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!”
At the Rocha Hotel, Benjamin meets Jane.“Jane, are you sure about this?”“Yes, Ben.” Jane winks, “Go talk and see what the moron wants with you.”“I don’t think we need to be fortune tellers to know what he wants,” Benjamin speaks with bitterness.“Then you already know what to answer him.” Jane takes Benjamin’s arm and leads him into the hallway, where Daryl is waiting anxiously.Daryl smiles like a snake when he sees Benjamin, “Ben! How long haven’t we seen each other?”Jane leaves, smiling sarcastically, not buying Daryl’s performance.Benjamin looks at Daryl indifferently, “Mr. Mountain, I need to get back to the kitchen quickly. They called me right in time for me to cook the carbonara Melissa ordered.”Daryl smirks, thinking he’s delaying Melissa’s order, unaware that Josias was the one who ordered it. He quips, “Oh, we can’t keep the hotel owner’s wife waiting, can we? Ben, I distinctly remember that when you first came to Lagoon City, you came to us, wanting to take a job at
Daryl visits Marçal Publishing and sees Thierry leaving the company after confirming his employment contract with the company, especially with Maggie’s magazine.“Mr. Lafayette? What did you come here for?” Daryl stops his steps, “No, wait, don’t tell me you’re here to sell your pictures for Maggiezine! Is that?”“And what would be the problem?” Thierry knits his eyebrow.“It’s just that if that’s true, it would be a tremendous injustice, don’t you think?” Daryl smirks, “I tried twice to buy your pictures and you refused to sell, but for everyone else...”“Mr. Mountain, I believe I own my photos and I sell them to whoever I want.” Thierry retorts.He gives Daryl a nice push and strides off.Daryl feels pain in his shoulder and massages it, “Ouch!”Then he goes straight to his sister’s office.Maggie is on the phone, “Yes, Cesar, let the others know. We got the collaboration of Thierry Lafayette, a promising photographer... Yes, from the family that runs the supermarket. For the time b
At Rocha Mansion, Melissa meets with Elza and Dora in her private office.“Good morning, ladies!” Melissa closes the door.“Good morning, Melissa.” Elza has a catalog in hand.Melissa views the catalog, “May I know what this is, mother-in-law?”“Yes. It’s for you to properly call me mother-in-law in the future.” Elza hands Melissa the catalog.As she reads it, Melissa catches her breath.“Elza... It’s the new Happy Bride catalog!”Dora sits on the same sofa as Melissa, next to her, “Daughter, look at these beautiful and modern models... But the price...”Melissa giggles, “We can’t get too baffled about the price, Mom. Josias will pay for everything with a big smile. The important thing is that we’re finally free to formalize our union.”Dora chirps, “I thought this day would never come! I’m glad I’m alive to witness my daughter reuniting with the true love of her life for the second time!”Melissa puts the catalog on her lap and begins to meditate on the twists and turns of her life,