Her Playboy Boss

Chapter 6: The Elevator Man

I was surprised when I felt a kiss on the cheeks. I looked at the elevator man and instinctively slapped him on the face.

Jax: “Ouch! What was that for?”

It wasn’t a strong slap, and my hand may have actually been more hurt than his face.

Luisa: “You kissed me!”

Jax: “Yeah, I thought you were having a stroke. I was saving you.”

Luisa: “How could you think I’m having a stroke?”

Jax: “Well, you were paralyzed. Although it’s possible that you can’t stop looking at how handsome I am.”

Luisa: “Don’t flatter yourself too much. You’re not that handsome.”

Jax: “Really?”

Luisa: “I still have some things to buy. Can you go away now?”

Jax: “Feisty. Can you at least tell me your name?”

Luisa: “It’s Luisa.”

Jax: “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Luisa. I’ll see you around.”

I heaved a sigh of relief as Jax finally left. I was able to choose an affordable mattress and a pillow. I would have preferred two pillows, but I didn’t want to spend too much unless it’s necessary. I was actually hesitating whether to get the mattress or not, but I figured a good rest is essential for my work.

I lined up at the cashier and paid for the things I bought for the house and my stuff separately. I didn’t want Ms. Vera to think that I used her money to pay for the personal stuff I bought so I made sure they are paid separately. I withdrew some money from my savings account earlier to pay for them.

After the groceries had been bagged and tied up together, I realized that I couldn’t carry all of them with my two hands and ride a jeep back to the apartment. I would have to take a cab in order to go home. I’m pretty sure the cab fare from home to the apartment building would cost more than the 50 pesos that I was allotted for fare, and I didn’t want to use my own money to pay for the cab since I wasn’t sure how much it would cost.

I had the stuff I bought in the cart while waiting outside the supermarket and wondering what to do, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, I saw that it was Jax, the elevator man.

I moved away from him, thereby taking his hand away from me.

Jax: “Are you done grocery shopping?”

Luisa: “Uhm, yes.”

Jax: “Come on.”

All of a sudden, Jax took the cart away from me, put his own bags of groceries on it and pushed the cart towards the parking area.

Luisa: “Wait. Where are you going?”

Jax: “Home.”

Luisa: “Why are you taking my groceries?”

Jax chuckled before he said, “I’m not taking it. I’m giving you a ride home. I assume you don’t have a car. You can’t really carry these things all by yourself.”

He’s right. I’m actually thankful that he’s here to give me a riddle. I was still thinking of how to get home when he arrived at the right time.

Jax finally stopped at a shiny black SUV and opened the compartment. He started loading my groceries and I helped him by handing them to him one by one. When he was done, he closed the compartment and put his groceries in the middle seat. He opened the passenger door for me and asked me to get in. He asked me to “Stay put,” as he brought the cart back to where they were supposed to be deposited.

When he got back, he closed my door and got into the driver seat then turned the engine on. He asked me to put my seatbelt on, and once I did, he said “Do you want to have lunch before we head back home?”

Luisa: “I can’t. I need to be back home and I still need to cook lunch for my boss.”

Jax: “Oh. So you work for someone in the building?”

Luisa: “Yeah, I’m a babysitter for Ms. Vera Madrid.”

Jax: “For Vera? Really? How did you get that gig?”

Luisa: “I used to work for her parents in the province. I was a maid at their house. Ms. Vera needed a babysitter so she sent me over to her daughter.”

Jax: “How is working for Vera working for you?”

Luisa: “Uhm, it’s fine.”

Jax: “Sure.”

We arrived at the apartment building not long after. Jax drove to the parking building. Once he’s parked, He helped me unload my groceries from the back of his SUV. He said he’ll come back for his groceries later as he helped me carry mine to the elevators.

As we rode the lift, I looked at Jax and said “Thanks for the ride. You helped me more than you realized.”

Jax: “You’re welcome. If you need a ride or to carry things around, just let me know. I’m at Unit 2301.”

Luisa: “I wouldn’t want to be an imposition on you. But thanks for the offer.”

Jax: “It’s not a big deal.”

I smiled and thanked Jax once more. When we arrived at the 20th floor, he helped me carry the groceries to the door of the apartment. I waited for him to go before I opened the door to the apartment.

I brought the groceries into the apartment one by one. I brought the mattress and pillow straight to my room before putting the groceries in the kitchen.

I checked on Cass and I didn’t find her in her room. Ms. Vera is nowhere to be found too. They must have gone out of the house. I put the receipt in the fridge so Ms. Vera could see it later. I only have less than 500 pesos left as change and I put every last cent of them on the counter. I put away the groceries and prepared the ingredients for adobo.

I was almost done cooking when Ms. Vera came in with baby Cass in her stroller. She came in with a man whom I do not recognize.

Ms. Vera: “When you’re done cooking, set up a plate for me and Liam. Cassandra needs feeding and changing too.”

Luisa: “Okay, miss.”

Ms. Vera put baby Cass down on her crib where I could see her and pulled the man she called Liam into her bedroom.

For the past three days that I have been in her apartment, I have seen Ms. Vera with three different men. I didn’t want to think the worst of her, but I am not too naive not to know what she actually does with these men.

I’m thankful that baby Cass is still too young to know what her mom has been doing. I hope that things change when the baby gets older.