Malu is bewitched by the firm and soft touch of the boy in front of her. She doesn't feel fear, something about him inspires her with confidence that she hasn't felt in a long time. He turns his face towards the young woman and gives her a slight smile and then turns around again... His steps slow down.
—Finally! – exclaims Graziela, relieved to see Malú approach holding the mulatto boy's hand. She smiles nervously, as she walks towards the two — I was worried about you… My dear. – stares at the young man, curious and continues — Thank you… Uh…
—Benjamim – replies Lisbela in the boy's place.
— Thank you, Benjamin – thanks Grazi, looking at the boy — What would you like to receive in return? – Asks the boy who again doesn't answer leaving her irritated. But she maintains the benevolent posture. —Come on, young man, don't be shy.
— He's mute, ma'am – warns the florist, leaving Graziela embarrassed.
— Hmm... Right. So I'm going to give you something that we all understand very well – Grazi deduces, opening her bag. From there he takes out three hundred reais bills and extends them towards the boy — Take a form of thanks, although Malú is priceless, I'm sure it will make your brothers eat well this week... Could it be that besides being dumb, he's retarded?
Benjamim looks at Graziela, showing all the disgust he feels for that gesture. He passes by Malú, while walking towards the woman, making her shrug her shoulders, holding them and pushing her away to get the flower boxes behind her. The atmosphere is heavy in the face of the boy's refusal, making Grazi feel awkward. She smiles, forcedly, as she turns to the camera that filmed all those moments.
— As you can see, this project generates the inclusion of all people... Including the disabled.
— Cut! – shouts the director who approaches Graziela, satisfied — Congratulations, perfect shot. Now we can do the individual takes and wrap up for today.
— I believe I still need to choose the flower for my bouquet... That's why we're here, remember?
— Of course... We'll do that, but let's face it, just the disappearance of your stepdaughter and all the tension between you and the boy, will give the rating we would like, or even more. We have to be careful about exaggerating too much in the film. I'm even thinking of cutting out some moments of the day, like this choice and leaving the episode focused on her disappearance and her concern.
Graziela just nods at the director and walks away, annoyed. He cannot let the situation get out of hand and everything revolve around Malú. She looks at her stepdaughter who is playing with a lily between her fingers, approaches and hugs her stepdaughter, saying:
—What a fright you gave me. Shouldn't have walked around alone, imagine if something happens to you.
Malú looks at her stepmother, embarrassed, while squeezing the lily in her hands. You feel like an idiot for getting lost.
—I hope he hasn't tried anything against you. – Graziela continues, nodding towards Benjamin — Just because he's disabled doesn't mean he's not a bad character. After all, the color already proceeds. Who is silent consents, right? – she smiles and takes the lily from Malú's hands, scaring the young woman — Lilies! Well, I think we found the flower for my bouquet... I have an idea! Let's record the scene where you hand me this lily as your way of showing approval for the marriage. What do you think? I loved the idea, I will speak to the director immediately.
Malú is bewildered by so much information that she only notices Benjamim's presence after Graziela leaves. She turns towards the young man who is staring at her furiously, he understands the whole conversation. He picks up another box from the floor and walks hurriedly in the opposite direction of Malú.
—He's just mute – explains Lisbela, appearing behind the counter. She stares at Malú, now disgusted — You only show up here during campaign season and you're still prejudiced against the boy. What's the point of you having so much money when you're so rotten inside? – he finishes, leaving Malú alone.
The rest of the day was spent filming Graziela. The last shot would be between the two, the delivery of the lily. Malú is being made up with a bunch of lilies in her hands, then she hears screams coming from outside the makeshift dressing room. I couldn't understand anything, so Malú leaves the dressing room and heads towards the heated discussion that takes place in the seedling greenhouse, where Thiago and Graziela are.
— How did you have the audacity to bring Maria Luisa here? – asks Thiago aggressively. —And you haven't even had the ability to warn me yet, leaving it to my mother?
— Like this? You gave me carte blanche, forgot? – claims Graziela, misunderstood.
—Yes, I let you do the filming, but it wasn't to involve my daughter! Even more putting her in the middle of this circus! – Thiago clarifies, nervous.
— What is the real problem with Malú? – asks Grace.
—What do you mean? – asks Thiago, confused.
—Why do you want to keep the girl isolated from everyone, like an animal?
— I? Of course I don't want to do this to my daughter, where did you get this absurd thing from? – asks the candidate.
— Where did I get something like that from? – asks Graziela, ironically — Because you don't seem to care about Malú. Do you know what it really looks like? That you want to isolate your daughter from everyone, just to force her to like you. And also because you're afraid that everyone will know that you might not be a good parent.
