“I called Nicole and said you were coming. She was very excited to see him and said it was a coincidence that his ex-girlfriend was at the hotel at the same time. The Miss Universe Organization will be holding a fundraiser tomorrow. Marco was serious. His mind was somewhere far away. It had been a while, but he was still very hurt by the girl's shame and betrayal years ago. This was a wound that felt like it had been opened yesterday. "So, how about making out with your ex?" What a nice break, huh. “Don't joke about it Roman, it's irritating. Marco said angrily. “I'm not here on day off. Have you forgotten that my goal is to talk to you and Luciana about your forbidden relationship? - This is ridiculous. Roman huffed. - Our relationship is not forbidden, only your father thinks that. My parents don't care. “Roman, we're related. cousins. Marco had promised his mother he would try. Well... he was doing it, even if he didn't believe in the non-blood cousins thing.
“Marc, why don't you admit it? It's me, Nicole. You still love her, admit it to me. “I don't love her anymore. She's a bitch, okay. Nicole clicked her tongue and pursed her lips. “Say that a million more times and maybe you'll be convinced. “Damn it, Nicole. Stop this. Marco said, frustrated. He didn't want to get angry with his cousin. “Come on, show me my room. I'm too tired. - OK wait. I'm just going to wash my hands. Nicole took off her apron and washed her hands. She asked one of the assistants to finish making the mousse and to take it to Mr. Villa-Lobos when it was ready. She then escorted Marco to the presidential suite, just as Roman had promised. He whistled, taking off his jacket and shoes. — Where is your room? “I get half of the upstairs. Roman with the other. "Am I right in assuming Luciana is in Roman's room?" - Yea. They're in love, Marco. Is so beautiful. Beautiful, I know. It's always beautiful in the beginning. Marco wanted to say it out
- March. Charlotte said softly. Marco smiled. - You look different. You know, it doesn't look like the same Charlotte I used to know. Charlotte coughed and spluttered. “Ah… ah… I'm still the same person. She was ashamed, it was ridiculous to be stuttering in front of Marco after so many years. “I… I have to project the perfect image of a Miss Universe. Marco nodded. Then he added in a more serious tone. “No… it wasn't a futile criticism… I mean, you're looking plumper, you know. A little chubby. But don't worry, it suits you. He punctuated the sentence with an arrogant smile. Charlotte was insulted. She kept to a strict diet and exercised like a convict just to stay in shape. It was absurd that he'd said she was fat. But even so Charlotte couldn't help but look at her belly, just to see if she had extra fat showing under her dress. But she noticed Marco's smirk as he did so and turned her eyes to her face with impressive speed. - Thank you anyway. You are differen
Marco almost rolled his eyes, but he didn't want to piss her off. He also wasn't comfortable leaving her with this guy, who might as well just be a guy in order to get along. He looked back to where he was minutes ago and saw Charlotte sipping her drink with a man sitting next to her. - I need a favor. "Do you swear you're still going to ask me a favor?" I thought I was supposed to come because I wanted to see men drooling over me. “That was before I saw you. - Who? Nicole asked with interest. - Charlote. — Oh! Seriously? Where? - At the bar. "And you want to make her jealous." Nicole stated with a devilish smile. "I just..." Marco huffed, because he didn't want Nicole to think that, but it wasn't entirely true. “It's okay, Marc. We'll be each other's date today, but take it easy on those kisses or I'll get dizzy. After the brief conversation, Nicole became very cooperative. She hugged Marco all the time and made a point of laughing at everything he said. In a few
“Of course he doesn't mind. Right, cousin? Marco glared at her, so she just moved her lips. - Please... “Okay, but just one dance. Marco said, staring at the prince. - Yes sir. Marco was heading for the couch where Roman and Luciana were practically starting a foreplay when he saw Charlotte looking at him. He looked at her and the two of them stayed that way for several tense seconds, until she got up and left the club. He followed her. Charlotte was walking towards the porch of the nightclub and felt that Marco was following her at a distance. Then she stopped and waited for him by the garden. She couldn't see him, but she felt her presence, right there a few feet away. She ran her hand over her neck, leaving it exposed to the night air, and Marco felt his mouth water. He wanted to put his lips there and kiss her for hours until he lost consciousness. he bitch. She still knew how to drive him crazy. Marco took a deep breath and moved closer to her, letting her realiz
Marco returned to the club and started looking for Nicole. He soon found her, still dancing with the prince. Heck, he'd been gone for a long time and at least three songs had already played, so why was she still dancing with him? And worse, laughing in her arms. Marco didn't trust him and got annoyed, walking towards them. “I think that's enough. Marco told the prince firmly. “I said just one dance. The prince was surprised when he saw Marco beside him. “Sí, sí, é bien. He backed away, but winked at Nicole. - I call you. Marco pierced the back of the prince's head with his gaze as he walked away and Nicole slapped him hard on the arm, clearly annoyed. “Marc, what are you doing? she complained in a sour voice. “You're flirting with him. He gritted his teeth. "And what do you have to do with it?" You are acting very strange today. She slapped him again, this time on the back of the head. “It hurts, you know? - Marco said rubbing the right spot. “Why did you give hi
