In the manager's office at Rocha Hotel, Luís and Eugenio sat face to face at the desk, meticulously checking printed reports. Luís occasionally glanced at Eugenio, his mind drifting to thoughts of Suzy and David.“How is the evaluation of the maids going?” Eugenio asked, his focus unwavering.“The evaluation is satisfactory,” Luís replied. “The guests have nothing to complain about, except for a few who exaggerate.”Eugenio’s interest piqued. “In what way do they exaggerate?”“There was a guest who checked out last week,” Luís explained, “who complained about the lack of cleanliness in the suite. After the maid did the service, he then complained about the smell of the cleaning materials used.”Eugenio raised his eyebrows and smiled good-humoredly. “We usually disregard those unreasonable guests.”Noticing Luís’ reluctant expression, Eugenio pressed further. “What's wrong, man?”Luís composed himself. “Nothing much.”Eugenio’s tone became steady. “Did you ask Suzy if she is in love wi
Caroline stood in her room at the Rocha mansion, the early morning light casting a soft glow through the window.Her luggage sat ready on the bed, packed meticulously for the journey ahead.She gazed out the window, lost in thought, contemplating the monumental step she was about to take — leaving everything behind to marry Reuben.The weight of the decision hung heavy in the air, mingling with the crisp morning breeze that rustled the curtains.*******Across town, in Neil's cozy apartment, breakfast was in full swing. David, brimming with excitement, recounted his recent date with Suzy."And then," he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up, "she let her guard down and broke down all the barriers for us to get to know each other better!"Benjamin, sitting across the table, nodded with a proud smile. "I watched the whole thing from the counter."David laughed, shaking his head in wonder. "I don’t know how you manage to run a kitchen and keep an eye on my love life."Benjamin's grin widened.
The morning peace in the Hamilton apartment was abruptly shattered by a loud knocking on the door. Daniela, dressed in light clothing, moved quickly to answer, only to be met by a familiar yet unexpected face."Mr. Reis... Beto?" she stammered, shock displayed in her voice."Sorry to show up like this, Daniela," Beto replied, his tone urgent. "But I need to talk to your father seriously."From the kitchen, Hamilton's voice called out, "Who is it, dear?" As he entered the room, his expression hardened upon seeing Beto. "Oh, it's you...""When are you going to leave?" Beto demanded, anger flashing in his eyes.Daniela, feeling confused and a bit lost, interjected, "Leave? Where to?""Far away from here, I hope!" Beto retorted.Turning to her father, Daniela's concern grew. "Dad, what's going on here?"Hamilton tried to dismiss her worries. "Nothing, daughter. Go have your breakfast."But Daniela stood her ground, outrage boiling over. "No! I want to know what's going on! Were we evicted
In the dining room of the Rocha Mansion, the atmosphere was heavy with expectation as Josias placed the letter on the table, his face set in a grim expression.The others didn’t bother to ask what Caroline had written; the silence spoke volumes.Melissa broke the quiet first, her voice with concern. "Josias... What are we going to do?"After a long pause, Josias finally replied, his tone resigned. "We’ll have to cancel the ceremony preparations."Simeon looked astonished. "What? Aren’t we going to send Tiago Bento's boys to look for them?""No," Josias answered, gloom hanging over him like a cloud. "If they want to marry in secret, so be it."Dora nodded, her voice calm. "Dear, they are adults and know what they want."Simeon, however, wasn’t convinced. "Are they willing to face the consequences of their actions?"Melissa interjected, her words carrying a note of pride. "Caroline has Rocha blood. She was determined not to have Sofia at the wedding. Once she felt we would oppose it, sh
Josias sat uneasily in the opulent living room of the Vasquez mansion. Olivia's garish and extravagant decor clashed with his more subdued tastes, making him feel even more out of place."Carol wasn’t exaggerating..." he muttered to himself, taking in the over-the-top surroundings.The sound of footsteps approaching made Josias fall silent. Alan, Sofia, Erasmo, Olivia, and Luis entered one by one, their faces lighting up with recognition as they saw him."Dad, good morning! It's great to have you here this Sunday," Alan greeted warmly."Where is Melissa?" Sofia asked respectfully, her eyes searching the room."She’s at home, talking to others about the cancellation of Reuben and Sofia's wedding," Josias announced, his voice heavy with the weight of the news.The shock was palpable.Olivia, her face paling, sank into a nearby chair. "Is that true, Josias? The wedding was canceled?""Unfortunately," Josias confirmed.Sofia, though initially stunned, felt a wave of vindication wash over
2010.The living room of Rocha Mansion lay in shadows, save for the dim glow of the television that flickered uselessly in front of Josias. He sat on the couch, his posture rigid, eyes distant, barely registering the antics of the evening programming.The soft hum of the TV and the muted sounds of the city beyond barely penetrated his brooding silence. He glanced at the clock, noting the passing time with a sigh.Two months had gone by since his daughter, Carol, had eloped with her boyfriend, Reuben. The occasional letters from them were a meager comfort, the ink and paper unable to fill the void left in their absence.Josias’s fingers fidgeted with the remote control, turning it over and over as if it held some secret answer. He glanced towards the phone on the side table, a slight unease flickering in his eyes as it rang. The screen displayed an unknown number, a curious, unsettling reminder that the past two months had been a long, uncertain waiting game.He answered with a tentati
Josias made his way towards his office at Rocha Constructions, passing by Reuben’s empty desk, his footsteps soft against the polished floor.He paused and shook his head slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips as he surveyed the now vacant space.Caio, carrying a stack of blueprints, approached with a brisk pace. “Uncle Josias, are you planning to hire another secretary?”Josias turned, his smile slight but genuine. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I believe they are about to return.”Caio’s face brightened. “That’s great; it’s good to have positive thoughts.”Josias’s gaze shifted to Caio, curiosity evident in his eyes. “What do you think about all this, Caio?”Caio cleared his throat, choosing his words carefully. “If I may share my opinion, Uncle Josias, I thought it was a very romantic gesture.”Josias chuckled, the sound rich with amusement. “I figured the younger generation would see it positively.”Caio hesitated, his tone taking on a cautious edge. “Aunt Melissa...”“She’s
The Vasquez Mansion cradled Sofia’s unrest within its opulent walls. At her suite, Sofia sat perched on the edge of the bed, her expression showing indignation.She stared blankly at the ornate carpet, her lips moving silently as if to convince herself of a truth.“That’s all I needed,” she muttered under her breath, her voice carrying a bitter edge. “To feel guilty for everything that happened. I never fell in love with Alan for financial reasons. My parents are not opportunists! Caroline Rocha is mistaken, and one day she’ll have to apologize to me!”The door creaked open, and Luís stepped into the room, his brow furrowed in concern. His gaze swept over the disarray of emotions etched on Sofia's face.“Cousin,” Luís said firmly, “that’s enough. You need to get out of this suite.”Sofia turned her head slightly, her eyes still fixed on the carpet. “Why?” she asked, her voice flat, as though the words themselves were heavy.“Because I don’t want to see you like this,” Luís replied, hi