"Is it just me or are you a little bit too quiet" Mariana said. "Huh" Sunny said. "You have been awfully quiet ever since the incident" Ines said.
"Did Pengxi give you a hard time?" Diego asked. Sunny stares at the ground like it holds the answer she's looking for. Tears began to fall from her cheeks without realizing it. "Sunny are you crying? Was it that bad?" Mariana asked in concern.
"I ruined his shirt.... It costs more than my yearly salary...." Sunny sniffles. "A perfectly good shirt... I am so fucking clumsy... Now I am in a dept that I can't pay" Sunny said.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute... She... I mean you are crying because of a stained shirt? A you being serious right now?" Diego asked.
"I placed it in the machine but the stain is too stubborn. Why wasn't I paying attention?" Sunny asked. "I'm sure he holds no grudge against you just because of a shirt... He has dozens of them at his disposal. Besides chef has compensated him for the mistake" Mariana said.
"Great... Now chef would deduct my paycheck" Sunny said as she massaged her face with her palms. "You are indeed a strange one" Mariana said with a chuckle.
"Hold up, why do I feel like this issue is more than a shirt... I heard him speak chinese and you replied" Ines said. "Oh, I took online classes with.. duolingo" Sunny said nervously.
"I thought as much" Ines said. Alejandra entered the kitchen, everyone stopped their conversation. "Sunny come with me" Alejandra said. Sunny's heart sank into an ocean.
{Did she find out the truth? Is she taking me to my father? Is he here? Should I run out the door? But if I run Alejandra would find me regardless}
"Sunny!!" Mariana yells. Sunny snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah?" She said trying to control her voice. "The chef is talking to you" Samuel said. "I'm sorry... I'm coming" Sunny said.
Sunny followed Alejandra from behind. Alejandra led her to a room. "Come in" Alejandra said as she opens the door.
Sunny entered the room without hesitation. "Have a seat" Sunny sat on a chair. "Is this your room?" Sunny asked trying to sound casual. "Yeah, my family owns the building"
"I see... It's beautiful" Sunny said. "Do you want to talk about it?" Alejandra asked. "About what?" Sunny asked. "You have been quiet and tensed"
"I'm fine chef, it's just that time of the month again" Sunny lied. "Do you need a pad or something?" Alejandra asked awkwardly. Sunny laughs low in amusement. "Not really chef... I just want... Honestly I just want to disappear from the face of the earth"
Alejandra just stood there watching Sunny with an unreadable expression. Sunny ruffles her hair in exhaustion. "What did Pengxi tell you?" Alejandra asked. "Who?" Sunny asked despite knowing the truth.
"The man you bumped into" Alejandra said. "Oh, he just apologized for the accident and wished we met under better circumstances" Sunny said. "I never knew you understand chinese"
"There's a lot you don't know about me chef" Sunny calmly replied. "I know... No matter how hard I try I can't seem to figure out your true motive" Alejandra said. Sunny tilts her head in amazement.
"My true motive? I guess my true motive is to work with you without ulterior motives" Sunny said. "I just can't seem to figure you out" Alejandra said. "I can't seem to figure myself out either" Sunny said.
Alejandra moved slowly and deliberately towards Sunny. "What are you hiding Sunny?" Alejandra asked. "Nothing" Sunny replied awkwardly.
Alejandra sighs. "It's rare for me to trust someone but if I find out you're dishonest then I'll torture you so hard you'll wish for death" Alejandra said.
"I understand.... I only wish to be your friend chef. Even if I have to work hard to earn it... I will work so hard till I drop dead" Sunny said. Alejandra chuckles. "You are indeed something" Alejandra said.
"Alejandra what the fuck are you in that room for? Do you have any idea how long I've been searching for your ass?" Antonio asked from outside. "Ugh.. just give me a sec" Alejandra said.
"You better not be making out in there!!" Antonio yells. Alejandra looks at Sunny. "Wait right here, don't go anywhere. I'll be right back" Alejandra said in a whisper. Antonio knocks more violently. "Bitch don't make me break down this door" Antonio said
"Alright" Sunny replied. Alejandra left Sunny inside the room. Sunny's phone lit up with a message. "Meet me outside, I'm waiting for you" Sunny read out loud. "{Sigh} What have I gotten myself into?" Sunny asked herself.
Well Sunny left the room, Mariana met her outside. "Where are you going? Chef asked you to stay inside that room" Mariana said. "Wait how do you know?" Sunny asked.