Marco woke up at nine the next morning. He felt good and full of energy. It was the first time in so many years that he had slept for eight hours straight. He used to sleep only five or six hours a day. Marco left the room, rubbing his eyes and headed straight for the attached kitchen, expecting to find Nicole cooking up some of the delicacies she'd mentioned learning about. However, he didn't find her right away, as her view was totally taken by a huge bouquet of lilies, some heart-shaped balloons and a giant stuffed animal. — But how gallant! He said sarcastically to himself as he read the note attached to the bear. Nicole, Have dinner with me tonight? You are so beautiful. I want to know you better. I will be very sad if you say no. Carlos. After a while Marco went to the hotel kitchen, already showered, dressed in a black shirt and pants. He found Nicole making some cookies. She was back in her business clothes and wide-rimmed glasses. - Hey! I called the maid an
She left as quickly as possible, her face burning with embarrassment. Later, Charlotte saw Marco enter the ballroom while giving a speech. He wasn't with his family like he used to be. This time, he was alone. She got nervous and even stuttered at times thanks to the sinful, burning look Marco was giving her. After the speech ended, Craig told her that Mr. Marco Villa-Lobos had donated a check for half a million dollars and everyone at the foundation had been amazed and extremely grateful for such a display of generosity. Charlotte was overjoyed too and would like to personally thank Marco for the check, so she soon found him at the bar with a few other men, no doubt from the business world, drinking and laughing as if he had no worries in his life. With her money and family, she shouldn't have. "Marco…" she called hesitantly. Marco saw Charlotte and raises his eyebrows. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up his hand and motioned for her to wait. Charlotte waited a
Five years later Marco walked into the house with a huge smile on his face. Tonight, he and Charlotte celebrated five years of marriage blessed with children and lots of love. It seemed that with each passing day, he loved his wife more and the opposite was also true. Charlotte had become even more beautiful with advancing age and even after two pregnancies, one with twins, she was still considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, losing the match to her sister-in-law Luciana, who had leveraged her career as an international model. . Marco parked the car in the garage and the moment he opened the door, two blonde girls with identical faces ran towards him. — Papa! Daddy! Daddy! Beatriz and Juliana shouted happily. They were only three years old, but their lungs looked bigger than they were. “Hello angels of my life. I missed my little princesses. Marco kissed each of them deeply, making them laugh. "Daddy, you're tickling me." Beatriz said, pushing Marco's
“We don't even have the result yet. Charlotte smiled, unable to contain her anxiety. He sneered at her with one hand. “Oh I don't need to. I feel. There's a Villa-Lobos in here. he said, placing his big hand on top of her belly. “And he does. Camilla agreed. “I didn't believe it either when I got pregnant with Marco, but that fool knew right away. Charlotte was touched by the love she saw in their eyes. Twenty-five years had passed and they still loved each other as if they were married yesterday. She wanted that too. After an awkward and loveless life, being part of Marco's family was the greatest blessing she could have. The doctor returned to the office with a huge smile on her face. Eduardo blinked at the two women beside her, full of himself, as if he had reason. "I'll have the trousseau prepared." he said, with a giant smile. — Now all that remains is to know the color. Nicole and Luciana couldn't stop chattering when the three of them returned to the room wit
The weeks that followed were far from easy for Charlotte. In the first, immediately after her father's death appeared in the newspapers and the cause, namely her own daughter, she had to face her mother - who publicly disowned her, saying that she would never forgive her for taking her husband away from her shortly before. of being arrested by the FBI for passive corruption -, the police - to whom he had to give several explanations and describe step by step what had happened in Porto, having to prove that he had acted in self-defense - and the press, which was the worst of all. all. After the news got out, she couldn't take a step anywhere without being surrounded by reporters from all the media. Her father's criminal record was mostly revealed and was extremely extensive. Also, he had a few projects that ended up coming to light. One of them being a major action in Harlem and part of Brooklyn that would take away the housing of hundreds of people, as it included demolishing som
