Malú wakes up with the door to her room being slowly opened, she raises her head and finds Adelaide holding a huge suitcase. She accompanies the maid to open her closet and remove her clothes, carefully folding each piece. Then she takes a change of clothes and puts it on the bed.
"What are you doing?" asks young woman writing on tablet.
— Sorry if I woke you up, but Mr. Thiago asked you to pack your clothes for your trip.
"Trip? What trip?” already getting out of bed.
—I don't know, Miss Maria Luisa –answers Adelaide, finishing closing the suitcase.
"Where is he?" asks Malú.
—Having breakfast. – replies the maid.
“Great” writes Malú leaving the room.
She walks angrily to the dining room, where she finds Thiago quietly drinking his coffee with his grandmother. Malú hits the table with one of her hands, drawing his attention, who looks at her with the coffee cup suspended.
"What are you doing now?" question showing the tablet to Thiago
— Drinking my coffee – Thiago replies, peacefully. —You should be doing the same, as we have a flight in an hour.
— Where? – Asks the matriarch, staring at her son in surprise — How are you going to travel without even telling me?
— Mom, this is a matter of interest to me and Maria Luísa – alleges Thiago. He turns to Malú — Go get dressed.
“Where are you taking me?” asks Malú, looking annoyed at Thiago.
— Belo Horizonte, isn't that what you wanted? – asks Thiago, staring at Malú's shocked look. Without waiting for an answer from her daughter — Now I need you to get ready if we don't miss the plane.
Malú smiles, walks towards Thiago and then hugs him tight, to everyone's surprise. She walks away and walks towards the bedroom, while Thiago puts a huge smile on his face.
— Are you sure this is the best choice for Malú? – asks Maria, watching her son.
— As you can see, yes, this is the best choice – answers Thiago, wiping his lips.
—What made you change your mind? Or rather, who made you change your mind? – asks Mary.
— Ah yes... I decided to follow Graziela's advice and I think it's time for me to think about what's best for Malú and get to know her better.
— And for that you need to take Malú away?
— Yes I need. – Says Thiago, seriously.
***
The alarm clock rings insistently on the nightstand next to Aline's bed. She opens her eyes, but doesn't make an effort to get up, watching the clock tick off the minutes, just like every day since Malú left. After half an hour, he gets up, goes to the bathroom and washes his face, while staring at his reflection in the mirror. Her face is lined with dark circles and frown lines, looking older than she really is.
He leaves the bathroom and grabs his bartender uniform , he has a long day ahead of him at the hotel, maybe with the high season he could keep his mind occupied with something other than Malú. She is already finishing putting on her black shoes when her doorbell rings, surprising her. Who will be one of these times? , he asks himself as he opens the door.
Aline's eyes widen when the image of that man appears in front of her. Of all the people who could knock on her door, he was the least unlikely. He enters and pulls her close to his body, taking her lips, intensely. He leads their bodies towards the wall of the room, where he presses Aline. Then Aline's surprised expression changes to all the anger she's been harboring since Anna's death. She pushes him away, and then immediately slaps him violently across the face.
— Hello, Aline – greets Ícaro touching his own red face, with the slap that Aline delivered.
—What are you doing here, Ícaro? – asks Aline, irritated. Then she shakes her head and heads towards the door — It doesn't matter, go away. I have to go to work.
— Before you touch me from your house… I have a plan to bring Malú back home… I found a way to fix everything – reveals Ícaro, confident when noticing that Aline stopped walking. She turns to him, eyes wide. —That's right, things will go back to the way they were before.
She stares at him for a long time before she starts to laugh, putting her hand over her mouth. His laughter increases uncontrollably, leaving Ícaro confused. After a lot of laughing, tears begin to run down her face, so she cries desperately. He approaches her, pitying her despair and tries to hug her, but she takes a step back, crossing her arms.
—When you say these things, do you listen to yourself? – Asks Aline wiping her face. —How... How do you... Explain to me, how will you resurrect Anna?
— How? – asks Ícaro, not understanding.
— Forget it, because even if you could achieve that feat – begins Aline, seriously. —Nothing would ever be like before... Because what we lived before was a lie... A lie you held onto for years. And if Anna were alive, we would continue to live in her, in the lie you created!
— Aline, calm down… – asks Ícaro.
— No... I won't take it easy because the truth is that Anna is dead, Malú is with her father who never even knew she existed and I... I'm alone, loving the man who caused all this! And now he's knocked on my door saying he's going to fix the mistake he made himself!
—Aline, I know I can't go back in time and change that, but...
