Episode 4

The next morning, Sophie woke up with a throbbing headache and blurry memories of the night before. She slowly got out of the guest bed, still wearing the wrinkled dress and smeared makeup. Entering the kitchen, she found Ricardo sitting at the table, engrossed in his phone, not even looking up when she came in.

The kitchen, usually full of light and life, felt cold and desolate. The white tiles and stainless-steel appliances reflected the chill that Sophie felt in her heart. She poured herself a cup of coffee, trying to calm the nerves that were beginning to stir inside her. She sat down across from him, observing him silently for a moment before speaking.

"Ricardo, last night, I arrived late and you didn't even notice," she said, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and reproach.

Ricardo looked up, surprised by Sophie's tone.

"I'm sorry, I was tired and fell asleep," he replied, shrugging as if leaving her waiting wasn't a big deal.

Sophie let out a deep sigh, her eyes filling with tears.

"It's not just last night, Ricardo. It's everything. I feel alone, ignored. Do you know how many times you've left me waiting? And yesterday was the last straw; you left me at the restaurant alone," she said, her voice breaking.

"By any chance...? Is there someone else, Ricardo, is that it?" The man became nervous; of course, there was someone else, only her; she didn't need to know. He calmed down and, in a relaxed voice, replied.

"Of course, there's no one else, don't make up stories in your head, the company is expanding and it's consuming all my time, that's all." His voice was no longer so cold, his tone was soft and conciliatory.

"If that's true, Ricardo, we need help, we need to talk to someone, who can help us find a balance." She proposed, hoping he would accept.

Ricardo frowned, uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation.

"Talk to someone? What do you mean?" he asked, although he already suspected the answer.

"Couple's therapy," Sophie said firmly. "We can't go on like this. If we don't do something, this will break completely, and I don't want that."

Ricardo was silent, looking at Sophie. He knew she was right, but the idea of going to therapy made him uncomfortable; besides, he wasn't sure he wanted to save their marriage; he no longer saw her with the same eyes as before.

"I don't know, Sophie. I'm not sure that will work," he said, trying to evade the situation.

Sophie leaned towards him, her eyes shining with determination.

"Ricardo, if you have ever loved me, if you have ever wanted to save this, please, do it for us. I'm only asking you to try," she pleaded, her voice soft but firm.

Ricardo sighed, feeling the weight of Sophie's words and, finally, nodded his head. He knew she wouldn't drop the subject; of course, he would later find a way to make her give up.

"Okay, I'll try," he said, resigned and with a forced smile.

Sophie felt a mixture of relief and hope. She knew the road would be difficult, but at least they had taken the first step.

Sophie watched Ricardo as he finished eating. In her mind, a whirlwind of emotions. "I'll take care of everything, I'll schedule the appointment and let you know, honey." Thank you for this, you don't know how afraid I am to lose you," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Ricardo smiled at her, but that smile didn't reach his eyes. Sophie's attitude, always behind him, chasing him like a dog to its master, bothered him. Before, her dependence was flattering, but now he detested it deeply.

Ricardo got up from the table, his impeccable grey suit and perfectly adjusted black tie. His shoes shone with a luster that reflected his meticulous attention to detail. He was an attractive man, with brown hair, greenish eyes, and fair skin. The small beard and mustache gave him a manly and interesting air. His body, carefully worked out, was one of the things Sophie admired most about him.

The businessman headed towards the door, leaving a light kiss on his wife's forehead. That small gesture made Sophie feel good, although she didn't know that he did it because he no longer felt like kissing her on the mouth as before. As Ricardo left the house, he wondered how much longer he could endure that charade, when he could finally be with his beloved Ivette Parisi.

Ricardo Conti.

He took his car, an elegant black sedan, and headed to his company, Conti Progetti di Lusso. As he drove through the streets of Milan, his mind kept going over the problems he faced. His family had started in the world of architecture, dedicating themselves to high-level projects such as the restoration of historic buildings and the design of skyscrapers. But Ricardo had taken the company to new heights, expanding it into construction, design, and interior design, competing with giants such as Moretti & Figli Architetti and Glamour.

This family is not only dedicated to construction and design; it also owns many other companies and properties, such as clinics, shopping centers, and large hotel chains. Lately, they have been facing each other. The owner of this chain is a complete idiot, according to Ricardo; he is arrogant and cannot stand losing.

Ricardo had tried everything to attract high-profile clients, even hiring models like Ivette to act as brand ambassadors at exclusive events and advertising campaigns. However, his competition had adopted similar strategies and many more, winning important bids.

After a long journey, Ricardo arrived at his empire. Seeing him enter, everyone in the office immediately started working, aware of his bad mood after the news of losing another client.

The secretary dictated his schedule for the day, but he barely listened. He entered his office and, almost immediately, his partners began to call him, worried. Ricardo put his hands to his head and sighed deeply after hanging up. It was all crazy.

"Damn idiot!" He snapped, annoyed, referring both to his competitor and to the situation with Sophie and therapy. He felt that both were pushing him to the brink of despair.

The door to his office opened and a woman entered. She was a platinum blonde with green eyes, with a slim and well-proportioned body. Without saying a word, she went straight to Ricardo and threw herself into his arms, seeking his attention as always, making him feel like an idol.

Ivette Parisi.

"You finally arrived, my love. Why did you take so long? When are we going to live together?" She asked, kissing him passionately. Ricardo let himself go for a moment. He needed to distract himself, but he didn't give her the answer she expected.

"I don't want to talk about that for the moment. As you know, that idiot Moretti stole another client. We have to find a way to win next time," he said, his voice full of fury. The blonde rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, clearly annoyed.

"Don't make excuses, Ricardo. Tell me better that I don't want to continue and this ends today," she replied furiously. Ricardo got up quickly and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing her against him.

"Hey, my love, calm down. I just have to get out of this first. If I don't solve this, the company will lose, and that means our future too," he said, trying to calm her down. She smiled, happily, and kissed him again.

A while later, the blonde left the office, leaving Ricardo alone with his thoughts and the chaos that surrounded him. His father kept calling, but he didn't answer. The last thing he needed was more problems.

Meanwhile, in the office of Moretti & Figli Architetti e Glamour, two men were celebrating with a drink of whiskey. They had beaten the naive Ricardo Conti, an insignificant stone in their shoe, and neither he nor anyone else would beat the great Lorenzo Moretti.

"That idiot must be fuming!" A brown-haired man laughed.

"He deserves it for trying to meddle in my affairs," the other replied, raising his glass of whiskey.

"Let's celebrate at the usual club. A couple of beauties and a good whiskey, or would you prefer to call Tina, proposed the first friend, mocking.

"The first option. Tina is very intense, and that is a danger. For that reason, I spoke clearly to her, but even so, she didn't understand," replied Lorenzo, smiling with satisfaction.

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