At Sterling University Square, David patiently awaited Cindy’s coming out from her class. Seated at the kiosk table, Bryce stood by his side.“Bryce, it’s better if you step aside. I need to talk to Cindy,” David advised him.A trace of suspicion crossed Bryce’s face. “What’s this conversation about?”“Something private,” David responded seriously.Bryce, skeptical, warned, “Don’t tell me you want to dive back into Matthew and Patty’s drama. Dude, when will you learn?”Always serious, David asserted, “I’ve learned. Don’t trust women who want to use you to make another guy jealous.”Unconvinced, Bryce insisted, “No, you haven’t learned. Okay, when things blow up, call me. I’ll try to fix it.”With that, Bryce stood, visibly irritated, and exited, leaving David alone in anticipation.Amid the ebb and flow of university students, Cindy descended the stairs, noticing David. Her reaction was marked by a stiff posture. Gesturing for her to approach, David awaited her with a mix of determina
In the afternoon, Matthew went to Vanda’s house to discuss the possibility of publishing her book through Golden Letters. In the foyer of Borges House, the atmosphere was relaxed.“Good afternoon, Matt! Did you hear what happened?” greeted Vanda.Smiling, Matthew replied, “Yes, you signed the contract.”Vanda added humbly, “It wasn’t just that. I read, questioned and clarified all my doubts with Miss Prates. She was very helpful.”“That’s why I recommended her. I’m going to ask her to continue to guide you about promotions, signings and everything else,” Matthew explained.Grateful, Vanda said, “Matt, again, thank you so much.”“What did I do that was so special?” Matthew asked jokingly.Smiling, Vanda replied, “You’re making my dream come true.”Matthew asked looking around, “How did Seu Hélio react to the news?”Vanda giggled, “He’s at the club playing cards with friends. Any more, and he’ll look like one of them.”“He probably already is. Well, Vanda, I need to go.”Before Matthew
In the late afternoon at the Sterling Mansion, Matthew entered the suite to find Patricia engrossed in the computer, perusing social media. Acknowledging her boyfriend’s arrival, she turned towards him.“Hi, darling. Do you need the computer?” Patricia inquired sweetly.Matthew answered with a serious face, “No, feel free.”Curious about his mood, Patricia asked, “What happened?”Matthew stared deeply at his girlfriend, contemplating whether it was worth sharing the details. Eventually, he divulged, “I had a long conversation with Jackson. He made a curious request.”Concern etched on her face, Patricia queried, “What did my mischievous older brother ask for this time?”“He asked for permission to date Cindy,” Matthew disclosed, prompting Patricia’s smile to fade.She abandoned the computer and stood up, expressing worry.“Why did he say that? With Jackson’s popularity, he can get any girl he wants. Why does he insist on Cindy? The girl is troublesome and can’t maintain a stable relat
It’s already evening. In the Sterling Mansion’s foyer, the doorbell urgently sounded, causing Jarbas to express his irritation as he approached the entrance.“Who’s in such a hurry?” he muttered.Upon opening the door, Jarbas found David, visibly agitated and breathing heavily, resembling a charging bull.“Mr. Rocha... What brings you here?” Jarbas inquired as David entered.“Butler, I need to speak with your boss urgently!” David demanded.“He’s in his quarters, getting ready for dinner,” Jarbas informed.“Great! Get him to talk to me. Where’s the living room again?” David asked.“Wouldn’t you prefer to speak with my senior boss, Old Mr. Sterling?” Jarbas suggested cautiously.“Perhaps I would, but it would be very embarrassing for our Matt, don’t you think?” David replied with a sinister smile.Sheila descended the stairs, adorned in a graceful yet casual white cotton dress. Upon recognizing the visitor, her expression tightened.“Jarbas, allow me to handle this matter,” she said.“
