So, tell me about yourself", Rita said, over breakfast.
Rodrigo smiled, sipping his latte. Rita was surprised at the amount of food he brought. There were various types and she had a hard time choosing which one to start with.
"There's nothing really much to say about me", Rodrigo said.
"But at least there's something right? I would love to hear it, I really don't know much about you except that you're my chaffeur which is not much to know is it?", Rita laughed.
"True ma'am".
"Oh stop with all the ma'am ish.. it makes me feel old. Rita is fine please", she said.
"Alright Rita", he said.
She loved the way her name rolled off his toungue, it sounded grand. At that moment, she was happy over her name.
"Okay. My name is Rodrigo Campbell as you already know, I'm thirty and an only child. My father passed on few years ago and so, I'm left with taking care of my sick mother", he said.
Rita felt bad for him. She didn't know that someone so humble had faced a lot in life, she was proud at his sense of responsibility in taking care of his mother. Not many would do that, it made her respect him all the more.
"Oh I'm sorry about your father's death. Please, i hope your mother is getting much better", Rita said.
"To be honest, not really. She has this recurring ailment that never seems to go away no matter the drugs we use", he said sadly.
Rita felt a pang in her chest. Right at that moment, she decided to find out who his mother was and place her on the company's health care system. After all, she was the President and she could do anything she so desired.
"I'm sorry, she'll be fine. Please if there's anything I can do to be of assistance, do let me know", she said.
"Thank you so much, I really appreciate it", Rodrigo said, giving her hands a gentle squeeze.
Rita was taken aback by this but she quickly covered up her surprise by squeezing his hands back. Rodrigo drew his hand back quickly, surprised at this show of careless abandon.
"It's okay, I'm not going to run yelling to daddy that you touched me", Rita laughed.
Rodrigo laughed too and for the first time ever, she noticed that he had a dimple.
Just then, her phone rang, distrupting the moment in the air. The caller ID showed that it was her mother calling, no doubt calling to remind her about the stupid dinner party with Edmundo.
"Please I need to take this", she said, walking towards the balcony.
Rodrigo nodded, watching her leave. He couldn't help it, he knew he was falling for her but he had to control himself. She was an untouchable, someone he could only dream of having. She was Lawrence Anderson's daughter and bethrothed to the Brabra family, he wasn't in their league and there was no use trying to win her heart.
At the balcony, Rita picked up the call. Her mother's screams were what greeted her the first minute she placed the phone on her ear.
"Where the hell are you? We've been looking all over for you", she screamed.
"Mum, I don't want to be rude to you but please would you stop shouting. I'm not dead as you can see", Rita said.
"That's no way to talk to your mother. Today's Edmundo's dinner party and you're no where to be found. I've been calling that damn chaffeur but his line isn't going through".
"I would love it if you would respect my staff. Mum, I'm not going to be attending Edmundo's dinner party, I have better things to do", Rita said.
"What has gotten into you. He's your fiance for Christ sake, don't do this Rita", her mum begged.
Rita had the mind to end the call at that moment but that would be plain rude. She sighed, staring at the ocean far away.
"Fine, I'll be there soon", she said, cutting the call.
Rita made her way into the house, sad that she would cutting her time with Rodrigo short but she vowed to make it up to him.
"I'm sorry, I have to go back home. Duty calls", Rita sighed.
"It's okay, are you ready to leave now? Let me get the car ready", he said.
"I'll be ready in the next twenty minutes", she said.
Rodrigo nodded before making his way out of the living room. Rita packed the left over food, dumping it into the thrash can. She hurriedly took a bath before meeting Rodrigo downstairs who had already started the car.
"What's your mother's name?", Rita said on the drive home.
"Camille. Camille Campbell", he said.
They soon got to the house much to her disappointment. Just before she got down from the vehicle, he took her hands, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Please call me if it gets too overwhelming and that includes here", he said.
"Thank you, I will", Rita smiled, getting out of the car.
Rodrigo drove off, parking the car in the huge garage before he left the Anderson's mansion. He was going back home to care for his mother, that was the only thing that mattered to him now, her and a certain black haired beauty.
Rita on the other hand walked into the mansion, dropping her bags on the stairways. No one was in sight and she used that opportunity to sneak into her room.
"Welcome dear", her mother said, coming out of the adjoining room.
Rita nodded, emptying the contents of her bag. Her mother hobbled about and she could tell that she was nervous about something, no doubt there was something on her mind.
"Just spit it out mum", she said.
"Have you seen the papers yet?",she asked.
"No, what's on it?", Rita asked.
She was a bit curious about the latest news. Just then, her phone pinged announcing that she had a new message. She swiped her phone and sure enough, the same message her mother didn't want her to see was boldly written on the phone.
There was a photo of Edmundo wrapped around a young brunette. They were clearly in a club and Rita could tell that they just got laid. She hissed, throwing her phone back on her bed.
"This is the person you want me to get married to. This man whore, fat chance", she seethed.
"I know but I believe he'll change as time goes on. You have to believe me", her mother said.
"I'm only going to this dinner party because I don't want to disappoint you and Dad. Don't test my patience mum", Rita said.
"Thank you, that's all I ask", her mother smiled.
She left soon. Rita slumped on the bed, sighing at how her life was going. Feeling inquisitive, she opened the message relating to Edmundo as she read the contents. She hissed, disgusted at how someone whom most people respected his family could be a whore.
She wasn't ready for this and she hoped desperately that something would rescue her from predicament.