Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

The car usually went from the underground garage to the front entrance, but Hattie and Garrett would often opt for a stroll in the morning as a form of exercise. Today, Hattie had planned for the car to wait in the garage, but Lena said, "Mom, I thought you wanted to walk a bit more, so I asked the driver to meet us at the entrance. It's been ages since we chatted while walking. Come on, just keep me company for a bit. Ever since Josie came back, it feels like you don't love me anymore."

Lena was, after all, the daughter Hattie had raised with care. Seeing her pout, Hattie gently patted her hand and continued walking. "Lena, mom loves you and Josie just the same. Don't you ever think otherwise," Hattie reassured her.

With a bright smile, Lena replied, "Okay, mom."

They chatted as they walked, making their way to the front entrance.

The car was parked a little farther away, and Lena, arm in arm with Hattie, approached it. As the driver got out to open the door for them, a rotund figure brandishing a knife charged at them. "Bitch, go to hell!"

The sharp blade aimed at Hattie, and Lena, clutching her mother, screamed, "Mom!"

Lena stepped in front of Hattie, ready to protect her at all costs. The knife in Regina's hand nearly plunged into Lena's body, but a pebble whizzed through the air, knocking the blade from her grasp, followed by a larger rock that struck Regina's knee.

Regina howled in pain. The intended blow Lena braced for never landed. Hattie, shocked and frozen, watched the scene unfold.

The bodyguards noticed Regina with the knife, and rushed over. They subdued Regina, and one of the bodyguards had already called the police.

Regina lay on the ground, wailing, "Hattie, you bitch! I've served your family for eighteen years, and this is how you repay me?! So what if I took a little money? Consider it a bonus for all my years of service!" Josefina sneered from above, mocking, "What kind of maid gets a bonus that big? Have you lost your mind?"

Regina glared at Josefina, "You bitch, it's all your fault. If you hadn't come back, none of this would've happened. You cost me my job, and now I'm going to jail. Why don't you just go to hell?!"

As Regina tried to continue her tirade, a bodyguard removed his shoe, then his sock, and stuffed the stinky sock into her mouth. Regina fell silent. She was close to passing out from the stench. One bodyguard whispered to another, "That athlete's foot of yours should knock her out, huh?"

"If she passes out, it'll serve her right for spewing such filth."

Sure enough, Regina was overwhelmed by the odor and could no longer speak.

Josefina, supporting Hattie, said softly, "Don't be scared. She has been taken care of."

Hattie, looking at Regina sprawled on the ground, was furious. "Check how she managed to hide in the trash bin. She couldn't have pulled this off alone."

"Yes, ma'am," one bodyguard replied with a shiver, going off to investigate, while the other kept an eye on Regina.

If she dared wake up, he'd give her another sock to chew on. He had one more foot left, ready for her if needed.

...

Lena, seeing everything, clung to Hattie's arm, "Mom, I'm so glad you're okay. That was terrifying."

Hattie, too, was shaken by the ordeal and quickly checked Lena for injuries. "Lena, my silly girl. You shielded me from the knife. What if you had been hurt?"