Pietro Ricci Narrating:
Women! If there is one thing I love on this earth, it is women. Their looks, their delicate mouths, their perfect bodies, cellulite? I don't mind. I like it, actually.
More textures to explore! I like to draw every part of their bodies. Fat, skinny, they are all perfect.
I wake up and Cybele's face comes to my mind, I shake my head and quickly get out of bed to close the curtain, cutting the sun from entering the room.
I look at the redhead next to me, lying face down next to me, beautifully smiling at me. She bids me a sly good morning and turns to face me with her body wrapped in the sheet. I come closer, hold her arms, and lie on top of her.
The redhead hugs her legs to my hips. I smell the scent of her neck, and she sighs softly and looks up at me.
- I will never forget this night! - She looks at me biting her lips, and her green eyes are reflected in the sun, and her hair of fire makes me excited. - Stay for breakfast!
Her French accent turns me on, and I'm not an idiot to turn down breakfast.
I've never been the type to sneak out, scared and never call, I call, send flowers. Because they all deserve to be treated as unique.
But soon I remember that I have to pick up my son, and my real world comes into my mind, but I don't want to stop to think about it, I feel as good as I ever will. I am honestly trying to forget Amanda's cutting words, she was not wrong to feel that way.
But it was okay, I wanted to be okay. And it was all going to come true when I took my son in my arms.
- Unfortunately, I have something I can't be late for! - I say, looking into his eyes, and bring my head up to his neck, leaving marks, kissing and biting him lightly. - But can I come back tonight? I raise my eyebrows.
The redhead looks at me with narrowed eyes and says: - Well, if that's so! She kisses my cheek and the corner of my mouth. - I'll give you a reason to come back.
She runs her hands over my abdomen, smoothing each muscle, and looks at me with a naughty smile. For a moment I see Cybele, widen my eyes and shake my head, then the image of Cybele fades.
The redhead narrowed her eyes, and frowned. Looking at me strangely.
- What's wrong? -She asks, looking into my eyes.
I blink a long time before answering, and stand up slowly. She approaches me, standing up, revealing her naked body, and I take a deep breath, standing with my back to her.
-I really have to go, Angela! - I pick up my pants from the floor. And I take a few steps to her office.
- My name is Priscilla," I hear her shout from the bedroom.
I look for my toothpick among the clothes we threw around the house. She hugs me from behind and kisses my back, but I feel strange.
I finally find my blouse and don't even care about the rest of the toothpick, I just get out of there quickly. What is Cybele doing with me? I ask myself as I walk down the hall, I want to stop feeling like this, I want to be me again.
I want to forget that one day I touched her, messed up her short hair, whispered that I loved her, and slept with her.
I want to forget that one day I touched her... Dio mio! When have I ever been so emotional like this?
And what I'm doing life is not just about that, I'm playing with Ange... Priscilla! Her name, is Priscilla! I close my eyes and walk to my car in the parking lot, my only friend can't be right.
Or is she? I feel tired, and discouraged by all of this. I open the door of my car and get in, soon I feel the cell phone in my pocket vibrate, it was a message from Rose, my housekeeper saying that she didn't receive the month's payment.
I soon remember that it was Amanda who organized everything, I need to start to find out about all this, I take my hand to my eyes and rub my eyelids. I take the wheel and think about driving home, but I remember that I am in France.
God knows how I ended up here, but I lay my head on the steering wheel and remember. Dieguito! He always says that the best nightclubs are in France.
I scratch my hair and remember that I own an apartment here, I take my hand to the button on the GPS turning it on, I don't even know where I am.
What have I done to myself? I ask myself.
I look to the side and start the car, pulling out of the parking lot, my head hurts. By now my resignation has been announced.
I realize that I am close to my apartment, I just want to get there, take a shower and go to my son.
I think that Cybele will be very upset with my new proposal, I don't want to have to wait a year to spend a whole day with my son as she proposed.
Not proposed! She imposed. I have to impose myself as a father too.
I'll drive there.
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At the hospital...
Still bewildered, the nurse walked out of that room, she was sweating with worry, she put her hands on her forehead and wiped it clean.
She thought about checking the room where the babies were bathed, she bumped into a patient who was walking slowly, she was shaking.
The girl walked slowly down the corridors in a daze, entered the bathing room, and felt a relief on her chest, her baby was there being cared for by another nurse.
She apologized for the delay, and took him in her arms, readying him for his parents' arrival.
Nearby, Cybele wakes up with a headache the size of the whole of Russia. Her mother calls her for coffee, her heart pounding as she remembers that today is the big day. She does her necessary hygiene and goes downstairs, but feels everything turn around, and her legs tremble as she sits on the staircase.
