3 - Stepdaughter?

Gustavo: Are the files already on my desk, Soares? - Gustavo asks as he passes through the hallway like a hurricane and doesn't even notice the teenager sitting on the couch, reading Karl Marx's "Das Kapital" in a fun way. Cecília gets up and follows him.

Cecília: Yes, they are, Mr. Giordano. - She says to the hurried man who grabs the sheets and goes to the elevator.

Gustavo: While I go to the meeting, you tell me what we have - Gustavo says, getting into the elevator and Cecília in tow. - And Cecília... - Gustavo calls the woman before they get into the elevator. - Don't ever make me ride the subway again unless it's absolutely necessary.

Cecília: Yes, Mr. Giordano. - She says, fiddling with her glasses nervously - And about the notes... I took the liberty of putting a few more things in the material. - Cecília says, still shy.

Gustavo: Go ahead.

Cecília: Here are all the profits from the last few years, as you requested, a comparison with the amount raised by your father during his years as CEO, a graph showing the growth of L-Corp shares in recent years thanks to the positive publicity for the company with the donations made by you, and finally, a list of awards that the company has won in recent years. It's all pretty self-explanatory - She says proudly of her daughter.

Gustavo: The data is better than I thought, Soares. - He says, looking at the spreadsheet and the presentation made. - Wish me luck. - Gustavo says, leaving the elevator and heading towards the meeting room.

Cecília: Good luck, Mr. Giordano. - Cecília says, and the elevator doors close.

Gustavo then arrives at the meeting room door and holds the doorknob, taking a deep breath. Time for the meeting of your life.

Gustavo: So there was a meeting going on and I wasn't called? How sad. - Gustavo says, entering the room, and everyone looks at him, white with fear. They messed with a Giordano, he wouldn't forgive so easily.

- Mr. Giordano...

Gustavo: So... Why are we here? - He asks the shareholders

- We don't believe your story - Edge says. - You probably made up a story in the heat of the moment, Giordano.

Gustavo: Listen here. - He says - Unlike you, I like to keep my personal life hidden from the spotlight. But my personal life won't matter compared to the prospects we'll have if they remove me from power - Gustavo says as he distributes the notes he had ordered Cecília to make. - As you can see... my profit margin in 4 years of the company was the same amount as my father's in 30 years as CEO, and the future forecasts are even better. Besides... the shares are overvalued thanks to me, in short, gentlemen: If they remove me, you speak up. - He says, crossing his arms at the end of the table while the men stare at each other, undecided about what to do now. He had a point.

(...)

Loise: A latte please - Loise asks the waitress at the L-Corp cafeteria for her drink while holding her book in her hand - Thank you Anne.

Anne: On your mother's tab, El? - The waitress asks and Loise denies

Loise: No Anne. Here it is - She says handing the money to the waitress and going to the table at the back of the cafeteria and sitting there to continue reading while her mother's shift didn't end.

Anne: Mr. Giordano. - Anne greets the boss - What a surprise! Usually it's Cecília who comes to get their coffees.

Gustavo: I decided to change things up a bit - He says simply. That meeting had been tiring and the dark-haired man urgently needed a plan. He only managed to postpone it, the partners and shareholders would return to the subject sooner or later. They would demand to see his fiancée and stepdaughter. But what now? Where would he get a fiancée and a stepdaughter?!

Anne: Changes are sometimes positive. - The woman says, handing the coffee to the boss and winking. The other just smiled at the advice and left to sit at the tables.

Gustavo: Think, Giordano! Think - He says, patting his head - Think... Think - Gustavo says and takes a sip of coffee and watches the people in the cafeteria. But something caught his attention, a girl sitting at the last tables with a cup in one hand, and a book by Karl Marx in the other. She was extremely engrossed in reading. - This is a strange scene. - The CEO says, approaching the girl and getting her attention.

Loise: Which one? - Loise says, looking at the CEO and realizing who it was - Are you... Are you Gustavo Giordano? - The girl asks

Gustavo: Yes, I am, why? - He asks the girl, who offers him a chair to sit in.

Loise: We can say that I'm a fan of yours. - She says and Gustavo sits down with her.

Gustavo: Quick question: why is someone your age reading Karl Marx? – He asks the girl, intrigued.

Loise: He interpreted capitalism like no one else. I like to read to understand how all this is here - The girl says, making a circle around her head as if to say the company and its entire system. - It works. I believe that you can only manage something when you know how it works. - Loise explains.

Gustavo: You're not wrong - Gustavo tells the girl. - But it's still strange.

Loise: Strange is just a matter of point of view. - Loise answers the dark-haired man, shrugging and closing the book. - There's no age to be intelligent, Mr. Giordano.

Gustavo: I liked you. - He says and at that moment, by a twist of fate, or his bad luck, Edge appears at the diner and finds Gustavo smiling next to a girl, could it be? No... could it really be true? He had to prove it.

- So it really was true... - Morgan says, interrupting Gustavo and Eloise's conversation, scaring Gustavo.

Gustavo: Edge. - He says the guy's name and Loise looks at him, deducing that he was one of the shareholders. - What are you doing here?

- I'm also human and I came to have a coffee, Giordano. And I'm glad I came, now I can know that your fiancée and stepdaughter really exist. - He says and Gustavo tenses up. He thinks the girl is his stepdaughter, what now? What would he do? Oh my! Gustavo was lost.

Loise: I exist? What do you mean? - Loise asks, looking at both of them, searching for an answer.

- And she still reads Capital... Giordano hit the nail on the head - The man continues talking and Gustavo goes into shock. The girl had been approved by the board and didn't even need to say anything. What if she denied Morgan there? What would happen? - Is she going to the annual dinner this weekend with you and your fiancée?

Fiancée? Stepdaughter? Loise was confused, the last time she checked, her mother didn't even have a boyfriend. Could it be that Cecília was hiding it the whole time? No. She would never hide that. Then Loise stands up, understanding everything, Gustavo was using her at that moment to get the board's approval, and a Soares would never be used.

Loise: I'm going now. My mother must be looking for me by now - Loise speaks coldly and dryly, she could very well deny everything, do what Gustavo didn't do, but the man would be in worse shape to deny everything later, so the best option for Loise was the worst for Gustavo. - Take care - she says and leaves, taking her cell phone out of her pocket to call her mother and find out where she was. Thank God her shift was already over.

- I liked her. She seems down to earth, her mother must be similar - Edge says - Like I said, I hope to see you at the party. Goodbye Giordano. - Edge says and leaves, leaving Gustavo alone, and once again, desperate.

Gustavo: What did I do? - He says, slapping his hand on his forehead in resignation. Where would he find that girl again? And how could he convince her to pretend to be his stepdaughter?