Micah Delgado camewith a level of intensity, that even after four years, Alita had yet to get accustomed to, no matter how much she tried.She served as his personal guard, confidante, and at times, his only friend.The level of respect she had for him had only tripled on his last patent application where he took the time to show where he'd added her name to the patent.When the money came through from sales, she would be set for life.A life where, she didn't know.
Earlier in the day, Micah had a meeting with his father, The Czar of Colombia about his future.She knew this meant it was time for him to be matched for a potential bride, which also meant uncertainty for her.A conversation was required with her boss, and it needed to be in the open and in front of his father.
Eduardo Delgado treated her like his daughter, although she worked for his son.She took meals at the family table and had her own quarters and bathroom close to Micah, and she traveled with the family for vacations; if not, she was given time off to have her own downtime to visit her family.When she and Micah were in school in Argentina, she was free to go home at night; however, the past year between Alita and her family had become strained.There was nothing she could put her finger on until her mother made a reference to intimacy with Micah.No matter how much she tried to explain her job with the Delgados, her father refused to believe that such men would honor a single, unprotected young woman living under their roof.Her father believed she was paid so well to be more than a bodyguard to Micah Delgado, again, not understanding why such a powerful family could want such a simple girl as herself as a protector for a male child, who by all accounts had adult male working parts.
The sadness in her eyes spoke to Micah as he looked up from the stack of papers in front of him.He and Eduardo were seated at the table, going over invoices for the farm.This part of running the farm he didn’t care for, but it was necessary.
“What is troubling you, Alita?”he asked, not stopping what he was working on to listen to her response.“Are you homesick and wish to travel to Argentina to spend the summer with your family before we decide on universities?”
A week had passed since returning from the wedding of The Cranberry in Kentucky which she would recount often in the upcoming weeks.She admitted to having a great deal of fun, hanging out with the other teens at the party.It was the first time in four years that her boss had actually behaved like a teenager.They played in the pool with the other kids, danced, stayed up late at night, ate pizza, and watched movies.The two girls, who lived with The Technician called The Lemon, were still a bit too feral for her liking and were pushing the envelope trying to get close to her boss for a feel.She imagined it would be more of the same once they began Uni, but it was her job, protecting him.
“You have said nothing yet, Alita,” he spoke, putting down Number 3, his third favorite pen, which he had aptly named Number 3.
“My family...things have gotten...tense,” she said, noticing Eduardo's head pop up at her words.
“Why is there tension?”Micah asked.
“I haven’t been sending any money for the past year,” she confessed.
Micah pushed the papers away, giving her his undivided attention.“How much are you sending per month?”
“I have basically been sending half of what I make,” Alita said softly.
Micah blinked several times, wanting to put the horse in front of the cart and attach the beast before taking a seat on the buckboard.“You're paid 30 grand a year, American, plus room and board, and received a private education.In four years, you've sent 60 thousand American to your family in Argentina, and suddenly you have stopped.Please explain your reasoning in one, sending money when your father is very capable of working to support your family, and two, why you have stopped.”
She blinked, trying to maintain a straight face.The words were getting trapped in her throat, but it needed to be put out there.Eduardo Delgado and his son needed to know the shame she bore to have this position as Micah's guard.
“My parents believe I am your paid companion,” Alita said softly.
“Paid.Companion,” Micah repeated.
“Paid.Companion,” she repeated.“My father does not understand why one of the most powerful men on two continents would hire a girl like me to serve as a protector for a son who is a man with working male parts.”
Micah's body language changed as Eduardo held firm, his head down, listening but not reacting to her words.He wanted to know what his son was thinking, what he would say, and how he planned to handle the situation.Hands, rough with calluses from working the fields with his father, scratched at his temple.
“One, my father does not pay you, I do,” Micah said.“Yes, my father paid for your training, and your hands are registered as lethal weapons in Colombia, Argentina, and the States.The private education you have received I also paid for out of my pocket.Why, may I ask, have you cut them off?”
“If they see me as dirty, then they don't need my dirty money,” Alita said.“I can save it for what comes next for me, whether I attend Uni with you or you marry and your bride objects to my presence.I have to look out for my future.”
Micah watched her face.No emotions were evident as he stared at her.He had a great deal of respect for his guard and valued her opinion as well as the companionship.
“Alita, call your father so I may speak with him,” Micah said, to Eduardo's surprise.
“You wish to speak with my father?”
“Yes, get the man on the line,” Micah said, waiting her for to remove the device from her pocket.
Alita dialed the number, listening to the rings.Her father answered, ensuring first she was doing well, next asking about the money, and then wondering if Delgado had tired of her and was shipping her home.Micah took the phone from her hand.
“Señor Mendoza, this is Micah Delgado,” he said into the phone.“Please, first accept my apology for not speaking with you sooner.Time has not been kind this past year as we have been on the move.”
He listened to the man stammer.He listened to the man making excuses.He had no need to listen to the man any further.
“Señor, the reason for my call is this summer, I am not in Argentina, but home in Colombia,” he said.“I am preparing for Uni and am uncertain whether I shall attend here in my country or abroad.Alita has applied as well, but I wanted to give you the respect needed in checking to see if you were planning a match or a pairing for her matrimony.”
“Matrimony?”Ricardo Mendoza replied.
“Sí, as she has served as my guard for four years, she has the option to return home and pursue her education in Argentina, or if you have made a match for her, marry and begin her family,” Micah continued.“If you have not, and it is your desire for her to assume a more traditional, familial role,mi Abuelo, as the Czar of Argentina, based on her four years of service as my personal guard, can make her a match as well as my father, The Czar of Colombia.”
