I wake up early as usual, it's been years of waking up at dawn to prepare the impeccable breakfast before Mr. Paulo and Mrs. Marisa leave for work.
I wonder if it would be too invasive to go into the kitchen and prepare breakfast for Mr. Joao's family, but I'd rather take the risk and leave a very nice table waiting for them.
The house was clean, even so I did what needed to be done, always taking care not to wake anyone. When everything was ready, Mr. Joao and Mrs. Gloria came down.
Gloria: Smell of coffee…
Joao: Good morning, Julia.
Julia: Good morning, Mr. Joao, good morning, Mrs. Gloria… I made a simple breakfast, I hope you don't mind me using your kitchen, but I guarantee I left everything spotless.
They look at each other.
Joao: Julia, I don't know what to say… We don't mind you using the kitchen, but you didn't have to do this, girl…
Dona Gloria didn't answer, just went to the kitchen. We follow her and she was standing there looking at the table.
Julia: I'm sorry, Mrs. Gloria, I just wanted to repay your help somehow.
She looks at me with a half smile.
Gloria: I'm not upset with you, girl, I was just planning on waking up and making you breakfast, not finding the table already set.
Joao: Julia, I know you're used to doing this every day, but you don't have to do this at our house.
Gloria: That's right, Julia, you should be asleep at this hour, I just came to make my husband's coffee and I'm going back to bed.
We laughed.
Julia: I promise not to do this again, but I'll make it clear, I'm not the kind of person who can sit still, so while I'm here I'll help with whatever is necessary.
Gloria: It's all right, girl, I also have to admit that this kitchen smells great and this table looks appetizing, I won't deny your help.
Joao: That's true!
They sit down.
Julia: I'm going to strain this coffee and I'll join you.
While I'm making the coffee, Virginia arrives and joins us at the table. It was a totally different morning than I used to have.
Julia: Mrs. Gloria, what does Virginia do for a living?
Gloria: She works as a maid in a madame's house, do you plan to stay in the same area?
Julia: It's what I know how to do, Mrs. Gloria, cook and clean.
She smiled.
Gloria: It's a good thing you have some time before you start looking for a job, take the opportunity to rest a little and save your money.
Julia: What do you mean, Mrs. Gloria? I want to get a job as soon as possible, I didn't leave today because I have low immunity and with this rain I'll end up catching a cold, but tomorrow I'm going out! If it's raining, can you lend me an umbrella, ma'am?
I smile at her.
Gloria: Calm down, girl, what's the rush? With the years you've worked at that house, you're going to get good money… you can even save it during the time you spend here at my house, you won't have any expenses at my house.
I still don't understand.
Julia: What money are you talking about, Mrs. Gloria? I didn't have a penny to pay for yesterday's ticket… I was so embarrassed when Mr. Joao said he would pay.
Gloria: Wait a minute, girl, they didn't pay you anything? What about the time you worked? Didn't you do two jobs?
Julia: At the end of each month, Mrs. Marisa would write down all my expenses with food, housing and some things I needed to buy, like sanitary pads, hair oil…
Gloria: Wait a minute, Julia, you paid to work!? Is that what I'm hearing?
Julia: It's just that I lived there too…
Gloria: It was their obligation, girl! Stop talking as if that family was doing you a favor, don't you see that they used you all these years?
She speaks very loudly.
Julia: I know that Mrs. Marisa and Mr. Paulo are a bit difficult, but I owe my life to them, Mrs. Gloria, my life…
She shakes her head and puts her hand on her forehead.
Gloria: My husband was right, you're not all there, girl.
Julia: Of course I'm all there, look.
I get up and spin around, she starts laughing and so do I.
Gloria: Julia, you're so funny.
...***Virginia…***...
I leave the house with my father and at the bus stop I'm surprised by my boss's brother.
Kaique: Virginia?
It's a good thing my father had already left, Mr. Kaique has been hitting on me ever since he got back from the United States, what's worse is that he's handsome and I'm not stupid or anything to refuse a piece of that.
Virginia: Mr. Kaique, hi… what are you doing here?
Kaique: Well, what a coincidence, right? I'm on my way home, get in and I'll give you a ride.
Virginia: Mr. Kaique, my bus is coming and I'm not late.
Kaique: With this rain, you're going to refuse my ride?
He smiles at me and I can't resist.
Virginia: Okay, you convinced me.
He opens the car door and I get in quickly.
Virginia: Thank you very much, with this rain the city can get bottled up.
Kaique: Don't worry, Vi, you're practically family already.
He puts his hand on my thigh and I smile a little shakily. We drive the whole way in silence, but sometimes he would look at me and I would smile awkwardly.
Kaique: Vi, I'm going to have to stop by the company to resolve something urgent, can you walk up? I'm sorry.
Virginia: No problem, Mr. Kaique, go ahead and solve your problem, you helped me a lot.
He smiled and I got out of the car.
He dropped me off at the entrance to the condominium; I would have had to walk anyway if I had taken the bus.
Virginia: Good morning.
I say good morning to the doormen and head to Mrs. Emily's house.
Mrs. Emily is Kaique's older sister and my boss, she lived only with her daughter (Lua), separated from her husband almost a year ago, and now her brother came to live with them, but I don't even know why, he always liked the United States so much.
I arrive at the mansion, I talk to the security guards and go inside.
Virginia: Good morning, Mrs. Emily, good morning, beautiful Lua.
Lua: Good morning, Giginia.
Emily: Good morning, Virginia! I wanted to ask you something.
Virginia: You can tell me, ma'am.
Emily: Can you start with my office today? I'm expecting a friend today.
Virginia: Is it the handsome neighbor?
Emily: Virginia…
I wink at her and go to the kitchen. I talk to my colleagues and go straight to the bathroom to put on my uniform.
After tidying Mrs. Emily's office, I leave and come face to face with the handsome neighbor in the living room, Lua must be with the nanny and Mrs. Emily will surely enjoy the free time with the handsome neighbor.
I walk past them and they go into the office afterwards. I go to the kitchen to get a drink of water and end up getting into a conversation about Julia with the girls.
Virginia: Look, I swear that if there was a place here, I would ask Mrs. Emily to take the girl in, she's so nice.
Emily: Who are you talking about, Virginia?
Virginia: Oh, you scared me, Mrs. Emily… I was just telling the girls that there's a young woman at my house who needs a job, that if you needed someone, I'd talk to you… Mrs. Emily, the woman has magic hands, she cooks like no one else.
Emily: I see.
Virginia: But what about the neighbor? Did he leave so soon?
Emily: Yes, he received an important call.
Virginia: Oh, I see…
Over her shoulder, I see Kaique walk by.
Virginia: Speaking of important calls…
I whisper.
Emily: What did you say?
Virginia: Nothing… let me get back to work.
I grab the broom and head for the living room.
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