Three: Wonderful first day

"If you say so, go and get him settled in," André said.

Maria returned to Antonio, who was waiting at the door. She led him to a spacious room that left him in awe.

Antonio entered the room with his mouth agape. "This place is five times bigger than my entire house," he exclaimed with a wide grin.

Maria couldn't help but laugh at his amazement. "It's all yours, this is your room," she replied.

Antonio raced to the bed and leaped onto it like an excited child. "First time on a bed?" Maria teased, not meaning it literally.

"Sadly, yes," Antonio admitted, his excitement turning into contemplation as he reflected upon all the experiences he had missed out on.

"You know what? Just rest. I'll get the cook to make something for you. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask me," Maria said before leaving Antonio to ponder his new surroundings.

Andrés, Maria's father, found himself caught in a heated power struggle with his brothers. Despite Andrés currently holding the CEO position, there's an undercurrent of tension as the brothers pretend to get along in public but fight behind closed doors.

With Maria being Andres' sole heir, the family's legacy hangs in the balance. To maintain their grip on power, he insists that Maria marry a seemingly insignificant and powerless individual. Antonio, an outsider, fits this role perfectly. Whereas, Antonio thought he had finally caught a lucky break.

Maria had gone out of her way to ensure Antonio's comfort. She instructed the head cook to prepare any meal he desired and made it clear that Antonio should have anything he requested. Antonio felt like he was living in a dream.

Antonio, finding himself in this world of luxury so vastly different from his past, couldn't help but be overwhelmed by a sense of wonder and disbelief. The room he was in seemed massive, and just the bathroom alone was larger than the entirety of his old house.

After his bath, he was still admiring the brilliance of his room when a knock on the door startled him. "Come in," he called out, his voice filled with curiosity. He was seated on the couch by the bed, with a sizable TV screen in front of him.

The head cook, who had been tasked with attending to his needs, entered the room. She inquired, "Should your meal be brought to you here, or would you prefer to join us in the dining area?"

Antonio paused, considering his options. Then he replied, "Bring it here."

"Alright, I'll be right back," she said before walking away. Antonio stretched out on the bed, eagerly awaiting his meal. In that moment, all his worries seemed to fade away, and he just wanted to savor this happiness that had come his way.

Before long, the head cook returned with his meal, wheeling it in on a stroller and arranging it neatly on the table in front of the couch. The spread was a mix of various dishes, highlighted by a golden-roasted whole chicken. Antonio's eyes widened in amazement as she revealed the dishes. Memories of how his mother would only feed him when they had good sales at the market, with inadequate portions, rushed back. The only time he had something extra on his plate was during special occasions like her birthday.

"Thank you so much. What's your name?" he asked, genuinely curious.

“Sara," she replied.

"I'm Antonio," he introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake, but Sara didn't reciprocate.

"If you need anything, call me. See that home phone over there?" She pointed at the phone on the bedside table. "Use that."

Sara hurriedly left the room, leaving Antonio to his meal. He devoured the food as if he were being chased, savoring every bite of what had turned out to be an unexpectedly wonderful first day.

Sara went in search of Maria to update her on Antonio's feeding status, as requested. She was informed that Maria was in her room, so she proceeded there.

Sara knocked gently, and Maria's voice from inside replied, "Come in."

Upon entering, she was hit by the overwhelming smell of the cigarette Maria was smoking. The room was flooded with an intense odor, making it hard to breathe. Sara coughed discreetly, trying not to draw attention to her discomfort.

"Ma'am, I've fed Mr. Antonio as you requested," Sara informed Maria.

"Good, now go," Maria responded curtly.

Sara hesitated for a moment, causing Maria to repeat herself more sharply, "I said leave!"

Sara left the room in a hurry, glad to escape the disturbing atmosphere.

Maria's phone rang shortly after Sara had left, and she noticed it was her dad calling. He requested to see her immediately. Maria sighed, reluctantly ending her break. She dropped her cigarette and used mouthwash to conceal the smell before heading to her dad's office.

"Hey Dad," she greeted as she entered the room. André, her father, who had been engrossed in his laptop, looked up at her.

"I hope you didn't forget about tonight?" he inquired, his gaze fixed on her.

"Tonight? What's happening tonight?" Maria asked, her memory failing her momentarily.

"Your niece’s gallery opening. Come on, don't be like that," André reminded her.

"Oh my God, Dad, I almost forgot! Thanks for reminding me," Maria exclaimed in surprise.

"Now, I'm telling you this so you can get him ready. This is the opportunity to introduce him to them. Make him look as presentable as possible," André instructed.

“Alright, Dad, I'll do as you say. I can't wait to see the looks on their faces," Maria replied with a smile. She knew that showing up with Antonio would undoubtedly spark a reaction.

“Later, Dad. I've got to get ready, and you should too,” she said and made a move to leave.

“I sure will, just need to round up some things,” he replied.

Maria went straight to Antonio’s room. Antonio had finished his meal earlier but passed out on his bed. She had to gently tap him several times before he finally woke up.

Antonio struggled to sit upright, rubbing his eyes. "I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep," Maria said after he managed to sit up. "Get ready; we have somewhere to be tonight”