—That's it, you can't.
—But if I could you know it would change everything. Aline, you wouldn't know Anna, nor Malú nor me – explains Ícaro, touching Aline's face — Anyway, you would be alone.
— Yes, you're right about almost everything…– Aline claims, pushing Ícaro' hand away from her face — Except that even if I wasn't Anna's friend and never met Malú, I would be happy. I wouldn't have buried my friend and let her daughter's unknown father take her away! They would have a happy ending, a happy family and you can be sure that I would also have my happy ending, even alone because I wouldn't carry this pain in my chest of having lost everything I had and that made me happy, thanks to you .
—I lost everything too, Aline.
— No doubt. You sure buried someone you loved because a selfish person dictated it. You know what, Ícaro, I need to work if it won't be one more thing I'm going to lose because of you... So get out of my house and take this plan of yours that will undoubtedly kill someone else, with you.
— Aline...
—Leave. – Aline orders, heading for the door. She opens the door wider — Now.
Ícaro walks towards him, stopping right in front of him. He tries to touch Aline's face, which turns her head.
— Aline... I'll do everything for you to forgive me and we can be together again.
—Good luck with that. – Aline replies coldly.
Ícaro walks towards the sidewalk, accompanied by the bitter look of Aline who closes the door. She sits for a while on her couch, breathing heavily. As much as she told Ícaro that she didn't want to know about the plan, he couldn't get out of her mind.
***
Malú admires the beautiful view he has of Belo Horizonte from the plane's window, he still doesn't believe he's going home, after everything that has happened. Some things changed and then I felt butterflies in my stomach: How will your aunt react?
As soon as the plane lands, Thiago and Malú walk quickly to the rental car, but to the young woman's surprise, the route taken is not what would take them to the house where she grew up.
Thiago walks with Malú towards the bar of the Hotel Maxi Savaggi, one of the luxury hotels in Belo Horizonte, she sits at one of the tables while Thiago approaches the counter, where there is only one guy serving the guests. He faces the boy who notices his presence and comes to answer him:
— Good day sir. What do you want to take?
— Actually, I'd like some information: Can you tell me if Aline still works here at the bar?
— Yes… Well, that's her time – replies the bartender — But she was late… again.
—So, is she coming today? – asks Thiago, confused.
— It's what we all hope for – Malú's father turns around meeting an old childhood friend — Hello, Thiago.
— Hello, Pierre – greets Thiago smiling to his friend — What are you doing here?
— I'm one of the partners at the hotel – answers Pierre — And what are you doing here, behind Aline?
— I have a matter to discuss with her… Familiar – Thiago replies, looking discreetly at Malú, oblivious to his conversation, conserving as much information as possible.
— Maria Luisa? – asks Pierre, surprised to see the girl sitting. He turns to Thiago, adjusting the button on his jacket—Well, I doubt she'll come today. So as not to miss your trip coming here, would you like to have a drink with me and we can catch up? I'm very curious to know what you have to say with mine, for now, an employee – comments Pierre, enigmatically. He turns to the clerk — Leonardo take a Chandon to my office and ask Pedro to come and talk to me in a moment.
—Okay, sir. – confirms the clerk.
— Come on, Thiago. We have a lot to talk about. – Pierre says holding the candidate's arm.
— Come on, Malú – calls Thiago, his daughter, who gets up angrily.
***
Pierre is appalled by Thiago's report that he admires his daughter watching television, oblivious to the conversation.
—Are you telling me that Anna Braga's daughter – Pierre starts pointing towards Malú — is also your daughter and now Aline, my employee, has declared war on you to get her back?
—Exactly – confirms Thiago, who takes another sip of Chandon — And I must admit that I'm still surprised to know that Anna worked here together with Aline so much. That's too much of a coincidence...
— No, this part is not a coincidence – denies Pierre, also sipping his champagne under the curious gaze of his friend — I employed both at the request of Ícaro.
— My brother, the same one who was behind everything that happened – comments Thiago.
—Yes, but know that you were two great employees. I mean, Anna was an exemplary employee. As for Aline... If it weren't for Ícaro's protection, she would already be on the street. Something I'm willing to do since your own brother allowed me to.
—And when did you speak to my brother? – asks Thiago, curious.
— This morning – Pierre replies — He was even staying here.
The office door opens, allowing Pedro's presence to be noticed by the three. The almost fifty–year–old man approaches, shocked to see Malú sitting on the sofa who smiles at him.
— Hello, Malu? What are you doing here? – asks Pedro who tries to approach the young woman's sofa.
