The sun streamed through the window of Elaine's office at Golden Letters. Jonah stood at the entrance, an expression of discontent etched onto his features.He had come seeking answers, and the familiar sight of Elaine felt comforting amid his turmoil.“Elaine, it’s great to see you here!” he exclaimed, a hint of forced cheerfulness in his voice.Elaine looked up from her desk, her smile brightening the space. “Good morning, Jonah! Wow, I’ve never been welcomed like this by anyone before.”Jonah raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curving into a playful smirk. “Not even by your husband?”Elaine seemed to hesitate for a moment, her expression turning cautious. “My husband welcomes me fine anywhere. The photos for the cover of your new novel turned out excellent, didn’t they?” She swiftly redirected the conversation, attempting to steer them away from more personal topics.Jonah settled into a chair, adopting a posture that was both inquisitive and filled with irony. “Yes, the ph
At the Alvarez family kitchen, Linda, her brow furrowed in determination, Linda is now at the sink, determined to tackle the stack of dirty dishes that clutter the space.As she worked, Gustavo ambled past her, his disheveled appearance suggesting he had just rolled out of bed. He wore the same clothes from the night before, a backpack slung loosely over his shoulders, giving Linda pause as she glanced at him.“Where is our little sister?” he asked, breaking the silence.“In her room, sulking, as always,” Linda replied, her voice with worry. She stopped scrubbing for a moment, her thoughts drifting to Bella. “Do you think we went too far with her, Gus?”He shrugged, an edge of uncertainty in his eyes. “Do you think we did?”Linda resumed her task, the Brillo pad scratching against the pot as if it reflected the turmoil in her heart. “I just wanted her to listen to us. If she’d obeyed us the first time, we wouldn’t have to repeat the same thing all the time.”Gustavo leaned against the
Cindy's in her office over the stacks of paper and the cluttered desk. Andreia entered with a smile, her cheerful demeanor contrasting sharply with the dejected figure seated behind the desk. Cindy, deep in thought, barely registered Andreia's presence.“Cindy,” Andreia said, her tone bright and hopeful. “I just got a call from Dr. Almeida. He said my son will be discharged tomorrow. Could you write an article about it?”Cindy looked up, her attention wandering. “Huh? Andreia? Did you say something?”“Of course I said something,” Andreia replied with a hint of a smirk. “The real question is whether you heard me.”Cindy blinked, as if waking from a daydream. “Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”“And what exactly were you thinking about?” Andreia pressed, her smile widening. “About your dad’s channel?”Cindy’s eyes widened in surprise. “You watched it?”Andreia nodded cautiously. “I have to admit, I didn’t ‘like’ the video since he was talking about my nephew. But I did subscrib
Linda was stunned as she talked with her sister in the kitchen of the Alvarez family house and saw Bella with tears welling up in her eyes.“What the hell is this, Bella?” Linda demanded, her voice tinged with frustration. “Why are you crying?”Bella looked up, hurt and offended. “You really have no heart, do you?”Linda shook her head, struggling to comprehend. “I wish I had the same understanding as you.” She suddenly gets shocked, “Are you in love with Nathan Gouveia?”Bella’s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment. “Why couldn’t I fall in love with Nathan Gouveia?”Linda’s voice was firm, with reproach. “First of all, because of what you do…”Bella’s eyes flashed with defiance. “Don’t broadcast this on social media, damn it!”Linda pressed on, “Nathan won’t like it when he finds out, unless you want to hide it forever, which isn’t practical.”Bella’s tone grew desperate. “Linda, can you at least stand by me once in your life?”Linda’s expression softened slightly, but
In the heart of Urban Magazine, Cindy’s office buzzed with a surprising energy. Cindy’s face showed how she’s working intently at her desk. Her fingers danced over the keyboard, typing up everything she had gleaned from Nathan’s interview. A radiant smile adorned her face, her eyes sparkling excitement and satisfaction.The door swung open, and Andreia stepped inside, her presence bringing a rough contrast to the scene. Cindy looked up, her smile widening.“Cindy, dear, how was the interview?” Cindy’s voice was filled with cheerful anticipation.“Your son is in love, Andreia!”Andreia’s expression shifted subtly, her eyes narrowing slightly as she managed to suppress a flicker of distaste. “Really? Did he mention the lucky girl’s name?”Cindy’s eyes twinkled as she nodded. “Who else could it be? He mentioned her name — Bella, the girl he was with in the car.”Andreia’s lips twisted into a sour frown. “The escort he was sleeping with—”Cindy shook her head vigorously. “No, Andreia, tha
In the heart of Sterling Empire Headquarters, Matthew’s office was thick with tension. Sheila sat across from her son, her face flushed with embarrassment and indignation. The earlier confrontation with Jonah had left her feeling humiliated, and her resolve was clear.“This is absurd!” Sheila’s voice trembled with frustration. “I think ‘taking a break’ is too little!”Matthew, ever hopeful, leaned forward, eager to understand. “What does that mean, mom?”Sheila took a deep breath, her eyes determined. “I’ll have to completely break up and look for a man who wants something serious with me!”The atmosphere shifted abruptly as Matthew and Evan erupted into applause, unable to contain their excitement.“YES! That’s it, Madam Sterling!” Evan cheered, his enthusiasm palpable.Sheila’s cheeks reddened further, feeling awkward under the exuberant reaction. “Um... Since when did my life become a soap opera to have cheerleaders?”Matthew approached his mother with a look of filial affection. “
