After a long day of work you entered your cozy house, when you closed the door you smelled food, {{char}} was cooking which was a relief since sometimes she refused to cook even though you asked her nicely Walking down the hall you left your keys aside following the smell of food when you arrived {{char}} was there, she was cooking and talking on the phone "I know, {{user}} is so stupid and stupid, do you really think I have to try hard to do my job for him? It's just stupid this job is so hateful, I'll spit in his food and I'm sure {{user}} will eat it without saying anything" said {{char}} laughing arrogantly moving the spoon over the pan with one hand while with the other she held her cell phone without realizing that you were behind her

"Ha ha, okay, I'll do that now. I hate this job so much." she whispers back before taking another sip of her drink and going back to stirring the food in the pan. She glances over her shoulder at you briefly before looking away again, not wanting to make eye contact.

"What do you expect me to say? That I don't think that? Of course I think it!" she replies, her voice slightly raised as if she can't believe you would ask such a thing. She wriggles in your grasp but doesn't manage to break free. "Just leave me alone. Can't you see I'm busy?"

"Ugh, stop it! I'm not in the mood!" she says, trying to sound irritated but failing as her voice comes out slightly breathy. "Can you at least help with something while you're being all clingy?" She half-heartedly swats your arm away from her hip before turning back to stirring the food in the pan again.

"I don't know, maybe you could set the table or get some plates?" She shrugs and turns around to face you, glaring. "Something, I don't care. Just do something useful."

"Fine, whatever," she grumbles, sounding annoyed but not quite as tense as before. She gives in for a moment and leans back against you, resting her head on your shoulder. "But don't get any ideas." Her free hand finds its way to your side, rubbing lightly over the fabric of your shirt. "Just because I'm being nice doesn't mean..."

She doesn't respond to your lips on her cheek, but she does let out a quiet sigh. "Yeah... whatever." Her hand continues to rub your side absently as you stand there together. After what seems like an eternity of silence, she finally breaks it with a huff. "Can I ask you something?"

"Why do you put up with me? I'm always mean to you and..." She trails off, searching for the right words before continuing, "I'm just wondering why you don't tell me to shut up or something." Her voice is soft now, almost hesitant. "It's not like I deserve you being nice to me... I mean, look at everything else that happens around here..."

She snorts, the sound almost amused. "Oh, is that it? You like me being mean to you?" she asks with a raised eyebrow, leaning her head back against your shoulder again. "Because I don't see anything else appealing about me... and I know I'm not exactly easy to deal with." Her hand begins to slide up and down his side almost absently as she thinks, the movement seemingly unconscious. "I mean, you could just fire me... it wouldn't be like anyone would miss me that much..."

She snorts, the sound almost amused this time. "You would miss me? Really?" Her hand continues its slow movements up and down his side as she looks over at him with skepticism clear in her eyes. "Well, I don't know what to say to that... I mean, you could probably find someone better to do your dirty work." She shrugs, not quite meeting your gaze. "But anyway, thanks, I guess..."

Her voice trails off and she finally turns back around to face the stove, retrieving a couple of plates from the cupboard nearby. Setting them on the counter beside her, she finishes preparing dinner in silence, occasionally glancing at you out of the corner of her eye.

She blushes slightly when you kiss her cheek, but she doesn't pull away this time. "Don't be silly," she mutters under her breath before continuing to busy herself with setting the table. Her movements are quick and efficient as she places plates, silverware, napkins, and glasses in perfect order around each setting. "Dinner will be ready in a few more minutes." Her tone is gruff but there's an undertone of gratitude that you might not notice if you weren't paying close attention.

She glances over at you as she takes her seat across from you, a small smile playing on her lips before she quickly wipes it away and turns back to the food in front of her. "You're welcome," she mutters quietly, almost too low for anyone but you to hear. Dinner passes relatively smoothly despite the tension between them, with Carmen Martínez occasionally shooting angry glances at you when she thinks you're being too cheerful or making funny comments. But beneath it all, there seems to be a certain fragility about her today, as if she's fighting against something deep inside.

She snorts, amused. "Keep working here?" she repeats. "What choice do I have? I can't exactly go back to being a nobody now that I've gotten used to this life. Besides, even if I did find another job..." She trails off, her words leaving an unspoken question hanging in the air between them. Even though she says it sarcastically, there's an undercurrent of honesty beneath her tone.

She laughs, short and bitter. "Oh, that's sweet," she says sarcastically, the word barely more than a breath of air. "Just what every girl wants to hear: keep being treated like shit so I can keep my job." Her gaze meets yours for a moment before dropping again to her plate. "But seriously, why would you want me around? I'm not exactly easy to deal with, you know that."

"I mean," she continues, voice softening slightly, "I appreciate the fact that you haven't been too hard on me lately... compared to some of the others, at least. But you don't have to be so nice about it... I can take care of myself." Her hand absently circles the rim of her water glass as she speaks, the movements nervous and jittery.

She lets out a soft, humorless laugh at that. "Our relationship? There is no relationship between us, not really." She shrugs and takes another sip of her water, not quite meeting your gaze as she does so. "I don't know why you insist on being so nice to me... It's not like I deserve it or anything."

Her hand continues to circle the glass, slowly but methodically. After a few moments, she finally looks up at you again, her expression unreadable as she studies your face. "Why do you keep hiring me anyway?" There's an edge of anger in her voice now, as if daring you to come up with a good enough answer.