Chelsea was making tea for her mother when her phone started ringing, it was Fred calling her. For a small moment, she thought about rejecting the call but then remembered how kind and patient he has been with her in those last days, he did not deserve to be treated with indifference. He always cared about her, called her, comforted her when she needed him, but Steve didn't even bother to ask her why she had left the company so early that afternoon, knowing too well that she never did, and yet her heart wanted him, that was something she didn't understand and never would. It's funny the way human beings think, we're too complex machines to be understood."Hi Fred," she said as soon as answered the call."Hello beautiful, I'm calling you to find out if maybe tomorrow you'd like to go with me for a coffee, of course, if you have the day off.""Fred, I'm in the north of the city at my mother's house, I had to come here today unexpectedly, as her condition worsened. I'm sorry I didn't

Larissa is eager to let Chelsea know that her relationship with Steve is getting better and better, so she plans her second attack, inviting Fred to go with the pathetic asistant to the grandiose celebration she will do to celebrate her birthday and where the most important and wealthy people in Manhattan will be present.Many of his elite guests will be there, especially bloggers, his followers and allies in his programs, photographers, media, models, actresses, a whole range of characters from the world of art and entertainment. That afternoon, accompanied by her brother-in-law, she goes to the atelier of one of her favorite dressmakers, Giordano. It is one of the most renowned in the world of city fashion. Larissa has always got along with Larry, and that's a point in her favor. As she enters the VIP room, Larry looks at a magazine, which announces Jean Vincent's visit that weekend. He can't help but remember those moments of lust and passion with the prestigious French model

The bewilderment and sadness on Chelsea's face is evident, even if Fred doesn't want it, he could feel how much the news affected her."I think we'd better go." He said, and she nodded.Fred put his arm around her and they left the place. There were no questions or comments. It didn't have to be very smart to know what was going on. Fred drove up to the building, Chelsea smiled briefly and kissed him goodbye on the cheek."Will you be okay?" He finally asked."Yes, it's all right. I just need to rest.” She got out of the car and went into the building.Meanwhile, Steve grabs Larissa's arm and leads her into the hallway."Why did you do that?" He confronts her, visibly angry."Do what, Steve?""Don't be silly to me, Larissa. Why did you say that we're getting married?”"Love, don't be angry. My manager told me that my channel was declining in rankings and that I should do something to lift it up and I could only say that we would get married. And where's the downside, Steve. W

That Sunday, while Steve was still asleep, Larissa showed up at the Bullock mansion; Hugh was eating breakfast alone. Larry hadn't come back yet, but that's not a concern for him, since with his son's lifestyle, it wasn't strange for him to wake up away from home. "Dear father-in-law, how are you?""Good, Larissa. Did you eat breakfast? Come with me, these children of mine are nowhere to be found. "I'll gladly go with you, but only with coffee and no sugar." Hugh beckoned the maid to take care of his daughter-in-law with dignity.For him, she is the perfect wife, for the last two years of his relationship with Steve, she has always seemed to his like a beautiful woman, and above all wealthy. Andrew Hamilton, her father, who still lives in London, is an excellent investor in her trading company. As the maid pours him coffee, Hugh asks her about her father:"How's Andrew? When is he coming to Manhattan?”"Well, he's happy with the news of our marriage, and the truth is, I'm

Steve is overly anxious and worried, since he arrived at the hospital in the ambulance with his father, he hasn't heard from him and his condition. In his head he repeats the damn argument over and over again while feeling guilty about whatever happened to his father who doesn't have a diagnosis but he knew that Hugh's heart was not in the best condition, the years had passed and his father was no longer a strong oak. Evidently the words and tone he used upset his old man too much. "If something happens to my father because of me, I'm never going to forgive myself," he repeated to himself over and over in his head. For the umpteenth time, Steve called his brother only to get the same result, he didn't answer the call. How could he be so carefree? Sometimes he felt jealous of his brother, he had never been given the same responsibilities, as he was the youngest he was always allowed more freedoms, while Steve at twenty-one years old was already CEO of the family company, Gustavo at t

