Quest For Acceptance

Puppy

Chapter Four

Sandra’s words filled the air as she expressed her desire to continue managing Salvador for the moment. “Mum, I think I still want to manage him for now. It’s satisfying to have someone to boss around,” she confessed, planting a loving kiss on her mother’s cheek. With a purposeful stride, she approached Salvador and effortlessly flung her bag towards him.

“Let’s go,” she commanded, and Salvador obediently followed her instructions. They made their way to the garage, the tension between them evident. Without a word, Salvador opened the car door for her, silently acknowledging her status as the one in control. As Sandra settled into the car, Salvador took his place in the driver’s seat. He maneuvered the vehicle towards their destination, driving with a focused determination.

Upon arriving at the venue, Salvador hurriedly stepped out of the car and quickly moved to open the door for Sandra, a gesture of chivalry that was met with an icy disdain. As they entered the building together, Salvador couldn’t help but make feeble attempts to bridge the gap between them, only to be met with a scathing look of disgust from Sandra.

Sandra sternly warned Salvador, her voice carrying a hint of authority. “Keep your distance, and don’t ruin this party for me. Do you understand?” Her words were met with a nod of affirmation from Salvador, who seemed determined to comply with her instructions.

As they made their way towards Sandra’s group of friends, there was an air of anticipation and warmth surrounding their reunion. However, the atmosphere quickly shifted when Sandra’s friends caught sight of Salvador standing by her side. Mockery and disbelief filled the air as one of her friends couldn’t resist commenting.

“You’ve got to be kidding, girl. Don’t tell me you brought this man to an all-girls party?” the friend exclaimed incredulously, unable to hide their amusement at the situation.

With a mockingly sarcastic tone, Sandra immediately set the record straight. “Nope, I didn’t bring him. He’s just my driver. Poor thing lost his little job, and my father kindly offered him a driving position. Isn’t that so cool?” Her words were laced with condescension, causing Salvador to sink deeper into embarrassment and shame.

Another friend chimed in and couldn’t help but add insult to injury. “Well, well, well. He does look decent, I must admit. But clearly, he’s quite useless. Can you imagine, someone like him holding you back, my friend? You deserve someone better. I can definitely hook you up,” they said, offering a supposed solution while further diminishing Salvador’s self-worth.

Sandra responded with a skeptical tone, refusing the offer of a potential link. “Sorry, but I don’t need a hookup. I don’t enjoy changing men like that. It might work for you, but it’s not my style. I think keeping him as my puppy is much better,” she offered with a hint of sarcasm. The comment was met with laughter from her friends, reveling in the humor of the situation.

However, as the laughter died down, a lady among Sandra’s friends, who seemed more polite and reserved, felt the need to redirect the conversation. Sensing that things were escalating, she gently interjected, “Can we focus more on the party, please? This is getting a bit tiresome.” She intended to defuse the tension that had begun to arise.

But Sandra, feeling a surge of disdain, locked eyes with the lady and walked purposefully towards her. Curiosity piqued, she demanded with a scornful tone, “Who is this person, and who are her parents?” Sandra was determined to assert her dominance and establish her authority within the group.

“If you don’t know, I am someone of importance. Someone who can make things difficult for you.” Alexa asserted herself, her tone laced with a hint of threat. However, she quickly defused the tension, suggesting a shift in focus towards the party. Some friends readily accepted the suggestion, seeking to alleviate the escalating atmosphere. They left Salvador alone, allowing him to retreat to a quiet corner.

Unbeknownst to Sandra, Alexa cast a seductive look in Salvador’s direction. Once the party was in full swing, Alexa seized the opportunity and approached him, finding him nursing a beer in the corner. Without hesitation, she casually reached for his cup and took a sip, a subtle playfulness emanating from her.

“My apologies for my forwardness. I’m Alexa,” she introduced herself, her voice undeniably alluring. With a commanding air, she requested to know his name. Salvador nodded, momentarily taken aback by her presence.

“Salvador,” he responded, his voice tinged with a touch of intrigue.

“Nice name,” she said, her voice filled with a mixture of sympathy and judgement. Her eyes scanned him carefully, taking in his appearance. “Well, I think you can have a more suitable life… I can feel your pain.” She paused, as if weighing her words carefully. “But despite your pitiful circumstances, you do have a certain handsomeness about you,” she added, her tone slightly mocking.

Salvador couldn’t help but chuckle at her remark, finding a glimmer of amusement in her honesty. “Maybe that’s what qualifies me,” he replied, his voice tinged with both resignation and a touch of defiance. He leaned in closer, urging caution. “But why don’t you save yourself the embarrassment and leave already? Sandra finding out that we’re talking… it could be disastrous.”

“Forget about her,” she insisted, her voice carrying both urgency and assurance. With a swift movement, she produced a glossy business card from her purse and placed it on the table, sliding it towards him. The card was pristine, the emblem of a well-established company adorning its surface. “Take this card and contact me. We have a managerial position available, one that I believe suits you perfectly,” she explained with conviction, her eyes locking onto his. There was a flicker of recognition in her gaze, a familiarity that she struggled to articulate. She couldn’t quite explain it, but there was something about him that resonated deeply within her.

“It’s a life-changing opportunity,” she asserted, her voice carrying a hint of urgency as she turned to leave. Salvador was left in a state of astonishment, his mind swirling with both skepticism and intrigue. Why would a stranger extend such an offer of help? He couldn’t help but ponder her words, his gaze fixated on the card that now lay on the table before him. As he hesitated, caught between curiosity and caution, he noticed Sandra approaching from a distance. A sense of urgency surged through him, and he swiftly pocketed the card, concealing it from view. With a feigned nonchalance, he took a sip of his beer, attempting to return to his previous state of solitude, while the mysteries of the stranger’s proposition lingered in the back of his mind