Episode 5

Sophie Dubois came out of the shower, letting the hot steam momentarily dissipate her worries. She dried off quickly and put on her favorite dress, one that always gave her confidence. With her hair still damp, she headed to her room, where her phone rested on the nightstand. She picked it up with trembling hands and dialed her best friend Isabella's number.

"Isa, you can set up the appointment whenever you want, Ricardo agreed," Sophie said, her voice vibrating with emotion.

On the other end of the line, Isabella let out a joyful cry.

"How exciting, friend! I'll get on it right away. Don't worry, you'll see that everything will get better," Isabella replied, sharing Sophie's euphoria. She knew how important this step was for her friend, and she was determined to help her overcome her emotional dependency.

Hanging up, Isabella wasted no time. She dialed the number she had been given when the specialist, Leonardo Moretti, was recommended to her. The call was answered by a friendly secretary who, after a few minutes, confirmed the appointment, providing the time and address of the office.

"Yes, soon friend, soon you will be free from that jerk!" Isabella exclaimed to herself, doing a little victory dance in her living room. She took her phone and sent the appointment details to Sophie, sure that Ricardo would not show up. That's why she had decided to accompany them with the excuse that, having made the appointment, she had to be present at least in the reception area. In reality, she wanted to be there to support Sophie and talk to the doctor about her friend's situation.

Everything had gone according to plan. The appointment was assigned and Sophie was convinced. All that was missing was for the day to arrive and that was it, Isabella thought, as a smile of satisfaction drew on her face.

Elsewhere, a few hours later, two handsome men dressed in tailored suits were having a drink in a luxurious club of which Lorenzo Moretti and Alejandro Caruso were members.

The dim light of the place was reflected in the glasses of their drinks, creating an atmosphere of sophistication and exclusivity. Both had been best friends since childhood and partners in various businesses, united by an unbreakable friendship and a life of luxury.

Alejandro Caruso, an entrepreneur in the construction and design field, owner of an advertising company, among other properties, was the first to stand out. At 29 years old, single and living in Milan, Alejandro was a tall man, five foot eleven; an athletic body, although not as large as Lorenzo's, was the desire of any woman; his beautiful gray eyes and dark brown hair contrasted with his fair skin. He only had to arrive at a place and sit down to receive the looks of all the ladies present.

Alejandro had studied at the best universities with his best friend. They were the terror of women, always breaking hearts but talking to them straight. Alejandro was relaxed, funny and very outgoing, always with a smile on his face and a joke ready to break the ice.

Alejandro Caruso.

"Have you noticed the brunette at the bar?" Alejandro said, pointing discreetly with his glass.

Lorenzo Moretti, his friend and partner, was another heartbreaker. Tall, with black hair, blue eyes and an Adonis-like body, Lorenzo had an imposing presence. His personality was more serious; he was not one to make jokes like Alejandro.

At 30 years old, he dedicated himself to his many companies and, since he was put in charge of his family's largest companies, he had not stopped growing them and creating branches. He came from a wealthy family known by their last name, although he was not very showy.

Lorenzo Moretti

"You're always in hunting mode, aren't you?" Lorenzo replied with a slight smile, taking a sip of his whiskey.

Alejandro laughed, a warm and contagious sound that made several heads turn in his direction.

"Life is short, my friend. You have to enjoy it," he said, raising his glass in a toast.

Lorenzo avoided being caught on camera. All his interviews were for magazines and without photos. He also tried not to be involved in controversies and gossip. For that, whenever he went out, he did it in exclusive places and making sure that his one-night stands kept silent. Although he was not the type to give flowers and chocolates, he gave money, and a lot of it, because he had plenty to spare.

Women were always captivated by him, but Lorenzo was not into dramas or relationships, having grown up in a dysfunctional family made him not believe in those sentimental things, his parents loved each other only in front of people until one day they both got tired of that farce now his mother has a good man who has known how to love them all even so he still does not believe in marriage.

"Let's toast to that," said Lorenzo, clinking his glass with Alejandro's.

Luckily and peacefully for Lorenzo, his family did not resort to blackmailing him into marrying in order to give him control of the companies, because they knew he was capable of paying a wife and continuing in his ways, and his brothers did not want control of the companies, at least not the construction and design ones.

Lorenzo was the eldest of four siblings, followed by the 28-year-old Clinical Psychologist and Couple and Family Therapist Leonardo Moretti, he would not be in charge of the company because he loved managing the family's clinics and there were many, he also loved helping people even if they could not pay for it, he was the opposite of Lorenzo who was less credulous in people and feelings.

Leonardo Moretti.

After him came Leandro Moretti, 24 years old, professional motorcycle and car racer and in charge of Moretti Motori, he was a fun, handsome and relaxed man, also a lover of speed and very sociable, but he did not want the construction companies or the responsibility of the other properties.

Leandro Moretti.

And finally came the little Bianca Moretti, she is an artist and designer with a specialty in fine arts, she has her own line of clothing and accessories, she is also passionate about painting and even has galleries full of her works, she is sweet, affectionate and free-spirited.

She has an artistic nature that makes her see beauty in everything around her. Despite her kind nature, she does not hesitate to put her brothers in their place when necessary, demonstrating an inner strength that surprises many. She is the "princess" of the family, not only because she is the youngest, but also because of her classic Italian beauty: blonde, with green eyes and a natural elegance, she also does not want to lock herself in four walls to run an empire, this leaves Leandro in charge of everything.

Lorenzo and Alejandro continued to sit in the club, surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere of lights and music. Next to Lorenzo, a woman with a charming smile was trying to catch his attention, but he was absorbed in his conversation with Alejandro about future business. Alejandro, however, was barely listening, fascinated by the beauty of the woman next to him.

"You can stop talking about work and relax, you need to enjoy the pleasures of life" he observed to the woman who accompanied him.

"I will, but that won't give us money" he defended himself.

"You're not going to ruin yourself either, even if you lose three properties, and tell me, how are you doing with the dinner that your mother wants to prepare?" Alejandro asks.

"Well, I haven't answered her calls, she thinks we have time for visits, I should talk to Leonardo to see if he knows what it's about, although he'll want me to visit him at the clinic and..." Lorenzo began

"You don't have time, I know your speech by heart" Leonardo laughs.

"Don't make fun of me, it's true, besides he insists on wanting to use his psychology on me, he got married and is happy, I don't want that yet" he speaks and the woman next to him is uncomfortable even though she only smiles.

Suddenly, Lorenzo's phone vibrated in his pocket. Seeing his brother's name on the screen, he sighed and answered.

"You're not going to die, I was talking about you," Lorenzo said, with a mixture of irony and affection.

"Oh, yes, that's good. Come to my office, please, to talk. But it must be this week. How about the day after tomorrow? Because next week I might be on leave for the birth of my firstborn," Leonardo announced, with evident joy in his voice.

"Okay, there's no point in arguing with you, but don't try to psychoanalyze me," Lorenzo replied, resigned to his brother's insistence.

"I promise. Go early, when I finish my only appointment that day that I can't postpone, we'll talk. Besides, you love my lounge," Leonardo laughed, trying to lighten the tone.

"Goodbye, see you then," said Lorenzo, hanging up the phone. Alejandro, who had been watching the conversation, smiled and commented, "Your brother always knows how to make you go."

Lorenzo nodded, looking at his friend. The night at the club continued somewhat lively for both of them.

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