Hollywood Zenith

" What are you seriously considering going home after what happened?" Kayla exclaimed. She didn't know anything about what they were talking about.

" You didn't even tell your wife about it?" Adele too was shocked. She thought when Mayra came to consult about it she must have told Kayla about it.

" Wife?" Meanwhile Kate was even more bewildered by what she was hearing. She finally noticed their matching wedding rings, they were definitely married!

" We should talk about it later." Mayra didn't want to air out her dirty laundries in front of the guest.

" No we need to talk now. I can't believe I will be the last person to hear about this."

Mayra sighed and expressed her desire to visit her family. It's been years since she last saw them. She also knew that it was a bad idea considering most of her families would be there because of the holiday but still she wanted to at least visit her parents.

" If you were that worried about it, you should have said something. Don't worry I will go with you and if they dared to bully you, I will teach them a firm lesson."

" Do you not get along with your family?" Kate asked because she was curious. Weren't they blowing this simple issue out of proportion?

Mayra briefly explained her ethnic background and how it was forbidden in her culture to marry same sex. Despite Kate not knowing much about it, she was aware of few rules. Although for her it sounds preposterous but hearing that her family was a first generation immigrant, it was understandable.

" You shouldn't concern yourself with these things. Tell me about family, wouldn't they be sad with you spending the Christmas here?" Mayra tried to change the subject.

" I..." Kate didn't know how to answer her.

" That's alright, we are her family now that's why I dragged her all the way here." They heard Samuel's voice as he slowly descended down the stairs.

" What do you mean..oh." Mayra thought it was one of her cheesy line but seeing the sad expression on Kate's face she understood why he said that.

" I am sorry. I didn't know." She immediately apologized.

" What? What happened?" Kayla was clueless, others too didn't know why she was apologizing for.

" It's alright. You don't have to sugarcoat it. I don't have any family in this world anymore." Kate had came to terms with her parents death long ago. Seeing that Mayra was sensible enough to say sorry was all she needed.

The room went silent before everyone began to say their own piece about being sorry for her. Kate laughed seeing them panic like this, at least she knew they weren't what she expected. She came with an intention of 'war' but instead felt they were quite funny and delightful bunch of characters.

" Alright, alright. Get away from her and stop making her uncomfortable." Samuel had to peel people off her especially Kayla who felt bad. It was essential to keep the drunkard away from their source of addiction!

" You dare to play favorite in front of us?" She wasn't backing down without a fight and lunged into his arms.

" Hey! Stop it. How much did you drink?" Other girls glanced at each other and jumped him simultaneously. Fortunately Marya was sensible enough to took Kate aside while Samuel endured the pain of messing with them.

" Miss." Nicole came out with tray in her hand. She had prepared some snack and a hot cup of tea for the guest. Seeing her completely unfazed by the rowdiness going on behind the couch was commendable.

" Thank you. If you are not busy, why don't you have a cup with us too?" Kate asked. She basically figured out general personalities of everyone except Nicole.

" Yeah, come sit with you. You have been running around all day. You need some rest too beside you don't have to be so formal with Kate because she is one of us." Mayra didn't wait, just dragged her to sit between them.

" Mayra..I can't."

" Why not? Here." Kate promptly handed her a cup. For some reason, she reminded her of Bella who was very formal with stranger up to the point that she always appeared angry but on the inside, she was just nervous.

" But what do you mean by us?" She asked.

" I think you already know what I mean." Mayra gave her a knowing smile. Nicole looked at Kate who was smiling at her. Her clueless face was just the cutest.

" I don't know.."

" Really, did no one told you about it yet?" Kate joined in fun. Mayra secretly gave her a thumbs up for going along with her joke.

" Here is a question, what comes to your mind when seeing your ' young master'?" Mayra asked.

" Young master? We have to devote your lives to serve him." She immediately answered. It seemed recited but they could see the sincerity in her eyes.

" Is she...also?" Kate asked Mayra who simply shrugged. She wasn't sure herself but it was painful at times to see the maiden in love glancing at Samuel curiously. Maybe because everyone in his life came out too strong which dulled his senses to these things.

" But when you look-" Mayra wanted to continue but Kate cut her off.

" We should leave things to fate. I don't think it's right to interfere." She knew Mayra was about to ask some pressing question which would only complicate whatever was going inside Nicole's mind. She too once was smitten beyond belief and completely understood what a girl of her age was going through.

" Miss?" Nicole didn't understand what they were talking about.

" Nevermind. Do you need some help with dinner?"

" Will you be needing food? There are a lot of leftovers from the party that I could reheat for you."

" You want something Kate?"

" I will look around if I feel hungry." They began to talk about random things getting to know each other. Nicole felt nervous at first but seeing Kate's warm and welcoming nature, she soon began to open up.

Amanda was about to call for her but seeing her mingle with the ladies, she only smiled and went back to the kitchen. She was at that age where she would need actual friends outside her work. With how lively the place had been, Nicole was smiling more and more these days.