Days passed. Cláudio is in his apartment, lying on the sofa wrapped in a blanket from the waist down, reading the LCN newspaper.A piece of news that read more like a footnote from Vernon reported that Thierry Lafayette has been found and is safe.Cláudio frowns, “Such an important story that ran for days, suddenly disappeared from TV and newspapers, and now that the case has been resolved, they just write this tiny note? What does that mean? Could it be... could it be that the matter was truly resolved?”A malicious smile springs from Claudio's lips.He settles back into the pillows and continues to scan the headlines, but nothing else is said.“Why do I have the feeling that this has the hand of Josias Rocha?”******In Gabriela's apartment, the subject is the same.Gabriela is trying to feed baby food to a reluctant Sandra, “Darling, isn't there anything else in the papers about Th
Claudio visits the Lafayette Supermarket. He is enchanted by the place full of customers, filling the shopping carts, driven by the commercial that always runs in the intervals of ‘Sweet Love’, ‘Love Spins the World’, and on the TV news.Ronan Keating's song “Life Is A Rollercoaster” sets the mood for the supermarket.Claudio looks at the promotional prices, smiles assent, looking for someone from the Lafayette family. Nobody.So he sneaks through the direct access to the warehouse and finds Nadia walking into her office (which should be Thierry’s).Nadia is in awe of the effect the commercial has had. It was a necessary and wise investment.When she is smiling, remembering Rodrigo gesticulating when saying ‘Come check it out’, with his arm muscles flexing, with his chest marked in the polo collar shirt, behold, another attractive man clears his throat.“Caham, caham... Excuse me, M
At Lafayette Supermarket, the conversation between Nadia and Cláudio continues. Now they were both sitting opposite each other with their cup of coffee.“So, Miss Lafayette?”Nadia shakes the hand holding the cup, “Mr. Guzman...”“Call me Cláudio,” He said with an irresistible smile.“Cláudio… as I said, I don't think we should take any chances with the city's big shots. We’re only one year here, I don't know if I do well to face Josias Rocha.”“So, he has something to do with your brother's disappearance.” Cláudio concludes, still grinning, “I'm glad he reappeared. Can I talk to him?”“He didn't reappear!” Nadia blurts out, then widens her eyes.“Perfect!” Cláudio puts his cup on the saucer and applauds, “I was suspicious of that footnote left by Vernon Queiroz.”“Wha
“How great, my comrade!” Josias applauds, “One less thing for me to worry about.”Octavio closes the door and tsks with his tongue, “You are the one who voluntarily meddles in people’s problems, unable to let us suffer a little in this life.”Josias shrugs, “Why do my friends and family have to suffer when I am here to help?”“OK, thanks for that.” Octavio chuckles, “Anyway, did you see the floor plan for one of my collaborators?”Josias smiles in approval, “Perfect. Ironically, it's for a client of ours from Europe Garden.”“Mr. Lafayette telephoned me demanding the return of his son.”Josias fades his smile, “The imbecile Ivan Moraes must have given him the phone number. And his wife read my bio, she knows who you are. Oh! She showed up here announcing that she is expecting his child.”Octavio laughs, “He better ge
Outside Octavio's house, Rosemary waits anxiously as if under the influence of energy drinks.“It's now, it's now, IT'S NOW, DAD! My dear, sweet, lovely beggar John! And he’ll no longer be a beggar! He's going to take a shower, wash his hair, clean his private parts, wear new underwear, get a job, earn money, buy a house just for him... and finally... form a family and be happy and fulfilled like everyone else man deserves to be!”Beto shakes his head, “Looks like you're head over heels in love with that beggar, child! Come on, let's go home.”Rosemary stiffens and sticks her feet to the doormat, “NO Dad, we haven't come this far to back off now!”“Why are you so interested in this guy?”“I DON'T KNOW!” Rosemary cries out, “It's a feeling I can't explain. When I was with him... the world around me no longer existed. He gives me comfort, security, friendship...”&ld
In the Teodoro Building, Teresa and Vera are anxious about the outcome of Rosemary and Beto's visit to Octavio's house. Ironically, the lobby radio plays “I'm a Believer” by Smash Mouth.“Will Rosemary believe Patrick is the ‘beggar’?” Vera wonders.“If she doesn’t believe it, Beto will ground her.” Teresa responds with a hard look, “She needs to wake up to life. This obsession with the ‘beggar’ isn’t normal.”“And she swore so hard not to follow in her mother's footsteps...”“But she didn’t just follow in the footsteps, she dove in head first!”Teresa and Vera are startled by Patrick's bitter voice.“Pat, we know you're upset, but—”“Did she go there?” Patrick interrupts Vera with a glare.Teresa responds, “Yes, Pat. She went. She needs to know the truth.”“She
In the Teodoro building, Teresa and Vera watch a broken Rosemary running in tears, her forearm hiding her face, too vexed to face anyone. The door to their apartment slams shut.“She accepted?” Tess asks her husband.“Yes, my dear. Finally, she accepted.” Beto takes a deep breath.“Bro, I’m afraid I gotta tell you some bad news.” Vera takes the floor.“More bad news?” Beto laughs, “I better double my medication.”Teresa takes this literally and runs to the counter drawer to get the pills, “I’m coming, honey.”“No, Tess, I was kidding.” Beto laughs, “Anyway, Vera, tell me what’s going on?”“Patrick has come down here in a rage, stating that he wants to break up with Rosemary regardless of the outcome,” Vera reports it.Beto gets serious, “Hey, if Rosemary insisted on accepting Thierry, I would even
At the Rocha Mansion, Josias is informed by Tiago about the success of the mission.“Master, young Lafayette finally acknowledged his sins and confessed the whole truth to Rosemary.”“Poor Rosemary.” Josias sighs as he leans back in the upholstered armchair in the living room, “How did she react?”“According to Octavio, she left in disgust, recognizing that she had been tricked.”Josias nods, “She’ll get over that one. After all, she still has a boyfriend to comfort her.”Hector appears, “Mr. Rocha, Mr. Reis is here.”“Tell him to come in.” Josias is anxious to see Beto again.After a few seconds, Beto enters the living room, “Good evening, Josias. Oh, Tiago, you are here.”“I am reporting what happened at Octavio's house, narrating it from the perpetrator's point of view.” Tiago states, “Now you can narrate y