Episode 4

Gustavo: Nothing? You seem sad, Tina.

I confront Valentina, trying to understand why she looks so down.

Valentina: I'm not sad, just frustrated. I was away for three years, I thought it would be enough.

Gustavo: I don't understand.

Valentina: Neither do I, let's go to sleep. My feet are killing me.

Gustavo picks me up in his arms, making me laugh.

Gustavo: Are you eating well, Tina?

Valentina: Do you think I look light?

Gustavo: Very!

Valentina: It's all those weights I lift at the gym. Thank you, Gu.

I rest my head on Gustavo's shoulder as we continue talking on the way to my room.

Gustavo: Goodnight, princess, sleep well.

Valentina: Gu...

Gustavo: Yes?

Valentina: I love you, sleep well.

Gustavo: I love you too, Tina.

I kiss Tina's forehead and make my way to my room. I take a shower, get dressed, and lie down. I close my eyes, but the image of the redhead comes to mind. Her lost and empty gaze intrigued me. She seemed to be working at the party based on her outfit. I fall asleep with difficulty.

Valentina: I take a shower, put on a pair of pajama pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I can't sleep, so I decide to go downstairs. I lie down near the pool on the grass, staring at the sky.

Souza: I'm leaving and see two of the security guards from the property looking at someone. I notice Valentina lying alone on the grass, in the middle of the night, looking at the sky. I chase the two idiots away, these new security guards don't know their place.

Miss Valentina...

Valentina: I'm startled by a deep voice behind me. I quickly sit up and put my hand on my heart.

Do you want to kill me with fright?

Souza: I'm sorry, I came to see if you're okay.

Valentina: I realize it's Souza, I notice how he's changed in the past three years. His hair is longer, and now he has a beard. He looks stronger and very handsome. I try to disguise the time I spent staring at him like an idiot.

I'm sorry, you scared me. I was trying to calm my heart, which raced with the scare.

Souza: I didn't mean to scare you.

Valentina looks even more beautiful, and it's impossible not to notice.

Valentina: It was me who was distracted, Souza. I'm fine, don't worry. How are you?

(Mirna, 28 years old. Security guard at the property)

Mirna: Babe, let's go?

Souza: I look back and Mirna is waiting for me with a sweet smile.

Valentina: This "babe" bothers me way more than it should. If there's one thing I can confirm, it's that in the past three years, I fooled myself into thinking I had forgotten about Souza.

Goodnight.

Mirna: Goodnight, Miss Valentina.

Souza: I wave to Valentina and go home with Mirna.

Valentina: I watch Souza with his arm around one of the security guards from the property, and my chest aches. They leave together, and I hate myself for letting him affect me so much. I go up to my room, frustrated.

I'm such an idiot!

Alice: Valentina doesn't come down for breakfast, so I go to check on her.

Darling, can I come in?

Valentina: I open my eyes with difficulty, sit up, and look at my sleepy mother.

Mommy, what time is it?

Alice: Good morning, my princess. It's already 11:00.

Valentina: Oh my God!

I move quickly and fall off the bed. My mother comes to help me, laughing at my face.

Mom!

Alice: I'm sorry, honey, it was stronger than me. Are you okay?

Valentina: No, I'm late. I went to sleep at seven in the morning, and I'm still tired. Good morning!

Alice: Valentina goes to the bathroom and starts talking about the places she will visit to choose her new office, all excited while brushing her teeth.

Why did you go to bed so late?

Valentina: Because I'm an idiot!

Alice: Daughter!

Valentina: Did you know that Souza had someone, Mom?

Alice: Souza has been with Mirna for a few months, honey. She's one of the security guards who came from Angelo's agency.

Valentina: Mom, why didn't you say anything? I saw them yesterday.

Alice: You said you had forgotten about Souza, honey.

Valentina: How am I going to explain? My mind forgot about him, but my heart didn't.

Alice: Complicated.

Valentina: I'm going to uncomplicate things. My heart is open to new possibilities from now on. I don't know who or when, but I know there's someone out there who will steal it and make me desperately in love!

Alice: Valentina says while getting dressed quickly.

Daughter...

Valentina: I'm telling you, Mom, I'm going to find someone amazing and I'll be happy...

Alice: Daughter!

Valentina: Don't you believe?

Alice: That's not it, my princess. You have put the dress on backwards.

Valentina: Oh God, what was I thinking!

I take off the dress and go downstairs to change clothes.

Alice: There's one more thing.

Valentina: My mother gets serious.

What?

Alice: Souza is your bodyguard.

Valentina: Mother! My plan to forget him includes avoiding him.

Alice: If you change your bodyguard, your father will want an explanation.

Valentina: I need to pray more, it must be punishment. It's not possible. Don't laugh, mother, this is serious.

Alice: Don't worry, my daughter, everything will be fine.

Valentina: As they say, everything works out in the end. Too bad sometimes the end takes a long time to come!

I take a deep breath, put on some light makeup, fix my hair, and go downstairs with my mother. My father offers to accompany me to visit the companies, but I decline. I want to choose a place that reflects my personality, and only after decorating it will I let everyone know about the company and my work. I thank everyone quickly and leave in a hurry. Souza is leaning on the car, he stands up and opens the door for me.

Souza: Good morning, Miss Valentina.

Valentina: Good morning, Souza. I'll send you the address of the first place we're going to.

Souza: Valentina sends me the address and I watch her through the rearview mirror, smiling at her phone screen. We drive in silence until we reach the location she is going to visit.

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