- What is it, my child? - said Julia with the kettle in her hand, looking at her.
- Nothing, it just dries up! You shouldn't drink anything! - She made her hands sessar and swallowed dryly.
- Come, sit here in the armchair! I'll bring you some coffee my pretty! - Julia said smiling, and turned and walked to the kitchen.
Cybele walks to the armchair and her mother brings her a cup of coffee in her red mug. Julia sits down in front of her with her hands on her knees.
- I noticed Pietro yesterday, he was acting strange. I guess he's not taking it very well, huh? - She twisted her mouth, and scratched her mouth.
- Yeah, I know, I felt it too, he's very elusive... And there's also this fight with Amanda, I don't know... Well, but he'll have to accept that. - She took the mug and put it to her mouth.
- Oh, he had a fight with his Italian friend? -Julia raised her eyebrows and leaned back against the sofa with difficulty.
- Yes... It's complicated, Pietro is complicated. But I don't want to think about that, I want to focus on today, on my son! - Cybele smiled broadly, narrowing her eyes.
Julia put her mouth together, leaned over, brought her hands to her necklace and played with it.
- I don't know, I just hope he won't be a problem!
- No, I don't think it will be. We just have to figure out how to get along, I think he already understood that Apollo is and always will be the love of my life.
- Yes! Now go on, let's go get my grandson! - Julia put her hands together and gave an enthusiastic smile.
- Yes, let's go. I arranged to meet Pietro there," she smiled and poured her coffee.
And the two of them left, heading to the hospital.
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Sebastian arrives at his work, he walks down the hall among the agents, and everyone seems to be looking at him.
A friend comes up from behind and grabs his shoulder, letting him know that his chef wants to talk to him.
He walks over feeling the chilly air of the air-conditioning, and the gray walls of the office only made him even more tense.
- You said you wanted to talk to me! - He said opening the door, took two steps forward and closed the door.
- Yes, actually, that's what it's about. - She threw the photos on her glass table. - I'd like to know what your sister-in-law does with the guy we're investigating?
The man turned pale, and swallowed dryly. Sebastian hated lies, so, still standing, he told him everything. The whole story with Athena's family and finally he took off his badge and put it on the table.
- That's why I'm asking you to get off the case, ma'am! - he said firmly.
She shook her head and laughed. - My dear, why else? That's exactly what we needed, direct contact! Does your sister-in-law suspect that you know?
He frowned, not understanding her reaction.
- Ma'am, I don't want to put any of my family in danger!
She raised her green eyes and fixed her prescription glasses and looked at him steadily, crossing her arms on the table.
- Sebastian, I don't want to put her at risk! From what you've told me, the poor thing just wants to have a father. And since she's meeting him, my plan is to simply follow her, you know how difficult this man is to charm, and having her as a clue I
Sebastian shook his head and said interrupting her harshly. - Madam! I told you I can't, and Alexia would never cooperate with that, besides... - The punk closed his fists over his body.
She interrupts his speech, still with a corner smile: - Sebastian this is getting tiresome. Who says she needs to know? We'll just have to wait for the girl to make the appointment with her father, probably when she asks to go to Italy, and then we'll follow her. But for that I need secrecy and total surveillance.
She opened the drawer and glanced sideways, then looked at him again.
He frowned, and took a step back. - Are you suggesting that I bugged Alexia? - He narrowed his eyes, staring at her.
- Yes, I like how quick you are to get things out, you're a great agent, and of course you know that once we catch this Criminal, you will get a raise of almost 80%. I'll give you two days to think about it.
Sebastian left that room at that moment, he felt at a crossroads, he couldn't tell Alexia, because it would be a crime of breach of secrecy. On the other hand, could doing this operation put someone's life in danger? He was afraid that something would happen.
He went home to rely on the only person he trusted at that moment, Athena.
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Alexia was at school, when Paolo comes up behind her in the rectory, he walks slowly and gives her a fright.
She frowned, and screamed: - You're crazy! He wants to kill me from the heart. - I laughed, throwing the bread that was in her hand.
He laughed, seeing that he had succeeded in scaring her. What are you doing? - He leaned on the arm of the chair and jumped on it, which wobbled a bit.
-Just eating, my love! - She said humming, and sighed-Ai Ai Ai.
- Hm! What is all this happiness about? - He said with a smile on his face, and scratched his forehead.
- I got a nine in math. - She hugs him with an enthusiastic smile on her face, and kisses him on the cheek.
- Wow, did your grades come out already? - He leans forward and puts his hands behind his body, reaching into his pockets for his cell phone.
