67

"That sounds more like a romantic fantasy script," said Lucas, finding it amusing.

"Could you give me that?" Fred asked, getting up and taking the piece of paper from Karine's hands.

"Sorry, Luana," Lucas apologized, getting up and going after Luana when he saw her upset.

Meanwhile, Fred asked Karine to follow him, as he needed to talk to her, and she followed him in shock.

"We shouldn't interfere, dear Cristina. Congratulations, every day is a new emotion with your niece. Not even if she tried would she cause so many problems. Enjoy your meal," Isadora said to Cristina, who watched the whole scene bewildered. Shortly after, Isadora got up and left.

"None of this is our business," replied Cristina.

Meanwhile, Lucas reached the kitchen looking for Luana.

"Luana, look, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you. I really admire your relationship, I love the passion you both have for each other. Forgive me," Lucas pleaded.

"Relax, it's okay," said Luana.

"I confess, if Karine asked me to do something similar, I would be immensely happy. Your contract seems like a really cool thing," concluded Lucas.

Before Luana could respond, her Aunt Cristina approached. "Luana, I need to leave. It seems you're fine here, you even signed a contract," said Cristina.

"Look, auntie, I'll tell you everything, I promise. It's not what you think," Luana pleaded.

"I hope you tell me everything, I hope it's for your own good. Anyway, good night," said Cristina, saying goodbye and leaving Luana alone with her thoughts.

While grabbing Karine's bag and getting ready to leave, Lucas took advantage of being alone and unnoticed, took some photos of the half page of the contract that Luana had left on the table. Meanwhile, Karine was having a private conversation with Fred.

"You can't hire Lucas at the company," said Fred.

"But I've already hired him now," replied Karine.

"You know I'll stop that, don't you? Even if I have to talk to him myself," said Fred.

"Try doing that, Fred!" Karine threatened.

"Oh, great, did you just do this to provoke me?" Fred asked.

"Things don't revolve around you, you're not the center of the universe," Karine replied, angry.

"Hopefully it's not because of me, then maybe you and my father would have some sense, " said Fred, annoyed.

"If you want to deal with business, let's go," Karine asked.

"I'm not interested in that at all. I'll be honest with you, I thought you'd make a more sensible decision," said Fred.

"It is a sensible decision, and you have an engagement contract with your fiancée," before Fred could respond, Lucas approached. "Karine, is everything okay? What happened?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing, we're just talking," Karine replied, looking at Lucas, but then turned to Fred.

"See you then, Fred. Good night," said Karine, saying goodbye and leaving with Lucas.

"Good night," Fred replied.

"Good night, Fred," said Lucas.

Luana, seizing the moment, grabbed her bag and approached Fred. "I'm leaving too," she informed him.

"I can't understand how many disasters can happen in one day," said Fred before Luana left.

"It's not my fault, right?" Luana asked. Fred looked at her incredulously, and she continued, "It's always my fault. I even signed that contract, right, Fred Oliver?"

"I didn't jump into that pool," Fred replied.

"I didn't end my scholarship either," Luana retorted, not letting it go.

"I do a lot of things, but you don't even notice," said Luana.

"Pack your bags, we're traveling tomorrow. I'll take you home," Fred replied.

Luana took a deep breath, held back from saying anything else, and went straight to the car, where she waited for Fred, who soon joined her.

Once in the car, Luana asked, "Why are we traveling tomorrow?"

"You don't need to know the reason," replied Fred in his brusque manner.

"I'm asking not as your fake fiancée, but as an employee of your company," Luana replied in kind.

"An awards ceremony," Fred replied curtly.

"I thought you didn't like awards ceremonies," said Luana.

"I don't mind, but there's an important business deal," Fred replied.

"About what?" Luana asked, wanting to know more.

"That guy we went to the restaurant with the other day," Fred said. "The property he bought thanks to me."

"It was thanks to you that I got the concession," Fred replied. "A golf course will be built on that land, and I'm meeting with his investors," he explained.

"I thought you planned two days off for your employees," Luana asked.

"Days off?" Fred questioned.

"Sorry, 'days off' is a word you're not familiar with, forget it, never mind," Luana replied.

"Look, for two months, I worked like crazy for hours in London to get this. That's why work is important and it's not a day off," Fred explained.

"So, am I supposed to be available all the time?" Luana asked.

"Yes," replied Fred.

"Oh, great. I'll bring my swimsuit, I hope Your Majesty will let me swim," Luana requested.

While Fred was taking Luana home, Karine and Lucas were also on their way home.

"What's wrong? You seem so strange, is it because of the contract?" Lucas asked.

"Of course, it's because there's so much work at the company, Lucas. When Fred closes this deal, of course he won't have time for anything else," Karine replied.

"Anyway, think about it this way, we're going to the beach, we'll have fun, book a nice dinner, you'll admire the sunset, and I'll spoil you, how about that?" Lucas asked.

"You're very romantic, but maybe we won't have time for that because Fred is..." before Karine could finish her thought, Lucas interrupted her. "Again, Fred. Fred always meddling in our lives, always Fred Oliver!" Lucas complained.

"Lucas, don't talk like that, please! I worked really hard to get this job, you know?" Karine replied.

"So, does that mean I'll never be able to sit down and have a quiet dinner with my girlfriend or my fiancée again, it's always going to be like this, Karine?" Lucas asked.

But there was no response, Karine chose to remain silent, and Lucas also chose not to say anything more and they remained silent for the rest of the way.

After dropping Luana off at home, Fred went to the office.

"Your jet will be ready in an hour, I don't want you to tire yourself out, there's an early flight tomorrow," said his friend and future partner.

"That's not a problem. I'm used to not sleeping," Fred replied.

"True, it was like that in London. You didn't blink for two months."

"Does your lady know the beaches already?" Fred asked.

"Not like this. She wants to go on a private jet, we're having a few little problems," Fred's friend replied.

"I see," Fred replied.

"Our relationship, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, but don't worry, I know how hard you've worked for this project, everything will be fine, we'll sign the contract," said the friend.

"After all, we worked together," Fred replied.

"And after all, your ideas shaped it, and at the same time, we have the creativity of your wife, we really need both of your signatures, I hope there won't be any problems," said the friend.

"Ah, I hope not," Fred said.

"What did you say?" asked the friend.

"You can relax, everything will be fine. We'll be together," Fred said.

"Great. Do you want to take a look at something?" Fred asked, opening his notebook. "I want to show you a file of the property. I saw something in it and I think you'll be interested too," Fred concluded.

The two of them continued talking there for a while longer.