The Proud Boss Lady. novel Chapter 23

“This is just not going to work out Soraya, we all agreed it's just for fun and no strings attached so where is all this coming from?" Brad asked buttoning his shirt.

“I know but I am sick and tired of all these games I want something real.." She sighed.

“I am sorry, maybe with someone else but not me. See you around." Brad walked out on her.

Is it that hard to find love? She asked herself.

“How come Zed held onto me for all these years, even though I treated him bad he still loved me, and then my big mouth had to ruin everything." She said to herself.

“Ah, we meet again," Miguel said sitting in front of Jess. She had gone see the manager of the shop she was about to rent to open her new salon in Jersey City. She was almost done with her course of study. And at this stage, they were required to start up their businesses and that was to make up for their final grade and help them to acquire their certificates.

“It's nice to meet you, Dr Miguel, so what brings you here?" She politely asked.

“Well, I heard a pretty damsel is in search of a shop to rent for her business, so here am I." He smiled.

“You own the shop?" She inquired.

“Not necessarily, it was my late wife's so technically I can say it's mine now." He rubbed his neck.

“Sorry for your loss, " She added.

“So shall we?" He asked as they walked out of the office and headed over to the salon. It had been closed down for a while since he hadn't gotten anyone to manage it. The shop was huge and beautiful from the outside. Jess was hoping for something smaller but this was just fine.

Miguel unlocked the door to the salon as the memories came rushing in like a whirlwind. The memories of his beloved petite Rosalinda moving up and down the salon attending to customers. Oh, how much he missed her and this place!

The place looked beautiful even though it was dusty. The interior decor was homely and welcoming. Jess had already fallen in love with the place as she saw a portrait of a beautiful woman with a captivating smile.

“Is she the one?" She asked Miguel breaking him out of his self-induced trance.

“Yes, that is Rosalinda, my first love and late wife." He ran his finger on the portrait.

“So, you like the place? All it needs is some renovations, by that I mean painting and cleaning and then servicing of the gadgets to see off they still work good then we can discuss the paperwork. Note, you're only managing this place I am not selling it to you." He emphasised.

“Thanks, Miguel, I would come by in a few days to do the renovation so we can take over from there, and hey I am not buying the place. I don't have that much to do so, even if I did I would be so selfish to do so." She tapped his shoulder as they walked out.

“Here are the spare keys to the place, and thank you. I would see you when you come by for the renovation." He said to her as he walked away.

Jess sighed as she walked along the pavement to the bus stop.

What could have killed such a beautiful woman? She asked herself.

“Stay with me, Rosa, don't leave me please!" Miguel begged his wife as he stood by her sickbed. She had some complications after she had a stillborn. She was stabilized but the thought of living without her first child tore her apart.

“Lo siento, mi amore. Miguel don't mourn me too much. Learn to love again. You have such a huge and caring heart, grow to love another after me. Don't harbour us too much in your heart. I and Raphealito would be in heaven waiting for you. I love you, Miguel." She added as a stray tear fell from her eye.

“No, Rosa no. Please I can't live without you. Don't leave me in this cruel world all alone. Please." He sobbed harder as her breathe seized and her heart rate was decreasing.

Miguel pressed the emergency button calling for help as other doctors rushed in to help him save his wife. He picked the defibrillator and tried to use it to resuscitate Rosa but to no avail.

“Miguel she's gone..." One of his colleagues said as he continued using the defibrillator.

“Miguel! Ella esta muerta! " His friend screamed as he set the machine down and sobbed holding his wife tightly.

“Rosa, come back! Please come back!" He sobbed harder.

Miguel wiped a stray tear off his eyes as he sat into his car and drove off. It had been a while since he visited his wife's grave. He parked his car in front of the cemetery and then walked towards her tomb.

“Hey, babe!" Freya said entering his office.

“Hey, you closed from work early today," Zed said hugging her.

“Yeah, there was nothing important that needed my attention, so I decided to leave early. Carla can take care of the rest." She told.

“Alright, love, care for some latte and scones or muffins?" He asked.

“Um, a cappuccino and some muffins would do." She smiled at him.

“Okay, coming right up then." He added leaving the office to get her order.

Soraya: Hey, can we catch up like old times? She sent a message to Zed's phone. Freya picked up the phone and read the message then sent her a reply and deleted both messages from Zed's phone.

Zed: Sorry can't do, I have a girlfriend now. Enjoy your life. Bye! The message said.

Soraya stared at the message and threw her phone to hit the wall. She always got what she wanted, so why now? She fumed.

I will so get over you Zed, I need to get over you ASAP! She pulled her hair in frustration.

“Babe, your order." He placed it in front of her.

“Thanks, babe, you're the best." She smiled at him.

“Thank you, darling." He added sitting at his desk and going over his paperwork. He was building a restaurant in town and so he was going over the details for that project.

From a driver to a proud owner of a café and very soon. He was going to own a restaurant. He owed it all to the love and support from his family and the wonderful woman seated before him.

How come he never noticed her as more than a friend until recently? He wondered.