Meliza's POV
"Why didn't you eat dinner last night? Are you okay?" Ruby asked as she stepped into my room and perched on the edge of my bed.
"I'm fine. I overslept, and it was too late to eat when I woke up," I replied, running a comb through my hair.
She was dressed in jeans and a sleeveless halter top, her makeup carefully done. I raised an eyebrow.
"What's with the makeup? Trying to get Vince's attention?" I teased.
Ruby's cheeks flushed. Busted.
"Congratulations," she said instead, clearly dodging the question. "Vince told me you're going to be our supervisor."
I sighed. "I don't want to be a supervisor. I only came back because my mother forced me. Honestly, I just want summer to end so I can leave."
"Well, I don't," she said, crossing her arms. "I want to enjoy my summer here, and you should, too. We should both have boyfriends by the end of the season! You're turning eighteen soon, Iza."
I shook my head. "I didn't come here for fun or romance. You know I only come for the money."
Ruby frowned. "I know, but I worry about you. You deserve to enjoy life, too. There's nothing wrong with being responsible, but don't make yourself miserable."
I looked away. "I'm not miserable."
"Right," she said, unconvinced. Then she grinned. "Anyway, you earned that promotion, whether you like it or not. And we are celebrating our first paycheck. My treat—no excuses."
I sighed, but her enthusiasm was contagious.
"Fine," I replied, giving her a weak smile.
Do you know why I don't want to be a supervisor, Ruby?" I asked, and she nodded.
"Ignore them. Let them choke on their envy, Iza. Just think about the salary—it's what you wanted. Those girls can't do anything about your promotion," she replied, flashing a grin.
"Now, let's go eat," she added, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward the dining hall.
The noise inside grew louder as we approached, and I hesitated at the entrance. I already knew what was waiting for me.
"Good morning, Iza!" Vince called out far too loudly, drawing unwanted attention. I clenched my teeth as he pulled out a chair for me. Ruby's expression faltered as she took the seat beside me.
"Thanks, Vince," I murmured, settling in.
Then, as expected, the whispers began.
"Oh, the bitch is back. Thought she wasn't coming back," someone sneered.
"What do you expect? A social climber will always be a social climber. She'll do anything to be on top—even if it means using her body," Nicole said, her friends snickering in agreement.
My grip tightened around my spoon, but I kept my head down and focused on my food.
Sitting across from me, Jonathan carried on like he hadn't heard a thing. I was grateful for that.
"Watch your mouth, Nicole," Ruby snapped, her voice laced with anger.
Nicole smirked. "Why are you defending her? She doesn't care about your feelings."
Before Ruby could fire back, the manager stood up.
"Enough," she said firmly. "I expect you all to get along. No fighting or I'll terminate your contracts. Understand?"
The room fell silent. Ruby, though still fuming, kept her mouth shut.
I glanced at her and mouthed, I'm sorry.
She whispered back, "You don't need to apologize. I don't care if I have to go home."
"They're not worth it, Ruby."
"I hate her so much," she muttered, and I nudged her playfully. We shared a small smile.
We were nearly finished eating when the dining hall went still. I felt the shift in the air before I even looked up.
"You're late, Ethan," Nina said.
"Overslept," came the response. The deep, familiar voice sent a jolt through me.
My heart pounded as I lifted my gaze.
And then, it was as if my entire world tilted.
There he was.
Tall, striking, effortlessly handsome. His hazel-brown eyes held an intensity that made my breath catch. The girls around the table practically melted, staring at him like he was something to be worshipped.
"That's not how things work here, Mr. Vasquez," Nina continued. "Be on time, or you can pack your bags."
For a moment, Ethan's face darkened. Then, as Vince cleared his throat, a slow, easy smile spread across his lips.
"Won't happen again," he said, dimples deepening. The girls giggled.
"Good. Eat quickly—we have a briefing in fifteen minutes," Nina instructed before leaving.
Ethan scanned the room and found a vacant seat beside Jonathan.
I kept my head down, suddenly self-conscious. I was glad I'd chosen my mom's floral dress instead of my usual jeans today. But still, I felt exposed under his gaze.
And I could feel him looking.
Ruby nudged me, and I had no choice but to glance up.
My breath hitched.
Ethan was staring at me.
"Thought you were deaf," he said casually, making the girls around us laugh.
I scowled. "Excuse me?"
"I introduced myself to you and asked for your name. You ignored me." His gaze was sharp and unwavering.
I swallowed, my hands tightening in my lap. "I'm Meliza."
The moment the words left my mouth, his smile faded. His expression twisted into something unreadable—something close to disgust.
Then, without another word, he looked away and started eating.
Silence stretched across the table.
