Gains to Losses

Murilo

So I could avoid it completely and even when it concerned major financial decisions, I would still delegate the responsibility to others, preferably to Aquiles.

" You don't seem as worried as I thought you would be. In fact, not even a little bothered by the fact that Bruna is now in charge of our Marketing department " Aquiles pointed out sharply.

He seemed a bit confused by my calm attitude, for at any other time, I would have exploded with rage upon learning of such a stupefying fact.

" I believe that her being in the Marketing Department will allow me to have as little contact with her as possible, and that's good, don't you agree? " I said, feeling relieved.

"I think you are forgetting that you are now our poster boy and that contact with Bruna will be the last thing you can avoid, dear cousin.”

How could I have forgotten something so important?

Aquiles was right, and I again felt the anger overwhelm me, as I realized that the fact that I was completely involved in the new FERZ branding project was probably a strong reason for Bruna's choosing every sector of the entire company.

Following the logical reasoning that she, along with Ethan Constantino, wanted to make my life hell, she would take advantage of the new project to be closer to me and therefore cause more irritation and perhaps even harm to me.

What they intended to gain from this, I still didn't know, but of one thing I was sure, they had something in mind, and it was nothing good for me.

"Although I hate to do this, I have to agree with you, Aquiles.”

" There is something else I would like to remind you of, Murilo. Aquiles added, making me even more tense and worried, already anticipating what it would be. "I even think it will be more stressful than just a meeting or a sporadic photo session.”

" Just say it! " I said in a rude tone. "If it is not enough that Bruna is in our company, participating in our daily routine, is there more?”

" I am sorry to say, but yes, there is more " Aquiles confirmed "Our get-together party this year, as you may remember, will be a little different, and we have agreed to cede the house in Guarujá for FERZ's annual event and, as always, the organization is in charge of Marketing.”

I couldn't believe such a setback, and once again Aquiles was right, and I couldn't simply cancel the company's get-together party that was scheduled to take place in less than a fortnight. It would be very stressful for everyone involved, and doing it just because Bruna would now also be participating in the event was considered foolish on my part.

Everyone would believe that I still had feelings for Bruna and that just the fact of being in the same place as she would be able to shake me greatly, and that is why I did not agree to keep the initial idea. What a situation this is!

But I needed to remain calm because Bruna and her lover could not come out victorious from this little war they decided to declare to me, precisely the injured party in their rotten story.

" I say it again, I don't understand Constantino and Bruna's motives for pursuing you in this way, but it is becoming clearer and clearer, it is! " Aquiles summed up everything that was going on in my head at that moment.

" Clearer and more boring! " I complained "But I'm not going to fall into these cunning and absurdly clear traps they're setting for me, and whatever they're up to, they're not going to be victorious.”

"What do you intend to do?”

"I don't know yet, but I can tell you one thing, Aquiles. Two can play this game. Or better yet, three!”

If Bruna was thinking of destroying me or destroying my reputation, for some crazy kind of revenge, or whatever is going on in her head, she would not succeed.

" Now that we've talked about it, there is something I want to take up with you and I want your help, or rather your neutrality " I started to say, changing the subject.

Now that I had decided what I should do about Bruna and her current boyfriend, I was going to deal with much more important things than my cheating exfiancée.

I needed to tell Aquiles about Virginia, something I had been trying to do for several days but had been prevented from doing on every occasion, and now I could no longer put it off. Aquiles needed to know the truth through me because if I didn't, he might recognize her and cause some uneasiness for Virginia and I would never forgive myself if something like that happened, after all the difficulty I was going through to make her officially my woman.

Because informally, she already was and there was no doubt about that to me.

Virgínia

After I returned to the store, Murilo and I got into a routine, where he would first drop me off at the mall and only then go to the company and make a point of having lunch with me every day. At seventeen o'clock, he would come by the mall to pick me up, and together we would go to his apartment.

But on Friday morning, when we were on our way to the mall, Murilo again insisted that I should accept the offer he had made me to put a driver at my disposal, something he had already suggested I do, and I had resolutely refused.

" I don't need you to drop me off and pick me up every day at the mall, Murilo " I pointed out, "I said it earlier this week, and I'll say it again. I'm fine, and I can just call a cab or an Uber.”

He was driving, and his attention was totally focused on the intense traffic in São Paulo in the morning, and he didn't look at me back.

"I can tell you that I know you well enough to know that at the first opportunity, you will go to the mall by bus and that is unacceptable in your condition.”

" And I have already told you that most pregnant women do this every day, for lack of choice " I stubbornly put my foot down on that one more time.

Murilo then stopped at a traffic light, and only then did he give me a sharp, clearly annoyed look.

" But this is not your case, and I am giving you options, Virginia " He insisted on his point "You just have to stop being stubborn and accept it. I don't want you to take any unnecessary risks, and I won't be able to pick you up today because I have a meeting later this afternoon.”

I thought about refusing once again because I didn't believe it was necessary, but seeing how determined and upset Murilo seemed to be with me, I felt a bit swayed.

" I just want to ensure your safety and that of our son " He continued in a pleading tone.