Episode 2

DOMINIC

My name is Dominic Bernardes, I am 28 years old, and I own a globally known cosmetics company chain. Currently, I am in the United States, in New York, to seek treatment for a serious respiratory disease.

I was born with breathing problems, spent more time in a hospital as a child than at home, which made me perpetually irritable, and I grew up exactly that way, grumpy. And I don't care if people like me or not, I want everyone who doesn't to go to hell.

As I grew older, the problems got worse. Despite taking medications, often the shortness of breath is so intense, I have to go to the hospital and stay in that prison for days.

This is extremely annoying because I am still young and have a very promising life ahead. I can't afford to be hospitalized because I have various companies to run. Even with partners and vice presidents, I have to go the extra mile, as I am the one who resolves most issues. There are documents that only I can sign.

I do some physical exercises, mostly light gym workouts. My doctor said it's helpful, and it really has been helping a bit. I hired a private doctor and have a hospital wing in the back of my house. If I get sick in the middle of the night, I just go there and wait for the doctor. It's also more comfortable than being in a hospital.

This wing is usually locked up tight. Only when I need to use it, I have Rosa or Maria clean inside so I can settle in. But it's been a while since I've been there.

I hate hospitals. I spent my childhood there, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life in the same way. I want to be a normal man, and I never will be there. It seems I get sicker when I'm there.

I'm a womanizer; I love beautiful, obedient women who satisfy my desires. But as a CEO, I need to marry. However, it has to be to a woman who doesn't nag, who doesn't bother me because I'm not a one-woman man; I like to change it up.

And the woman who marries me will inherit everything, from my money to the horns, without question.

But the problem is where to find such a woman, who even after inheriting everything, isn't so greedy as to want to be with me just for the money.

I start to investigate some families with failing businesses. Maybe a business marriage, without having to worry whether she likes me or not. I can carry on with my life as it has always been.

Then I find the Trindade family. The couple died and left a daughter in the care of her uncles, who blew the money left for the girl.

At least from the photos, the girl is very beautiful. So, I decide to try.

I have my secretary call her uncle here. Let's see if he accepts my proposal.

I schedule a meeting with him for the next day. But today, I still want to enjoy my bachelor life.

I go home just to change, put on some casual clothes and head to a brothel in town.

Beautiful women always please me; they make my life less miserable.

I choose my company carefully. I sit with her and pay for whatever she wants to drink, so she doesn't bicker later saying she won't do this or that. I like women who are up for everything.

I've already picked the woman for tonight, I just beckon her with a gesture, and she comes over swaying seductively and sits on my lap.

We drink our fill, and I take her to my house.

I throw her on the bed and quickly strip. I order her to perform oral, then I have her on all fours and go at it ruthlessly.

They always leave with wobbly legs. I like pushing women to the limit. Well, at least I go to my limit. I pay her an extra and send her away.

Before sleeping, I take an inhalation with the medicine prescribed by the doctor with saline, and as soon as it ends, I pass out.

In the morning, I wake up and do my routine. I put on my suit and head for the company. As expected, Mr. Roger is already waiting for me.

"Mr. Bernardes, this is the man you asked me to call yesterday."

"Great, come to my office" I command authoritatively.

He stands up and follows me.

"I called you here because I need a wife, and I see your family is bankrupt. I want to propose a deal."

"I'm listening, sir." he says, with a gleam in his eye.

"I want your niece in exchange for a reasonable sum set by you, but be careful with the amount, I'm not so foolish."

"I don't know where she is, sir. She ran away from home two years ago and has been wandering the streets."

"You blew through all her money and turned her into a homeless person? What kind of people are you?" I speak indignantly.

"The expenses were for her, sir." A lame excuse.

"Give me a break. If you had just invested part of the inheritance, she'd have enough to last until old age."

He lowers his head. That leeching son of a bitch, now I have to find another woman. I won't go looking for her; she's pretty but not worth my effort.

"We're done here, you can leave." I gesture dismissively with my hand.

"Don't you want to buy the company?"

"I don't invest my money in things that don't yield returns, and with you and your wife leeching off, I'd end up bankrupt too. So get out of here quick."

I speak authoritatively for him to catch on and leave immediately. This kind of person disgusts me, people who only want to receive without any effort.

I grab my car keys and leave. I need to look into other families to find my wife.

At the traffic light, I catch a glimpse of someone approaching, and when I look, I realize it's the Trindade daughter. It's her, offering me candy so kindly, even her smile is kind.

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

I need to be sure it's her, but she signals that she's deaf. I can tell she's not the one, so I just roll up the car window, ignoring her further.

I arrive home and go look into other families, glancing once more at the girl's photo. And it's actually her, the girl from the traffic light. Could she be pretending to be deaf and mute just to earn more money?

I start to research her life, and I read that she had meningitis at age 10, which resulted in deafness.

On the one hand, it could be good since she wouldn't hear anything and couldn't interrupt my affairs.

In the morning, I wake up and drive by that traffic light to talk to her.

But before I can stop the car, I feel my breathing falter. Damn it, not now.

I open the gate; my gloves and medicine aren't there, not even my portable inhaler.

I look ahead, trying to breathe calmly. But with each passing day, I feel my end approaching, and soon I will die.

The girl approaches and quickly opens the car door, unlatching my seatbelt. I see she's quite frightened.

Why is she being kind to me when what I did to her yesterday was dismissive?

She calls for help from the police, and soon an ambulance arrives.

I hold her hand. I don't want to let it go. I want her to come with me, and she does.

She didn't abandon me, even without knowing me and despite me being rude to her. She's helping me.

She is going to be my wife, even if it's by force.