I forced myself to eat, though my appetite had vanished. I had no idea what had just happened. One second, I wanted to get to know him. The next, he was acting like I didn't exist.
We followed Nina to Adriana's Hall, and my heart thumped in my chest the entire way.
I didn't know why I felt this way.
I had never felt this way—not even when Vince was around.
But with Ethan?
It was different. And I wasn't sure if I liked it. We all took our seats as Nina took the floor and began speaking. But I barely heard a word. My mind was elsewhere, my gaze constantly drifting to Ethan, who sat in the front row.
The girls around me whispered excitedly about him, their giggles and hushed tones filling the air. It was impossible to ignore how much attention he was getting.
Then, Nina's voice broke through my thoughts.
"And now, I want to announce and congratulate Meliza Lizondra for attending last year's training and being chosen as this summer's supervisor."
The room erupted with applause. The boys hollered, clapped, and chanted my name.
Except for Ethan.
He didn't even move. I just sat there, hands still, watching.
It shouldn't have bothered me—after all, the girls weren't clapping either, their expressions filled with thinly veiled contempt. The only women who applauded were Ruby and Nina.
I expected that. I had prepared for it.
But I hadn't prepared for the unfamiliar weight pressing on my chest.
What was wrong with me? Why did I care that Ethan hadn't acknowledged my achievement? I had only met him this morning, yet for some reason, I wanted—no, needed—him to be proud of me.
Why?
Before I could untangle my thoughts, Nina smiled at me.
"Meliza, please come forward and say a few words. Maybe share some advice for our newcomers on how to be like you."
I froze.
"Come on, don't be shy," she encouraged. "You look beautiful, as always. Why not stand up here and flaunt your success?"
My face burned. I wasn't sure if it was from her compliments or the way Ethan's presence suddenly felt heavier.
Reluctantly, I stood.
"A round of applause, please," Nina said, prompting another wave of claps.
I took a deep breath, willing my voice to stay steady. "Thank you, Nina," I said. But as soon as my eyes met Ethan's, my train of thought nearly derailed.
He was watching me.
Not blinking, not looking away. His expression was unreadable—somewhere between amusement and something darker.
I forced myself to focus.
"It's been a pleasure working at Adriana's Farm," I began. "I'm grateful for this opportunity, and I never expected to be chosen as a supervisor this summer."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued.
"I'll do my best to work hard and encourage everyone to do the same. And to the newcomers—just be yourselves. Work with your heart. If you love what you do, success will follow."
A sharp scoff broke through the silence.
Nicole.
I heard her mutter a curse under her breath, but before she could say more, Nina turned to her with a sharp warning.
The tension settled, and I smiled as I returned to my seat. But as I passed Ethan, I felt that strange, electric pull again.
And I still had no idea what to make of it.
"I started working here every summer since I was fourteen," I said, my voice steady. "I fell in love with this place, and I'm grateful to the owner for giving students like us the opportunity to learn so much through the training programs," I added.
The boys nodded, their expressions filled with fascination—especially Vince, who looked at me with unmistakable pride.
"Thank you, and see you around!" I finished, flashing a small smile before returning to my seat.
Nina stepped forward. "Thank you, Meliza. If there are no further questions, you may all proceed to your assigned areas—except for you, Meliza. I need to speak with you."
Murmurs filled the room as everyone stood and began filing out. I could feel curious glances thrown my way, but I kept my head high.
Once the hall was empty, Nina led me upstairs to her office on the second floor of the building to the right of the farmhouse.
She gestured to a chair. "Have a seat."
I sat as she settled into her swivel chair, smiling warmly.
"Welcome back, my dear."
"Thank you, Miss Nina," I replied.
She chuckled. "Drop the formality—you can call me Nina."
I nodded, and she slid a document across the desk.
"Here's a rundown of your responsibilities. Take a moment to go through it, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
"Okay, Nina," I said, taking the paper from her hands and skimming over the details.
"Do I need to report any violations directly to you?"
She nodded. "Yes, that's part of your job. As a supervisor, you're responsible for ensuring everyone follows the rules. But that doesn't mean you have to hover over them constantly. Your role is to monitor, check in occasionally, and ensure they do their jobs properly."
I absorbed her words, letting the weight of responsibility sink in.
This summer was definitely going to be different.
"And you'll need to speak with Ethan later as your first assignment. He's new, but he has potential, if only he weren't always late," Nina added.
My throat went dry. I would have preferred dealing with my enemies over facing Ethan Vasquez.
"You may go now, Iza."
She dismissed me, and I walked out of her office, my mind tangled in frustration. How was I supposed to talk to Ethan about his behavior when I could barely stand the way he looked at me?
Worse, how could I even form a coherent sentence when I felt like a foolish, starstruck girl every time I saw his face?