CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Yup, Miss Amy," Juana said, confused by Amy's over-the-top surprise.
Juana had deliberately gone for a cheaper option, hoping to get under Amy's skin and finally get fired.
She was so done with Amy's constant demands for the most luxurious and high-end stuff.
'What's Amy's problem?' Juana thought, intrigued by her boss's bizarre behavior."
"Isn't this a bit... beneath your standards?" Juana asked with sarcasm, making sure Amy noticed the difference.
Juana's goal was to pointedly bring Amy's attention to the fact that, for once, she hadn't gotten the luxurious item she typically demanded.
"Are you kidding me?!" Cherry said, her eyes wide with amazement.
"These phones are way beyond what I'd ever imagine owning! I mean, two high-end phones all to myself? It's just too much!"
She couldn't stop staring at the phones, flipping them over and admiring their beauty.
Juana's jaw dropped as she sat down, stunned.
"Ummm...I think we need to speak to the manager. Now." She glanced at Cherry, who was still gazing at the phones in awe.
"We're running out of time, ma'am."
Cherry's eyes snapped back into focus, her mouth still agape and out of excitement, she responded,
"Oh, right! The manager's number...where did I put it?" She frantically searched her surroundings, her eyes darting around the room.
Cherry's face fell as she realized,
"Oh, espera! (wait!) I don't have the manager's number!"
"I already told you, ma'am, the manager's number is in your hands, not mine! That's why I needed you to make the call."
Juana shook her head, confusion on her face.
"But I don't know the manager! How am I supposed to call someone I've never even met?" Cherry said.
Just then, the man who had driven Cherry the day before walked in, having overheard their conversation through the slightly ajar door.
"Ah, Amy, ¿No te acordaste? (didn't you remember?) You jotted down important contacts in your diary, didn't you? Like, um, the manager's contact info?"
"Diary? Where is it?" Cherry started to ask, but the man quickly cut in, pointing to the drawer. "It's over there."
He tried to subtly divert Juana's attention, hoping to avoid her noticing Amy's odd behavior since her arrival.
His swift interruption was a gentle attempt to steer the conversation back on track.
Cherry's eyes widened as she remembered she had taken the form of someone else, so the expectations from her were understandable, and she needed to watch her step more.
She took a breath and reminded herself to be more careful with what she said and did.
Cherry walked over to the drawer and found herself staring at two diaries - one pink, one blue.
Suddenly, the house's quirky color scheme made sense.
She realized that Amy must have a soft spot for baby pink and blue, which explained why the house was painted blue outside and pink inside.
But, Cherry was still stuck, unsure which diary to pick. She stood there, frozen, looking at the two options.
"The pink one, Amy!" the man chimed in, and Cherry obliged, pulling out the pink diary and scanning the pages for the Manager's contact info.
"Got it!" she said, striding over to Juana with the phone already in hand, ready to make the call.
Juana made the call and secured permission for her "boss" Amy to take a one-day leave.
"So, your therapy session is scheduled for 11:00 am today."
She muttered to herself, "I wonder why you need a therapy session like something is wrong with you."
Cherry heard her murmur a bit , "Huh? What did you say?" She asked looking at Juana for an answer.
"No…nothing," she said, quickly adjusting as she confirmed the time, glancing at her watch.
"Oh, it's almost time. She should be arriving any minute now, so I'll take my leave. I need to run a few errands quickly."
Juana gathered her belongings and exited the room, feeling perplexed.
"Miss Amy seems so... different," she whispered to herself, her brow furrowed in confusion.
As Juana made her exit, she stumbled upon a hushed conversation between Amy's mom and the therapist.
Her ears perked up, and she couldn't help but wonder what was cooking.
She felt the urge to eavesdrop.
She ducked behind a massive flower vase in the hallway, positioning herself within earshot of Amy's room, and held her breath, eager to uncover the juicy details.
"I'm putting all my eggs in one basket, trusting you to help me crack the code with Amy.
She's been acting downright bizarre lately, and I'm worried she's suffering from memory loss or something.
Or maybe it's just the aftershocks of the trauma she endured."
"Don't worry, Lady Yo, I've got your back. I'll do my level best to help Amy get back on track.
With time, patience, and the right treatment, I'm confident she'll turn the corner and be okay."
"Thank you ever so much," Amy's mom said, her voice filled with gratitude, as she turned to leave.
Juana's hand instinctively flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Could it be true? Has Amy really lost her senses?"
As the therapist approached, Juana shrank back, melting into the shadows behind the flower vase, holding her breath as the doctor passed mere inches from her hiding spot.
Just as Juana finished watching the therapist disappear into the room, she turned to make her own exit, but her gaze collided with a familiar figure - the man who had driven Amy home.
Her heart skipped as their eyes met, and she quickly dropped down into a squat, pretending to search for something on the floor, all the while trying to avoid drawing attention to herself.
"Lost something?" he asked, his voice low and knowing.
Juana's heart raced as she continued to pretend to search the floor, trying to maintain her cover.
"Yes, I am. And how long have you been standing there?" she replied, attempting to sound nonchalant.
The man's response sent a shiver down her spine: "Long enough to see you eavesdropping on the conversation."