Episode 5

Santiago is sorting through some papers when suddenly the door to his office bursts open; he looks up just in time to see his grandmother Giovanna enter with total elegance and sophistication.

⎯ Hello, darling.

⎯ Grandma, what are you doing here?⎯ he asks as he closes the folder in front of him and stands up.⎯ I didn't know you were coming.

⎯ It's my company, I can come whenever I want and I don't need to schedule an appointment.

⎯ I didn't mean that.⎯ he squeezes his pen.

⎯ I want to know if you've thought about my proposal.

⎯ More than a proposal, it's an ultimatum.⎯ he settles into his seat and leans his back against the backrest.

⎯ Honey, I just want you to be happy, that plastic woman is just using you.

⎯ Nona, my sweet nona, I'm happy in my own way. You know very well that I don't believe in marriage and I don't want to have a child, only to leave him alone in this cruel world.

⎯ My beautiful boy, history doesn't have to repeat itself.

⎯ You don't know that. ⎯ he stands up and walks to her side.⎯ Who assures you that I will live long enough to see him grow up?

⎯ No one, but you don't know when the day of your death will be either.⎯ Giovanna stands up, walks to his side and caresses his cheek.⎯ I want you to meet someone, just promise me you'll think about it.

⎯ I need time, two months are not enough.

⎯ You have a year.

⎯ Why the change of attitude?

⎯ If in two months you don't marry that woman and start a family, I myself will find a wife for you, who is willing to ruin her figure in order to give you a child and that, darling, will take me longer than you think.

⎯ It won't be necessary. Diana and I understand each other.

⎯ But you don't love each other.

⎯ Love is a feeling that makes you weak, dreamy and manipulable. Understand my beautiful nona, I am not like that.

⎯ You speak like that because you have not yet met the woman who steals your heart.

⎯ I have no heart.

She shakes her head and looks at his beautiful eyes that, being next to her, change to a very beautiful green.

⎯ Well, I don't want us to keep arguing, you know I love you.

⎯ I know.

⎯ One day you'll have to tell me. ⎯ she walks away and picks up her purse.⎯ I'm leaving, the girls are waiting for me to play canasta and it's late.

⎯ I'll walk you out.

Santiago took his grandmother by one of her arms and together they left the office, he called his private elevator and once the woman said goodbye with a kiss on the cheek, he returned to his office and threw everything that was on his desk.

Now he had a date and time was running fast.

Trevor, hearing such a crash, grabbed the information he had collected and went to see his friend. Upon entering, Santiago was standing in front of the window and from the way his shoulders rise and fall rhythmically he can notice that he is controlling his breathing and trying to relax.

⎯ What happened here?

⎯ My grandmother came. ⎯ he says as he turns and heads to the bar.⎯ I have a year to marry Diana and give her a grandchild or she'll take everything from me.

⎯ Relax, I have something that might interest you.

⎯ What is it about?

⎯ I analyzed your idea and I think it can be carried out. Here.⎯ he hands him the folder.

⎯ Is this real?

⎯ Yes, in these countries surrogate motherhood is legal and you just have to choose the mother and inseminate her with your sperm and Diana's egg.

⎯ Great. I'll talk to Diana about it.

⎯ Sounds perfect, how about we get out of here now?

⎯ Let's go, I'll clean up the office tomorrow.⎯ Santiago comments, looking at everything on his desk scattered on the floor.

⎯ You have to hire a secretary.

⎯ No, never, you know I don't like anyone touching my things.

⎯ Then hire someone to help me, I can't be a secretary, lawyer, investigator and everything else you can think of.

⎯ I'll think about it.

⎯ I'm serious, I need help.

⎯ Ok.

Both friends leave the building and go to the private parking lot, Santiago was of extravagant tastes so from afar he deactivated the doors of his Rolls Royce and Trevor smiles at that action.

After taking a couple of laps around the city, they arrive at the club and park in front of the door, seeing that the line to enter was quite long, they put on their vip bracelets and get out of the car.

⎯ Good evening.⎯ they greet the security man and raise their wrists although they know it is not necessary since they recognize them as frequent customers.

⎯ Good evening, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Santoro. Welcome in.⎯ he opens the chain that prevents the others from entering and they advance.

⎯ Thank you.

⎯ Enjoy your night at the club "The Mask".

⎯ Thank you.⎯ Trevor replies and gives him a tip.

Santiago, looks around and is distracted seeing a young woman clumsily carrying a tray with two drinks, then she arrives at the table and argues with a man who tries to touch her butt and struggles to sit her on his lap.

⎯ I already told you no, don't insist!

⎯ Come on, honey, everyone here is looking for fun.

⎯You're wrong, I just serve tables, that's my job.

Santiago feels annoyed to see that the man at all costs wants to touch her hips and she doesn't let him. Until one of the bar's security guards intervenes and they drag the customer away, visibly that damn man is drunk and just looking for trouble.

Karen passes between two men and apologizes for interfering in their way while stretching her skirt.

⎯ Excuse me.⎯ she murmurs holding the tray tightly to contain the terrible desire to cry.

⎯ Don't worry.⎯ replies Santiago who doesn't take his eyes off her.

She arrives at the bar, places the tray on it and begins to shake her hands in a strange way, then she pops her fingers and moves her neck as if preparing to return to the fight. For some reason Santiago is amused to see all that preparation; then he comes up with an absurd idea and that was to take the place of that bastard.

⎯ Come on Trevor, let's go to that table.⎯ he points.

⎯ But that's not the vip area.⎯ he protests.

⎯ I know, but I want to try something different.

⎯ Okay.⎯ he accepts dejectedly.⎯ It seems like I won't be able to have fun today.

⎯ It'll only be for an hour and then we'll go to our usual table.

⎯ Okay, I'm dying for my beautiful dark-haired girl to agree to be with me tonight.⎯ Trevor replies when he sees a woman dressed as a cowgirl and matching mask passing by.⎯ Tonight I want you to tame me!⎯ he shouts and she simply shakes her head and keeps moving forward.

⎯ You won't get anything that way, you have to look for her elsewhere. She already told you that she doesn't sleep with bar customers and only comes to dance.

⎯ I know, but it's a mystery.

Donato tells Karen that she has new customers at her table, she sighs and takes the tray again and with firm, but slow steps goes back to her assigned table.

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