Inside the lively Happy Snack Bar, Cindy and Jackson step into the establishment, greeted by a cheerful atmosphere. Waiters hustle around, jotting down orders or delivering dishes. From a distance, Clayton spots the couple and signals for Jackson to join him at the cash register.“Jackson! Get over here!” Clayton calls out, and Jackson points to a table, instructing Cindy to go ahead while he places the order.As Cindy heads to a reserved table, giggling, she asks, “Are you staying here afterward?”Jackson replies with a gallant demeanor, “Well, I’m the manager here, my dear. Remember, I got promoted.”Cindy teases, “You goof...” and takes her seat, picking up the menu.She asks when she reads it, “Can we just have a regular burger and orange juice tonight?”“Oh, I’ll have a panini with extra cheesy and a side of fries.” He pats his toned belly, “I’ve earned that privilege.”Cindy licks her lips and bites her lower lip. She definitely can’t contain herself!At the cash register, Jacks
In the Happy Snack Bar at night, Cindy feels increasingly cornered, compelled to confess the truth to Jackson. Forced to eat a burger filled with unwanted options, she makes up her mind.Jackson laughs, “Look at that cheese stretching!”Cindy swallows unwillingly, “Jackson, enough with the clowning around! Pay attention to the truth!”Jackson immediately stops laughing. “What truth?”“The one you conveniently hid from me.” Cindy poetized.“Cindy, if you’re going to talk to me using journalist jargon, forget it. Those conversations should be held with Ricardo Montegrande, your ex-boyfriend.”“Forget him; he’s sleeping with Marilza Peres. But I’m suspecting him too,” Cindy says, determined to make Jackson listen, “I always believed there was a conspiracy for me to be defeated and force Matt to choose Patty.”Jackson regrets questioning her. “You’re right; we don’t need to talk about this.”Cindy declares while smiling ironically, “Hey, it’s over! Too late, buddy! You asked for it; now y
Wednesday. At Sterling Mansion, Matthew woke up and headed straight to the bathroom for a shower and grooming, leaving Patricia sleeping. Upon waking up, Patricia noticed the empty spot where Matthew had slept.The sound of the shower caught Patricia’s attention, and she smiled, imagining her handsome boyfriend in the shower. She briefly considered joining him but hesitated when her phone ominously rang.Answering the call, leaning against the bed’s headboard, Patricia greeted, “Hello, Jackson?”On the other end, Jackson, sitting on the bed in his boxer shorts, appeared wide awake and deeply concerned.“Hey, sis. I need to talk to you about what happened,” Jackson began.Patricia tried to guess, disappointed, “Don’t tell me: you went out with Cindy. I know. Any man would lose interest in that dull girl.”“It wasn’t just about that it didn’t go as I expected. Patty... Cindy figured out the truth,” Jackson revealed.“What truth?” Patricia asked, growing increasingly concerned.“That I s
In the Sterling Mansion library, Abner stood by the door. His expression was serious as he examined it. Alice, lost in thought, perused one of the bookshelves nearby.“D’you notice anything different about the door, darling?” Abner queried.Alice glanced over. “What do you mean, dear?”“It looks like it’s been kicked. And it’s not closing properly,” Abner remarked, giving the door a test push which confirmed his suspicion of loose hinges.Turning to face him, Alice frowned. “That’s odd. It seemed fine to me.”“Matt was here yesterday. Must’ve heard some bad news,” Abner speculated, a sly grin forming.“What news could he have heard?” Alice inquired.“Maybe he got wind that Jasmine was scheming an escape from her punishment. But according to Leonardo...”Abner’s phone rang, vibrating loudly on the desk. His smile widened upon seeing Fernando’s name and he answered promptly.“Hello, Fernando?”On the other end, Fernando, from his office at Silva Oil Company, relayed information to Abner