— Pedro – calls Pierre, attracting attention and his manager — Come here.
— Yes sir – answers Pedro walking towards the boss who continues talking to Thiago — What do you want?
— Pedro, I need you to have that conversation with Aline – communicates Pierre, receiving a perplexed look from his employee. He turns to his friend — Unless you have something against my decision?
— No, I prefer not to get involved in your affairs – Thiago refuses.
—Fine. – exclaims Pierre, satisfied. He looks at his clerk. —As soon as she arrives I want you to do this.
— But sir… – Pedro replies.
— It's an order, Pedro – interjects Pierre — She's been causing too much trouble, even for my friends.
—As you wish, sir. – replies Pedro.
—And one more thing: Keep everything you've seen here in this room private. Do we have a deal?
—Yes, sir. – agrees the manager.
— Great – exclaims Pierre, turning to Thiago while his employee leaves, astonished — Aline will no longer be a problem for you.
— She was never a problem for me – Thiago retorts — In fact, I see her as a solution.
— Solution? – asks Pierre, confused.
— Only Aline will be able to help me conquer my daughter – answers Thiago.
***
An hour late, Aline finally arrives at the hotel, running through the lobby to reach the bar. There he finds Leonardo, with a nervous expression when he sees Aline.
— Sorry, Leo, I know I'm late, but I had an unforeseen event and...
—All right. – replies Leonardo, taking off his apron. He stares at Aline with a painful look, hugs her—I'm going to miss you.
—Okay, why are you saying that? I'll just cover your shift, stop being dramatic.
— Aline… I saw Pierre talking to a guy about him… – reveals Leonardo — And I also saw Malú.
— Malú? – Aline asks, confused — Impossible, she's in Curitiba, you must have been wrong...
— Aline, accompany me to the management – orders Pedro, the hotel's manager. — Leonardo, keep covering Aline's shift, will you?
—Okay. – Aline replies, confused.
She walks after Pedro and then turns to look at Leonardo who whispers, "Be careful." She walks back after the manager, with butterflies in her stomach, just imagining what's to come.
***
— FIRED? Am I getting fired? – shouts Aline, nervous. She puts her hand to her mouth, not believing that Pedro had actually said that, the very one she had helped so much all those years.
— I'm sorry, Aline – asks Pedro, saddened — The hotel is undergoing a personnel renovation, and well, according to Pierre, you are no longer suitable for the role...
—Let me get this straight: I don't fit in to serve drinks anymore?
—It's not just serving drinks, Aline. You know the bar is an important part of our hotel's image and you've been working here for almost 16 years.
—Exactly, I dedicated a life to this hotel and now you're just going to send me away like this? – Aline asks, excited.
— Aline, I'm sorry… – asks Pedro.
—No, I feel. Wow, how long have we known each other, Pedro? I helped you so much when you needed me to get back to your wife.
— I know but...
— Do not know. I loaned you money, covered your shifts when you were still a bartender... And this is how you repay? Why that? If it's because of my absences, you know why, I lost Anna, Malú is in another state and I'm doing everything I can to bring her back home.
—Aline, the orders came from above. It was a special order from Pierre. – Peter reveals nervously.
— What does that mean? – Aline asks nervously.
—That means…you should go to your locker, get all your stuff and go. Don't worry, I will make sure you receive everything correctly, as required by law. – Finishes Pedro indicating the door.
Aline gets up from her chair facing Pedro. She can't believe that the man in front of her was acting so cold and radical. He leaves the room and walks with firm steps to the staff wing, opens his locker and starts to take out all his things, calmly. The closet is practically empty when she finds a picture of Anna smiling with Malú's eight–month–old belly. She sits on the wooden bench in the middle of the space and starts to cry. She clutches the photo to her chest as she thinks about everything she's lost: Anna, Malú and now her job. She sits for a few more minutes, until she gets up and walks to the exit for the last time.
***
Aline has her arms over her face until she hears her doorbell ring. At first the brown–haired woman decides that she will not open the door, as the day is not being favorable to her, but when she realizes that the person is still insisting for a while longer, she gets up and opens the door, annoyed. There, standing in front of her, Thiago looks at her, surprised.
— Great, now it's official: Today is the day for the Almeidas to invade my house – mocks Aline, annoyed. She tries to close the door, but Thiago puts his foot, preventing her from closing — What do you want?
— I'm here to make you a proposal... which involves Maria Luísa – answers Thiago, seriously. He walks away from the door, letting Malú appear —Are you going to let us in?