed girl."
"Hey!" Victoria exclaimed and Diego chuckled.
"Then I stepped into the tavern, and she had become a woman." Diego then finished. "A…" then he halted, closed his mouth and looked away.
"Finish that sentence Diego." Victoria asked.
Diego swallowed then glanced up. "A strong, proud, spirited. But also very kind woman." he finished.
Victoria smiled amused. Then she glanced down. "When we were kids, we didn't have any secrets towards each other did we."
That made Diego blink and he looked up. "Erh… I.. I don't know. What's bringing this on Victoria?" he asked.
"Oh, you know." Victoria shrugged. "just that if you did have a secret, I hope you know you can trust me."
"Of course I trust you!" Diego blurted.
Victoria smiled. "I'm glad to hear that. It's just… Well, if anything ever bothers you or… If you feel like you have to much to deal with. I'm here you know." she said. "And, if you need a break from the Hacienda, my tavern has rooms! And you can tell me… Anything you know."
"Oh." Diego blinked. "That's erhm, that's very kind of you Victoria." he said. "That's erh… arhh."
Nervously Victoria bit her lip and the two looked at each other, the silence was absolutely devastating. Never before in her life had Victoria felt this awkward. God dammit Diego! Just say something! ANYTHING!
But it didn't look like Diego was going to say anything, he was just as frozen as Victoria was, in the same awkward position.
"How do you like the food?!" Victoria suddenly blurted.
"The food is great!" Diego replied quickly in a loud voice.
"Do-do you need anything?" Victoria asked.
"No thank you! This is great." Diego replied.
"Good!" Victoria exclaimed and turned around, her entire body stiff as a board as she took a few steps, and then just took a run for it into the kitchen to escape this awkward situation. And out there she was just about ready to collapse.
Urgh… It was nice knowing Diego's secret, it made everything make so much more sense. Who could have known though, that it came with a whole new set of complications.
Maybe she should just tell Diego that she knew… It would though be nicer if he would say it to her. But would he ever? He hadn't for this long.
Victoria exhaled deeply, why did everything have to be this complicated?