Maggie was leaving the Mountain Penthouse. As she opened the entrance and exit door, Diane was reaching for the doorknob. “Oh, Maggie, what a coincidence!” Diane laughed. “How have you been?” “I’m fine, thank God.” Maggie dared to say, “The one who isn’t doing well is your husband.” “Why, what’s he going through? Did someone call an ambulance?” Diane rushed inside, desperate. “I’m not referring to that kind of problem,” Maggie replied calmly. “Your husband wants me to publish some inappropriate photos of Olivia Vasquez in the magazine.” Diane smiled dismissively. “When it comes to that ‘lady,’ the word ‘inappropriate’ doesn’t even begin to cover it, sister-in-law!” Maggie raised her eyebrows. “Are you aware of this?” “I am, and I think you should take the assignment. Take advantage of it while Josias is away.” Diane winked. “But that’s exactly what I don’t want, Diane!” Maggie retorted. “I don’t want to take advantage of Josias’s absence to act cowardly.” “Well, we should ask
Vasconcelos Fabrics, headquarters. J.J. was at his desk, working feverishly, taking care of matters related to Fazenda Bezerra. Reynaldo appeared and gently tapped on the glass, smiling amicably. “Come in...” Reynaldo entered. “Good morning, my dear J.J.! How have you been?” “I’m doing well, thank God.” J.J. stopped typing and stood up. “You don’t need to get up.” Reynaldo gestured. “I do, after all, you are my boss.” J.J. extended his hand, and Reynaldo shook it. “I would really like us to have a friendly relationship. By the way, if you could join me for lunch today to discuss business...” “That sounds wonderful, I’m in.” J.J. rubbed his hands together. “This will even help me with another matter.” “Regarding the farm?” Reynaldo raised his eyebrows. “Yes, I need to have a chat with the folks from Lafayette Supermarket. If they are around...” J.J. glanced at his computer monitor. Reynaldo hesitated to ask. “Huh... J.J., have you ever thought about having someone represent
Crystal Blue, noon. Jake receives Reynaldo with all due reverence. “Mr. Borges, welcome once again.” “Thank you. You know I have a table for two, right?” “Yes, the waiter will escort you.” Jake signals to the available waiter. J.J. enters next. “Oh, I made it just in time.” “Come on, J.J.” Reynaldo gestured, and both followed the waiter. After they sat down, Reynaldo asked while flipping through the menu, “What did your half-brother want?” “We’d better not refer to each other that way.” J.J. replied, his eyes on the menu. “Why, isn’t that what you are?” Reynaldo raised his eyebrows. “My father prohibited that in town. He doesn’t believe in ‘half.’“ J.J. smiled amusedly. “Okay, as Mr. Rocha wishes.” Reynaldo shrugged. “Shall we order the famous grilled salmon?” “I’ll have that and toast with cheese and oregano as an appetizer.” J.J. looked up to meet Reynaldo’s gaze. “Reynaldo, regarding your request...” Reynaldo stared at his friend. “I know it sounds like an unreasonable
General Hospital, afternoon.Thierry is pacing in circles in the maternity waiting room. Beto, Teresa, Pedro, and Daniela are with him, anxiously waiting as well.“Why is it taking so long?” Thierry looks down the hallway where Rosemary disappeared, being pushed in a wheelchair.“Calm down, Thierry.” Pedro holds him back. “These things usually take a while.”Beto smiles. “I can attest to that, my young friend. I’ve had to wait like this once or twice.”Teresa corrects Beto. “Three times, right?”Beto smiles awkwardly, forgetting that Rosemary is also ‘his’ daughter.Matthew appeared, smiling. “Guys, the news has spread all over the hospital. Josias Rocha’s protégés are always gossip-worthy. Congratulations, Mr. Lafayette.”“Thank you.” Thierry smiled.“Does the baby have a name yet?” Matthew asked.“We decided on Jean Luc,” Thierry replied proudly of his heritage.“Nice name.” Teresa nodded. “May he grow up beautiful and healthy like his father.”Rodrigo and Nadia arrived next.“Hey!”
In Vaztrans, Erasmo was shocked to see David slap Alan. “What the hell is going on here? Where’s the respect for your older brother?” Erasmo asked as he grabbed David by the sleeve of his shirt. “Let go of me, you old hysteric!” David shook himself free, feeling disgusted at being touched. “Besides disrespecting me, you’re disrespecting my father-in-law!” Alan grumbled through clenched teeth while massaging his cheek. David might be weaker than Alan, but Alan felt a sting from that slap. David had put all his fury into that attack — extreme hatred. “Come on, say something about my mom again!” David puffed out his chest as if he were a fighting rooster. Alan looked at David with contempt. “I won’t give you that satisfaction,” Alan replied. “You’re leaving here the same way you came in. We don’t want fights in this company. Have you found out if there’s a hotel of ours in Salvador?” “Yes, there is, in Pituba!” David exclaimed angrily. “Great. Keep mingling with your part of our
The website ‘Noon Mysteries’ has been launched on the Internet. Since it was something confidential, William decided to take some precautions so that people wouldn’t find out where this blog came from. For example, he made sure to visit João Paulo to notify him.“Hello, Mr. Campos!” Sandra greeted William as she opened the door.“Hello, Sandra. Wow, you’re growing up, huh?” William ruffled Sandra’s hair.When he first plotted anonymously on the Internet, Sandra had just been born...“Do you want to talk to my mom or dad?” Sandra turned to look behind her.João Paulo was coming down the stairs still shirtless and in dress pants, somewhat hurried to have breakfast.“I’ll talk to your dad,” William winked.“Will, what do you want?” João Paulo approached, “Sandra, my daughter, you need to get ready for school.”“Okay. Excuse me.” Sandra curtsied like a polite young lady and stepped away.William chuckled. “Sandra is such a sweetheart and well-mannered. You and Helen should be proud.”“Yes
At Maggiezine, Maggie, Bernardo, Henrique, and several staff members celebrated the sales success of the latest edition featuring Rosemary and Thierry on the cover.“Guys, we’re selling like never before! It seems we still have space in the print publication, even though online access grows every year! Congratulations to everyone involved!”“Hooray!” Everyone cheered and applauded.Henrique approached Maggie. “Mom, do you think the printed magazine will still exist when I take over?”“Of course, my son!” Maggie caressed her son’s hair carefully so as not to mess up his hairstyle. “I just think there will be a smaller circulation than today. People, including the new generation, prefer reading on the computer.”Henrique puffed out his chest. “I will prefer the printed version to keep the tradition.”Bernardo approached them. “Are you interested in Maggiezine now, son? Before you said it would be an exclusive subject for Caroline and Mary.”“And it still will be, but that doesn’t mean I
Pedro enters the Teodoro building. Daniela is at the counter, noticing her husband coming in with a scowl. He slams the shopping bags from Lafayette Supermarket onto the counter.“Pete, be careful! Didn’t I ask you to buy eggs?” Daniela exclaims, rummaging through the bags immediately.Pedro seems to have awakened from a trance. He shakes his head. “That’s right! Damn, they must be broken!”Daniela finds the bag containing a carton of eggs. Luckily, the bag was on top of others. No eggs were broken.“Great, Tess wanted to make a quindim. You know we need fresh eggs for the recipe,” Daniela sighed in relief. “What happened?”Pedro shook his head. “What do you think happened? Felipe Mountain. Of all the people I could run into in this town, I had to bump into him while I wanted to grab a snack at Café Montanha.”Daniela grimaces. “Oh, what a difficult life. He’s probably complaining about you to someone at the restaurant.”“Why would HE feel entitled to complain about anything? Do you k