Episode 14

Eva talked to Dereck for a bit. He didn't know what else to say in such a situation. Dereck couldn't handle these kinds of family matters very well. He was very close to his mother, and it was with her that he confided his fears. After Marta passed away, Dereck withdrew into his solitary world.

Despite living completely in solitude, Dereck would visit his father and sometimes call him to resolve work matters.

"Please come to my office." He called for Evelyn.

Quickly, the redhead appeared in his office.

"Mr. Norton, what do you need?" Evelyn asked with a smile.

"Evelyn, please have a seat. I need to ask you something."

He spoke with a hint of frustration.

"Go ahead, sir."

"I have a friend who is married, and lately, he's been acting very strangely. He used to be caring and attentive to his wife, but suddenly, he's become inattentive, leaving the house and reappearing days later as if nothing happened. Evelyn, give me your opinion, what do you think is happening with this friend?"

Evelyn's eyes widened, perplexed by his question.

"Mr. Norton, this is a matter that, without knowing who it involves, I can't really give an opinion on, but the fact that this man is acting strangely means that something must be happening in his life that he doesn't want his family to know about."

"And what could it be, Evelyn? What is he hiding?"

Dereck raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"Sir, I can't answer that question. But regardless of who it is, you need to sit down and talk to this man. Nobody knows what he's going through."

Dereck looked at her with admiration.

Wordlessly and timidly, she opened her lips, revealing a charming smile.

Dereck's heart skipped a beat as he watched the beautiful smile escape Evelyn's lips.

"Thank you for your opinion. You can go back to your desk."

Dereck cleared his throat, coughing simultaneously, and tried to loosen his tie.

"Let me help you, sir."

Evelyn helped him loosen the tie, which Dereck, in his nervousness, couldn't manage.

"There you go, sir."

She was very close to his face.

The scent of her perfume filled the CEO's nostrils, disturbing him.

"Thank you," he said without looking at her.

"Excuse me." She left, leaving Dereck completely flustered in his chair.

"What's happening to me?" he asked himself, watching her through the office's glass window.

Evelyn looked at him and smiled again.

That made Dereck even more nervous, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

He got up from the comfort of his chair and hurried to the bathroom to wash his face.

"Wake up, Dereck." He slapped his face as if trying to wake from a dream. "Evelyn Aguiar is just my secretary." He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm as he stared at his reflection in the mirror.

He stayed in the bathroom longer than expected.

"Why can't I stop thinking about that redhead's beautiful smile? That woman must have put a spell on me."

He left the bathroom and closed the curtains. Leaving them open would make things even more difficult.

At the end of the afternoon, Evelyn finished her work.

"Just ten minutes until I can leave. I can't stand these heels anymore. They're hurting my feet."

She looked down at her feet and saw that they were injured.

Dereck left the office and walked past Evelyn in silence.

"Sir?" she called out, wincing in pain. "Could you give me a ride to Morumbi?" Dereck stopped immediately upon hearing Evelyn's voice.

"I'm not a taxi driver, nor am I a charity, Miss Aguiar, to give you a ride."

He looked at her with disdain and then left.

Evelyn snorted in anger, cursing him under her breath.

With difficulty, she made her way to the elevator and then to the building's reception.

As she walked out the door, she ran into the last person she expected.

"Evelyn? What are you doing here?" Marcelo was waiting for a client who had requested a ride.

He was now working as a taxi driver to supplement his income.

"Marcelo?" Evelyn replied, surprised and embarrassed at the same time.

"I thought you were in Rio de Janeiro? Did you arrive today?"

He asked, staring into her eyes.

"Yes, I arrived today," she lied, feeling a deep sadness inside.

"Come on, I'll take you home." He smiled kindly as he opened the car door, then added: "Girl, I don't have much time." He winked at her, trying to hurry Evelyn along.

Evelyn's feet were killing her. She even thought about refusing, but she couldn't bear to walk to the nearest bus stop.

She got into the car with Marcelo, holding her hands cordially.

From across the street, a pair of hazel eyes watched Evelyn and Marcelo.

As the taxi started its engine to pull away, Dereck Norton stared at the couple who had just gotten in.

"How pathetic!" he scoffed at himself after regretting not giving Evelyn a ride.

Returning to the front of the company, he contemplated the romantic scene. He had no doubt. That man was Evelyn's boyfriend.

A wave of sadness washed over his heart.

"Take me to Adriano's apartment," he muttered to the driver, who was attentively awaiting his orders.

Inside Marcelo's car, the atmosphere was somber. The two friends were silent during the ride.

"I think it's best to take you to the hospital. Your wounds are very exposed. If you don't take care of them, it could get worse."

Marcelo broke the silence that surrounded them.

"There's no need, Marcelo... I just want to go home and rest."