Sunday. Vicente, Andreia, and Nathan get together for the big lunch at the Sterling Mansion.They are received respectfully by Jarbas in the foyer.“Good morning, Gouveia family. Good morning, Miss Sterling.”Nathan is disgusted, “Why are you calling my mother by her maiden name, you worthless butler?”Jarbas faces Nathan as an equal, “It’s to always remind her of where she came from. Follow me to the living room.”Vicente glares at Andreia and she lowers her head. The three go to the living room.There, as they sit on the sofas, Vicente begins to neigh as soon as Jarbas leaves.“Honey, didn’t I tell you yesterday about these people looking down on me? Here, you’re not Mrs. Gouveia, you are forever an extension of the Sterling family!”Andreia tries to dodge the bullets, “You don’t complain when our son is constantly called ‘Nathan Sterling’ by the media and social media.”“But with our son it’s different.” Vicente states, “He needs to be recognized by the surname of the conglomerate
The biggest confusion started in the Sterling Mansion.After the clank of the wine glass shattering on the wall, Abner stood up, outraged and scandalized. What is that?Matthew straightens up with the same charismatic smile. “It seems like I arrived at a bad time.”Sheila can’t control herself. She also gets up, goes straight to Nathan, and slaps him as hard as she can.“HOW DARE YOU throw that glass at my son?”Andreia is the next to get up, grabbing Sheila’s arm, “Release my son, you capybara!”“SILENCE!” Abner roars like the lion, “Sit down, everyone! Let’s act like civilized people, what a shame!”“NEVER!” Nathan screams at the top of his lungs, risking becoming hoarse, “I will never sit at the same table as the intern!”Evan rolls his eyes. What a stupid kid!Alice also finds Nathan’s stupidity incredible, “Nate, it’s not possible that you haven’t realized that you’re not in front of any intern. That boy is your cousin, Matthew Sterling. He was lost, but he was found.”Nathan beg
Monday. Andreia and Vicente have their breakfast in the kitchen. The coffee is sweet and pleasant, but Vicente feels like he is drinking something without sugar. Andreia doesn’t appear as nervous as her husband.“The reveal of Matthew’s return was pretty impressive, huh?” She ventures a comment.“It was disappointing to learn that the future of the Starling Empire is in the hands of a brat who had been missing for over twenty years!” Vicente slams the cup on the saucer, “Honey, we can’t leave things as they are!”Andreia is surprised, “What can we do? It’s my father’s decision, and as seen yesterday, it seems like he has already been made.”Vicente scratches the back of his head in displeasure. Damn it!The bell is sounded. Andreia gets up to answer.Upon opening the door, Nathan flies inside. “Mom, Dad, it’s too late for us to drink coffee as if nothing were happening! We need to come up with a plan of action to convince my grandfather that I am the true and legitimate heir! The Star
Classes ended, and Matthew and Walter returned to the square. Patricia is serving customers with a meditative expression.“Waitress, are you listening to my order?” The customer complains.“Pardon me.” Patricia shakes her head, “Did you order two glasses of mango juice?”“Two glasses of orangeade.” The customer frowns, questioning the waitress’s hearing.“One moment.” Patricia goes to the table where Matthew and Walter sat, “And you guys, what do you want?”“I want to talk to Clay.” Matthew smiles at her.“Matt, what’s this about you wanting to help Mr. Saldanha expand his business?” Patricia frowns, “That’s a joke in very bad taste!”Matthew drops his smile. “Do you think I would joke about something like that with the man who gave me a job?”“I don’t know, explain it to me.” Patricia sticks out her chin defiantly.Walter pokes his friend’s shoulder, “Tell her, man...”“Tell me what?” Patricia asks carefully.“There’s nothing to tell.” Matthew fumes, “Patty, can I or can I not talk t
Cindy could hardly believe that she was standing before the heir to the Starling Empire. So it wasn't a joke! This explains a lot...Cindy maneuvered the car to park near the sidewalk before she started blocking traffic."What's up, darling?" Matthew jokes, "Say something!"Cindy can't articulate entire sentences, "Honey... My love... But how about you... And the favela? Your smelly job, your dirty clothes—""OK, let's answer calmly." Matthew has fun, laughing non-stop. "I didn't know I was Matthew Sterling. My mother hid that fact from me since I was a child. I had no memory of my life as a rich man.""Didn't your mother show you photographs?" Cindy is horrified."No, I was totally in the dark." Matthew states, "By an incredible coincidence or divine maneuver, my grandfather Abner Sterling built the headquarters and university here in town. When I started studying, he probably saw me and wondered... Well, he said he had been looking for me for years. Now he found me."Cindy applies t
Matthew is careful not to speak ill of Nathan in front of his father. You never know, maybe that’s what Vicente is waiting for...“Uncle Vicente, I didn’t have the opportunity to spend time with Nathan to form such a serious opinion.” He dodges.Vicente smiles like a snake, “But you met him yesterday.”“Did I meet him?” Matthew frowns, “He threw a glass of wine at me and then disappeared. I didn’t see him around the mansion all afternoon. Maybe he went for a swim in the sea to relax.”“You must understand, Matt.” Vicente claims, “For a long time, my son believed he would inherit the Sterling Empire. It’s hard to swallow that a stranger who came out of nowhere is going to snatch the throne from him.”“Uncle Vicente, I haven’t decided on that yet.” Matthew doesn’t know that Abner has already confirmed it to Vicente.This leaves Vicente intrigued, with his hand on his chin, “You still don’t know? But it’s the natural order of things. You’re Karl’s direct son. My son is a Gouveia, despite
A few days passed. Matthew received breakfast on a tray carried by one of the maids. He helped himself in his room, at the computer desk.“Thank you, Miss.”“You’re welcome, Young Mr. Sterling.” The maid is a little restricted with Matthew just wearing gray sweatpants. The boss should be a magazine cover model!After she leaves, Matthew takes his tablet and checks the last details for the cultural exhibition.He takes out his cell phone and calls Augusto.On the other side, Augusto answers the phone, in the corridor of the Blue Sea Shopping Mall, “Hello, friend.”“Augusto, today is the big day. Is everything organized?”“Yes, I’m just unable to contact Jonah Lopes’ representative.” Augusto scratches his head.“He’s our main attraction. I don’t want anything to go wrong.”“I’ll call the hotel,” Augusto promises to take care of it.Matthew then calls Brennon, “Hello, Brennon! How are things with the band ‘Nouveau Riche’?”“They’re really sharp. Now we’re doing the sound check. The singe
After the literary exhibition, Elaine invited everyone to celebrate in a “tavern” Downtown. The bar was an elegant social club that served drinks and snacks, nothing compared to the substandard bars Matthew knew from Lion’s Den.As they entered, this was a strange feeling Matthew had. The club was well crafted with wooden furniture and shelves of bottles of the most varied drinks. Bartenders and mixologists worked while waiters in black vests and bow ties served customers. The Gibraltar Club was not a place for rowdiness, loud music, and drunken fights.At the large, round table where Elaine, Matthew, Augusto, and Brennon were, Negroni, Gin and tonic, Scotch highball and Aperol Spritz were served.“Cheers, guys! To the best interns I had the privilege of working with!” Elaine exclaims.“Cheers!” Everyone toasts, making glasses clink.Matthew felt wonderful and fulfilled. Here he was, enjoying yet another achievement, and unlocking another level of his life. The prices of the drinks ch