His Promise: The Mafia’s Babies by C. Tamika

Chapter 17

I got on the subway train and tried to look for any empty seats but unfortunately failed. Saving fuel and priority, so I made the decision to not go by car or uber. I was headed to my first day of work and I felt exhausted. The lack of energy was very noticeable but I triWhat would happen if they would fire me because of my pregnancy? That could not happen. My belly did not look big, if anything I just seemed bloated. There were a few more weeks left before I wstart showing so I would make use of those to save up as much money as I could and taking the subway beginning. The last time I had been in one was when I still attended college which was already more than half a yeawant to sit down?” A man asked. I was shocked by his question, and stared at my belly to see if I was perhaps showing more than I expectnot the case. “You look exhausted.” The man smiled but I thanked him and shook my head to kindly reject his offer. “Itmore stop, don’t worry.” It might’ve been one, but it was absolutely terrible. The smell of sweat and pee found it’s way to my nosbrought my scarf up to my face. I couldn’t throw up, not now. The final minutes felt like hours but I had finally arrived and got out as soon as possible. A day prior I hadup the location and for once in my life, I felt as if I was prepared. The job which was six days a week, fromdefinitely not easy, but it paid well and I could use every little but to save up for the baby. I stared at the building in front of me read the familiar Garcia name. What was I even thinking? I couldn’teven worked at a factory before. I took a deep breath as I came back to my senses. I had no choice and had no right to complain about wcouldn’t do. I was going to do this for my baby, one way or another. I made my way inside and searched for a front desk, while a man stepped towards me. “Miss Reyes?” “Y-yes?” I stuttered surprised at the fact that he had already been waiting for me. I was grateful and it brto my first night at the club. If it wasn’t for Faith and Luna back then I would’ve been a mess. “I’m Mr. Santana. Come on, I’ll show you around and work you in.” He told me. He walked aheadCòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

while I to keep up with him. Mr. Santana showed me the way to the locker room and handed me an uniform so The pressure got to me and unlike the time I took to change at the club, I had finished up rather quickly final look at my stomach. I could still hide it, so far so good. “You look perfect, it’s as if it’s made for you.” Mr. Santana smiled at me as I stepped out. That smile had as he gave me further instructions about my tasks and information about my lunch breaks. Working as aand stapling papers could not be that difficult. If I couldn’t do this then what could I do? “You said I had the perfect skills over the phone, but I don’t know what kind of skills I need for stapling paccidentally spoke. Those words weren’t supposed to leave my mouth and I didn’t intend to sound ungrkeeping my mouth shut and not making a fool out of myself was a difficult thing for me to do. “If you think too much, it’ll make your head spin.” Mr. Santana spoke before he opened the big door to tThe idea of a factory made me nervous but I had looked it up beforehand and was reassured that it wouharm to the baby. As long as I didn’t overwork everything would be just fine. “Olivia!” Mr. Santana called out. “Here!” A girl called out and made her way over to us. She looked from me with her intimidating dark brown eyes and all I wanted to do was run. After dealing with a bunch of jthe club I was most definitely not in the mood to experience it again. “This is Serena Reyes and she will be working with you. Please take it easy on her.” Mr. Santana spoke bedisappeared out of nowhere and left me all alone. “Don’t be shy, I don’t bite.” Olivia chuckled as she linked her arm with mine. She gave me the same instrSantana and ordered me to follow her around for the day. Had I known that I could’ve done this instead would’ve done it a long time ago. “So how long are you planning on staying here?” Olivia suddenly asked. I was confused by her question mentioned my plans to anyone. “Oh, no offense, but it’s just that many people run away after a week. I’vcome and go.” Her words made sense. It was indeed an easy job but I could understand why someone would go crazy adealing with paper the entire day. The job was boring but it wasn’t like I was any fun, so I was okay with “Boss told me that you’ve become someone precious to him. He told me to treat you well for the time balso why I was curious.” Olivia smiled before she went back to her work.

Precious? “Mr. Santana said that?” I tried to get some information out of her. I couldn’t understand how I could be someone who I barely even knew. Olivia frowned her eyebrows and shook her head. “No, Mr. Santana is not our boss…” Olivia suspiciously looked at me as if she was as lost as I was. Was it Christian? No it couldn’t be. The only thing that useless douche bag was good for was sending checks and besides that, if the compathe Lamberti’s I would’ve probably known. “What is our boss’ name?”. It seemed as if Olivia was about to reply but she closed her mouth again and went into deep thoughts. “his son is in charge. He’s the one who hired you, Vince?” Vince? “You seem as confused as I am. Perhaps it’s someone you helped out once like at your previous job or soOlivia asked, while I felt chills throughout my body at the thought of this strange favor being from someodanced for, but even if it was—I could not change it and had to live with it. At least I had a job. It was very noticeable that all of the employees kept to themselves and did not really engage with each ostrangely made it comfortable to work. Going to work was so much better when people were not breathout of jealousy every second and unlike my previous judgment even Olivia had turned out to be differenoriginally thought. She was a kind, hardworking person who I had spent my lunch breaks with and I was grateful to know thexact same work schedule. The first day of work passed by so quickly that I hadn’t even noticed that we wuntil Olivia asked me how I was going home. “I can give you a ride, we live near each other!” Olivia offered after interrogating me. I found it suspiciouas if she had no friends around here, but I also knew that if the roles were reversed and I had been here lwould’ve probably been the same, besides that, I did not felt like taking the subway again. “Sure!” “I can also pick you up tomorrow!” Olivia offered after she had dropped me off. It sounded like heaven tobecause I hated the subway and I hated driving even more. It was so out of character for

me to get closeI would’ve done anything to get away from that subway. “I’m happy to work with someone my age for once so I’m sorry if I come off as pushy.” Olivia apologizedhead and grabbed her hand. “It’s okay, I understand.” I was the youngest girl at the club, and because of it, many others saw me as a misplaced toddler. MeetinLuna who were not that much older than me felt like a blessing to me, so I could understand her feelingshelp but wonder. Would she feel the same way if I told her about my past job? Would she feel the same if I told her I got knocked up and would leave again in two months or so? “I’ll pick you up tomorrow, at six?” Olivia smiled. “Yes, that’s okay!” We said our goodbyes and I finally made my way upstairs. It was already eight and my entire day flew by“When will he stop,” I whispered to myself upon seeing yet another check on the floor and opened the dapartment. It was late and I had to force myself to eat a meal so I could stay strong for the baby but all I really wantesleep. Unfortunately, the peace got interrupted when I finally got a chance to look at the notifications I restared at the text messages. < ‘Cmon don’t embarrass me…’ I laughed at each message and send him an emoji in response. It felt great knowing at least one Lambertbut it still wasn’t the one I was hoping for. The one I was hoping for had sent me checks after checks anddetermined to do this on my own I had often hoped for him to knock at my door to apologize, just so I cshake and tell him to get the hell out, just so I could tell him what I should’ve told him that day. That I’mmy own. Christian had made it clear that he didn’t want to be a dad, so why was it so difficult to let go of him?