Chelsea and Gus stand there for a long time, in the middle of the main hall, doing absolutely nothing, while hugging each other with all the strength in the world. She believed that hugs were the best remedy for all ills, hugs and tea, there was something simply magical about that perfect combination. After a while, Gus took her by the shoulders and pulled her away from him so he could look her in the eye and said:"Let's see, now that we're both calmer, tell me, how did it all happen and why?" “The truth is, I don't know, I have no idea, I mean, not for sure, Steve's father told me that he wasn't being professional and that he couldn't allow that in the company, I think that somehow he found out about Steve and I, although I don't know how, no one ever caught us in anything strange; anyway, it's just a guess of mine, the fact is, I'm indeed unemployed with my mother's operation knocking on my door." She paused a little when she realized that her friend's cheeks were also wet "Wait

Larry called his brother full of anguish, he couldn't believe that his father had had a heart attack, with that was the opportunity for him to tell Hugh his truth. He wouldn't be to blame for his father's death, that's not it. Meanwhile, Steve drives back to his house, although Chelsea does not leave his mind, nor could he leave his father alone and much less the company, all the responsibility fell on his back again.Steve helped his father out of the car, Larry waited worriedly in the middle of the main hall. He reached out to help him."Dad! He hugged him. “Are you okay?”"For now, yes, son.” He leaned on his shoulder, and Larry led him to his room.Steve felt so guilty about what had happened that he barely said goodbye to go back to the office. Minutes later, he arrived at the company, some employees showing interest in Hugh's health, among them German, the security guard."Mr. Bullock, how is your father?" He asked worriedly "He's home now, he had a pre-heart attack. Fo

Chelsea spent the rest of the night thinking about how much her life had changed in such a short time. She never imagined that she would be fired from the job she had been so excited to get, much less that another opportunity as good as the one she had lost would appear. The other times Fred had suggested that she work at his company she never really considered, at least not in a serious way, she worked alongside the man she loved without knowing that it would be the cause of her dismissal. Another thing she kept thinking about that night was that Hugh Bullock had suggested to her that something was up to the competition and, if he found out that he would start working with them in just a few hours, he would confirm those suspicions; But that shouldn't matter to her. She did her job impeccably, she always did more than what was asked of her, they had only had one complaint from her on that occasion when one of the investors said that he was poorly attended, but she had not spoken

After all the things Steve had said to her, after the way he had treated her, or rather, mistreated her, Larissa didn't intend to sit idly by. She was aware that Steve was looking for any excuse to end the relationship, so going against him, reproaching him or answering him would be the end for her. She had to be very careful with her movements and that's exactly what she was doing, despite the pent-up rage she had, she knew how to control it and act as if nothing had happened. When she was absolutely sure that there was no sign of Steve in the whole area, she took her cell phone out of her bag and dialed the number of the only person who would be willing to comfort her at any time and no matter the circumstances."What good have I done to the world that the universe will respond to me with this pleasant surprise?" The male voice on the other end of the phone said."How exaggerated you are, Mick," she replied, smiling. "Tell me, are you very busy today?""I'm never busy for you

After that unexpected proposal, Chelsea spent the whole night thinking without stopping thinking, full of anguish and doubts. It was as if the universe had insisted on putting her to the test in those weeks, two irresistible proposals on Fred's part that put her in check in the face of her own reality. She had already agreed to work with him because of the same need she had to resolve her situation quickly. Now that second extremely tempting offer kept her awake, really marrying Fred, it was every woman's dream come true, he was handsome, wealthy and sincere."What else do you need, Chelsea?" She confronted herself. Again she and her feelings took a back seat, she had to do it so that she could have the money and that her mother would recover her health or at least that her years of life would be extended a little after that terrible disease attacked her. Susane was a strong woman, or seemed to be, working from dawn to dusk to give Chelsea everything she needed. When Victoria's m