At Silva Oil Company, Kirk appeared in Leonardo’s office. Fernando and Marta had already left. “KIRK!” Leonardo abruptly stood up from his desk. “How are you, my young man!” “Mr. Silva?” Kirk was surprised by such reverence. “I didn’t know you cared so much about me...” “Cut the small talk! You just had a seizure and looked like you were going to die in my company,” Leonardo gestured for the employee to sit down. “Now I want to know all the details. Don’t hide anything from this curious old man.” Kirk smiled and sat down. “Well, sir, there’s not much to tell. I was stupid enough to fall for the siren’s song.” “In this case, the cocaine song, right?” Leonardo leaned forward. “What do you intend to do from here on out?” “Obviously, I promised myself and my family that I wouldn’t use that cr*p anymore. It wasn’t worth all the drama and suffering,” Kirk replied honestly. “That’s good. Then you can continue from where you left off,” Leonardo smiled, relieved. “That’s about what I w
In Urbano Magazine, Cindy returned with the printed sheet, extending it to Andreia. “Read this not-so-pretentious article, my friend,” Cindy declared. Andreia took the paper and read it. A smile formed at the right corner of her mouth. “Cool... nothing so blatantly accusatory, but clear enough for any semi-literate person to understand that Elaine knocked over that pyramid of champagne glasses, causing a scene at the book signing.” “Of course, I won’t say she did it because the honored author was her enemy’s mother,” Cindy replied mischievously. “You don’t want to risk Matt’s wrath.” Andreia stood up, a bit slowly due to her pregnancy. “Speaking of which, how did he react after your dad’s video?” “I didn’t bring it up with him,” Cindy shook her head. “If I mention it, people will say I still love him.” “And you don’t want to do anything to ruin your relationship with Jackson,” Andreia repeated. “Cindy, it’s commendable that you’re more committed and focused on having someone in
Fernando appeared in the kitchen wearing gray sweatpants. Liz, who was sour and bitter, smiled pathetically with her gaze fixed on her husband’s pants. “Good morning, son. What’s new?” Ronaldo replied rudely, “The news is seeing my mother still able to walk!” “RON!” Liz was startled. Fernando shook his head. “Son, don’t be disrespectful. Your mother and I are trying to be as discreet as possible.” Ronaldo shot back, “Just missing discretion when discussing my fiancée, huh? Can we talk about that now?” Liz pursed her lips. “I was so happy when I woke up, but you made sure to ruin my day.” “Mom, we can’t avoid the obvious!” Ronaldo turned to Fernando. “Matt told me that Elaine was reprimanded.” “And I will never agree to that!” Liz shouted. “Elaine was a victim of that tough girl from the slums! She could have died from a cut to her jugular!” “But Elaine provoked Patty’s wrath by saying those nasty things,” Fernando reasoned as he served himself breakfast. “Couldn’t Patricia a
Silva Penthouse, Monday morning. Ronaldo was walking down the hallway to the kitchen in just his boxer shorts when the suite door opened. Liz was smiling a little too much, looking like she was about to dance ballet. “Mom! Long time no see!” “Yes, son, I had a wonderful time with your father!” Liz replied suggestively. Ronaldo blushed to the roots of his hair. “Is breakfast ready?” she asked casually. “I was about to check,” Ronaldo said, heading to the kitchen. There, the coffee maker was already brewing coffee. “Nando must have prepared it in advance.” Liz took bread and butter from the fridge. Ronaldo, cautious, sat down at the table. He noticed a tear in Liz’s nightgown. “Mom, did you and Dad make up this Sunday?” “We can say he’s no longer in love with your fiancée,” Liz replied with a mischievous smile. “Mom, stop talking about that disgusting stuff!” Ronaldo frowned. “This is all your sick imagination.” Liz simply shrugged, sitting down at the table as well. “You’r
Elaine arrived stumbling with fear and bewilderment. The truth about Bella and Nathan’s relationship was something horrifying and incredible for her to digest. “Oh my God... how did these two families let this issue intertwine like this?” Nayla was at the reception desk, smiling, waiting for Elaine to approach. But when she realized Elaine was going to walk past her, Nayla called out loudly, “ELAINE?” Elaine stopped suddenly and looked at her friend. “Oh, Nayla, I’m sorry...” “Don’t worry. I know you must be going through a lot of pressure.” Nayla stood up. “I really am. But I always have time for my friends.” Elaine smiled and approached, trying to distract her mind. “I wanted to know if there are any openings here at Golden Letters for my brother.” Nayla asked respectfully. Elaine’s smile vanished with the wind. As Nayla’s boss, she knew who the brother was. “Nayla, we’re friends, but you know I have a strong opinion against drug use and sales.” Elaine replied in a boss t
