Page 16 of Play of Love
“Come, I’m sure they’ll love you.” Riley smiled.
What a sweet boy. I followed Riley over to his mom who stood up and smiled warmly as I approached.
“Hey there,” she said. The other lady acknowledged me too. I could see that she had unusual honey-colored eyes that made her look even more stunning.
“Hi, I’m Amy. I was just…” What should I say I was doing?
“Mom, she works for Joshua Mancini!” Riley filled in with vibrant excitement.
“Really?” The ladies both said with equal enthusiasm.
“I’m temporary. Very temporary, as in I’m…” I wanted to maintain that neutral balance, but saying anything else would throw me off the path. And Riley was there.
“Riley babe, why don’t you go play some ball with Santos.” It was like she could sense my distress.
Riley happily rushed away.
Once he’d moved a safe distance, his mother returned her gaze to me and smiled. “Let me guess, did he hit on you?”
I smiled, glad that I didn’t have to continue with the façade. “Not entirely. You wouldn’t believe if I told you what I’ve been through in the last one-and-a-half days.”
They both started laughing.
“Sit.” She pointed to the empty seat opposite her. “I’m Gabriella and this is Hilda.”
Hilda did a neat bow of her dark head as she was introduced. I sat and smiled at them both.
“So, what are you? You don’t look like a maid,” Gabriella asked.
“I’m supposed to be his PA.”
“Well welcome to Cyranose. This is where the help and the non-stuffy PAs hang out and bitch about their employers.” They both giggled.
I liked the sound of that, because I definitely needed to bitch right now.
“You look like you’re about to blow up,” Hilda offered. “This is a safe place where you can say anything and it stays here. Like Vegas. What happens here really does stay here. So, don’t worry about anyone finding out.”
“That’s good to know. For what little time I hope to be here.”
“Was it that bad?”
“This morning, just as the Mancini Machine was throwing me out of his house, a supersized rat ran over my foot and I fainted.”
They both burst out laughing.
“A rat?”Gabriella asked.
I nodded. “I hate rats.”
“We don’t have rats, but there’s secrets and all sorts that I have to balance. I’m the head maid at the Hamptons, and I’m grateful for every day I survive in that place.”
“I’m trying to secure a modeling contract. Until then I’m a maid, too, who’s looking for work,” Hilda added with a sigh. “My employer’s husband died.”
“Didn’t she still need you?”
“Nope, she became aheand ran off with the next door neighbor’s daughter.”
I widened my eyes. “What!”
