Moments later, Adrian enters HR, unsuspecting and greeted by an effusive Gene. "Supervisor Curtis, it's always a pleasure to discuss matters with you. At this rate, you'll be a constant presence in this room!" "Really, Gene? What does that mean?" Adrian asks, like a lamb headed to slaughter. "Come in, take a seat!" Gene internally belittles Adrian's demeanor. The guy causes trouble at the company, gets called to HR, and doesn't suspect for a moment why he's there! Does the idiot think he'll get promoted? Sitting across from one another, Gene begins, "Look, Supervisor Curtis, what I'm about to tell you may come as a shock." "Go ahead, nothing surprises me anymore in this world." Adrian grins broadly, "Am I getting promoted?" Gene drops the fake smile. This is too much! "Supervisor Curtis, do you really feel that confident that you deserve a promotion?" Gene asks with caustic aggression. Adrian jolts, finally realizing he wasn't called in for praise. "Huh? What's going on her
At Ferro House, Briana and Luana are having lunch in the kitchen. There were leftovers from yesterday's lasagna. Luana mixed in other things, like rice and a green salad, to add it up. Luana had to do this because Briana still felt shattered and sore. Sitting at the table caused grimaces of pain and discomfort for Lady Ferro, making Luana burst into laughter. "HA, HA, HA! I understand you, my friend." Luana teased while Briana turned beet red from embarrassment. "Stop it, Luana, I thought you were my friend!" Briana couldn't eat due to her awkwardness. "Let me guess: your virile and insatiable hubby wanted to 'celebrate' your victory with the LCN Group, right?" Luana provoked, eager for the juicy details. Briana can't help but let a mischievous smile escape from her lips. Yes, what a celebration… Mark knows exactly how to handle that! Does the Military Force of Aurelia teach their soldiers to be skilled with their wives in marital intimacy? How? Briana tried to veer away from
The chit-chat between Briana and Luana continued. "Anyway, you're not seriously thinking about forgiving your exploiting and dishonest family, are you?" Luana asked 'delicately'. "Ouch!" Briana pretended to feel pain, even though she still felt aches in her legs and backside. That Mark... "Don't get sensitive. I'm speaking the harsh reality this world imposes on us." Luana cut the lasagna, "I feel your grandmother is using your parents as bait to get you back to Vasconcelos Mansion." "Why, so I can go back to being the doormat Katrina wipes her feet on?" Briana shook her head vehemently, "No, thank you! I prefer to stay here, hidden with my husband, being happy and maybe stuffing this mansion with kids." "'Stuffing' would be the right word if he keeps this up!" Luana burst out laughing again. Briana smiles as if to say, 'You never learn, do you?' Luana, stopping her laughter, touched on the third subject, "Hey, friend, I've been thinking…" "Uh-oh, here comes trouble!" Briana m
Meanwhile, Katrina was sulking in the living room of the Vasconcelos Mansion. Christopher appeared and found her like this. "Sis, what's with that face? What did James do to you this time?" Katrina shook her head. "You immediately thought it was something related to my husband. Why do you hate my man, Chris?" "Is he really your man?" Christopher sat down on the sofa next to her. "Yes, he is! What nonsense is this?" "Well, I was thinking about a certain occasion when he should have been with you but chose to spend time with escorts instead," Christopher replied sourly. Katrina poked her brother. "Shh! Don't say something stupid like that! No one knows if that's really what happened." "Oh, sis..." Christopher slowly shook his head, "Your husband is swimming in the pool outside. There are no white marks on him, not even where he should be wearing swim trunks. The Speedos he's wearing now are quite tiny, making the maids swoon." "And so? That doesn't mean he was with anyone..." K
Luana and Briana entered the latter's office and found Mark working. Anyone seeing Mark like this would confuse him for an ordinary 9-to-5 worker. However, Mark was taking the opportunity to check on matters related to his true identity. For example, he was reading everything Linda's guys had uncovered about Anthony and Adrian Curtis, the woman-beaters. Upon seeing the two ladies enter, Mark quickly changed the online documents and smiled at them. "Hello, ladies!" "Hey, you're not watching something inappropriate, are you?" Luana repeated the usual question, noticing Mark using the mouse. "I have nothing to hide." Mark challenged her. Luana, however, didn't approach the monitor like Adrian had done. She laughed and sat in a chair. Briana approached the desk. "I know you don't have those disgusting habits. By the way, why would you need to look at other women when you have me all night long?" "HEY, there are kids in the room!" Luana was surprised by the sudden change in tone o
The loud music and the dancers doing everything but dancing properly on stage didn't distract Anthony and Adrian from their conversation. Anthony insisted, "Son, how are things at Glamour? You already told me about the absurdness of the company having Mark the Pauper from janitor to manager. What's he doing there?" "Dad..." Adrian was about to cry like a baby. Anthony had no patience and slammed his fist on the table. "ADRIAN! Swallow those tears, don't be a crybaby!" "Dad, you would definitely cry if you were in my shoes. Do you know what happened?" "I won't know if you keep crying like a little girl." Anthony glanced at the dancers who were trying to entice the customers. "The HR manager, Gene, he called me in to talk. He said I wouldn't be getting paid for a week!" Adrian recounted dramatically, with watery eyes. The waitress appeared with the drinks. Adrian grabbed his and nearly downed it in one go. "This is unacceptable!" Anthony complained, "Come on, what was their just
Vasconcelos Mansion, dusk.The situation was tense in Althea Vasconcelos's house, with her two children nearly getting into a fight in the middle of the living room. "You need to teach your daughter some manners!" Sandro roars, "That's why mom is paying more attention to Briana!" "How ridiculous!" Gilson mockingly sneers, "Your daughter is surely submitting to the lowest and most degrading depravity that those guys from the slums always impose to their wives in bed!" Claudia chimes in, smiling maliciously. "But from what we know about Briana, the fact that she defended her husband so much here at home shows that she likes being degraded!" "SHUT UP!" Sandro kicks the coffee table. The coffee table had a glass top, and with the kick, it shattered. The shattering glass shocked everyone present. Althea pressed her lips together, and her body began to tremble with rage. Gilson and Claudia kept their composure, seeing Althea react in outrage, not wanting to worsen the situation for
Briana felt embarrassed by the question. "Uh... Chris, I don't want you to have any illusions about Luana. She really isn't interested in anything beyond friendship." "That Karl is still—" Christopher interrupted himself, "Oops, I can't say those things anymore. Grandma gets disgusted and forbade us." "Huh? Chris, what are you really saying?" Briana frowned, confused about the conversation. She checked the oven. Christopher didn't know how to respond without implicating Katrina. "Nothing much, cousin." "OK, Luana admitted that she has 'known' Karl in the biblical sense." Briana commented, "And if Grandma Althea doesn't want you to talk about it, it means you guys are discussing those vulgarities. But Luana isn't the subject of discussion, right? She's not that close to the family." "Cousin..." Briana hit the nail on the head, "You were talking about me and Mark, weren't you?" "ARGH!" Christopher felt cornered, unable to escape. "You started it, huh?" Briana, leaving the phone