The Other Child Ch. 01

"Sure thing, as long as Hotness doesn't get too angry about it," I winked at the two girls.

They took their drinks, snickered and raced from the room.

"Stop calling me that," Zuiko seemed pissed, so I, of course, didn't let it go.

"I'll pick a less honest name if you like, but I hate lying, especially to you," I twisted on the sofa so that my arm was hooked over the back and I could stare at her.

"That name is disrespectful," she persisted.

"Not in the barrios I come from," I deflected her argument. "There it is a status thing. Few women get called it and fewer still deserve it."

"Well, I don't like it, so stop," she proclaimed. She spun and left before I could get another word in which considering how tight her capris were over her butt wasn't really a bad thing. I also noted she didn't give me an alternate name to use.

Later, over a subdued dinner, the three of us were eating -- me down by Dad's end, Zuiko at the wife's spot and Cybil at her side when I noticed that I hadn't been requested in any manner to leave and Cybil had been allowed to shoot me some glances without Zuiko getting apoplectic.

"Mrs. La Roche, there was a very large stain on the leather sofa in the entertainment room this afternoon," Maria informed the head of household.

"Maybe Duke made it," Hotness snipped at me.

"Oh no, Senora, this is not the kind of stain a man would make," Maria winked my way. I almost spewed my fruit punch.

"Oh," Hotness gave me a furtive glance then looked out the window. "As long as it's cleaned up," and that was the end of the matter. Next time Jacye came over, I was using a towel.