At Andrade Clinic, Charles was leading a meeting with the receptionists and security guards. Walter and Emmanuelle were present. “So, everyone, the next time Liz Silva or anyone else causes a scene at the clinic entrance, security or even the police must be called in immediately. Don’t hesitate just because the troublemaker is someone from an important family. This is a hospital clinic, not a zoo, so I demand order in the lobby. A disturbance can jeopardize the patients who are waiting for care, and I don’t want to compromise anyone’s safety, understood?” “Yes, Mr. Andrade!” everyone responded in unison. “Okay, everyone can return to your posts.” The staff went back to work. Linda gave Walter a brief kiss before leaving. “Linda, I need to ask you a quick question,” Emmanuelle called her back. Linda paused, closing the door after the last person left. “Did you check with your parents if it’s safe to go home?” “No, Emmanuelle. The conversation with Gus was so good that I forgot
In Matthew’s suite, he was now buttoning the cuffs of his genuine cotton dress shirt. Elaine had also gotten out of the bathtub, unable to continue relaxing, and was now putting on her work suit.The memory of the Golden Letters prompted Matthew to strike up a conversation. “Did you remove a glass from the base of the pyramid?” Elaine stared at Matthew as if he were the devil. “What? How can you throw a question like that out of nowhere?” “I just asked a question, woman, answer me.” Elaine shook her head as she walked to the sofa to put on her high heels. “This is inconceivable. Your mind is always revolving around Patricia’s issues. You never forget her, and then tell me I don’t need to worry.” “Was the champagne glass pyramid made for an occasion involving Patricia?” Matthew countered logically. “No, but it was her mother’s book signing.” Elaine angrily slipped on her shoes. “Well, I remembered that many claimed the embarrassment happened because someone removed a glass from
Monday. Elaine was relaxing in the bathtub of her husband’s suite. Matthew stepped out of the shower stall, drying his hair with a white towel as he walked to the double sink. The sight of Matthew’s exposed body startled Elaine for a few seconds, but then she took advantage of the beautiful view, smiling mischievously. “It hardly feels like it’s Monday,” she commented casually. Matthew was washing his face as he said, “Yes, it’s Monday, the day to take care of important things after we relax our nerves on Sunday.” Elaine pursed her lips and retorted, “If I relaxed my nerves, it’s because they were in shambles. It’s not like me to live in constant stress, darling. I might not get the chance to calm down in the future.” Matthew turned off the faucet and grabbed a face towel. “Are you saying you would be willing to reduce your contact with Aunt Liz?” Elaine could no longer relax. “What does that mean?” Matthew tossed the towel onto the sink and turned to his wife. “I don’t like t
In the Silva Penthouse, Liz took advantage of the wreckage of the coffee table to create more drama. “Here we have it, darling! The COFFEE TABLE is SHATTERED with Elaine’s body thanks to Patty—” “SHUT UP!” Fernando slammed the door shut. Liz trembled in panic, staring wide-eyed at her furious husband. “But what is this? Why are you angry with me, darling, when you should be furious with Patty—” “I command silence, and you keep babbling even more!” Fernando went to the utility room to grab a broom. Liz quickly grabbed her phone and took a picture of the shattered coffee table. Maybe this will come in handy for her in the future... “So, what are we going to do about this?” Liz shouted for Fernando to hear. Fernando returned with a broom and a dustpan in hand. “Don’t tell me you’re going to sweep this up!” Liz reacted horrified. “Let the maid clean it up on Monday!” “I won’t have a living room full of glass shards until Monday. I want to watch TV tomorrow!” Fernando’s ferocity