Vera stretches as she walks towards the apartment's kitchen, mentally goes over her appointment book so she doesn't forget any event in which Thiago would participate. He opens the fridge door, taking a deep breath at the sight of all the empty shelves.
— He hasn't called me yet – comments Graziela, making Vera practically jump in fright.
Vera turns towards her sister and the image she finds is not the best: Graziela is sitting, with deep circles under her eyes, indicating a sleepless night, confirmed by her messy hair, clothes from the night before and two empty cigarette packs, with the stubs in the ashtray, the last cigarette is still in the middle of his half–finished fingers and in the other hand his cell phone. That scene surprises Vera, because many years ago Grazi had stopped smoking and became healthier.
— Good morning, dear sister – greets Vera, staring at her sister, disgusted.
—He didn't call me, Vera. I spent the whole night waiting for a call from him and nothing – comments Graziela, upset, ignoring her sister.
—Have you tried calling him? – Vera asks arching an eyebrow.
—No, I won't do that– Grazi refuses shaking her head —I have my pride...
—I hope your pride fills our fridge – Vera interrupts, irritated — Which is completely empty. So if your pride can't support our house and support our lives, I think you'd better give him a call.
—Vera, I'm not going to do that, he has to come after me – claims Grazi smoking the cigarette — Then I'll wait for him to call me and everything will be fine.
— Graziela, I'll try to be as clear as possible about what I'm telling you – Vera begins, sitting in front of her sister — We're hard, smooth, without a single penny in our pockets... Bankrupt. Our father squandered all of our inheritance before he died with binges, drinking, gambling, and women.
—Vera, I know what Daddy did to us...
— No, you do not know. We are living on appearances, we sell the house to pay for what little luxury we have left, we live in this tiny apartment, without servants, because we don't have the money to keep them. And now, our fridge is officially empty, indicating that we'll have to go to the de Almeida's house once again to get our meals, as my salary can't support both of us. So, my dear sister, you are the key to getting our lives back. Call him. – He finishes pointing to Graziela's cell phone.
Graziela presses speed dial and in a short time hears the message from Thiago's voice mail.
—Mailbox. – Grazi informs, hanging up the phone.
—This morning he's going to the office. Call there – orders Vera impatiently.
Graziela reluctantly dials the law firm, in a few minutes she hears the voice of Thiago's secretary on the other end of the line:
— Almeida & Associados law firm, who can I please speak to?
—Good morning, I would like to speak with Thiago de Almeida, he is his fiancee.
—Sorry, but Mr. Thiago won't be coming to the office today – replies the secretary.
— Alright, I'll get in touch at the residence, thank you – thanks Grazi.
—You probably won't find Mr. Thiago at your residence. – Claims the secretary surprising Graziela.
— Like this? Wait a moment, please – asks Graziela looking at her sister — His secretary said that Thiago won't go to the office and probably won't be home, Vera.
— Impossible – exclaims Vera, getting up and heading towards her room. In a few minutes, she returns with her tablet in her hands, analyzing her sister's fiancé's schedule — According to my schedule, now in the morning he would be at the office and in the afternoon we would have some campaign events. Give me the phone, let me talk to this scumbag. – Orders Vera practically taking the cell phone from Graziela's hands. — Hello, good morning my dear, this is Vera, Thiago's public relations officer, could you tell me where he is at the moment, because according to our schedule, his boss should be working there...
—Mr . Thiago is traveling – the secretary answers — He went to resolve private matters.
—Honey, I'll say it again, I'm Thiago's public relations person, so this private affairs thing doesn't exist for me. What matter did he go to solve?
—Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I'm not authorized to respond. – Answers the secretary.
—Okay, I'll remember that refusal very well. Can you at least tell me the itinerary? – Vera asks, annoyed.
— All I can tell you is that Mr. Thiago is currently in Belo Horizonte. – Answers the secretary — Can I help you with anything else?
Vera hangs up her cell phone, nervous while Graziela looks at her anxiously.
— Your dear fiancé traveled to Belo Horizonte – reveals Vera, biting her lower lip, irritated.
— I can't believe he did that again!– Graziela lets out, desperately getting up from the table — And now, what did he do there this time?
—My dear sister, you must tell me exactly what you spoke to him about yesterday. – Asks Vera Lúcia, seriously getting up too. She folds her arms. —He couldn't have gone there for no reason.
— You know exactly what was said yesterday – answers Graziela — Well, now we just have to wait for him to come back, again.
—Nothing like that, we're not going to wait around for him to come back. We need to find a way to find out what he was doing again in that town.
—Maybe Maria knows something, so we can have a clue.