— What? – asks Thiago, indignantly.
— I'm being honest with you, Thiago. You are the real culprit for her feeling so much hate. I even understand it, because I would feel the same for the father who took me from my home, brought me to a place I don't know, he doesn't allow me to leave the house, he avoids talking to me and when he does, it's just to treat me badly! This father, I don't even wish for my enemy.
—Thank you for your sincerity. It's great to know that this is the image you have of me – comments Thiago, hurt.
— But that's not the only image I have of you at the moment – retorts Graziela. She turns around and picks up a lily and gives it to Thiago — Your daughter chose today for our wedding. I believe she is supporting our union.
— Lilies? – asks Thiago, curious. He raises his brow, picks up the lily and takes it into his nostrils, taking a deep breath. Then look at Graziela — I'm going to return the favor you did to me earlier and I'll be honest with what I think about Malú's gesture: She just misses her mother, nothing more.
'How can you be so sure of that?' – asks Graziela, crossing her arms.
—Because that's her mother's favorite flower. – Thiago answers, observing Graziela's surprised face. He keeps the lily in his suit pocket — And to be more honest: I miss Anna too... a lot.
Thiago stares at the bride for a few moments before turning around and leaving the greenhouse. He gets a fright when he finds Malú outside, listening to everything.
— Let's go, I didn't give you permission to come here – orders Thiago, holding his daughter's arm, without even looking at her.
Thiago's mind is racing as he drives back to the mansion. He can't believe she thinks that of him. That despairs him, because he believes he is doing everything to be the father Malú needs. Even though I had no idea how to be the father of a sixteen–year–old girl. He watches his daughter out of the corner of his eye, while trying to imagine what is going on in the young woman's mind. Did I make a mistake? Thiago asks himself, worried.
But Malú's mind is occupied with the events that involved Benjamin. She tries to imagine what the young man thought of her and why she still had him in her head. Wants to find a way to meet him again and apologize . Sorry for what? Stop being silly Malú, you didn't do anything wrong, stop blaming yourself? , he thinks, closing his eyes. Will I ever see him again? Why do I feel butterflies in my stomach? What's happening to me?
— We're here – warns Thiago, parking in the garage.
Malú runs down from the car and goes to her room, where she locks the door and throws herself on the bed. Think of everything that had happened, once again. She closes her eyes and lets Benjamin's handsome face take over her mind, making her smile.
— Hello Darling.
—Hello, Mom. – Malú replies, looking at her mother sitting at the foot of her bed. —How I missed seeing you.
—Me too, my angel. – Anna replies, touching Malú's face, who closes her eyes for a few moments — Tell me, what ails you?
— The usual – Malú replies, snuggling into her mother's arms — Fights, confusions... Thiago being a real pain in the ass, Graziela pretending to be okay... – Malú replies, biting his lower lip slightly — Today I met Benjamin again. .
—The boy who saved you? – asks Anna.
—Yes, he saved me again today. – Confirms Malú. Then she takes a deep breath and continues, —And I think this is the last time he'll do that for me.
'Why do you believe that?'
— Because he hates me now – Malú replies, turning to his mother — And I deserve to be hated.
— Malú – begins Anna, holding her daughter's face in her hands — No one deserves to be hated... I'm sure that whatever reason Benjamin felt angry with you, it will be clarified. Believe me, there is no better solution than time. Time heals wounds that should never be opened. Besides, I know you're a smart girl and you'll know how to turn this situation around in your favor. Know that you have my full support – ends Anna kissing Malú's forehead before starting to disappear.
—Is it true, Mom? – thinks Malú looking at the sunlight on her bed.
***
Graziela arrives at her apartment after making several excuses to the director about canceling her scene with Malú, which just remembering makes her blood boil. But what really irritated her were Thiago's words, if he wanted to hurt her, he had succeeded. As soon as he opens the door, he finds his sister drinking a martini on the couch, calm.
— What are you doing here? You have nothing to do, see someone, dates... Work? – asks Graziela, closing the door.
— Good night to you too – Vera answers, ironic — Apparently, the filming was bad.
—No, they were great. By the way. – replies Graziela, taking the cup from her sister's hands and drinking it in one gulp.
— Did Malú stick with you? – Vera asks, convinced — If so, I really expected it. That girl was raised in anarchy, so promising and not fulfilling is banal...
—No, she did. She behaved very well, I mean, she got lost in the middle of filming, but we managed to take advantage of it. – explains Graziela, opening her bag and taking out a lily. She throws it to her sister who looks at her curiously.
