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
Night advanced in the city of Blue Cove.At the Gibraltar Club, the activity goes on the same. Customers came and went, satisfied with the service. Among those who entered were Jackson and Patricia.“Jackson, you want to spend more money at those fancy clubs and bars, huh?” Patricia felt unworthy of so much care from her brother.But Jackson was smiling as he led Patricia inside. “Sis, today we’re not going to spend money.”“What did we come here to do? No one will give you free drinks!”Jackson chooses a round table and sits with Patricia. They face each other face to face.“Sis, it seems like you need to know more about life. Maybe I won’t drink anything today, but YOU will certainly drink for free, for sure!”Patricia’s eyes widen. “Are you turning me into a party girl?”“No. I want you to be seen by countless gentlemen who can offer you a drink and be nice to you. No one will drag you to bed because your protective brother will be nearby.” Jackson responds smiling.Patricia notice
Chapter 54 Regret That Does Not ConvinceThe next day, Nathan was in the foyer of the Sterling Mansion, as advised by his father.Jarbas was surprised by the visit so early, “Hello, Mr. Sterling. Whom do you wish to see?”“I want to see my grandfather,” Nathan says, wearing sunglasses. He hadn’t gotten the necessary amount of sleep.Sheila emerges from the living room, listening to the conversation. “Jarbas, from now on, it’s necessary for you to call Nathan ‘Mr. Gouveia’. ‘Mr. Sterling’ is a title deserved only by my father-in-law and my son.”“WHAT?” Nathan, who was supposed to make peace, forgot about the peace pact, “What do you mean by that, Aunt Sheila? You don’t have that right!”Sheila is stunned. “I don’t have?”“Have you already recognized YOUR last name or are you trying to be a copy of Grandma Alice?”“I’m not trying to be a shrew-like her! I’m just reminding you that things have changed around here! Your surname is Gouveia and should be called as such!” Sheila retorts fir
On Sunday, Vicente knew that Abner and his family would go to Church. He waited for them to return to pay a visit to the Sterling Mansion.Jarbas opens the door for him, “Mr. Gouveia, good morning.”“Good morning, Jarbas. How was the mass?”“Very interesting and spiritual. Did you also attend?”Vicente quickly lies, “I went to the Downtown Cathedral, close to where I live.”Jarbas nods his approval, thinking that Vicente is a Christian. “Very good. Boss Sterling will be satisfied and will see you.”Vicente raises one of his eyebrows. How did Jarbas know he wanted to see Abner?Jarbas leaves and Vicente decides to wait in the living room.Matthew appears wearing a polo-neck shirt and knee-length shorts. “Uncle Vicente? What a pleasure to have you here.”Vicente turns around and does his best to appear charismatic, “Hello, nephew! I need to talk to your grandfather. But how are you? Having a lot of fun?”Matthew smiles, a little cautiously. “The one who was having fun on Friday was your
In Vicente’s apartment, he enters victoriously after talking to Abner. Nathan is sitting in front of the piano, trying to play something, but he doesn’t have the slightest idea of ‘do-re-mi’ to play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’.Andreia is next to him, in agony. “Wrong key again, son. This is it!” Andreia presses the key angrily.“OK.” Nathan snorts and presses the key, but the sound is quieter.“Nate, you have to control your fingers because this is a piano, not a keyboard.” Andreia neighs.Nathan, in turn, plays the keys too hard.“Ugh, but don’t ruin the piano either!”Vicente chuckles, “Honey, leave our son. This way, he will never learn.”Nathan quickly moves away from the piano. Vicente sits in his place and starts playing Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony as if it were the most common thing in the world.“See, Nate? I bet Matthew can play the violin.” Andreia mocks her ‘son’.“Are there violin classes for favela residents?” Nathan yells. He can’t take so much contempt anymore.Sudd