— Great idea and we managed to get a decent breakfast on top of it – agrees Vera, thoughtfully —Does Malú know something?
— Not likely. That one lives isolated from everything and everyone. It's quite possible that he'll come back and she won't even have noticed his absence – Grazi replies — Come on, we have to find out what Thiago is up to this time.
***
Maria Luisa was arranging the Tulips in her garden with Adelaide's help, until she heard the Financhielli sisters' car enter her property, attracting the attention of the two ladies. Vera Lúcia and Graziela get out of the car, looking unfriendly, they walk towards the matriarch who wipes her hands on her apron and then takes off her huge straw hat, waiting for the sisters to approach, which doesn't take long.
—Good morning, Maria – greets Graziela, touching her mother–in–law's face.
— Good morning, Graziela – Maria replies, tilting her head toward Vera — Good morning, Vera.
—Good morning, Maria. – Vera answers with slight impatience.
—What do you bring them to my house? – asks the matriarch bluntly.
— I'm glad you asked – answers Graziela, relieved — We came to talk to you about Thiago. – She turns towards Ariadne who is standing next to Maria paying attention — alone, if possible.
— Adelaide, please, bring us juice, water… – the matriarch begins to ask.
—Black coffee. –Vera interrupts.
—Adelaide, set the lunch table for us out here, will you? – asks Maria, receiving a slight nod from her maid. Maria turns towards her bandstand being accompanied by her sisters. She sits in the white wooden chair along with the other two and as she looks at her garden, she asks — What is the reason you bring them here?
—You must be aware that Thiago traveled to Belo Horizonte – says Graziela, observing Maria's expression, which remains the same — Do we want to know what led him to return to that place?
— You do not know? – asks Maria receiving a surprised look from Graziela — Interesting, because he told me that this trip was your idea.
— My? I never asked Thiago to go back to that place – reacts Graziela, nervous, receiving a light squeeze on her arm from her sister.
'What did he say to you?' – Vera asks, staring at the matriarch.
— To me? Like you, I don't know anything about what he intends on this trip. – Maria replied, taking a deep breath. Then she faces her daughter–in–law — I don't know what I said to him to make my son take his daughter back to Belo Horizonte.
—Did he take Malú away? – asks the sisters together, shocked by the revelation.
—Until proven otherwise, yes – Maria replies seriously — I just hope they know what they're doing, because I didn't like that decision.
— Know that I never asked Thiago to take Malú away… – Rebuts Graziela, putting her hand on her chest, offended.
— Graziela, like you, I also went through the situation of my husband having a child out of wedlock, so I know exactly how you feel about Malú. That said, I hope you stop pretending to be offended, because you won Malú is no longer a stumbling block in your way. – Maria fires, observing the paralyzed expression of her daughter–in–law. The matriarch stands up and bows her head to both of them — Now if you'll excuse me, I have other things to do, but don't worry, Adelaide will bring your coffee. If you want, you can stay with us until Thiago returns, apparently the trip will be brief and he will be back today.
Mrs. Almeida walks out of the bandstand, leaving the sisters shocked by her words. In a few minutes Adelaide appears bringing their coffee, which is still silent until the maid leaves. Graziela then sketches a smile towards her sister who doesn't understand why.
— We did it – says Graziela, excitedly waving her arms — Malú left, finally.
—No, we didn't, you did it – corrects Vera, seriously, showing not to be very excited about the situation. She takes one of the loaves of bread and bites it, chewing it slowly, increasing Graziela's tension, who looks at her curiously. Vera then swallows the piece — I'm finding all this too easy, if I were you, I wouldn't count victory ahead of time, I was waiting for him to come back to find out what he's up to.
—Who cares if it was easy or not? – asks Graziela, excited — The important thing is that Malú is gone and our lives will go back to the way they used to be. You messing with the campaign, me marrying Thiago and he always being faithful to me, only to me.
— Graziela, less, much less. – Asks Vera, ironically, eating another loaf of bread.
—You don't understand, he listens to me. He follows the things I say... Finally I have a voice in this relationship. When he comes back, we will talk about the reality show, I want him to participate more in this project. I'm thinking of rushing the wedding date, maybe before the elections...
—Graziela, stop – orders Vera, seriously. —That's enough.
— Because? Are you jealous that I managed to get rid of Malú before you? That I have more influence on him than you? – provokes Graziela.
—Graziela, wake up, honey. If Thiago wanted to get rid of his daughter, he would have just put her on the plane and not gone with her. To me, this story is strange.
— I won, I won – mumbles Graziela, completely ignoring her sister.
