At Rocha Mansion, Melissa and Alan continue to confer.Melissa is agitated, “Son, try to convince your dad to hold his own. We're not sure if Katherine's claims are still valid. Probably just a misunderstanding happened...”Alan is equally concerned, “Mom, Kate can't get two sentences together when my dad brings up the subject. She starts shaking, and crying... she begs my dad not to call the police, but she never says what really happened when she fired him. It looks like Mr. Guzman raped her and she doesn't want to say it out of fear. If you don't want Mr. Guzman to go to jail unfairly, you’ll have to talk to Kate.”Melissa takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh. Talk to Katherine? If in recent months she has returned to being hostile...At this, Melissa has a mental snap, “Son, don't you want to go back to the penthouse? Carol misses you.”“My dad almost had a stroke when you asked him last year.” Alan scratches the back of his head, “I don't know Mom, I feel like I'm still n
Melissa and Katherine go to Josias's office. When the lady of the mansion closes the door, Melissa has a strange feeling that she would never leave there.“Why did you close the door so ominously?”Katherine smiles mysteriously, “Are you afraid of something, my dear?”Melissa composes herself, “Yes. I am afraid that they will condemn an innocent man.”“If anything has happened to my Josias—”“No woman!” Melissa interrupts her, “It's happening, but with Mr. Guzman!”Katherine once again loses her composure. The name of Claudio acts on her like a kryptonite, “I-I... I don't know why you came to bother—”Melissa's voice is cleaver-sharp, “Didn't you know Mr. Guzman is teaching my daughter to swim? I believe so because even Alan was not spared from this story. Josias is very angry and demanded that I fire him.”Katherine is stunned, “And you still haven't fired him? What do you expect in obeying my husband without delay?”Melissa smiles wryly, “I happen to obey MY husband, Kelvin Mountain
Time has passed. In the Mountain Penthouse, Melissa was preparing breakfast for her family. Dora showed up very early to help her.“Wow, daughter, why are you in such a hurry to leave?” Dora finds her daughter already dressed up in a brown suit, purchased from one of the exclusive stores whose saleswomen only need to bow when Melissa enters.“I have an appointment today.” Melissa blinks mysteriously.Melissa's cell phone which was left on one of the kitchen islands rings. Melissa sees the number on the caller ID and smiles, “Hello?”On the other side, Tiago is in his house with James playing around, “Melissa, this is Tiago.”“I can see your number, Tiago.” Melissa giggles.“Ah, I'm still getting used to these modern devices.” Tiago also chuckles, “Anyway, everything ready for our date today?”“All right, I'm already advancing breakfast.”“OK, I hope I can help you. Goodbye!”“Bye!” Melissa hangs up, “Mom, do you have your cell phone yet?”Dora shakes her head and glances at the coffee
Melissa enters Café Montanha. Rodrigo and Francisco are at the counter. All customers have already been served. The radio is playing “Scar Tissue” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.Francisco approaches Melissa, “Good morning, Melissa. How are things in the penthouse?”“If you mean the swimming instructor, I hope to get this resolved today.” Melissa smiles slightly, “Rod, see me a cappuccino.”“Coming...” Rodrigo starts to prepare.Melissa had already had coffee, but she decided to strengthen her stomach. She also ordered potato bread and sat down at one of the tables.When Francisco served her, he continued, “I tried to calm Izzy by pointing out that we had no evidence for a conviction, but she wouldn't let Reuben keep Caroline company. Do you understand her, Melissa?”“Don't worry, Francisco. I won’t be offended.” Melissa guarantees.“Thanks.” Francisco faces the entrance when he feels someone enter.“He's with me.” Melissa widens her smile when she sees it's Tiago.Tiago sits down witho
After long minutes of crying, Vera decided to pull herself together and lift her head, “Why am I so desperate? I'm sure Wally will never pay attention to the whore who got pregnant again.”Carmen smiles reassuringly, “That's right, my friend, let's think positively. Hey, is the radio off?”“Ih!” Vera runs to follow the tradition. Otherwise, Teodoro's ghost would haunt the building, so they believe. Jennifer Lopez's song “If You Had My Love” filled the room.“New singer?” Carmen scratches the back of her head.“I don’t know her.” Vera answers with a shrug, “1999 has been the year of debutant pop female singers.”Carmen jokes, “If I take singing lessons, maybe Tiago will be interested in introducing me.”Wallace appears and sees Vera wiping away her tears, “Vera, was the joke so funny you're crying?”“No, honey, I was crying because Pamela called again.” Vera replies, snuggling into his chest, “I think we better report her to the police.”“Moral harassment,” Wallace responds with a frow
In the Mountain Penthouse, Simeon and William visited Dora to talk about the news. William found Josias's distress amusing.“You’ll see.” He remarks between chuckles, “Everything will work itself out, and Josias will have to apologize on his knees to the instructor. This will teach him to be humble and stop accusing others of the worst things.”Simeon raises an eyebrow, “Do you include yourself in this, son?”“Clear!” William brags, “Haven't I been behaving myself?”Dora serves them coffee and bread in the kitchen, “You still haven't rebuilt Uélton's house as Josias ordered. So it's all the same.”William points to the crutches, “I think I've had enough punishment. Anyway, my sister will sort it all out.”The bell rings. Dora withdraws to answer it.William eats voraciously and Simeon notices him, “Son, be careful not to get too fat. This makes it harder to get around.”William chews and swallows, “Thanks for your concern, Dad, but the cornbread here is perfect and delicious!”Dora re
The next day, it was Josias's turn to go down to the dining room and not find Katherine having breakfast with the children.“Good morning boys. J.J., where is your mother?”“Mom went to the police station,” J.J. replies, about to chew the cornbread.“OK. Eat breakfast. We have a parent-teacher meeting today, huh?” Josias widens his smile, “Have you been behaving well?”Alan and J.J. look like 'little angels' and Josias suspects that they are the biggest troublemakers in the entire school.******Katherine is wearing sunglasses and casual clothes at the police station, fearing recognition. She leans into the front desk and a female officer answers her.“Good morning, how can I help you?”“I need to talk to Sergeant Moraes. It's about a crime that Mr. Josias Rocha denounced and he needs my testimony.”“And you are...?”“Please keep a low profile.” Katherine hands over an identification document.Instead of yelling and asking for an autograph, the officer just smiles and nods silently. S
Josias and Melissa are face to face, surprised by each other's visit.“Josias...” Melissa starts to speak, “You didn't need to come. You sure have a lot of appointments.”“One of my commitments today is to come here.” Josias assures with a gentle smile, “And J.J. is not your son.”“Oh, J.J. started studying here?” Melissa's eyes widen, “Is he already seven years old? How time passes...”“Yes, time flies. Even my hair flew.” Director Fernandez jokes while smoothing his bald head.Everyone laughs. Other parents start to show up.“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Please, the teachers are waiting for you here.”William appears and smiles wryly upon seeing Josias, “Ah, the hysterical of the year has arrived!”Melissa turns to her younger brother and frowns, “Will, you're not even going to forgive the parent-teacher conference?”“Sister, never miss an opportunity to humiliate someone. Isn't that your ex-husband's motto?”“What are you talking about, Will?” Josias asks sharply, “Is not yo