Chapter 02
Eliza Campos
After leaving the meeting with Mathews, I immediately went to the house, but when I arrived at my destination, I could already see from a distance that my mother and my brother were already there. My mother was probably just here to snoop into my life, since she always did things like that.
As I approached Lucas, I nudged him to make him realize that I had already arrived.
— Lucas, what are you doing here? I told you that you don't have to do this anymore. I'm always cleaning the house whenever I can," I ask Lucas, looking annoyed.
Lucas then turns toward me, smiling happily. We have always had a very close relationship, even closer than me and my mother. Without me expecting any reaction from him, he launches himself toward me and hugs me tightly.
— Lizzie, my sister, how I've missed you," he says, calling me by a nickname he has used since we were children.
— Lucas has already said that I shouldn't be called that anymore. You know I hate this nickname," I say, pulling away from him and trying to contain the smile that wanted to form on my face.
— You know that whenever possible I will call you this way," he says, and then looks suspiciously in my direction.
Lucas had lost some of his confidence in me, but I don't blame him, I had hurt many people since I became addicted to drugs. I don't know if my family believes that I can overcome this addiction.
— I was with Mathews," I answered immediately, and I could see that Lucas seemed relieved with my answer. My brother loves Mathews and knows that he has done the impossible to help me, and even today he is rooting for me to get back together with him.
— Lizz, you really are telling me the truth, aren't you? — Lucas asks again. The way Lucas spoke to me made me anxious. I didn't want to be responsible for all the problems that were happening in our family.
— Lucas, you can relax, don't use drugs if that's what you were thinking," I answer, "Mathews called me because he said he has a job offer for me and that probably between today or tomorrow they will contact me to set up an interview.
After answering, I could see his eyes watering, he probably wasn't expecting this news. Then he approaches me again and surprisingly hugs me tightly as if to make sure that this was no longer a dream, I return the hug without being able to hold back the tears.
Our hug lasted a few more minutes until a certain person interrupted us.
— Guys, did something happen? — my mother asks, probably wondering why we hugged.
After my mother appeared there, I immediately took off the arm I was giving Lucas. I didn't want people to see me having “feelings” for someone. I had closed myself in that cocoon that was mine alone.
— Hi, Mom, nothing happened," he answers and then adds, "It's just that Lizz was giving me some wonderful news.
— May I ask what incredible news this would be, to be enough for you to be hugging each other like this? — My mother asked, from the tone of her voice, as if she couldn't believe that something good could have happened to me. Ever since my drug addiction, she has treated me this way, as if everything I did was a reason to be "wrong," which wasn't really a lie, but even if I tried to do the right thing, that's the way she treated me, to her, I was always the black sheep of the family.
Before I could say anything, Lucas answers in my place.
— Mom, Lizz, said she got a job interview and is just waiting for someone from the company to contact her to set up a day and time.
My mother then looks in my direction.
— I wasn't expecting this, my child," she says as if she doesn't believe what I'm saying, "and where is it to work?
— And before you say anything, it will be yes, this job opening… You can complain as much as you want.
After answering this, my mother takes a deep breath.
— Eliza, there's really no point in my telling you that I don't want you anywhere near that company," she says.
— Mother, explain to me why you don't like it when I mention the name of that company, make me understand that, please.
My mother kept a safe distance from me, until out of nowhere she slowly approaches and points her finger in my face.
— Eliza, I can't have you talking to me like that. You don't need to know everything. I don't want you to go anywhere near that company, and that's final.
Even though I could tell she was furious, I was not shaken by the way she was treating me at that moment. So I just smile debauched and speak with my typical debauchery tone.
— Do you really believe that I will do what you so desire? You don't boss me around anymore, I'm older, and I own my own nose." I take a deep breath before continuing to speak my mind about the whole thing.
— You can get a job anywhere, even become a call-girl. I don't want you going anywhere near that damned company… Be warned – After my mother says this she moves away from me and turns to Lucas – Let's go my dear, it's almost time for Luiz to get home.
Luiz is her new boyfriend.
— Just so you are aware, I am waiting to hear from the company today, the interview will probably take place as soon as possible – I add and then my mother leaves with a frown on her face with my brother by her side, probably embarrassed by the way she treated me.
After this clarifying dialogue with her, I said goodbye to my brother and went home, since I could no longer stand being near that woman who I still insist on referring to as my mother. After getting bored with all of this, I throw myself on my small sofa and try to remember when she started treating me this way, I believe it was even before I got addicted to drugs. She probably blames me for this crisis in her marriage, they were already separating, and my problem was just the last straw.
When I least realize it, my eyes are full of tears which I quickly wipe away, I don't like to show my feelings anymore, but it was something I couldn't avoid, after all, I am a human being. I wish I could change my life soon so that everyone could be proud of me again, and thinking about these things I fall asleep, and a miracle happens, I finally manage to sleep without insomnia. Was it a warning that something magical might happen?
Chapter 03Pedro MonteiroI woke up with the awakening of my cell phone, the sun was already coming through the window, causing a strong luminosity against my eyes. Then I wake up and feel my eyes burning, I blink my eyes slowly for a few minutes until I get used to that brightness.I squinted slowly, but I didn't want to wake up Heloise, my fiancée, we ended up sleeping late last night after a senseless argument, because she believed I was hitting on one of the newest writers in the company, just for greeting the young woman with a kiss on the hand.Her face was resting on my shoulder, almost on my bicep, but I managed to move successfully without waking her. After successfully getting out of bed, I proceed to the bathroom where I perform my necessary personal hygiene and return to my room where I see that Heloise was still sleeping.As soon as I am in front of the closet, I look at my clothes for a few moments and choose to wear a black suit, dark pants and shoes in the same color.
