Episode 4

We chatted for a bit, I had dinner there with the maids because setting up the dining room table for just one person seems unnecessary.

So it’s good that I have company for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We chat, we laugh.

That, to me, is what matters most. I finished dinner, helped wash the dishes even though everyone tried to kick me out of there. I told them all, “I'm the lady of the house, am I not?”

So I want to help, so they have to let me. Okay (laughs).

Then I went to my room, brushed my teeth, put on my pajamas, and then went to bed to sleep. I lay there thinking for a bit. I'm married, I don't know my husband. I know he exists because I saw photos of him as a baby, but I haven't seen any photos of him as an adult.

I don't know if he's alive or dead, and this strange contract… I can't understand it, but at the same time, I'm calm. I'm not worried about running away from any attempts by him to consummate the blessed marriage.

I ended up falling asleep with those thoughts. I wake up, it's already eight o'clock. I get up, go to the bathroom, take a shower, brush my teeth. I don’t put on any makeup, I put on a sweatsuit, go downstairs and am going to the kitchen when I hear a noise in the dining room. At that moment, I remembered that Mr. Augusto would be at the house. A little awkwardly, I went to him and introduced myself, and said, “Good morning! I'm Ariane Miller, it's a great pleasure to meet you.” He said,

"Augusto: But you already know me, and I already know who you are. Please, sit down.”

Ariane: I thanked him and sat down. Maria came into the room and greeted me with a “Good morning!” I replied with a “Good morning!” as well. She asked:

“Maria: Did you sleep well, Mrs. Bastos?”

“Ariane: Yes, very well, Maria. Thank you."

I felt that the gentleman was looking at us, and with a face that seemed to want to laugh, he said:

“Augusto: How long are you two going to keep up this charade?”

“Ariane: I don't understand, sir. Who's putting on a charade?”

“Augusto: Who do you think you’re fooling, ma’am? I know you have your coffee, lunch, and dinner in the kitchen with the staff every day, and they even call you by an affectionate nickname, Ari. What do you have to say for yourselves, ladies?”

“Maria: I'm sorry, Mr. Augusto. She asked us to call her that, so I didn't think it would be a problem.”

“Ariane: Yes, it was I who asked. I feel like an old fool being called ma'am. If you don't mind, sir, I'd like them to keep calling me by my name.”

“Augusto: I don't see a problem with that. Anything else?”

“Ariane: Yes, I'd like to ask that, if you don't mind, I'd like to work!”

“Augusto: I don't mind. What did you graduate in?”

“Ariane: I have a degree in Business Administration, and I'd like to work in the field if possible.”

“Augusto: I'll see. I'll give you an answer tomorrow, okay? Now have your coffee.”

Ariane: I thanked him and continued my coffee. Afterwards, he went to sunbathe, and I went to the kitchen.

I arrived in the kitchen and thought to myself, "Well, he's different than I imagined.” I thought he was going to scold me; I was scared.

The day went by quickly. We had lunch together, exchanged some conversation, then dinner, we talked more, where he asked about my family, about my father, I told him everything.

He wanted to know about how I took the place of Luis's daughter. “It's a good thing she didn't marry my son, otherwise I'd have no peace.”

“Augusto: You acted fast, I like that. If you hadn't done what you did, then you would be the one in his clutches.”

“Ariane: It's true, I'm not worried now. I already spoke to my mother, she's fine living with an aunt in France.”

“Augusto: That's good. You asked to work, I allow it without problem. However, you will have two conditions: You will have to go with the driver, and walk with security. After all, you are a Bastos now, at risk of being kidnapped. So that will be my condition.”

“Ariane: I accept your conditions, and I add one of my own: That the security guards don't have to wear suits, especially on hot days. No one deserves to be stuck in the heat wearing those clothes. And have them blend in a little.”

“Augusto: And what clothes should they wear?”

“Ariane: I think a dress shirt and jeans, or jeans and a T-shirt. I don’t know, anything that makes them look like everyone else.” “Oh, and another thing I forgot. I don't want them to say I'm your daughter-in-law, just Ariane Miller, please. I don't want to lean on the Bastos surname.”

“Augusto: Okay. As for the job, if you want to start tomorrow, you can introduce yourself as the CFO at one of my companies. And we’re all set on you being known only as Miller and not Bastos, okay?”

“Ariane: Thank you, sir, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”

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