Mess on the table

In the kitchen, all that was left was Thomas, quietly finishing his coffee and following the day's online news on his tablet, Lohan, standing there with a lost look on his face, staring at the empty space where Rachel had been, and Thiago, who had just positioned himself in front of Lohan, his countenance completely changed from when Rachel was still present.

- Hey, Lohan... - Thiago exclaimed, his voice carrying an intensity that hadn't been there moments before. - What was that all about?

Lohan, as if oblivious to what had happened, looked away and sat down again, in no hurry to finish his coffee.

- What was that? - he asked indifferently, trying to disguise the weight of the situation.

Thiago didn't hesitate. He moved closer, and his words cut through the air.

- Don't do that again! - he said firmly, his tone grave, almost desperate, as if it were an ultimatum.

Without waiting for an answer, he turned and headed for the door. Without even noticing the watchful eye of his father, who was now staring at him, tablet dropped on the table and a look of curiosity on his face. And, as he stood on the threshold of the exit, he muttered, without looking back:

- I'm going to work.

______________________________________________________

The production company's office is a vibrant and dynamic environment, with tables covered in sketches, fabric samples and historical references scattered throughout. The soft light of modern design lamps illuminates the space, while large windows offer a panoramic view of the city, still quiet before the frenetic movement of the day. At the center of this creative scene is Rachel, an experienced professional who is passionate about what she does. She listens attentively to her team's ideas about the costumes for the production company's newest project: an epic historical action film that tells the origin of a hero reborn.

The movie demands precision, as the costumes will be crucial to conveying the authenticity and grandeur of the era portrayed. Rachel knows that, for this type of movie, the costume tells the story all by itself. Every detail, from a simple brooch to an imposing cape, needs to be meticulously thought out, ensuring that the work is impeccable and faithful to the historical narrative.

The meeting continues to be lively, with the team making enthusiastic suggestions. Rachel, with the watchful eye of someone who understands the challenges of a project like this, takes notes as she absorbs each proposal. Her personal assistant Laura, sitting next to her, observes everything closely, ready to intervene when necessary. Laura, with her calm and organized demeanor, is Rachel's right-hand woman. She has a unique ability to manage the chaos surrounding these major projects, keeping everything on track.

- Rachel, the costume material for the hero is ready. We can start the analysis as soon as the meeting is over,” says Laura, with an assured smile, handing over a notebook full of detailed notes.

Rachel looks at her gratefully and nods.

- Great, Laura, thanks. We'll take a look as soon as we've finished. And get the models ready for the cast meeting, please,” replies Rachel, with the same devoted attention she has for the team.

Meanwhile, the team discusses the latest suggestions. The members are excited, and Rachel feels the positive energy in the air. She leans forward, marking the end of the meeting.

- Guys, you've done an amazing job gathering all this material! - says Rachel, a satisfied smile on her face. - Now, our next meeting will be to present the costumes to the main cast. Get ready to rock!

The room fills with murmurs of approval and excitement. Everyone knows they're about to create something great.

At the end of the meeting, the team members are divided into two groups of three: the first, led by Laura, who is ready to make sure no detail is forgotten, is in charge of preparing the presentation for the cast of the historical film, and the other, led by Rachel, goes to the set to finish the last chapter of the series they are working on.

- Make sure everything is ready for the weekend, Laura. I want the cast to be happy with the costumes they've chosen, it's very important that everyone is comfortable in their outfits," Rachel orders with the confidence of someone who knows she's in good hands.

Laura smiles and nods, already organizing everything to make the transition as smooth as possible.

- It's okay, Rachel. I'll take care of it," she replies with the calmness of someone who has anticipated every need.

The meeting ends just before lunch, and as soon as Rachel picks up her cell phone, a message from Thomas appears on the screen.

"Are you ready? Let's have lunch together!"

It was typical of him to always have an agenda. In the fifteen years they'd been married, the times they'd had lunch together just for fun were rare. Almost always there was a hidden agenda - business or some obligation to Thomas' family. Rachel took a deep breath, thought for a second, and replied:

"Let's get on with it. I had planned to have lunch with my team.

Actually, what she had planned was to have lunch alone after dismissing everyone for the break, with an agreement to meet later on the set. But there was no need to tell Thomas.

"Cancel your lunch and meet me at the usual restaurant!"

He was as uncompromising as ever, no concessions, no room for negotiation. Thomas wanted things his way, and Rachel hated that. But for the sake of peace and not complicating her career, she avoided getting into arguments.

"Okay."

Distractedly organizing the small mess on the table, Rachel lost herself in her own thoughts, trying to guess what Thomas wanted this time. "Money? That would be the last thing he'd ask me for. Help with the job? No, he's too proud for that. But... wait a minute..." She paused, put aside a pile of magazine clippings, and picked up her purse from the shelf in the corner of the room. "The last time we had lunch together, he asked me to convince Lana to star in his series. And there was this other lunch where he brought three actors for me to choose who would be best as a surgeon because he couldn't decide between them who would be the best protagonist for his hospital series. So who knows, maybe he'll need help again?"

In the elevator, Rachel smiled with satisfaction as she imagined that Thomas, despite underestimating her, might be about to ask for her help again.

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