ch 12
She arrived hidden, camouflaged, chameleon-like and so silent that when she heard that “Andrea” she lifted her butt off the seat about thirty centimeters from the fright she got. “Aaaaaaah!” She stifled a scream and then grabbed the arms of her chair, looking at Zack. “That way you’ll have a conscience,” he mocked. “Is it just my impression or are you avoiding me?” “Who? Me? Noooo!” she murmured, turning red in a single second. He leaned over Andrea and narrowed his eyes, because he couldn’t believe that she was really blushing like a fifteen-year-old girl… but nothing was lost by checking it. “Hey, if it’s because of the kiss, you don’t have to be uncomfortable,” he murmured. Just take it as a financial incentive. This little mouth, said Zack pointing to her lips, is worth ten thousand euros. “And I would kiss it for free,” she thought but immediately avoided his gaze. -I know, it’s just that we’re at work, I don’t see the need for people to start gossiping, remember that we’ll still have to live with them when we get back, right? Zack nodded in agreement but he knew that people were still going to gossip when they saw them go out to lunch together, again and every day that followed because there was so much to learn about each other. Andrea’s environment was simple: an only child, her mother had run away from home when she was ten, her father had raised her alone, but as soon as he saw that she was independent, he had gone to travel the world in a rattling van and Andrea hadn’t heard from him for more than three years. He, on the other hand, had a large family. There were five siblings in total, but there were still no nephews in sight. The boys were all good-natured, the two girls were conflictive and a bit elitist. Thanks for reading on LeeNovelas.com. -A little? – Andrea wanted to make sure. -OK, a lot he admitted. My father was a banker all his life, we were always well off, but we were raised simply. The boys and I took off early, and when my father decided to retire my sisters almost killed themselves for the company. Now they are two super bankers who learned nothing from my father’s humility. “I see,” she murmured. “I hope they don’t make it difficult for me.” “Well, not for you, in any case for me if I don’t dress you in Prada from head to toe,” he laughed. Andrea shook her head vehemently. “No no no no no! I’m not good at that stuff, I’m fine with normal clothes… Remember. Read this novel only at LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites.” “I know, but please do it for me,” Zack asked her. “If my sisters get impertinent with you then I’m going to get impertinent with them and that’s when we’re going to ruin Christmas, because believe me, I know very well how to be a pain!” Andrea sighed and thought about it a hundred times before finally agreeing and seeing him make a victory gesture. -But only what is essential! – he warned her. -Okay, then on Saturday afternoon we go shopping, the three of us, Adriana, you and I.There are also things you have to learn… like pretending to like five o’clock tea, for example. “Are you going to try to turn me into a society lady?” she asked, frightened. “Well, I’m going to try… because if you look elegant and distinguished, no one will suspect you of putting laxative in my sisters’ punch,” Zack said. “Shall I pick you up at two?” Andrea had no choice but to nod, but on Saturday her heart skipped a beat when she saw him arrive with a baby stroller that looked like a spaceship. “I said ‘the essentials,’ Zack, the essentials!” she exclaimed. “And this is essential! How do you plan to go shopping with a baby in your arms?” he grumbled. “Come on, stop protesting and give me the princess.” He took Adriana from her arms and placed her as if she were his little throne. “That’s it, you enjoy yourself, baby, while I’m going to torment your mommy.” Half an hour later they entered an exclusive shopping mall and Zack immediately got to work. Convincing Andrea to buy clothes was Mission Impossible 18, so Zack secretly sent the saleswomen to collect and pack everything she liked. “Can’t they be shorter?” Andrea asked, looking at some shoes and sat down on a sofa when she saw the price. “Fuck, does Jimmy Choo think he’s going to eradicate hunger by selling shoes or what? I can’t wear this! It’s… it’s a lot of money, I can’t.” Zack took a deep breath, because although he needed to prepare her, he didn’t want to make her feel bad about her financial situation, so he preferred to launch into less hostile terrain. “What if we go buy clothes for Adriana?” he encouraged her and she couldn’t help but smile. Zack had to confess that buying clothes for a baby was also a very interesting experience, what he didn’t know was that he was going to go all out. By the time Andrea realized, he was already walking around with Adriana in his arms, three saleswomen behind him, and he had bought half the store. All it took was for one of the assistants to dress Adriana in a Christmas onesie and Zack melted like ice cream. “Oh my god, you