Patrick and Elena“Elena, there hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about you. "So while you were working out your revenge plan against my father, was it me you were thinking about?" As you tried to destroy my family's business, was it me you were thinking about? There was fire in Elena's eyes and as much as Patrick couldn't physically feel the heat emanating from them, he was afraid of being burned just like ten years ago. He panicked. “Please, please, please, Elena. He knelt at her feet. “Try to see my side. Look, I know I messed up, I see it now, but I was wrecked. - Then he started crying. “I was scared, ashamed, filled with pain… I didn't know how to guide myself. Closing her eyes tightly and turning away, Elena tried to run away from the pain in Felipe's eyes. She laughed sadly and shook her head. She didn't know if she should refer to the man with her in that room that way. Felipe was sweet, kind and never, not in a thousand years, would he hurt her. But Pat
Patrick and Elena Elena couldn't believe it. Her breath hitched as she tried to absorb what she had just discovered. How had Felipe escaped the fire on the hill? And why did he use the name Patrick Matarazzo now? "How come I didn't connect the dots earlier?" Elena wondered, remembering everything that man had told her. An arson, isn't that what he told you? How could she not have guessed? Dammit, she didn't even think about it. But she couldn't blame herself. She never thought that Patrick could be Felipe because deep down she imagined that if he had survived that hellish night, she would have looked for her immediately. That was the image she had of the guy she knew and loved. It didn't cross her mind for a miserable moment that he would one day become such a calculating man. But where did his father fit into this story? Why did Patrick do what he did with his family's company? Why did he bring his father almost to ruin? Or rather, why did she hate him so much? Even
- Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Eduardo roared with rage. James Hardy had called him a few minutes ago, telling him about the ill-fated FBI raid on Senator Bernard McKeena's home. Apparently, he had spies inside the agency and already knew about part of the operation, so his men managed to get him out of prison, killing four federal agents and a detective in the process. It was obvious that at that moment he was preparing to leave the country. And maybe never come back. Something that raised every hair on Eduardo's body. “Darling, calm down. Camila asked, fearing that her husband would end up having a health problem. “How am I going to calm down? That worm put my son in a coma just because he got a few bumps. What do you think he's going to do with the rest of us when he finds out I'm the one who gave him to the police for good? That's if he doesn't already know. “Marco will be fine. - Yes go. But I don't want to spend the rest of my life fearing that at any moment he or you or Luc
Marco was taken to a specially monitored room. His condition was not really serious, the doctors had said that when his body was ready he would wake up, but it was good to always keep an eye on him for any changes in the condition. Not many people were allowed to stay there for long, so after each of the family members saw him, only Camila, his mother, was able to spend the night with him. Charlotte would have liked to have had that honor, but she understood that the poor woman was desperate to be close to her son and besides, she had to help Edward get his father. Around two in the morning, Patrick's investigators and Eduardo himself contacted him. They already had the evidence they needed to turn Bernard over to the police. Not only the ones that linked him to the attack on Marco, but also a video recovered from years ago in which the senator plotted Thomas' death with two mobsters. Yes, mobsters. James Hardy identified them on the recording. They were men of the mobster wa
- It is clear. Charlotte felt a lump in her throat. She wanted to see Marco, she wanted to be with him when she got out of surgery, but she also wanted to help with the evidence against her father. Eduardo got up and started to walk down the hall back to the waiting room. But he stopped before walking through the cafeteria door, looking at Charlotte. “Thanks for that, Charlotte. - He smiled. — I'll talk to Camila, I'm sure when she's calmer, she'll reconsider her words. “Thank you, sir. Please just... let me know if he comes out of surgery before we get back. — Yes, notice. Keep me informed of developments. Matarazzo Corporation's IT technician was analyzing the images captured by the camera, which, thank God, was still recording in good performance. Patrick and Charlotte had been with him for over an hour, and as cooperative as she was, her mind hadn't left the hospital. She just wanted to know about the man she loved. - Charlotte? Charlotte? “Uh, what? - She blinke
"I must apologize for my wife, Ms. McKeena. Eduardo sat in the chair next to Charlotte's, giving her an apologetic smile. "She's nervous and... — Don't worry, Mr. Villa-Lobos. Charlotte smiled back at him. “I understand perfectly. “Hello, Charlotte. - Patrick greeted her, sitting down too. — Patrick. And Elena? “She stayed there with my wife. – Edward informed. "But tell me, why did you want to talk to us?" Charlotte shifted in her chair so she could look the two men in the eye – even if she had to lift her head very high to do so. “I can help you find the biker who shot Marco and put the person responsible in jail. “And how can you help? Sorry, I don't mean to be skeptical, but I don't see how you can help. — I know who is responsible for sending Marco to the hospital, Mr. Villa-Lobos. - As? Who is it? — Eduardo scowled, already preparing himself for what he thought he was going to hear. “It was my father. After Marco told me the truth about my brother's death