Sheila arrived at Golden Letters after lunch, poised to speak with Matthew as planned.In the lobby, Nayla greeted her warmly, smiling at the elegant madam."Good afternoon, Mrs. Sterling. It's always nice to see familiar faces around here," Nayla greeted cheerfully.Sheila maintained her poise but sensed something amiss. "I can tell something happened here. Could you fill me in? I came to speak with my son."Nayla's expression turned serious. "Yes, something did happen. Your nephew showed up here looking to talk to Mr. Sterling, but he saw Elaine and made advances towards her."Sheila's smile faded, showing her worriedness as she took a deep breath to process the news. "Please, tell me this story had a positive outcome."Nayla nodded reassuringly. "Yes, it did. Jackson was here and intervened to protect Elaine. Your son arrived shortly after, took Nathan to his office, and had a discussion with him. Then the security guards escorted him out."Nayla smiled, reminiscing about the incid
Abner and Alice buzzed with excitement in the master suite of Sterling Mansion as they packed for their upcoming trip."I've already arranged everything with the hangar staff, dear. They're taking care of the flight plan. What about our passports?" Abner confirmed, eager.Alice pointed to the dresser. "They're right there. I can't believe this is finally happening!""We're flying on one of our private jets to the Maldives!" Abner exclaimed with a grin.Alice teased him playfully. "And promise me you'll tread carefully in those muddy lagoons!"Abner chuckled, shaking his head. "The more you talk, the more curious I get about what you're referring to."Alice laughed, the couple's excitement palpable in the suite.The door swung open, and Sheila entered, finding the couple amidst their preparations."What are you guys up to? Already off on vacation?" Sheila inquired with a smile."Sorry, dear daughter-in-law! Weren't you the eager one to take charge at the conglomerate? We'll be taking s
In Andreia's office at Urbano Magazine, tension mounted as Nathan faced his parents' disappointment, exacerbated by Cindy's revelations."So it's true? Did you stir up trouble at Golden Letters?" Andreia's voice was stern, searching for answers from her son."Stir up trouble wasn't exactly what I had in mind, Mom," Nathan retorted defensively, avoiding direct eye contact, glaring at Cindy instead."Stop staring at Cindy. She did us a favor by confirming this nonsense," Vicente interjected firmly, his patience wearing thin."I still don't know why she had to get involved," Nathan muttered under his breath.Just then, Cindy entered the office and closed the door behind her."My boyfriend was here earlier, and I saw some bloodstains on his hands. That fight was intense, huh?" Cindy remarked casually, her gaze fixed on Nathan.Nathan smirked wickedly, thinking about the fight and how to use it to irritate Cindy. "Yeah, and your boyfriend gave it his all to defend Elaine."The provocation
Andreia's office at Urbano Magazine was fueled with tension as she read aloud Cindy's latest provocative article about the turmoil at Sterling Empire."And it looks like emotions are running high in the depths of the Sterling Empire. Some are not happy with the outcome of the Great Meeting and have decided to express their dissatisfaction through fights and chaos at Golden Letters. Our perennial celebrity, Jackson Borges, is always willing to fight for peace, as paradoxical as that may seem. Find out more details in Cindy Cardoso's column, here in Urbano Magazine," Andreia recited with a touch of irony.Nathan's face drained of color, clearly distressed, while Vicente wore a mocking smirk."MOM! You're not going to approve of this crappy article, are you?" Nathan protested, his voice tinged with desperation.Andreia remained composed, settling back into her chair and clicking 'forward' to send the article to the editing team."Approved," she replied coolly, her smile barely concealing
The air in Andreia's office hung heavy with unspoken tensions as Vicente grappled with his wife's startling proposal regarding Nathan."Darling, when you need to prove to Nate that you love him as a mother, you propose to me to tell the truth about his origins? Why?" Vicente's voice betrayed both confusion and concern.Andreia's response was sharp, "I can't bear it anymore, Vince. Nathan disrespects me, you, and my family."Vicente countered, trying to defend their son. "That was changing. It was those old Sterling Empire board members who brainwashed my son—""Can his brain handle our brainwashing? I don't know how much longer I can put up with this nonsense." Andreia interrupted sharply. "I'm running out of patience.""You don't have to endure this," Vicente urged gently."What do you suggest then?" Andreia's tone softened briefly, but her agitation remained palpable. "Patience? Care? Understanding?"Vicente moved to embrace her, seeking peace in physical closeness, but Andreia evad
Hours later, Cindy rapped lightly on the door frame with her expression showing concern. Andreia sat hunched over her computer, absorbed in some unseen task."Can I come in, boss?" Cindy's voice broke the silence.Andreia looked up, her brow furrowing briefly before she replied, "Of course, Cindy. What do you need?"Cindy stepped inside, shutting the door gently behind her.Her gaze darted around the room, searching for signs of the earlier tension that hung in the air like an unspoken secret."I came to ask if everything is okay here. After I left, your son called me into his office and forbade me from writing articles about him. Now he's gone," Cindy explained in a low voice.Andreia rubbed her tired eyes, sighing deeply. "He's going to be difficult for the rest of his life, it seems.""I'm sorry. What should I really do?" Cindy asked, her doubt palpable."Cindy, I approved the article, but I hope you won't make my son the frequent subject of your pieces, okay?" Andreia's tone softe
The Gibraltar Club buzzed with its usual mix of laughter, clinking glasses, and animated chatter.Nathan, however, sat seething at a corner table, showcasing his anger as he watched the video of his expulsion from Golden Letters go viral on the internet."This is complete nonsense! Who leaked this?" Nathan fumed.Alfredo, seated across from him, sighed resignedly. "If I were of any help or worked at Golden Letters...""I work at Urbano now, at least until my 'wonderful' cousin decides otherwise," Nathan interrupted bitterly."Nate, you need to stay focused for the next step. We need to be smart and never slip up," Alfredo advised calmly."Nobody's perfect," Nathan retorted sharply."I know, but that doesn't justify such a huge mistake," Alfredo replied, taking a sip of his drink. "Didn't you tell me you had a thing for Elaine?"The waiter arrived with Nathan's double whiskey, giving him a moment's respite before addressing a question he didn't want to answer."Yeah, Elaine was mine. A
The sun dipped low over Blue Cove, casting long shadows that stretched across the beach house where Andreia sat, engrossed in her favorite soap opera, 'Love Spins the World'.She lounged on the couch, a bucket of popcorn resting on her lap, eager for the drama to unfold.Yesterday, Othon Rios appeared without a shirt and that stirred up the excitement of the female audience.Andreia whispered slyly to herself, "this is what we need..."Before she could delve further into her TV fantasy, the front door swung open with a bang.In stumbled Vicente, his face twisted with anger, shoving Nathan ahead of him.The tension crackled in the air between father and son, remnants of the recent fight still etched on their faces."Hey! What is this? Hubby, why are you pushing your son like that?" Andreia exclaimed with fear."Ask him what he was doing at the Gibraltar Club!" Vicente's voice boomed, filling the room with accusation."Hanging out with his friends, isn't that right, son?" Andreia interj
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