Emma tried to remain calm and forced a change of subject:
-Forget it, let’s not talk about those misfortunes, Yoli, I recently found a restaurant, do you want to go with me? It’s been a while since we went out.
Yoli sighed thinking about her current situation:
-I can’t go out the last few days to avoid reprisals from those people who think they are the recording.
Emma was a little surprised, and only a moment later she added:
-What would you like to eat, I can bring it to you.
-Sure, I just had a piece of fruit today and I happen to be a little hungry.
-All right.
Emma arrived ten minutes later with food and was very happy to see her:
-Yoli, that restaurant bought a bunch of fresh shrimp today, and I thought you might like them.
The various boxes were lined up on the table and the smell was lovely.
Yoli was really hungry, as she and Emma chatted, they soon finished their meal.
-It’s really good, I’ve eaten it all,” she said to Emma embarrassed looking at the few meals left on the table.
Emma ducked her head and pretended to pick up her things, but then turned her head and smiled at him:
-If you like the food in this restaurant, I’ll pack it for you every day.
Yolanda’s eyes lit up when she heard this, she was tired of the food prepared by the maids and couldn’t go out these days, and Emma could fix all that.
Yolanda’s eyes were full of emotion as she took Emma’s hand:
-Thank you, you are the best. I’m sorry for what happened, but don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you.
Emma looked at her and smiled:
-Yoli, don’t blame yourself, I’ve thought about it in the last few days, I know the situation at the time, you were forced to do it, don’t worry.
-That’s good -Yolanda had a smile on her face.
Emma talked to her for a while and excused herself to leave.
As she walked out the door, the smile on her face disappeared and she called Mia:
-She ate everything, don’t worry….. Okay, I can see that.
Emma hung up the phone with a cold smile on her face.
“Being used by Yolanda over and over again, as her bitch, did she think I’m a fool? This time I would show her that even though my family wasn’t that good, I would teach her a lesson.”
***
As the contest approached, Albina left work later and later, often cutting out time for meals and sleep to touch up her designs.
At the office, Lila still treated her with contempt, but she didn’t know if it was because of last time or because of Umberto, only daring to talk about her behind her back.
The news that Umberto was Albina’s ex-husband didn’t spread around the company either.
Albina was relieved to learn this. Lila did not like him, so, she would not spread that news on his behalf in the company.
While she was working tirelessly, Umberto was having a hard time. He felt it had been a long time since he had seen Albina and he missed her so much.
Sergio came to his house again, sitting in the living room, drinking tea,
-I wonder why you can’t get a wife, your father could already run when I was your age.
Umberto was looking at his papers when he heard the words:
-Grandfather, Albina is in a critical period, it’s better not to disturb her.
Sergio shook his head and told him seriously:
-You don’t understand, the contest is in three days, it’s the most nervous moment, now if you stay with her and give her support, she will surely like you more.
Umberto had not wanted to listen to Sergio’s nonsense, but suddenly he felt that his grandfather was right:
-So, grandfather, shall I go now?
-Of course!
Umberto looked at the papers in his hands and pretended to be very distressed:
-But now I have a lot of papers, and I have to give them to Ruben this afternoon, so if I can’t finish it? Forget it, I’d better take care of the papers first and then leave.
Sergio was very clear about what his grandson meant:
-Give them to me, I’ll take care of them, your top priority now is to marry Albina.
A neighbor had already been with his great-grandson for some time. How could he be one step behind? Sergio seemed so excited as he thought about it.
When Umberto came out after changing, he looked at Sergio and asked Alonso, who had been at his grandfather’s side for many years:
-Isn’t the grandfather the one who can’t stand the documents the most?
Alonso knew what the latter was thinking and whispered in Umberto’s ear:
-The gentleman is not looking at the papers, he is looking at his great-grandson.
Umberto was speechless
***
It was the weekend and Albina should be home by now.
Umberto went to Albina’s house unannounced, with the gifts he had already prepared.
When he got out of the car, he met Miguel, who had the same idea, to give Albina a chance to relax. The two looked at each other and the air seemed to explode.
-Miguel, I warned you before not to come to Albina.
Umberto deliberately unbuttoned his shirt to expose the red scratches that had not fully healed.
-You and Albina are divorced now and the woman is single, I still have the chances.
-Albina doesn’t like you.
-She has never said this. I took care of Albina during the year she was missing, day and night, alone, how do you know what we did? Don’t forget that the first time Albina showed up in front of everyone, she was my girlfriend. You, an ex-husband, it’s better not to mess with us.
Umberto wanted to punch him hard when he heard that.
Miguel finished talking and entered the building before Umberto, he wanted to get ahead of Umberto and get a date with Albina.
Umberto looked behind his back, dialed a phone directly, said a few words and continued standing without the slightest movement.
After two minutes, Miguel came out of the building in a rage and, seeing Umberto, rushed at him and tried to grab him by the neck, but Umberto avoided him.
-Why are you so angry? Aren’t you going to see Albina? Why are you going out so soon?
Umberto had a smile on his face and looked at Miguel in a mocking way.
Miguel almost went crazy. This Umberto, his brother had always been praising him in front of him since he was a child, for being smart and honest.
But he was just a villain who used unseemly methods.
-Umberto, how dare you!