— Lily? Don't tell me you chose this for your wedding? – Vera asks contemptuously. — I expected a refined taste coming from you, my sister.
— It was Malu. – Graziela replies — But this flower is her mother's favorite, I can't understand what she wanted to do by giving me this lily.
—How do you know you're her mother's favorite?
— Because Thiago told me. – Reveals Grazi sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed
—So he was there too... Interesting. Apparently everything went very well for the next episode, so tell me why all this frown? – asks Vera.
—Nothing went right. Thiago went there and we argued – confesses Graziela getting up — I said terrible things to him, but the worst thing was what he said to me: He misses Anna! To my face, he had the audacity to say that!
— Wait a minute – asks Vera, incredulous, getting up too — Did you argue with Thiago on set? What do you have on your mind? Why did you lose everything? What's the matter with you?
—You were supposed to be on my side! – claims Graziela, nervous.
—No, I must be on the side of the one who wins. And you, little sister, are a born loser – insults Vera. She takes out her cell phone and hands it to her sister — You're going to call him now and apologize. You're not going to throw away everything I've done just because you've always been a spoiled little girl. Come on, call him.
—I won't do that. – Graziela refuses. —He's the one in the wrong and he knows it. In a little while he comes back asking me for forgiveness.
'You will!' – orders Vera. — I know Thiago and I know he won't come after you.
Before Graziela could answer, the intercom rings, interrupting the two. Grazi answers, hearing the doorman's voice.
— You can let him up. – Orders Graziela. She turns off the intercom and stares at her sister — You're just Thiago's public relations person, I'm going to marry him and I know him better than anyone to the point of informing him that he's going up to the apartment to ask my forgiveness.
— That's what we'll see – challenges Vera, sitting on the couch.
A few minutes later the apartment doorbell rings and Graziela opens the door, showing Thiago who has his head down.
— We need to talk.
—Come in. – Graziela replies.
Thiago walks into the apartment, waves to Vera and asks:
—Vera, can you leave us alone?
— Of course I do, dear – Vera answers, looking at her sister. She gets up and before leaving them alone — Behave yourselves, children.
— What would you like Thiago? Did you come to keep humiliating me by saying you miss Anna? – pins Graziela.
—No. I need to talk to you. I want to know what you think about my relationship with Malú, about what I should do about her. – Answers Thiago.
— Sincerely? – asks Graziela, suspiciously.
—Honestly. – confirms her fiancé.
—I think you should stop forcing the situation. I know exactly what she's been going through and I know it's not working out. Thiago, she needs her roots. Malú needs the life she had and you're not giving it. How do you think she will get over this tragedy by keeping her in a false prison? And not to mention that you're not ready to be a father yet, even more than a 16–year–old with hormones in full bloom. Let's face it, you haven't participated in anything in these 16 years and you know absolutely nothing about her. – says Graziela.
— What do you suggest? – asks Thiago, seriously.
— Let her free – answers Graziela — She needs everything she had before, her life before. Release her. And free yourself from that responsibility, for it is too much for you. If only there was someone who knew better about Malú, it would be easier.
— I can't do that, Grazi – claims Thiago, thoughtfully.
—Then I can't help you. – concludes Grazi with his arms crossed.
—Okay. – agrees Thiago, walking towards the door.
— That's it? – asks Graziela, nervous.
—What's up Grazi?– asks Thiago turning towards the bride.
—I don't know, I thought you were going to talk about what happened this afternoon, apologize for the way you treated me. – Alleges Grazi.
— You crossed the line, Graziela, and you still want me to apologize to you? – asks Thiago, confused.
—I haven't crossed the line. You were rude and rude and you know it. – Grazi score.
—I didn't come here to fight you. I think I'd better leave – concludes Thiago, leaving the apartment.
Graziela watches the door close, bewildered. I didn't expect the conversation to end this way.
— He may be your future husband, but I'm his public relations, dear – comments Vera, behind her sister — I think you'd better change your strategy, if you still want to be an Almeida.
***
Thiago gets out of the car slowly, enters the mansion and walks towards the office, where he sits in the chair and closes his eyes. He smells the sweet smell of the lily and remembers that he kept it in his pocket. He holds it in front of him thoughtfully, turning it slowly.
—Tell me what to do, Anna. I need your help... I need you to tell me what to do for our daughter to like me... Please... Help me – asks Thiago.
So he pauses for a moment, before picking up the phone and dialing the law firm. Perhaps that was the only alternative. As soon as your secretary answers:
— I need you to buy tickets to Belo Horizonte for early tomorrow .