"That's because she asked me to keep an eye on you" Mariana said. "I don't feel strong... I just want to go home so I could rest" Sunny said. "You can rest inside that room"
"Please... I just want to go home... Please" Sunny said. Mariana clicks her tongue in frustration. "Fine just make sure you go straight home"
Sunny smiles. "Aye, aye captain" Sunny said. "Get out of here now" Mariana said with a chuckle.
Sunny took off her apron and dashed outside the building. She has no idea how long she ran but a white Porsche pulled up Infront of Sunny. "Hop in" Pengxi said. Sunny glanced around before entering the car.
"I know a great spot" Pengxi drove to a remote villa. "What are we doing here?" Sunny asked. "This is my secret hide out. Not even your dad nor the police can find this place with their fancy gadgets" Pengxi said.
Sunny followed Pengxi inside the beautiful villa. "What do you want to talk about?" Sunny asked. "Come on Chen Yanyan it's been fifteen years since we saw each other. Why don't we catch up first"
"Tell me why I am here" Sunny said with gritted teeths. "Tsk, you are no fun at all" Pengxi said pouting his lips. "What do you want? Why show up now? I have tried so hard to be careful... So hard not to get noticed... How?" Sunny asked.
"Chen Yanyan" Pengxi was cut off by Sunny. "My name is Sunny. Chen Yanyan died the day she was kidnapped"
Pengxi sighs. "Look I'm not here to drag you to your father. I just want you to be safe. The Castello family are friends with your father. If Alejandra finds out the truth, things could be messy" Pengxi said.
"She might protect me.. she would not let anything bad happen to me" Sunny said. "You aren't convinced with the word you speak. I can make arrangements for you to leave the country and go somewhere no one would find you" Pengxi said.
"I can't leave.... I am just getting use to this life" Sunny said. "Don't be fooled by the drunken kiss"
"How did you...?" Sunny asked in shock. "Come on I have connections as well. I don't want you to get hurt Yanyan.... I wasn't able to protect you then, please let me protect you now" Pengxi said.
"I... I... My friends... I can't just abandon them... After everything we've been through together" Sunny said. "Staying with them would only put them in more risk. You might think you're safe with them but you are only putting them more in danger" Pengxi said.
"I need more time to think... I can't just do this... Just walk out on them no matter what" Sunny said.
"Cheng Xing has already planned your marriage with Clark, the son of the governor. Once you're found you are already legally married to him.... I have tried my best to wipe every trace of evidence you leave behind but I don't know how long it might last" Pengxi said.
"When will all this end? I am freaking tired of running. I just want to live a normal life. I would give literally anything to live a normal life with my friends" Sunny said. "You are only doing them a favor by leaving. Staying only puts them in more danger" Pengxi said.
"Why should I trust you? You ignored me for so many years, now you want me to just fall into your arms for protection" Sunny said. "If you never trusted me, you would have never followed me here. Deep down you are as helpless as a mice trapped in a sticky web." Pengxi said.
Sunny rubs her face in exhaustion. "Yanyan you can trust me... I promise, I only want what's best for you. I have watched how your father controlled your life like a puppet. How your entire life had a time table.... I couldn't take it"
"But when I heard you were kidnapped I tore down china just to find you. Cheng Xing and I had a huge fight... Let's just say blood was shed. When I found you, you were seventeen.... You grew up to be a smart and independent young lady"
"I knew if I approached you, everything might change so I observed from the shadows. I made sure you got any job you applied for, well except this dishwashing job you got" Sunny chuckled softly.
"I will give heaven and earth just to protect you and your friends. All I am asking is that you fly out of the country for a week" Pengxi said. "Why?" Sunny asked. "Cheng Xing is coming to Mexico... The Castello's invited him over"
"What do they need him for?" Sunny asked in surprise. "He kept complaining how Alejandra has been slacking off with the task of finding you. He wants to come and make sure she has made a little progress" Pengxi said.
Sunny knew if her father was coming then it means trouble. "It's just for a week right?" Sunny asked. "Yea, after that you can return to being a ghost" Pengxi said.
"First I have to talk to my friends about this" Sunny said. "Does it mean you agree to my terms?" Pengxi asked. "Do I have a choice?" Sunny asked.
Pengxi hugged Sunny in excitement. "I promise to protect you with every fiber of my being" Pengxi said. "Fine, fine. When am I leaving?" Sunny asked. "Two days from now" Pengxi said. "Alright... I need to start making preparations for my departure" Sunny said.