Episode 11

Souza: I get into the car with Mirna in silence, Ana is right, she is one of the most incredible women I have ever known and I am being a coward with her.

Can we talk?

Mirna: We need to talk.

Souza: I'll drop you off at home and we can talk there.

Mirna: I take a deep breath, fearing what Souza is going to tell me. We have been together for almost a year, in a serious relationship, and before that we were together for a few months. He was my first man and the only love I have had, losing him will not only be painful, but a pain that I don't know if I can overcome. It hasn't even been two months since we talked about getting married and in just a few weeks he has completely changed. I walk into the house and sit on the couch, struggling not to cry. I don't want Souza's pity. I want his love, and if he can't love me back, this conversation has been postponed for too long.

Souza: Mirna...

Mirna: We have always been honest, Souza. Our entire relationship was based on trust and respect. Just tell me the truth, please.

Souza: I sit down next to Mirna, knowing her well enough to know that she is holding back tears.

I never wanted to hurt you. I wanted to love you, and I think I did it in my own way.

Mirna: I wipe away the tears that I have tried so hard to hold back.

There are many ways to love, Souza, and you were a good partner.

Souza: I can't be with you anymore, Mirna. I don't deserve everything you have done and continue to do for me.

Mirna: I didn't do it just for you.

Souza: I won't push you away.

Mirna: I need some time, Souza. Maybe you didn't love me as your woman, but I loved you, I still do, and being close to you will be very painful. I don't know if I can handle it.

Souza: Please forgive me, Mirna. I really thought we would be okay and that we would be happy.

Mirna: Just go, please.

Souza: I'm sorry.

Mirna: There is no forgiveness here, Souza, we can't control our hearts.

Souza gets up, I walk in silence with him to the door. He leaves, a sob of pain and anguish escapes from my throat, I can't hold back the tears anymore. I crouch down with my back against the door, hugging my own body and crying all the pain that I am feeling.

Souza: I put my hand and forehead on the door, clenching my fist in anger at myself. Mirna's cry hurts my soul. I wait for her to calm down before leaving, I walk out as soon as I no longer hear her sobs. I go home feeling like the worst of men.

In the mansion...

Valentina: I don't sleep at all, I get up, run, and avoid looking at Souza.

We're leaving in thirty minutes, Souza.

Souza: Yes, Miss Valentina.

Valentina enters the mansion and I don't see Mirna anywhere, I go to talk to Lucas to ask about her, worried. Mirna has never been late for work.

(Lucas, 29 years old. Head of Security and Cecilia's husband. Protagonist of the story "The Ruthless CEO and the Driver").

Lucas: Good morning, Souza.

Souza: Good morning, Lucas. Do you know where Mirna is?

Lucas: She quit this morning, Souza.

Souza: I sit down and stare at Lucas.

She quit?

Lucas: I don't know what happened between you two, but she wasn't doing well.

Souza: We're finished, Lucas, I just didn't expect her to quit. If anyone should have stepped away, it should have been me!

Lucas: Souza became a friend, I've been in his position before. I had so much anger inside me that I unintentionally hurt people.

Let her move on, Souza, I've been through something similar, and I was much more cowardly than you, and you know that.

Souza: I thought everything was fine, because I had no idea of the power Valentina had over me.

Lucas: You had nothing, you were apart for three years without seeing or talking to each other. There was no way of knowing.

Souza: I didn't want to hurt Mirna, she didn't deserve it.

Lucas: Come on, now that you understand your feelings, you were honest with her.

Souza: I stand up, annoyed.

Thanks, Lucas, I'll take Valentina to the company.

Lucas: Are you going to talk to her?

Souza: Not now, everything is a mess. I need to clear my head first.

Lucas: Souza leaves, annoyed. I see myself in him, and maybe that's why we became friends.

Souza: Valentina leaves the house absentmindedly, she gets into the car and we head to the company. Her morning is busy, and she walks from one side to another organizing everything.

Valentina: My phone beeps, I touch up my makeup and nervously leave the company for my "meeting" with Tyler.

Souza: I drive to the address Valentina sent me and take a deep breath to resist punching Tyler in the face.

Valentina: Tyler walks towards me and I extend my hand to him, unsure of what to do. He greets me with a beautiful smile.

Hi...

Tyler: You look lovely, Valentina.

Valentina: You look very handsome, Tyler.

I walk with Tyler, looking at everything attentively. The mansion is old, all black and with a dark decoration.

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