At Saint Gabriel College, the bell rings, ending recess. Several university students run to their classrooms.Caio and Alan remain where they are, looking at each other suspiciously.Alan breaks the awkward silence, “Caio, I can’t believe Sofia purposely supported something like this. She probably didn’t even know about it.“Would she tell you if you asked her?” Caio asks, getting up.Alan also stands up, “Why wouldn’t she tell? Something tells me this was her mother’s ruse. Cláudio Guzman is an attractive guy, no wonder she had a crush on him.”“Married women tend to have a crush on him.” Caio alludes to Katherine.Alan grows somber, “Whoa, Caio, don’t get Kate in the middle. My father won’t like this.”“But it’s the truth!” Caio insists, “This guy is a married woman magnet. Hopefully, he learns his lesson and doesn’t repeat the mistake.”“We better go to our classrooms before the professors forbid us to enter.” Alan tries to smile to break the ice.Both walk away and go to their cla
In Daryl’s office, he finds it somewhat impossible that Rodrigo accepts without much resistance that Claudio owned a dressing room and he didn’t.Daryl decides to question this, “I don’t believe you. Are you really going to try to convince me that you didn’t fight for your right to have a dressing room like the renowned model that you are? Where was Mrs. Vasquez at this crucial hour?”“I don’t know. I didn’t look for her!” Rodrigo asserts.“So you let your rival triumph.” Daryl shakes his head and steps out from behind the desk.Rodrigo smiles wryly, “You talk as if you care about my career. What you want is to see the circus burn. You expected me to make a bigger scandal so that people would remember me later and point to me as the shooter!”Daryl waves his hands in frantic gestures, “No, Rod, I didn’t want that!”“The fact remains that you shot Josias. Pictures don’t lie.” Rodrigo boldly asserts.“Those Thierry Lafayette’s photos prove I was there, not that I shot him!” Daryl veheme
Cláudio was released from the hospital and is now excited in his apartment, cleaning. Because of not tidying up his place for so long, the floor got dusty, as well as the furniture.Someone rings the bell. Cláudio goes to answer it and is surprised by Melissa on the other end.“Mrs. Rocha? What are you doing here?”“I heard you were discharged and I came to see you,” Melissa responds with a gentle smile.Cláudio is embarrassed for being sweaty and shirtless, “Sorry, I'm doing a heavy cleaning in my corner. I think you better not come in.”“Nonsense.” Melissa walks in anyway, “I didn't come to notice the mess. I want to know how you are, and if Josias and I can help with anything.”Cláudio's radio was playing “Yeah!”, by Usher, and he decided to turn the volume down so as not to disturb the illustrious visitor.“Do you want to help me?” Claudio takes advantage of the topic raised."Yes." Melissa nods, standing in the middle of the living room, “You're going to need someone to help you
Cláudio and Melissa continue to talk. Cláudio finishes sweeping and collecting the dust with the dustpan.“How do you intend to help me, Mrs. Rocha?”“Using your talent, Claudio,” Melissa smiles slyly.Claudio gets interested, “I’m listening.”“From what I understand, part of the confusion was when my brother Will got into a row with Olivia Vasquez by mentioning you, and she, in a tantrum, set aside a dressing room for you.”Claudio narrows his eyes, "Ah, so that's how I got a dressing room while Rod Mountain was sucking his thumb."“Well, the rumor is that you got the dressing room by sleeping with Olivia,” Melissa comments.Claudio smirks, “I understand what you mean by ‘my talent’. But Mrs. Rocha, I didn't sleep with Olivia Vasquez.”“Haven't slept with her... yet. But you WILL sleep.”Cláudio doesn't seem scandalized at all, “Really? And how are we sure she'll fall for my charm?"“I felt it when she wanted to knock me out with an aluminum clipboard. That must hurt someone's head.”
Melissa goes to Rocha Constructions. Secretary Pollyanna attends with courtesy.“Good morning, Mrs. Rocha.”“I’m not formally married to Josias yet, but you all call me 'Mrs. Rocha'." Melissa comments graciously.“It's just that we don't want to displease our boss. If Tiago Bento were among us...”Melissa giggles, “OK, make yourselves comfortable. Is Josias in his office?”“Ma'am, Mr. Rocha went to deal with an urgent matter in the Teodoro Building.”Melissa ponders for a few seconds, “It must be something related to Flávia. The poor thing wants to work at the orphanage without having managed to get over Uélton's death 100%. I hope she makes some progress.”Lorraine approaches the desk, "Pollyanna, is Josias—"Melissa turns to Lorraine who widens her eyes and chokes on her words.Lorraine feels she will have her tongue cut out for mentioning Josias by his first name in front of the Lady of Lagoon City.Pollyanna senses the tense atmosphere and says, “MR. ROCHA is not yet at the compan
Melissa is having a drink in Josias's office. The door opens and Melissa smiles."Hello, my dear. I was waiting for—”Melissa turns around, but her smile crumbles like a sandcastle.Lorraine was staring back at her.“Mrs. Rocha, we need to talk.”"Do we need?" Melissa mixes another drink with ice, “Would you like a whiskey?”“I don't want to drink on duty. Josias wouldn’t like it.” Lorraine speaks in a dangerous tone.Melissa has her eyes on the drink mix, “It's so funny how everyone uses the title except you. Whoever listens to you will think you’re someone close to the family.”“I ain’t someone close to the family.” Lorraine leans in closer, “But I want you to know that I have no reservations with Josias. And he never cared.”“Of course not, Josias is always kind and gentlemanly with women,” Melissa smirks, but Lorraine thinks Melissa is smiling in camaraderie.“So you weren't upset?” Lorraine smiles in relief, “Good. The last thing I want is to cause discord in the relationship bet
Josias goes to his office and first meets Pollyanna.“Hello, Pollyanna. Something happened?”“Sir, Mrs. Rocha is waiting for you in your office. I can already tell you that things are bad.”“Oh, damn, what happened this time?” Josias sighs impatiently.“She had a mini confrontation with Lorraine.” Pollyanna is vexed.“And why would the two of them have to clash?” Josias shrugs.“Sir, the custom of Mrs. Moraes calling you by your first name made your wife jealous. She loves you, you know that.”“Yes, I know.” Josias smiles from the corner of his mouth.He nods to the secretary and heads to his office.Melissa is waiting for him, sitting on the sofa, her glass of whiskey on the rocks in her hands, empty.“Good morning, my love! Shall we have lunch at Crystal Blue?” Josias greets her, placing the briefcase on the desk.“I’d rather go to your hotel restaurant, where Ben is killing it as a cook.” Melissa looks at the glass.Josias stands in front of her, “Pollyanna told me. And if you want
Josias and Melissa have already ordered. Melissa chose the carbonara.Now she is listening to Josias narrate his day with excitement.“When Flávia entered the orphanage, her eyes filled with tears, but it wasn’t from panic. She saw the portrait I had made of Uélton. Yes, I had the ears retouched and made them a little smaller, but she was grateful anyway.”Melissa nods, “Good, honey. And will she want to work in there?”“Yes, she will.” Josias guarantees, “She’ll be very happy to help. And I promised to pay a good salary.”“I hope she makes it. Now all that’s left is for Reuben to take a job at headquarters.” Melissa looks back to see if someone is bringing the white wine.However, when Melissa turns around, she sees Jane and the Chef conferring with worried faces.Jane spots Melissa and Josias and hurries over to their table.“Oh, when the chef told me you were here... This has to be a miracle!”“What is it, Jane?” Josias quickly transforms into the protective lion.“Daryl is here!”