Chapter 1

- Come on, Ell. It'll be nice. - Ary insists while I prepare my brothers' breakfast.

- What a boring thing to do, Ary. I said I can't. - I say angrily, asI spread the nearly expired, cheap bread slices with our last bit of Nutella. Well, from next month, we're officially embarking on the journey of chewing through plain bread slices.

It had been a few months since I lost my mother and my life was in a mess, I had no energy or desire for anything, but I had to divide myself between working two jobs, being a mother to my siblings, putting food on the table and being well enough to support them, even though inside I was falling apart. On top of that, I still had to deal with the pressure of being sociable with my friends, who, ever since they found out about my routine, have been pestering me to do something to get me out of the sameness.

-I’m not going to stop bothering you until you agree to go out with us to this event. - Answer me.

- Have you heard yourself out loud? You're going to put us in a dangerous situation. Imagine if we got caught?” I look at her with my hands on my hips. It's not possible that I'm the only sane one thinking about the cons of this crazy idea.

How could we enter the Copacabana Palace, the most luxurious hotel in Rio de Janeiro, at a billionaire's party, without being invited?

- Nothing will go wrong, Jenny's friend provided the tickets. She's the one who puts her name on the list, she's the one who decides who gets in and who gets out... - Ary continues chattering in an attempt to convince me.

- Okay, I'll think about it and let you know, all right? Now take advantage of the fact that you're going to the cafeteria later and get David and Julia off to school, I have some unfinished business. - Ary claps her hands happily and comes over to hug me.

- Ary, I said I'd think about it, I didn't agree to go. - I let go.

- Just the thought of it is a victory. I'm going to call Jenny right now and tell her the news.

Júlia and Davi enter the kitchen, their faces marked with sleep.

- Good morning, kids. - I say as I kiss their cheeks and wish them a good lesson.

- Good morning, Ell. - They reply sleepily and I take the opportunity to leave at once. I pick up my bag, roll my eyes at Ary and kiss her on the cheek, whisper "boring" and leave the house.

My intention was to go to the bank to see if I could get a loan for to get out of debt, since all my savings had gone to pay off the debts my mother had incurred before she died. Rent, electricity... in short, all my money had gone to bills and I was struggling to keep my home.

As soon as I got off the bus, I rummaged through my bag looking for my cell phone, which was ringing insistently as I walked down the street. But I was interrupted when I heard the horn and was startled by the sudden stop of a car that braked almost on top of me. Before I can react, a man almost two meters tall gets out of the car, upset, and with a heavy accent says:

- Do you want to die? Pay attention to where you're fucking going! - The man says, visibly upset.

- Do you think you're talking to your mother? - I shout louder. - Talk to me properly!

- If you were paying attention to where you were going, I'd be the kindest man in the world. - He retorts and I stand up a few centimeters below him, but close enough to get a good look at his features.

I'm speechless for a few seconds as I realize that he was a great son of a bitch, but an impeccably handsome and well-dressed son of a bitch. He was a true Greek god, as Arianna used to say. He had black hair and I couldn't make out the color of his eyes, but I knew they were intense because they were making my skin crawl. He was in a suit, a fancy car and I was in some old clothes bought a few centuries ago. The man looked me up and down, and left me completely embarrassed, I felt tiny, but the look of lust made me come alive. I knew I was a beautiful woman, but I hadn't felt like this in a long time.

- Stupid! - I grumble and shake out the dirt from my clothes.

- You have a very rebellious mouth, don't you? - He smiles debauchedly, laughing at my misfortune, making me even angrier.

- It's none of your business. Good afternoon, have a good time. - I turn my back and leave as quickly as possible.

I can't remember the last time I felt so disconcerted in the presence of a man. When the cab pulled up on Avenida Atlântica, I was forced to admit that the hotel really did look like a palace and that a kind of royal ball could take place inside. The Belmond Copacabana Palace was incredible. I had never seen such a beautiful place.

-What took you so long, Ellen? - Arianna tapped her high heels impatiently on the floor - Did you stop to reheat yesterday's coffee on the way?

