“Patty, I’m so embarrassed to ask you this.” Sheila states with a lump in her throat and a shaky voice, “But Matt is right. You need to leave.”“What’s going on here?” Patricia isn’t convinced, “What’s that picture, Matt?”“MATT!” Sheila warns her son to keep his mouth shut.“Patty, as you can see, this will be a very serious matter. Please.” Matthew softens his face to convince his friend that everything is fine.Patricia turns off the iron, “OK, your clothes are ironed. Your mother was enjoying the soap opera. Good night to you both!”Somewhat upset, Patricia leaves. Matthew closes the door.Sheila takes the remote control and turns off the TV. She sits on the sofa.“So...” Sheila finally says something, “You found out...”“Mom, aren’t you going to ask where I took this photo?” Matthew positions himself in front of her, standing, intrigued, “So, do you already know that I got this photo in Golden Letters?”“Yes, my son...” Sheila’s voice indicates that she is about to cry.“And why
Abner told the story to Matthew, adding some details from his point of view. Matthew listened intently, feeling like he was listening to a fairy tale. He would never even dream of suspecting that he was worthy of a multi-million dollar business empire.When Abner finished, Matthew started asking questions that he didn’t dare to ask Sheila, “Grandpa, my mother suspects that someone in the family ordered the accident.”Abner, however, dismisses the theory with a gesture, “Your mother thinks that, because your father was the only heir in sight, he would be fatally targeted by envious people, in this case, my son-in-law Vicente Gouveia, your uncle. But that is absurd. Your uncle is incapable of doing such a thing.”Matthew caught the tone used in the word ‘incapable’, “He’s not one of high achievement, right?”Abner wrinkles his nose, “It was obvious from the beginning that he was only marrying my daughter Andreia for our money. But Andreia loves the idiot, and I didn’t want to be one of
“Hey guys, what’s going on here?” Matthew asks as he approaches the commotion.Ricardo becomes angrier, “Ah, the object of Cindy’s desire has arrived! Enjoy and be happy together!”“RICARDO, stop being jealous, for God’s sake!” Cindy snorts inelegantly.The college students start recording the scene on their cell phones, having the time of their lives.Patricia shakes her head, “Matt, that ex-girlfriend of yours is trying to get back to her previous status. You guys better talk.”Matthew’s gaze is surgical as he looks at Patricia, “What mark of slap is that?”Ricardo smiles deprecatingly, “In addition to being poor, the guy is stupid.”Matthew turns to him, impatiently, “Didn’t you have to investigate a corrupt politician? What are you doing here?”“I came to talk to my ex-girlfriend, thinking she had recovered her mind. I was wrong, apparently. You showing up in new clothes was enough for her.”Only now does Cindy notice Matthew’s clean, new clothes. She also checks his sneakers whos
Matthew finds himself at the Blue Sea Mall, which coincidentally is where he purchased the new clothes paid for by Walter. He even passed by the store, taking a peek inside. When he could see the two girls at the cash register working and serving customers with fake smiles, he shook his head and continued on his way.Probably, if it weren’t for the third attendant, Vivian, one of them would refuse to swipe Walter’s credit card.Not trying to focus on bad things, Matthew met with the mall employee who was organizing the literary exhibition.“Even with people buying digital books and reading them on their cell phones, those who are fans of the writers tend to buy the physical book because of the autograph.” The employee, a man in his thirties, explains to Matthew, “That’s why we still hold these fairs. And there’s always that one person who prefers paper.”“I know, and I’m one of those,” Matthew admits. As he has always lived in poverty, his cell phone has always been an outdated model.
Nathan is surprised by a company newbie trying to stifle a laugh after he introduces himself as heir to the Sterling Empire.The fact is that the situation was ironic and funny: the newcomer was the real heir!Matthew was supposed to be discreet, but he could tell from afar that Nathan was just another playboy who was lavish with beauty and money, without being properly interested in the family business.“I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling.” Matthew clears his throat, “I wasn’t prepared to meet the heir to the Sterling Empire.”“You don’t read newspapers, do you? You didn’t recognize me?” Nathan retorts, very offended.Elaine cleared her throat, “OK, let’s not make a fuss about this, shall we?”“I just want to work in peace.” Matthew gestures.“If you continue to work like this, young man, there will be no work for you around here,” Nathan responds arrogantly, looking Matthew up and down as if he were a bug.Matthew swallows his indignation for now.“I came to talk about the 2022 literary exhibi
Matthew is leaving Golden Letters. Behind him, beyond his friends Brennon and Augusto, the sun sets on the landscape of Blue Cove.“This can’t happen, Matt!” Augusto says angrily, “What’s happening that no one lets you work here?”“Is there some mystery involved?” Brennon suggests, a little scared.Matthew shakes his head. If he didn’t know in advance that he was the heir to the Sterling Empire, he would also be in doubt. But now, he is in control of the situation.“Don’t worry, guys. Tomorrow you’ll see me back like nothing happened.” Matthew smiles confidently.“You’re confident you’ll make it back.” Brennan is surprised.“Brennon, if you don’t assert yourself in certain situations, people like Nathan Sterling will always abuse you. No wonder he’s not being considered to succeed the old Sterling.”Augusto’s eyes widen, “What did you say, man? Is Nathan Sterling not going to inherit the empire anymore?”Matthew realizes he said too much and tries to correct himself, “Ehr... I read in
The limo transports Matthew, Sheila, and Abner to the Sterling Mansion.Sheila is frowning, acting like a child who is being forced to go somewhere against her will. Matthew, however, acts like the star-struck child being taken to the circus.As they cross the most upscale neighborhood of Blue Cove, a replica of Sunset Village, Matthew glues himself to the vehicle’s window and holds his breath at every beautiful thing he sees.“Look, Mother! Look at the beautiful mansions, the beautiful cars, the beautiful women!”“MATT!” Sheila barks, “Don’t be a pervert!”Abner laughs heartily, “Leave your son, Sheila.”“You look like you’re not interested, Mom.” Matthew frowns.Sheila crosses her arms, “Nothing here is new to me.”The driver turns the car onto a more exclusive street.As if they were on a Hollywood set, the limousine reaches an automatic gold-colored wrought iron gate. The guards located at the guardhouse identify the driver and open the gate.Matthew’s mouth is open so wide that a
Still in the living room where the portraits were, Sheila was standing, unhappy with the outcome of the events.She went to university to try to dissuade Abner from making Matthew the next president of Sterling Empire.But Abner not only managed to convince Matthew but also brought him to the mansion, knowing purely that he couldn’t resist the idea of living in such a chic and refined place.Sheila heard footsteps but didn’t want to know who was approaching. The other person who entered, however, made her turn around.“Sheila.”Sheila turns on her heel and smiles sarcastically, “Oh... Hello, dear mother-in-law.”Alice Sterling, a sixty-five-year-old woman, was wearing a neutral-colored pantsuit and matching skirt. Her white hair was tied up in an elegant bun. Unlike many elderly women, Alice maintained an acceptable weight, as she was adept at light sports such as tennis and walking.If someone didn’t pay attention, she would say that Sheila was older than Aline!“For Christ’s sake, w