472 Ba
ch 22

No one mentioned the wedding again that night. Andrea smiled, talked, and played with her daughter, but the Kellers knew one look on Zack’s face was enough to tell them that nothing was right. Finally the baby started crying for her bottle and Andrea asked to leave. When Zack came into the room half an hour later, she had already changed and was trying to get the baby to sleep. He ran his hand through his hair slowly, sitting in front of her on a small stool and tried to meet her eyes. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that,” he murmured and she looked at him. “I’m sorry I said that to you, please forgive me.” Andrea took a deep breath, but didn’t stop rocking her daughter. “I have nothing to apologize for, Zack. You didn’t say anything that wasn’t true,” she replied firmly. “Yes I did,” he denied in frustration. “You’re not my employee, you’re my frie…” “No, I’m not your friend,” she replied, interrupting him. Your friend wouldn’t have charged you for this, and I’m doing it because unfortunately it’s a luxury I can’t afford, so I’m not your friend, I’m your employee. —Andrea… —It’s okay. Really. We knew this was going to be a show from the start, I just didn’t expect it to go this far —she murmured getting up to lay Adriana in her crib. For a moment she looked at her and took a deep breath, no matter how much she had to sacrifice or how much it hurt her at that moment, she would do all that and more for her. —You’re right, I’m at your service —she said turning around—. Next time I’ll better assess who I sell my soul to, but for this time I guarantee you that you won’t have any complaints about my services. I’ll try to get into the role better starting tomorrow. Zack stood up with a gesture of frustration and approached her. —That’s not what I’m asking you, Andrea! I’m asking for your forgiveness! —he exclaimed taking her hands. I want things to be like they were before I said that stupid thing! I want you to still be my friend, to still be my accomplice…! Thank you for reading on LeeNovelas.com. He stopped breathing heavily and she squeezed his hands, nodding. “It’s okay, everything is going to be like before,” she said smiling at him. “Really?” “Of course. Nothing is going to change. We’re just going to forget everything and make this the best Christmas for your dad,” Andrea whispered softly. “And for Adriana,” Zack added. “Of course, for Adriana too. Remember. Read this novel only on LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites.” He nodded as he sighed and held back the urge to hug her right there, he didn’t really know why. The atmosphere was charged with a strange electricity but it wasn’t the one he used to feel when they were together. “I’m going to get changed. Do you need… do you need something?” —Mmmm… Scissors —she answered and went to the closet to take out the gifts they had bought—. I’m going to wrap them, I’m really excited about your sisters’ gifts, but I didn’t replace any scissors in the room. —Sure,”I’ll get them,” Zack agreed, watching as she placed all the presents on the rug in front of the fireplace and sat on the floor. “Thanks,” Andrea smiled at him. Zack hurried out of there, until he remembered that he might want some candy or something and opened the door again, only to see Andrea in silence, with that sad look lost in the fire in the fireplace… and he understood. “Damn!” He growled to himself as he went out into the hallway and his chest swelled with helplessness because she had told him exactly what he wanted to hear, but she was still as hurt as when he had just told her all that nonsense. He went out to the kitchen terrace and leaned on the railing, trying to let the cold of the night clear his mind. “Things are that bad, huh?” He heard a sweet voice next to him and Zack nodded when he saw his mother. “Yep. This time I really screwed everything up,” he murmured. “Don’t say that,” Luana consoled him, caressing his back as if he were little. Just tell me what you did and we’ll fix it. There’s nothing your mother can’t fix. —I yelled at Andrea that she was my employee and was at my service. —… Well, I can’t solve that for you —Luana replied and leaned on the railing, shaking her head. —I can’t believe you said that to her. How can you be so rude, son? —Well… I got mad! —he growled helplessly—. I just wanted dad to be happy and… she didn’t want to play along with me about the wedding, so I told her that. —Maybe it can still be fixed. What did she say to you? —That she’ll try to get into her role better. —Nope, it can’t be fixed, you screwed everything up. —Mom! —he exclaimed. —What do you want me to say? —his mother rebuked him. You’ve only been here three days, and you’re already left without a girlfriend! It must be a record or something! Zack took a deep breath and his mother could feel the desperation in him. Needless to say, she had never seen him get like that over anyone, much less a simple employee. “You know what the worst part of all is?” he murmured. “Now when he smiles at me, I won’t know if he means it.” “Well… that’s what you’re paying him for, Zack, to smile at you. If you also want his heart, son… I think you’re going to have to steal it, because no one can pay for that,” Luana said, patting his shoulder. Zack stayed there a while longer, alone, until he searched through the drawers for a pair of scissors and took a tub of ice cream out of the fridge to go up. But by the time he got back to the room, Andrea had already fallen asleep in the rocking chair in front of the fireplace. Zack put everything aside and gently carried her to the bed, laying her down and covering her with a blanket before going to change. He saw that the baby was asleep and thought about it a hundred times before lying down on that bed and approaching her behind. He put an arm around her and held her against his chest. “I’m sorry, Cupcake,” he murmured in her ear. “Please don’t be mad at me. It kills me for the stupid thing I said to you. I just want you and Adriana to be happy this Christmas.”Andrea blinked sleepily and rolled over, hugging him. “It’s all right, Thorcito, go to sleep now.””Nothing happened,” she murmured before her breathing became even again. But even though Thorcito had told him, and even though she was hugging him, Zack could no longer feel that electrifying warmth that Andrea had given off just a few hours ago. He tried to sleep, but the truth was that he couldn’t and he spent half the night out of that bed, taking care of Adriana or playing with her when she woke up. The next day Zack saw Andrea smile throughout breakfast, as if nothing had really happened. His brothers immediately organized an outing because they wanted to go show off the baby to their friends in town, and Zack caught up with the girl in the kitchen. “Shall we go for a walk for a while?” he asked her as if she were a lost puppy and she pouted at him. “Well… the truth is that I left the presents pending since yesterday and look,” Andrea replied pointing at the tree, “they’re all set up except ours. Is it okay if I stay and finish wrapping them?” Also, I’d like to bake some cookies for your mom, we’re going to decorate them tonight, and I think they’re going to eat these,” she laughed, and as much as Zack wanted to believe in that happiness, he just couldn’t believe it. He leaned over her, bringing his lips closer to hers, and Andrea stood on her toes to kiss him. She had nothing to envy a good kiss, but no longer… she didn’t vibrate anymore. “I’m taking the baby, okay?” “Okay, have fun,” she smiled, and when Zack passed by his mother he only heard her sigh. “You’re screwed,” she said, saying goodbye. The boys went out with little Adriana like a princess to show off, and Andrea stayed doing exactly what she had said, baking cookies and wrapping presents to keep her mind busy before her little heart began to feel the effects of everything that was happening. She was precisely killing time watching the oven and making hot chocolate, when that wheelchair entered the room. “Mr. Nikola, how are you?” Would you like some hot chocolate? Andrea offered him and the man nodded immediately. “Of course. And I’m glad you stayed, because I’d like to talk to you, do you have a minute?” she asked him. Andrea held her breath for just a moment before answering. “Of course, Mr. Nikola,” she agreed, placing a cup in his hand and sitting down opposite him on the kitchen step, at the same height as him. What’s wrong? “First of all, I apologize for what happened last night. My wife called my enthusiasm pressure, but I guess it all depends on the lens you look through, right?” Andrea nodded silently. “However, if it’s not too much of a pry… I’d like to know why you don’t want to marry my son.”