When I was about to retort, Jenny pulled a pair of sunglasses from her bag and thrust them into my hand.

-Put these on, shield your 'broke' look, and remember to act like a world-famous pop singer when we go through security.

My eyes ran all over the hotel lobby as soon as we entered. The entrance door was made of dark wood and glass. A white marble counter was right next to it, where uniformed attendants welcomed people. Straight ahead was a subtle set of white marble steps covered in an elegant brown tapestry. At the top of the stairs, a brown table held an elegant vase decorated with red roses.

- Welcome to the Belmond, ladies. - One of the men in white uniform was the first to speak when he saw us.

- We are guests at Damien Mason's reception. - Jenny spoke and handed our invitations to the young man.

The blond-haired young man looked at the papers for a few moments and finally gave us a smile.

- The reception is taking place in the Golden Room and the Great Hall, ladies. Would you like me to take you there? - He flashed a smile in my direction and I looked down at my own feet, totally embarrassed.

- That won't be necessary. Thank you. - Jeniffer replied politely and started to enter the hotel. Arianna and I followed her.

- Can you walk here? - I asked as soon as I saw her.

- Of course. I've been here with my aunt and uncle before, remember? - Jenny whispered.

I had completely forgotten about Jeniffer's rich aunt and uncle. They were a humorous couple who traveled to the most exotic corners of the planet in search of adventure. Jenny had taken us to their house a few times, they were great people. And as they were upper class, they obviously knew their way around a place like the Palace.

- If you've been here before, why were you so excited as if it was your first time? - I heard myself asking.

- Because when I came, it was a meeting where there were only guys who could have been my grandparents. - She grimaced. - Now it's different. There will be lots of handsome, rich men per square meter.

I let out a laugh and Arianna followed me as we walked. We got into an elevator and Jenny pressed the button that would take us to the second floor. The next moment I found myself entering the imposing Great Hall.

I couldn't decipher what I was feeling. It was a mixture of admiration, fear and, why not, a certain anger. Admiration because I had never seen anything like it in my life. The hotel lobby was completely erased from my mind as I gazed at the two gigantic crystal chandeliers and the twelve columns that supported the marble-floored hall.

The place exuded luxury and refinement. It lived up to its name. A small glamorous crowd spilled into the hall, distinctively dressed and surrounded by waiters and waitresses who brought and collected glasses to make the place look impeccable. In fact, the place and the people gave the impression of being spotless.

Which made me fear that I might be discovered if I slipped up. And finally, there was a twinge of anger. Anger at how unfair it was that someone could spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on one-night parties, while I was forced to work two jobs to keep things more stable at home.

- This place is amazing. - Arianna hissed next to me.

- This is the day I'm going to find a millionaire to save me from this difficult life. - Jenny smiled excitedly.

- Jenny, I told you to stop watching afternoon movies. This stuff about millionaires coming to the rescue of poor girls only happens in Pretty Woman.

- I warned them and they both laughed.

- What about it? I could very well become a version of Pretty Woman. - Jenny tossed her hair, pretending to be offended.

- You? Like Julia Roberts? But not if I was born again! - Arianna laughed and I followed her. Jenny snorted, but she couldn't resist laughing either. Suddenly, she let out an excited shriek:

- Oh my God! Somebody hold me! No, don't hold me! Is that Cristiano Araújo over there? I have to go there. - Jenny started to walk, but I stopped her:

- Jenny, I don't think that's a good idea. It's better if we don't attract too much attention and stay close to each other.

- I'll just say hello. After all, we came to this party to have fun, didn't we? - She let go of me. - Stay here and wait for me, I'll be right back. Don't go away, for please. - Jenny begged and moved away from us. Now it was just Arianna and me. But it wasn't for long:

- Ell, I need to go to the bathroom. I think I drank too much soda before I left. Stay here and wait for Jenny, I'll be right back.

Before I could open my mouth to protest, she turned and disappeared into the crowd. Damn it, I'd been abandoned by my best friends in a hall full of strangers. This was not going according to plan