Falling in Love with a Disabled CEO

Episode 1

“Are you going to spew your ignorance at me early in the morning, Mother?”

“Watch how you talk to me, Caique! It is inadmissible for you to still want to check something I have already done.” My mother looked at me with hatred.

“I went to check because you got involved. I am the president of that company and the final decision is mine. You know very well that if there is any conference of that importance, I like to check it personally and not ask third parties. Dad was like that.”

“Oh, now I am ‘third parties’? In case you don't remember, I'm a shareholder in the company, Mr. President, and your mother! And your father was a madman! Where have you ever seen anyone personally going to check on a construction site? That's not for us Montenegros.” A look of arrogance was plastered on her face.

“You always twist what I say. The construction of this mall is very important and I already told you that for such grandiose projects, I make the decisions directly, without going through anyone. Do I have a wonderful team? I do, including my best friend who works there. I have you in the company, despite you always being contrary to what I say, but I have you, but I like to decide everything, after all, I am the president. And you went to tell Gustavo Meirelles that I would authorize the use of inferior quality material in the construction. Never!!!! I already authorized the purchase of the best quality material on the market.”

“You're going to waste money. You love to splurge.”

“Splurge? I am thinking about the safety of the people who will frequent the place and at the same time, bring more income to the company. Let’s consolidate the name we already have in the market. Stop making decisions for me. If you want to help me, give me your opinion and we will discuss it together.”

“You are an idiot like your father. Matheus would be much better at the helm of the company.”

“Stop talking about Dad. He's not here anymore to defend himself from your ignorance. You are ambitious, you want to keep up appearances, but saving where there should be no savings and that is not how things work, not when we own the biggest construction company in the country. We have a name to uphold and you love to flaunt it around. And as for Matheus, you prefer him because my little brother is just like you, if not worse.”

“Spare me your litany, Caique. Your eternal drama irritates me more than convinces me.”

I watched that woman who held the title of my mother, but who seemed to hate me, climb the stairs of our house and leave me there, with yet another sample of her character.

Branca Montenegro was an ambitious, exhibitionist and prejudiced woman. This last one, she was with everything imaginable. She hated poor people, black people, gays… The list went on. And I also didn't know for sure how she became a mother, since she always wanted to keep her body perfect, because she cared a lot about appearances too.

It's just that over the years, I realized that it was only with me that she was contemptuous, because she pampered my sister Beatriz and Matheus, oh, she practically licked the ground he walked on.

My father, Augusto Montenegro, left us a year ago. He died from a severe brain tumor and I missed him immeasurably.

My old man built his empire fairly. He was an honorable and strong-willed man, who ran his company on the front lines, even having a team to help him. I never saw my father miss work and delegate tasks to others. To this day, honestly, I didn't know how he fell in love with my mother, but they were together for 25 years and that perplexed me given the difference between them.

Shortly before he died, my father gave me yet another token of his trust and love, telling me, in a hospital bed, that I was his greatest pride and that he loved me very much. That he would rest in peace knowing that I would continue with his business. That I would be perfect to run his company and that he would not leave my mother and my brothers wanting for anything.

This infuriated my mother at the time, because she wanted Matheus or Beatriz to take over the Presidency; that way she would command from behind the scenes. My sister, poor thing, wasn't a frivolous person like my mother, but she didn't care about the family business. Her business was fashion. Beatriz was born for this and was the star of major campaigns for very famous brands. Her name was strong in this environment. My mother loved it, because she got clothes that weren’t even in stores yet and then showed them off at very expensive dinners.

Beatriz was very independent and didn't follow the nonsense my mother said. She was more concerned with taking care of her growing career. Her fame was consolidating.

My little brother just wanted to enjoy the family money and occasionally showed up at the company. He had a law degree and “pretended” to work there. Poor me if I had him as a lawyer reference in the company, everything would be in ruins.

My team was very well assembled and still had people who started with my father. This gave me wonderful support. In it was also my best friend, Saulo. We met as teenagers and this friendship has continued to this day. We studied together at the same school, at the same college and he was an excellent lawyer.

A true example of a professional and he had my complete trust. The brother I didn’t see in Matheus, I saw in Saulo.

He has always been my shoulder to cry on. He always listened to me when I vented about the rejection I felt from my mother, who was so opposed to the affection and love my father gave me. About my fights with Matheus, who seemed to want to compete with me ever since he was born, even though I always treated him with affection, with the care of an older brother.

And finally, it was Saulo who supported me when I lost my father. To this day I haven't dealt with it very well and I cried several times, especially when I was in his chair, in the President's office of AGM Construtora.

I felt lost and alone, for the first time in my life, without my father by my side. And every day I try to be my best and honor his name, the company's and our family’s.

With that, I ended up neglecting myself. It was a lot to absorb and command after my father left us. Today, at 26, it's not easy being who I am, with so many responsibilities on my back. Being the face of my family and the company, no scandal could have my name involved, especially since it would be one more thing for my mother to hold against me.

I lean back on the sofa, still working up the courage to go to work. These early morning arguments with my mother wore me down and left me in a terrible mood. I look at my watch and see that Saulo is about to arrive. My friend was going with me today, since his car was being serviced and we lived in the same gated community.

“Good morning, Mr. Caique.” I look at Magnolia, our dear housekeeper and smile at the white-haired woman. She is the sweetheart of our house and her affection for me moves me.