Chapter eleven

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"She's gonna forever say 'I got this'
Even with tears in her eyes."  - unknown

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👨‍💼Daniel 👨‍💼

When Maya came into the office and didn't know what to do with free time, my heart shattered a little. What has her life been like if a teenager doesn't know what free time is. 

During dinner, I noticed she was fidgeting but I don't want to pry, I want her to come to me when she feels comfortable to share what is bothering her. It helps no one if we force her to communicate, it only builds a fragile relationship that will never last. 

I'm in it for the long run.
I want to be there for the rest of her life. 

When everyone is finished Maya taps on dad's arm. She takes out her new phone, types something and shows it to dad. "Ofcourse, go ahead, mi amore. The garden is included when I said you can do anything without asking. You only need to tell someone when you leave the estate." She stands up and walks away.

"What is she doing?" It's Martín who ask. "She's going to take a walk in the garden. I figure she is just grabbing her headphones for music." As if on cue, I see her walking in the hallway through the dining room door with her headphones on. 

She goes outside in her sweater and jeans, since its the beginning of october it's not very cold.

💫Maya 💫

The walk in the garden was the best idea ever. They have such a beautiful garden with big trees and flowers everywhere. 

There is even a bench underneath a big tree with a nice view over the big lake situated at the end of the garden. I sat there for a few minutes while listening to 'Power' by Isak Danielson.

It is currently the next morning, sunday, the last day before school. There is nothing planned for the day so I had a small internal panic attack during breakfast with Álvaro and Daniel. Apparently because it is weekend the other boys won't wake up soon.

Don't they have an alarm clock?

After breakfast I went to my room and around 10.00 Daniel knocked on the door asking if I want a house tour. Since I have lost my way like five times already I would love to get a tour, maybe it helps. 

Apparently they have a basement with an icerink because the twins and Hugo play icehockey. "Now I know it's weird to play an ice sport with the weather in Spain, but the school has a rink and team. Martín is actually the team captain and working on getting into a College or University by icehockey scholarship." 

That's cool! I've never played any sport but I would love to try once my ribs and back are not hurting like hell anymore. 

Daniel says that sunday is the only day we have lunch with everyone around 12.30. Something about family tradition. After lunch Hugo asked if I wanted to play games with him in the gameroom. 

We did a few videogames, apparently I am really bad at some game called 'Mario' or something but Hugo never explained what I need to do so how can I be good at it?

Around 16.00 we are interrupted by Martín asking if we want to play a boardgame with him and Lucas. It's a game called 'Ludo' but since I have never played any game before so I just look at the board, lost. 

After they explained it, it still doesn't really make sense but when we got to the third game of 'Ludo', I understood. You just need to jump on other people's heads. 

We kept playing games till Álvaro got us for dinner. During, I got a few questions about if I'm ready for school tomorrow. And Hugo kept talking about his codelincuente and him playing pranks on all the teachers. I wonder who this friend of his is. 

"Mi amore, remember what we talked about? If anything happens find one of your brothers or call me, Daniel or Lucas. No one can force you to talk if you don't want to and no one can be mean to you. Daniel and I have a lot of influence around here so if anyone is mean, give me their name and they will be expelled." Expelled? That's a bit excessive. 

Nodding, I stand up from the table. "Maya, want to play some more videogames?" Hugo asks. It was fun but now is time for my walk. I gently shake my head and walk to my room to grab my headphones. 

Starting the walk at the back door, I see everyone looking at me. Why are they looking? Am I doing something wrong? Álvaro said I don't need to ask to go or do something as long as I don't leave the estate. 

I quickly walk around the corner, away from their attention. 

Focussing on my music for the beginning of the walk, I never noticed there are two men following me. How did they get here? Maybe it is a coincidence, maybe they are here on their own walk and happened to be walking behind me. 

After a few minutes I look back again and see they are still walking behind me. I start to panic, maybe he sent them to get me again.
I can't go back there. 

I start to run and run, not caring where to. After running for a few minutes my ribs are hurting so much I need to throw up. I'm hiding but I can still see the men. It looks like they are searching for me. 

No.
No no no no no.
I can't
I can't breath. 

Not knowing what to do, I get my phone out and search for the messages app. I just click the first one I come across, not being able to see the name through my tears. 

🔞 Mateo 🔞

Maya went on another walk at exactely the same time as yesterday. She caught us looking at her through the window and quickly walked away. Maybe she wants to watch a movie with me when she comes home from her walk? I hope so. 

I'm chilling in my room when I get a message from Maya, I thought she was still on her walk, it's only 20.30? 
All it reads is 'Help they are following me'.

What the fuck? Someone is following her?? But how did they get in the garden?

I jump up and run downstairs to the home office, Daniel and dad are usually still wrapping up some paperwork at this hour. Bursting through the door I see Hugo is also there. "I just got a text from Maya, she says someone is following her." The second I finish I run to the back door, hearing three pairs of footsteps running behind me. 

Running through the garden we shout for Maya, hoping they didn't get her yet. After running to the far corner, I hear a "Mr. Sanchéz, we saw her here last." There are the two guards supposed to protect her, how did someone follow her when they were here? Need to fire them as soon as we find Maya again. 

Looking around the forest part of the garden, I notice some blue in all the green and brown. Maya is wearing blue jeans. "I FOUND HER" Everyone runs in my direction. 

When I get closer I see her on the ground in fetus position, slowly swinging back and forth. I get down on my knees before her.

"Maya, can you hear me? We're here. No one will hurt you. Where did they go?" She looks up and into my eyes. The raw fear and emotion I see in them stab me straight through the heart. 

Looking behind me she can see everyone including the boys and dad. She looks so relieved to see them all but when she looks a little more to the left she freezes again. She lifts her hand and points to the guards.

"They were following you?" She nods quickly. Dad has crouched down beside me now. "Maya, mi amore, they were following you, but not because they want to hurt you. They are guards, your guards. They are there to make sure nothing happens to you when we are not around. I should have told you before but I figured they would know how to keep a low profile. Guess I was wrong." 

Dad says the last four words while giving the guards a glare. They visibly shrink a little. 
"Go back to the house, we got her from here." Daniel orders. They walk away and back to the house. 

Imbecils.

Dad stands up and offers his hand to Maya. "Come on mi amore, let's get back home." To everyone's surprise she takes his hand and stands up. Still a little wobbly on her legs but she let's go of dad's hand. 

She's warming up to us.
I just hope she comes out of her shell.



A/N - and another chapter is out. I really have no life.... ah well, at least I can sit in bed the entire day :)
I just realised this is the 5th chapter i uploaded in one day 💀

Love you <3

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