***
Aline counts the few minutes left for landing. Not because I was traveling with Thiago, but because I was afraid of flying. During the return, the only thing Malú can think about is if Thiago is really willing to change.
— We're here – warns Thiago, pointing towards the plane's window. Malú cranes his neck trying to see Curitiba from above.
As soon as the plane lands, Aline practically runs out of it, scaring Thiago. Malú and her father are welcomed by the local cold, the girl curls up close to Thiago who is happy with the gesture and full of hope that one day she will accept him as her father. The three get into the car driven by Jaime, the family's driver.
The journey to the house was in a disturbing silence, Aline huffing on one side, Thiago ignoring on the other and Malú having nowhere to run. Aline and Thiago didn't even look at each other, as if they didn't exist. She tries to hide it, but she is amazed at the immensity of the mansion. That admiration makes her angrier that all that Anna was denied. Jaime parks the car and helps Thiago unload the bags.
As soon as the candidate opens the door, he is greeted by his fiancée and sister–in–law, both with worried eyes. Until they look at Malú and Aline who enter behind Thiago. Malú 's aunt looks at the top of the stairs, meeting the matriarch's cold and curious eyes in her direction, who walks back and disappears.
—Welcome... Again. – says Grazi, ironically, catching everyone's attention.
— Well, well, until you finally showed up, we were already worried about your whereabouts. – Vera comments.
— Hi, Thank you. Hello, Vera. I didn't expect you to be here – comments Thiago, surprised as he approaches the bride.
— Well, I also didn't know that you would go to Belo Horizonte one more time – pins Graziela, irritated, giving her an intense kiss. She wipes the smeared red lipstick from Thiago's mouth — But what can we do, if our relationship is based on secrets.
— All right, Grazi – agrees Thiago, touching the bride's hand — I followed your advice.
— My advice? – Graziela asks, stretching her neck while observing Aline from bottom to top — Excuse me, but which advice are you talking about?
—Yesterday, you said that it would be easier to take care of Malú if I had help – recalls Thiago. He points to Aline who waves towards Graziela — Aline is Anna's best friend, or at least she was... And she took care of Malú until... Today.
— So you mean this one came to take care of a teenager? What an easier job. – It provokes Vera.
—I guarantee it's harder than yours... What do you do anyway? – asks Aline cynically.
—I'm Thiago's public relations person – Vera answers, irritated.
—And you didn't know where your boss was? Wow... Unbelievable how simple your work is and you can't even do it right – provokes Aline, sarcastically.
— Oh… Your… Your… Your… – Vera stutters, trying to find something to match.
— Excuse me, but I will go up, because until you formulate a sentence, Malú may have already married. Let's go, Malú – calls Aline who walks beside the young woman to the stairs without looking back.
— Unbelievable!– Vera exclaims, staring at Thiago who holds back a laugh — How did she...?
— I think you better go do your job, Vera – suggests Thiago.
—Go, my sister. I need to speak with my fiance, alone. – Ask for Grazi, seriously.
Without saying anything Vera leaves, heading towards the home office. Graziela takes a deep breath and smiles at Thiago saying:
—Of everything I've said to you... The only thing you could pick up on was that you needed help?
— Yes, any problem? – asks Thiago, surprised by his fiancée's negative reaction.
— Yes, there is a problem. I thought you were smart enough to understand that it's time for you to resume your life and let Malú return to her city, once and for all.
— Are you serious? – asks Thiago looking at his fiancée.
—Yes… Don't get me wrong, Thiago. But since she arrived you've been putting your life on hold. And your life is a real mess! You've lost more than half of the electorate, not counting the wedding preparations, your family's office is in disrepair and... There's so much more. This is just the tip of the iceberg. – explains Graziela.
—Are you saying that Malú's arrival has harmed my life? – asks Thiago, rubbing his face in disbelief in Grazi's words.
—Yes, I think so – Graziela confirms — I really like Malú, but I don't think it's the best time for you to try this 'father and daughter' relationship. Wait for everything to be resolved in the next few months and then we can consider this union and become a family.
— Serious? – asks Thiago with his arms crossed.
—Love, be rational. Analyze the situation and you will see that Malú does not fit into our plans at the moment. – Argues Graziela smiling.
—I will analyze everything rationally – says Thiago, thoughtfully — Really, my life is a real mess. And I'm not getting the job done... Obviously I must cut the weakest link, so I can organize my life. In this case, the weakest link...
—Yes, it must cut the weakest link – confirms Graziela, approaching the groom. She touches Thiago's arms, smiling — It's Malú.
— It's our wedding – reveals Thiago at the same time as Grazi, seriously. He takes his fiancée's hands away— I'm canceling our wedding, Graziela .