Bleeding

We went home with a lump in our throat, under the pressure of winning over my mother-in-law and getting her permission. I see her as my own mother, which makes it difficult to look her in the face.

I'm afraid of being scolded, of being hated by her. I left Andreia alone for a few days to strengthen my relationship with her mother.

Mrs. Helena, a woman who has aged well, always elegant without exaggerating, quiet and with a good personality.

She always tries to help the servants and likes to sit in the garden reading good books. Her presence in the mansion is hardly noticed because of her quiet, slow footsteps.

I bought her many luxurious gifts sent by mail, Volgue handbags, diamond colors, shoes with rare stones, luxury items to please her. That was the way I learned to deal with people, giving luxurious gifts to win friendships.

My distorted way was misinterpreted by her and she avoided contact. It may sound like a lame excuse, but I really don't know what I did wrong.

I realize my mistake too late.

She's tired of hiding the truth from her daughter, knowing for sure that I'm an asshole, a liar who wants to buy her affection with money. Andreia dropped everything at the company and drove home out of her mind.

In a rage, she came screaming into the mansion, and I had to restrain her hands from trying to attack her.

"LIAR! FALSE! CORRUPT! HOW COULD I CHEAT SO MUCH WITH ONE PERSON?"

I sighed and asked him to calm down, increasing his hatred and shouting, intensifying his fit of rage.

"YOU'RE JUST LIKE YOUR UNCLE!"

There's no room for love in your heart, your eyes are full of hatred, even in our pleasure.

"I did what I had to do. " I got serious and put on my tie to go to my uncle's secret meeting.

Andreia continues to shout, mad from being ignored. But nothing I say will make a difference, none of my explanations will be heard, so I don't want to waste my time.

My grandmother comes down from her room and her mother comes to try to calm her down. The servants watch the scene and whisper in condemnation.

"WHY DID YOU DO THIS? WHY DID YOU LIE? DID YOU ENJOY TORTURING ME?"

I put on my watch and looked at them with a serious expression.

"What you call torture, I call pleasure, or rather 'making love'. I can understand that you're angry with me for hiding my true condition, but Andreia... " I approached her face and touched her chin. " I didn't pretend to be innocent when you came into my room, I knew exactly what we had done."

"That was... " I kissed him before his words could hurt.

" We both wanted to and we did. " I let go of his chin and grabbed the car key.

" Where are you going? " She asked, slightly worried.

This slight concern is all I need. I reached back and touched her soft face, kissing her forehead.

"When you come back, be ready for our wedding."

"She still didn't answer."

"I have to go."

She held my arm in desperation.

"Are you running away?" Voice is weak and hurt.

"I have work to do." I speak gently touching your face with affection.

Andreia hasn't accepted the fact that she's leaving the mansion, but there's not much she can say. This is a chance to pay for all the evil of the past, a chance for salvation.

My uncle has finally lost his strength, his supporters have lost their faith after the losses of their investments, the production of weapons has decreased, the products have been delivered with poor quality and accidents have occurred.

His administration was terrible, the accounts were all in the red. Employees worked overtime without being paid.

Workloads that were prohibited by law, accidents that could have been avoided but were ignored.

Many employees calling in sick, seeking their rights in court. Spending money they don't have to buy judges and keep the company's name clean.

Meanwhile, Andreia's secret company continues to grow without any competition.

I took a private family plane to the airport to catch the plane that would take me directly to the meeting of the Federal Assembly of Russia (Федеральное Собрание in Russian), the highest legislative body in the Russian Federation.

The meeting will discuss new laws on the creation of weapons in the country, and the government says the measures are necessary to meet the need to repair weapons and military equipment in the short term.

In order to ensure the supply of weapons and ammunition, it is necessary to optimize the work of the defense industrial complex and enterprises cooperating with the defense industry.

Official enterprises producing weapons for the army may be forced to redirect production to military needs and control the quantity of a certain product or service supplied by the enterprise.

Employees' working hours could also be increased at the behest of the state itself. A very beneficial measure for my uncle who has problems paying his bills.

On the other hand, it increases the resignation of dissatisfied employees.

I'm going to the meeting with the intention to pave the way for Andreia, to expose my uncle's repeated failures.

To defend my territory like a good competitor.