Chapter 04Eliza CamposI wanted to understand why Pedro looked at me that way, it seemed like he was going to unveil my secrets, that made me embarrassed, I had never felt that way.I walk a few minutes with Carla to her desk, where she picks up a piece of paper where it says the schedule she has to work.— Eliza, I am happy to have you on our team, here is the paper where the working hours are marked, you will start tomorrow only because we urgently need someone to take care of Mr. Monterey's schedule, I was not able to do it – She says handing me that paper and after reading it for a few minutes, I say.— I will also love to work here. I understand that I will have a lot of work tomorrow, but this will be amazing, it has been a long time since I have had a job," I say with a laugh. I really had been out of work for a long time since I got addicted to drugs.Not only that, but I felt so close to Carla, it seemed as if I had known her for so long, a friendship of years. I don't know
Chapter 5Eliza CamposAfter talking to Giulia, I realized that it was already very late, and I had to go home. I had to pack a few things and get ready to go to work early tomorrow, since Pedro had asked me to start work in the morning.So I decided to say goodbye to her.- Giulia, I loved being able to talk to you, but unfortunately I have to go," I answered, "Tomorrow, as you well know, I have to start work as a personal assistant.- All right, I am glad you are better, you know that whenever you need to let off steam, I am here for whatever you need," she says.After saying goodbye to Giulia, I get into my car and drive towards my residence.When I arrive home, I finish tidying up some things that my mother had left behind since we had had that little argument. Until today, I wanted to understand why she didn't want me near the Monterey company, could it be that she knows Pedro, my boss?Of course, I didn't care what my mother had said, I loved the new job and thought it would be
Chapter 6Eliza CamposI walk with my head down, with a certain shyness and a little nervous, I know that everything has to be perfect, my permanence in the company depends on it.So I decided to ask Carla.- Carla, but, has the meeting already started?- It is about to start, but Pedro asked you to go to his office to show him that project you had told me you were doing.As nervous as I was, I thanked Carla and went to Pedro's room.Upon arriving at Pedro's room, I take a deep breath and knock on his door.- Come in," Pedro says in a thick voice that sends shivers through my entire body.I open the door slowly and speak.- Carla said you wanted to talk to me before the meeting started?Pedro looks deeply in my direction before answering my question.- Yes, I wanted to know about your project, Carla had told me that you had put together some spreadsheets, when I went to your office, I forgot to ask.I swallow dryly because of that look he was giving me, but I hand him the project I cr
Chapter 07Eliza CamposI stood in the hall waiting for Carla to call me, the meeting will be with several partners of the company. Pedro really wanted me to present my project in front of all of them. I am very nervous, because for sure in the room would be Pietro and Cassandra, his girlfriend.I don't know how I can face Pietro after his harsh words to me. Not only that, but I know that I have a share of the blame for how our relationship has turned out since I got addicted to drugs. I have ruined not only my life, but the lives of everyone around me.I came out of my thoughts when I saw that Carla was calling me, probably the meeting was about to start. Furthermore, I wiped away some tears that were running down my face and hoped that Carla hadn't noticed.- Carla, has it started yet? - I questioned.- The meeting is about to start. Pedro asked us to go - Carla answers - Are you nervous?- A little, Pedro asked me to present that project - I say.- I am sure that everything will be
Chapter 08Eliza CamposWe had just arrived at the Roxy Club, the hottest club in São Paulo, where several people meet to drink, dance, and have fun, and right at the door we almost bumped into Pietro and Cassandra, who didn't seem happy to see me, and Pietro was as if he didn't care about me anymore, as if I didn't exist.Carla turns toward me.- My friend, how angry they are that they came too," she says. Carla had really taken a dislike to Pietro.- Unfortunately, but, what the hell, they are also employees of the company - I say - But they might as well not have come at all, they would save our eyes from seeing this toxic couple in front of us - I completely with a laugh.Cassandra had probably realized that we were talking about her because she almost stepped forward, but Pietro held her back.We giggled for a few moments until we were interrupted by another unwanted person.- By the looks of it, they're pretty excited," Heloise says, "May I ask the reason for the joke?She was p
Chapter 09Eliza CamposLucas was driving me in his car to my house, but on the way, he decided to ask me some questions.- Eliza, I didn't believe what you told me. Where were you?I guess I'll get a lecture from Lucas just for having fun.- Lucas, I told you I went for a drink of coke and ran into someone there, you probably already know what happened next.- Eliza, you are very irresponsible," says Lucas.- Brother, stop being so grim - I say - Carla told me that you guys are staying, right? - I said, trying to change the focus of the subject.Lucas ends up getting embarrassed by my question.- Yes, we did, but we don't need to talk about it now," he says, making me laugh because of the look on his face.- Brother, you don't have to be embarrassed," I say and decide to tell Lucas the same thing I told Carla, "I would love to have Carla as my sister-in-law, you two would make such a cute couple.Lucas gives a small smile and continues to drive to my house, which doesn't take long to
Chapter 10Eliza CamposAlready in my room, I begin to think that my father and Heloise have the same names and Carla couldn't tell me the name of Peter's brother, I can't explain this whole mystery.After a few minutes of analyzing the paperwork that Peter had asked me to do, I hear someone knocking on my door.- You may enter - I speak to the person, who opens the door, and it is precisely Carla - Do you need something?- Peter told me to tell everyone to gather in the meeting room, it seems that the visitors have just arrived - She answers - Shall we go?- Yes," I say, and so we proceed to the meeting room.I just didn't expect to meet that man again, even more so being the one from the ballad.- Thomas? - I say without managing to contain my smile.When he hears his name called, he turns toward me and is even more surprised than I was.- Eliza, I didn't know that you work here," he says, "It seems that fate is trying to bring the two of us together.Probably Peter had become jealo