are the most beautiful girl in the world!” he exclaimed, touched. “We need to get more of those, right, darling? And another stuffed animal? Let’s see, which one do you like? You know what, show me all of them, and those little dresses too, and do you have anything with snowboarding on it?” “Yes, in onesies, but in boys’ clothes,” the employee replied. “I don’t care! She’s a tough baby! Isn’t that right, darling? You’re going to wear a snowboard onesie!” he exclaimed, making a face at her and Adriana burst out laughing. Andrea leaned on one of the hangers watching that. She couldn’t begin to express how happy she felt knowing that her daughter would have so many nice things, but it was also a reminder of all that she was missing. By January, Adriana would not have a daddy to hug her or pamper her, and she felt like it was her fault.Helplessness rose to her eyes as she watched them and when Zack turned to her she realized she was hastily wiping away her tears. “Hey, forgive me if I’m going overboard… it’s just that baby things are so cute that I think everything is for her,” he said softly. “Relax, I think I have to assume that you are one of those who goes overboard often,” she smiled. “Perfect, in that case, you will forgive me for the last one!” he exclaimed, putting an arm around her shoulders and pushing her to the other end of the square until they reached a luxurious spa. “I asked you for a complete consent package. Three hours of relaxation…” “But…” “But nothing!” he replied. “There are no ugly women, only stingy boyfriends, and no one will ever be able to say that I am one. I may be fake, but stingy, never!” So get in there, enjoy your massage, nails and everything else, and this beautiful baby and I will be fine walking around here. He gestured to the girl at the entrance and three women rushed in to take Andrea away. “The complete package, right sir?” the clerk asked, charging him. “Yes, the complete package,” Zack said before picking up the baby and laughing. “You’ll see, my love, your mom really needs this. Here they’ll make her as pretty as you. They’ll do her eyebrows, and her hair, and her… Suddenly a gasp was heard and Zack stiffened. “It’s the wax,” the saleswoman smiled. Then a “rrrrrrris” was heard and an: “Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Zaaaaaaaaaaack!” “Oops! I forgot the waxing. We’re leaving, princess, run, run…” she laughed, taking Adriana away from there and soon they stopped in the children’s area. The baby seemed very happy sunbathing and Zack was on cloud nine with her, she really was a beautiful girl and it pissed him off that there was an idiot somewhere who had decided to get away from her. “But don’t worry, your mommy is stronger than three parents together, you’re going to be just fine with her, little princess, because there’s nothing your mommy wouldn’t do for you, I assure you,” he said, rocking her. Shortly after, he gave her her bottle and Adriana fell asleep in his arms while he finished shopping. Three hours later, Andrea came out of the spa very relaxed, and moving her butt like a little paw. “Don’t you dare open your mouth, Zack,” she warned him, showing him a finger. “I’m going to consider this an accident at work! I want overtime!” He pressed his lips together to keep from bursting into laughter and took her to dinner to see if the… pain would go away. It was already night when they finally returned to Andrea’s apartment. Zack began to unload bags of groceries that filled half the living room, but if she thought he had given them too many things, the last one would definitely leave her speechless. “OK, close your eyes,” he asked, and Andrea held her breath as he unloaded her last and most important gift from the truck. “Are you ready?” “Yes, I suppose,” she murmured quietly as she hugged her daughter, and felt Zack walk up behind her to turn her a little. “You can open them now!” Andrea opened her eyes and saw the big white crib with its pink pillows and its hanging animal rattle. Her heart began to beat so hard that she thought it would jump out of her chest, and she could only approach the crib while trying to hold back the sea of tears that threatened to fall. “It’s beautiful…” she murmured and saw him smile. “Zack… I don’t even know how to begin to thank you.” “You don’t have to, Adriana is the sweetest baby in the world, she deserves a crib a hundred times better and you need to sleep…” But she couldn’t finish speaking, because immediately there was some very loud knocking on the door. Zack gestured for Andrea to stay behind him, but when she opened it, it was a woman who was knocking. She was a little surprised to see him, but then she looked inside looking for someone else. “Andrea!” she called when she saw her. “Andrea, you have to come!” “Mildred, what’s wrong?” she asked her neighbor. “It’s Mrs. Wilson… she’s feeling ill, the ambulance is on its way!” Andrea turned to Zack and he gave her a supportive nod. “Go, I’ll take the baby. Go.”Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.