Episode 12

Meanwhile in Brazil...

Teresa had made a special effort for Sunday lunch, she made that homemade food and Gisele loved it, after lunch the two went to the beach, Teresa was a widow, she had two children already married, both lived in Sao Paulo.

Gisele looked at the sea sad and thoughtful, wondering how Elisa was doing now, a tear runs down her eye.

Teresa - Thinking about Elisa?

She wipes her eyes and faces her sister.

Gisele - My daughter must hate me now, what I did is unforgivable!

Teresa - Don't be like that... you had your reasons, my sister, stop torturing yourself, Elisa is an adult and will understand when you explain!

Gisele - Will she? I don't know, Eduardo must have badmouthed me to her, and my disappearing like this.... I haven't answered her calls for days!

Teresa - Look Gi, Eduardo is a big jerk, sorry, but that's what he is, he had it all and still didn't appreciate it, now he needs to be alone to learn!

Gisele is thoughtful and returns to stare at the sea, the two spend the afternoon there, despite the pain of guilt, Gisele tries to make the most of the day with her sister.

…

Back in Los Angeles, Elisa spent the day in the library, after a good cleaning, of course! She found old books, period novels, which greatly aroused her curiosity, and gave her several ideas, at lunchtime she decided to eat outdoors by the pool, called Filipa and apologized for not going to her mother's birthday party, her friend was extremely upset, but she understood, Elisa made up a good excuse and convinced her.

At 5 pm she went up to her room, took a shower and went to organize her college bag, some books from Tuesday, and her tablet.

"I just hope he doesn't forbid me from studying!"

As she says this she hears the sound of a car arriving, she deduced it to be Christian, she looked out the window and saw him get out of the car.

Christian arrived and went straight up to the room, he was tired and just wanted a shower, he spent half an hour under the shower, the warm water was like a sedative for him, after finishing he puts on something comfortable and lies down for a bit, ends up falling asleep quickly.

At dinner time, Sol went to call him, but didn't want to wake him up, so she went to see if Elisa was hungry.

She knocks on the door and hears the girl tell her to come in.

Sol - Honey, come down for dinner!

Elisa - I.... I

Soledad realizes that she doesn't want to because she is afraid of Christian being downstairs.

"Don't worry, he's already asleep!"

Elisa - I'm sorry about that, I know... "Technically" we're husband and wife, but...

Soledad - You don't have to explain anything to me, honey, I understand. Now come on, let's go downstairs before the food gets cold!

The two go down and Elisa eats.

"Sol," you said you live here, where's your room?

Sol - It's here on the first floor, actually, I didn't want to live here, but Chris was very insistent!

Elisa - And you have no family, children, husband?

Soledad - I'm a widow, and I only have one son, but it's been a long time since I've seen him... But I'm happy here, and I like my job!

Sol talks about her son with a little sadness, Elisa notices and doesn't bring up the subject again.

Elisa - It's pretty nice here, if it were under other circumstances I could get used to it...

Soledad smiles

"This is Christian's favorite house!"

Elisa - So he has others?

Sol - He does, including a property in Brazil, but he rarely goes there, but maybe one day he'll take you to see it.

Elisa remembers her mother at this moment, and ends up losing her appetite, Sol notices her smile fading.

Sol - Did I say something wrong, honey?

Elisa - No, of course not, I just remembered I have class early tomorrow, I'm going to turn in!

She says goodnight to the housekeeper and goes up to her room, washes up and lies down on the bed, Elisa wonders why her mother disappeared, and why she doesn't return her calls!

(...)

The next morning she wakes up at six o'clock, with her cell phone alarm clock ringing, she sits up in bed and stretches and says her prayers, then gets up and goes to the bathroom, takes a shower and does her morning hygiene, after the shower she looks for an outfit, decides to wear a pair of black jeans and a white blouse with a nude cardigan over it, puts on her sneakers, ties her hair in a ponytail, and puts on a light pink lipstick, looks at the time, and is startled to see that it is almost 7 am. now she would have to leave a little earlier, as the journey would be a little longer.

As she leaves the room she bumps into Christian, the two look at each other for a few seconds until she looks away.

Christian - Good morning!

Elisa - Good morning!

They walk down the stairs, but she walks ahead in a hurry, already leaving the house, but he calls her.

Christian - Elisa, wait!

She stops and looks back, but doesn't look at him.

Christian - Aren't you going to have breakfast?

Elisa - I can't, I'm late, I need to go!

Once again she turns to go but is stopped, this time he runs and grabs her arm stopping her.

Christian - Relax, the driver is already at your disposal outside, but eat something first, it's not good to leave without eating, you might feel sick!

She doesn't say anything, just shakes her head, and the two of them head for the dining room, Soledad is finishing setting the table, she smiles discreetly seeing them coming together for coffee.

Chris - Good morning, Sol!

Sol - Good morning!

Elisa - Good morning!...

Sol - Good morning, dear!

The two of them sit down, Christian tries to pretend he is alone at the table so as not to make things difficult with Elisa, he knew that she felt quite uncomfortable with his presence there, so he didn't say a word, just drank his coffee while looking at the day's news on his cell phone. Elisa had coffee and ate only half a piece of cake, then got up asking permission to leave.

Sol - You're leaving already, daughter, you barely ate anything!

Elisa - Sorry, but by this time I've already missed the first class, I have to go!

She leaves and Christian is left watching, he had already given orders for the driver to take her to and from college until Rodrigo found a driver just for her, while Chris was driving himself.

Sol - It's good that she sat at the table with you today!

Chris - Yes, but I noticed the discomfort it caused her. (he said with a sad look)

Sol - I told you to be patient, Chris, she'll get used to it little by little!

He finishes his coffee and leaves too, goes straight to the club, when he arrives he runs into Tania naked in his office.

Christian - What is the meaning of this, Tania? Have you gone mad?

Tania - I went mad, but with lust for you, Chris!

The woman pulls him by the shirt and initiates a hungry kiss, but Chris doesn't respond and pushes her away.

Tania - What's going on with you, Christian?

Christian - Please get dressed and go to work, I don't have the patience for your tantrums, Tania!

Tania - Tantrums? (laughs) You've changed Chris, you used to see me naked here and throw me on this table, we'd have sex until you got tired, and now... I don't recognize you!

Christian, out of patience, picks up her clothes from the floor and throws them at her irritably.

"If you don't want to be fired, get dressed right now and get out of my office!"

The woman cries and starts to put on piece by piece, then leaves tapping her heels firmly on the floor. Christian goes to the bathroom and washes his mouth, he really was different, he didn't feel any kind of attraction to Tania anymore, not even sexual.

(...)

Upon arriving at the university, the driver stops the car in front of the gates, gets out and opens the door for Elisa to get out.

"Thank you!"

He just nods his head and she walks briskly into the campus, the first class was almost over, when she arrives in the classroom she asks permission and enters, everyone looks at her, she feels super embarrassed for being so late, as this was not her style.

She sits next to Filipa and the teacher continues the class, five minutes later the bell rings and the teacher leaves the room.

Filipa - Oversleep today, friend?

Elisa - Yes, I stayed up late, I didn't hear the alarm this morning!

Filipa - I still can't believe you missed my mom's party, I drank a lot Lisa!

Elisa - Did your mom allow that?

Filipa - My mom was at the party for a little while, then she left with my dad and didn't come back until the next day, I invited a few more friends and it was all fun and games!

Elisa - You're crazy, that's what you are! (laughs) Speaking of the party, where's Anderson?

Filipa - I don't know, I haven't seen him today, he must have pulled an all-nighter, that one loves to party.

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