Chapter 6

Antony

“Do you have any news from Giovana?” Antony directed his words to the housekeeper, always in an authoritative tone.

“No, sir,” she lowered her head, “since she left, we haven’t spoken again.”

“I hope you’re not lying to me, Tania,” he communicated with a sharp look and a dry tone of voice. “I won’t hesitate to fire you.”

Those words made the housekeeper tremble. She even tried to swear on her own mother that she was telling the truth, but with an arrogance she had rarely seen in anyone, she was left behind, talking to herself. This made the mad panic.

Antony locked himself in his office. His head ached every time he thought about the problems Giovana had been causing him since their separation. He never imagined that Nicolau could offer her fifty percent of the company’s shares and make it public only after he had already signed the divorce. It was as if Nicolau predicted Antony’s moves. As if he already knew that after his death, Antony would abandon Giovana.

Antony didn’t hate his father, but he felt some resentment for having forced him to marry an unknown woman, just so he would be entitled to a part of his inheritance. And now, even after death, he was giving another blow by giving part of what should belong only to Antony to Giovana.

The headaches intensified. He looked at the clock. Xavier was late. Antony needed to resolve that matter as quickly as possible. He unlocked his phone and opened the contact labeled “Giovana.” The phone rang several times before going to voicemail. Giovana had been missing for over two weeks. No one knew where she was or who she was with. And these uncertainties made Antony furious.

Ten minutes later, someone knocked on the door. Impatiently, he ordered the person to come in. It was Xavier, which relieved Antony when he laid his eyes on him.

“The traffic is terrible outside,” Xavier justified himself. “I hope I’m not too late.”

“Late enough to make me irritated,” he said. “where is Giovana?”

“I didn’t know she had to attend this meeting.”

“I want to know where you’ve hidden her.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t give you that information, sir.”

“On whose orders?” he shouted, impatiently, “Nicolau’s? Do you still follow the orders of a dead old man?”

“Giovana doesn’t want to be found.” He adjusted his tie and sat in the armchair. “Even if the subject is about her, we can discuss it without her being present.”

Antony soon realized that Xavier wouldn’t give in to his desires. He wouldn’t reveal, even under torture, where Giovana had hidden.

“I will find out where she is,” he clenched his jaw, challenging him, “be aware that it won’t take long.”

“Fine!” he agreed. “Until that day comes, we can deal with these matters ourselves.”

Xavier went to the table, opened his briefcase, and took out some documents, handing them to Antony.

“Surely you are already aware that Nicolau left fifty percent of the shares to Giovana.”

“That wasn’t in the will,” the lawyer interrupted.

“It wasn’t,” he continued, “because until the reading of the will, you two were still married. It only happened because you divorced her.”

“Nicolau wanted me to stay married to her forever?” Antony exploded.

“That’s beside the point.” the problem was that every time Xavier opened his mouth to say anything, it made Antony more impatient. “the fact is, from today onwards, you’ll have to share the company with her.”

“That’s out of the question,” he became agitated. “I’ve already put up with Giovana for two long years. I want to buy her a share.”

“I highly doubt she’ll accept,” Xavier saw the expression on his face harden.

“How can you be so sure?” he approached the man with the intention of intimidating him. “Are you and she having meetings outside of work?”

“Never!” he said, with his eyes fixed on Antony, “I say that only because I know that Mrs. Giovana suspects that you spread rumors on social media that she cheated on you.”

Antony laughed.

“How absurd,” he opened his arms as if he couldn’t believe that was actually happening, “I would never do such a thing. It would tarnish my reputation.”

Antony’s words made sense. Going around saying that Giovana had cheated on him wouldn’t be good for him. But Xavier didn’t seem entirely convinced of Antony’s innocence.

“Still, it would be best if Giovana gave up her share. I promise I won’t let her lack for anything.”

But Xavier knew that when he told Giovana about Antony’s intentions, she wouldn’t believe him. Giovana was tired of empty promises.

“You need to promise me that you’ll talk to her,” he tried to intimidate him once again, “try to convince her to talk to me.”

“I will tell her about your intentions,” he said, gathering the papers that Antony hadn’t even read and putting them back in the briefcase. “We’ll meet again soon.”

He extended his hand to him, but Antony took longer than he should have to shake it. When he did, he felt as if he had failed in his own mission.

After Xavier left, Antony talked to Ricardo, and the news he had brought only worsened Antony’s mood.

“It was a big mistake to divorce Giovana,” he warned. “Now that she owns fifty percent of the company’s shares, your enemies will go after her.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s single and the heiress of the largest company in this country,” Ricardo continued, “what do you think your enemies will do? One of them will conquer her and gain access to your company.”

“Giovana isn’t easily swayed,” he said, but fear could already be seen taking shape on his face.

“It’s not about you, who was married to her for two years and never tried to discover the woman you had by your side,” he paused for a moment, turned, and added, “you need to bring Giovana back if you don’t want to lose everything you’ve achieved.”

That made Antony’s head explode. But even after his mind began to slow down, Antony realized he wasn’t ready for that. He had waited so long to get rid of Giovana, and now he would have to bring her back to his side so that he could continue to have everything that was rightfully his.