Sterling Mansion, Matthew’s suite.Matthew and Elaine stirred awake in the soft embrace of the sheets. They both jolted slightly at the sound of their alarm clocks beeping in unison, a fitting prelude to the day ahead.“Good morning, darling! How was your sleep?” Matthew’s voice was warm, with affection as he turned to face Elaine.“Wonderful, my love,” she replied, her smile brightening the room, reflecting the gentle morning light.For a moment, they lay there, reveling in the simplicity of the morning quiet.Matthew, seemingly deep in thought, broke the spell of tranquility. “Before I went to bed, I was thinking…”Elaine perked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “About what?”Leaning against the plush headboard, Elaine offered him her full attention, while Matthew remained nestled under the covers, his mind racing.“To keep any rumors from leaking to the press that we’re having issues, we could meet our grandparents in the Caribbean and have our well-deserved honeymoon. What do
Sterling Mansion, dining room.Sheila had just finished her breakfast. Sipping the last of her coffee, she took a moment to savor the tranquility before her day began.Evan, the ever-reliable butler, approached with a respectful nod. "How was your breakfast, Madame Sterling?" he inquired, his tone showing genuine interest."Excellent, Evan," Sheila replied, a satisfied smile gracing her lips.There was a lightness in her demeanor that hinted at a greater source of joy."And has Young Matthew come down yet?" Evan asked, shifting his gaze toward the staircase that led to the second floor, where her son might emerge at any moment.A mischievous smile broke across Sheila's face. "If Elaine was smart, which I believe she was, she jumped on my son and is ‘treating him badly’ with his hands cuffed to the headboard!"Evan's face turned a deep shade of crimson, caught off guard by her candid remark."Er... Does that mean they’ve made up?" he stammered, curious yet cautious."Yes," she confirme
Gustavo had just finished driving and maneuvering a forklift. When he stepped out, he noticed a commotion of workers not far away. It seemed they were congratulating someone.“Hmm... Is it someone’s birthday?” Gustavo smiled and walked over to them.Gustavo realized that Kirk was the center of attention and stopped in his tracks.Kirk, for his part, smiled at Gustavo - mockingly? “Hey, Gus! Come hear the big news!”Gustavo approached with disbelief in his eyes. “Are you going to keep working here?”“Your dream has come true!” Kirk exclaimed so loudly that even those who weren’t close could hear. “I’m going to work somewhere else!”The phrase made a few heads turn toward Gustavo. What? He was hoping Kirk would get fired?Gustavo noticed that those who turned to him did not have friendly expressions.“Hey, take it easy! I didn’t mean to dig Kirk’s grave.”“What did you want with our friend then?” someone asked.“I wanted to know, at my father’s request, if Kirk would be staying with us
Elaine and Liz continued to discuss their plan. “Did you expect to achieve something after falling onto the coffee table?” Liz asked. Elaine stood up and went to a table where a thermos was placed. While pouring two cups, she replied, “I need to confess something. The whole thing was my idea.” Liz’s eyes widened. “You... planned to fall onto my coffee table?” “It all happened so fast, more of an impulse than a plan,” Elaine responded, approaching her friend with the cups. Liz picked one of the cups, replying, “You were being pulled by the hair by Patricia, caught a glimpse of the coffee table, and decided to throw yourself onto it so that I would think it was Patricia who maliciously threw you onto it. That way, my reaction of horror and outrage would be genuine.” “Exactly, girl. That’s why I winked at you to calm down.” Elaine sat back down, balancing her cup in her left hand. “Elaine, you took a huge risk!” Liz was flabbergasted. “You could have hurt yourself badly, bleed to
Liz visits Golden Letters and opens Elaine’s office door. “Elaine, can I have a word with you?” “Liz! Come in, my friend!” Elaine smiled and gestured. Liz hurriedly closed the door as if it were necessary. Elaine continued, “I’ve called you several times.” “Sorry, friend. I wanted to visit you on Sunday, but I was busy.” Liz pulled out a chair and sat down. “That’s alright. I was discharged; it wasn’t anything serious.” Elaine winked. “Are you sure, friend?” Liz decided to take a chance and asked, “It seemed like I saw you wink at me...” “Yes, I was fine. You were so desperate, thinking I was going to bleed to death.” Elaine was carefree. “That’s what I thought.” Liz calmed down. “Still, I made sure to cause the biggest scene in the clinic’s lobby, blaming Patty for everything.” “And did it work?” Elaine’s eyes sparkled. “Not exactly.” Liz shook her head. “Our husbands showed up and killed my buzz.” Elaine’s excitement faded. “As always, Matt defending that shameless trou
Silva Oil Company, Ronaldo’s office, around ten in the morning. Jackson explains to Ronaldo why Gustavo might not be suitable to be a model. “Gustavo is trying too hard, insisting too much, being inappropriate. That’s not how things work,” Jackson said with authority. “Take my case: I NEVER thought about being famous. All I wanted was to stay in my corner, posting my routine on social media. The thing is, people who make things happen discovered me, prepared me, and the rest you already know.” “I get it. When it’s meant to happen, it will happen. No rush, no anxiety – and without being a pain in the neck,” Ronaldo laughed. “Did he happen to approach you again?” “Patty ended up talking about Vasconcelos Fabrics, and he had that gleam in his eyes as if we had already made plans!” Jackson exclaimed, exasperated. Ronaldo lost some of his excitement. “Jackson, do you suspect that this Gustavo is getting too close to my fiancée?” “The guy really thinks he’s the best thing since sliced
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