In the dining room of the Sterling Mansion, the servants begin to serve the options. Abner is present, looking at his cell phone, checking the time.Alice had not returned yet.Matthew appears and sits down. "How empty the mansion is! Well, that will change in a few days.""Is your mother coming back here? Did she break up with her writer boyfriend?" Abner asked interested."No. They're going to live together and get married once mom has moved on." Matthew smiles hopefully, "Grandpa, I had a genius idea!""Tell me." Abner beams."I found a young lady who will meet the shareholders' wishes," Matthew proudly announces, "Elaine Prates!"Abner bounces in his chair, startled by the news."Heh, heh, what a shock was that, Grandpa?" Matthew laughs."Elaine Prates, from Golden Letters?" Abner asks astounded."The very one." Matthew starts to serve himself, "What do you think?""What does SHE think about this?" Abner composes himself.The issue is moving too fast."She kissed me, reciprocating
Alice feels uncomfortable hearing that Leonardo escalated the problem by trying to poach Matthew for the Silva Oil Company."Leo, you shouldn't be doing this. If Abner finds out, he'll throw you off the docks!""Probably, Matt is telling him over dinner," Leonardo responds feeling satisfied."Why do you want Matt to work here so badly?" Alice asks anxiously, "The company is reserved for your son and grandson. Matthew wouldn't inherit anything.""Maybe what Matt needs is not to inherit a conglomerate, but rather to have a sense of purpose in his life," Leonardo states, "Think about it, Alice: Matt, all his life, lived in the most unworthy of conditions. In almost a year, he went from a slum dweller to a prince charming. That was too much for him, and the poor thing is having trouble reconciling the extreme change he went through, even though he tries hard."Alice grimaces with disdain, "If Matt is having difficulty adjusting, it's because of your 'wonderful' daughter who ran away after
The next day, Leonardo was in his office with Marta, Fernando, Liz, Ronaldo... and Jasmine, who was just hanging around and taking up space."Where is our daughter?" Marta asked.Leonardo grimaced. "Woman, when were you planning on telling me that our daughter was off the rails with writer Jonah Lopes, living in sin at his penthouse?"Fernando and Liz widened their eyes.Jasmine smirked mischievously, mocking her aunt's liberal life in her thoughts.Marta reacted guilty, indicating that she knew and approved. "Uh... She didn't tell me it was a secret. I thought she had told you!""If she didn't tell, then she knew she was doing wrong." Jasmine teased.Marta frowned, turning to her granddaughter. "You, if you had a Hollywood-style hunk, would live with him in the same way!"Fernando gestured impatiently. "OK, are we here to talk about Sheila?""No," Leonardo replied, sitting in the chairman's chair, "Yesterday, I made a proposal to Matthew to join us in our family business."Jasmine hu
Matthew questions Cindy's hiring at Urbano magazine."Now, Matthew, maybe it's the opposite. Maybe you hired Cindy to cause trouble with me."Andreia vehemently shakes her head. "No, Matt! We didn't plan to harm you!"Nathan responds with disdain, "I don't completely share the same opinion.""Son, it's over! Accept your role and be thankful that you at least have a job." Vicente stands up and approaches them."Do I still have a job?" Nathan stares at Matthew.Matthew looks condescendingly at his cousin as if it isn't worth getting upset with him."You can stay. At least you won't be able to complain about how cruel I am. But remember: it was my grandfather who fired you.""He's more of a grandfather to me than you are, buddy." Nathan raises his chin, "While you were lost in the slums, I was always around, learning about the conglomerate. Sometimes I wonder what the board thinks of me."Matthew chuckles, "Ha, ha, ha! Dream on! If Mr. Dantas is being so tough on me, imagine how he would
Nathan is now at the Siren restaurant, waiting for someone at the table to have lunch and talk.Suddenly, someone enters and smiles at him."Mr. Gouveia." The man extends his hand.Nathan shakes the man's hand, somewhat wary, "Mr. Dantas. What a coincidence, my cousin mentioned you today.""Don't tell me! Our thoughts seem to be connected." Alfredo laughs and sits across from him, "Have you chosen already?""No, I was waiting for us to talk about your proposal first." Nathan narrows his eyes."You must have a lot of questions after I called you." Alfredo chuckles as if he was enjoying himself.Nathan picks up the menu but doesn't browse through it."Alright, young Gouveia." Alfredo starts, "Here's the thing: we, at least most of the board members, are concerned about the direction the conglomerate is heading. Have you been following the latest news?""As Matt's cousin and currently working at Urbano, it's impossible for me not to know," Nathan states in a neutral tone."Well. In the b
Bryce was horrified by Patricia's accusation."Patty Borges, how can you come here and accuse me of such a thing?"Patricia remained unfazed."Bryce, I have discovered something that incriminates you. If Matthew finds out about this, he will exploit it in all the newspapers. With me, your secret will be safe.""I have no secret!" Bryce began to falter.Patricia smirked. "So I was crazy when I saw you in Lion's Den, entering that alley where an illegal gambling house operates?"Bryce tried to deny it, but his pale face gave him away.His breathing became irregular and his heart seemed to be pounding in his throat.Bryce had thought that after the Borges family left the favela, he would be safer from being recognized!"What were YOU doing in the favela?" Bryce's voice came out in a whisper."I was there to check on the progress of the implementation of the water and sewage network," Patricia replied calmly, "Then, I decided to take a walk in my old community. Casually, I saw you.""And
The next day, Cindy was combing her hair in her room. Her phone rang.Cindy knew it wasn't Jackson because she had set a different ringtone for him.She checked the caller ID and became tense.When she answered, her voice was not welcoming, "Bryce, what do you want?""First, you say good morning," Bryce replied sarcastically, feeling much better."Why are you being playful and carefree?" Cindy mocked him, "Have you gotten rid of the terrible gambling addiction?""And do you care if I do or not?" Bryce retorted, "You took advantage of my addiction to convince me to be part of that plan. When Matthew's secretary did shoot you, I felt avenged.""Horrendous!" Cindy exclaimed, "Did you call me to reminisce about the old times?""No. I called you to come to my father's office. We need to talk about this.""Really? How interesting. When can I come over? February 30th?"Bryce, from his father's office, grimaced."Come on, Cindy. I don't think Urbano magazine will accept a prisoner as a journa
Matthew was in his suite, calling Elaine.Elaine was telling an ecstatic Nayla what had happened in the past few days.Nayla had wide-eyed excitement, as if she were listening to the latest love story."Really? Mr. Sterling is in love with you?""Don't spread it around, friend. It seems like it's not official." Elaine sighed, "But, it would be a great idea to have Matt as a boyfriend, don't you think?""Yes, I think so!" Nayla exclaimed, "He no longer has the clumsy girlfriend who mixed up Lilian Chaves' paintings. And you no longer have Nico by your side. You had hopes with Jackson Borges, but he chose the promiscuous journalist. Enjoy it, friend, now is your chance!""Yes, I will make the most of it!" Elaine's phone rang and she checked the device, then smiled, "Oh, it's him! I'll answer.""Congratulations, Elaine!"Nayla felt privileged to be the first from Golden Letters to know the news.Elaine walked up the stairs and talked to Matthew, "Hello, Matt. What's on the agenda for tod