She pulled his ear - "Hey, keep it down! Maybe someone will listen. - She looked around - I've been talking to him! What did you think of him?
- I thought he was a very nice guy, quite well traveled, isn't he! - He spilled his mouth. - There's just one problem, Alexia.
- I know, I know, but if we forget the part about him being a... Good that he does what he does. He might even be a good father, maybe even give me away at the altar, you know, me and him, father and daughter... - The girl's eyes lit up when she said this, and she looked again at the snack, putting it in her mouth.
- Just be careful that you don't... Paolo's speech is interrupted by a male voice.
- Alexia, I saw that you got an "A"! Congratulations. I hope that the study that we did before class helped you. - Caio said looking at the two of them, standing up.
Paolo looked at him, and at the robot in his hands.
- Wow, what a cool robot... Did you make it yourself? - He raised his eyebrows.
- Of course, Caio is a genius! You should see how many inventions he makes... -The girl said enthusiastically.
Paolo raised his eyes in disdain and stood up in front of him.
- Ah me too, I invent applications, I even made one for my girlfriend! - And I know how to use these things too... - He scratched the back of his neck - Actually it's very easy... Anyone can do it.
Caio twisted his mouth to the side and said: - Yeah, right.
Caio twisted his mouth to the side and said: - Yeah. Ok! Well, I'm off... Bye Lexi. - He waved his hands.
She waved back. And turned her head to Paolo, with a half smile.
- Come here, what was that?
He was dumbfounded - What was what? - He sat down next to her again, took the backpack off his back.
She grimaced and crumpled the bag of snacks - It's so easy, anyone can do it? Why did you say those things? - I rest my elbow on the table.
And before the boy could explain himself, the bell rang. He kissed her hand quickly.
- I have to go, I have a history exam. - He stood up with flash speed, grabbed his backpack and waved to her.
Alexia laughs at the situation, Paolo jealous? Not at all, right. She picked up her cell phone and dialed the number her father had given her, added it to her contacts, and sent him a message.
Pietro arrives at Cibele's house, to see his son. He doesn't get there in time to go to the hospital, meeting Apolo as he enters the room and closes his face.
- They are upstairs! - said Apollo looking at him, with a bottle in his hands.
Pietro nodded and went up to Cybele's room, they were all there. Cybele's grandmother, her aunt, Iris and Julia, Cybele around her crib.
Cibele felt complete and happy. Her son was there sleeping in front of her and her heart couldn't be more radiant.
- Hi, sorry I'm late. - said Pietro softly, approaching the crib.
- Look at the little hands, and the little cheeks that I want to squeeze. -said Tereza in a childish voice.
Everyone laughed and nodded.
- I want to stand here looking at him all day long! - Cybele said with a sigh, leaning over the edge of the crib.
- Ciao, figlio ecco papa. - He said, melted with love for the little person in front of him, "You are an infinity of good things. - His pupils were dilated, tears were shining in his eyes.
(Translation: Ciao Figlio, ecco papá = Hi sonny, this is daddy)
- Unfortunately we have to go, Mom! - Iris says leaning over the cradle and fixing her hair. - I'm going to see how my process is going with my lawyer, then I'm going to look for a job... - Wish me luck! - She crossed her fingers and walked to Cybele, kissed her cousin's forehead and said goodbye.
She walked to the door, Tereza went with her.
Julia's cheeks reddened as she looked at her grandson. - Well, I'm leaving too! Hey, Mom! We have to open the restaurant. But we'll be back, my love, yes, yes, Giágia will be back, yes," she said, shaking her head inside the cradle, raising her head.
- I can't believe I'm a bisa! Great Grandma. - said her grandmother Agnes, putting her hands on her cheeks. - I'll tell everyone that your baby has arrived my pretty one, see you later Pietro.
Pietro turned and hugged her, feeling her cinnamon smell that Agnes always emanated. Julia took her mother's hand and they left the room.
She turned and looked at her son, crying. - I can't believe I did it. - Pietro reaches into the blue crib and takes her baby's hands in his. The baby moves slowly, his little legs and then his mouth.
Their hearts melt.
Cybele took a deep breath, shook her head and gave a half smile.
- She dragged the chair she was sitting on closer to Pietro, who was leaning over the crib. - How are you? Amanda told me you quit. And what made her do that, I imagine she's fine.
Pietro wiped away the tears by rubbing his fingers over his eyes - I'm fine! - he lied. - I don't blame Amanda, but I can't change the past.
- Wow, are you sure? We can talk to if you want. - Cybele pursed her lips at him.
- I don't need to! I'm fine. - He looked at her with narrowed, irritated eyes.
Pietro, she told me why you stayed away for three months. I'm sorry, you don't need to keep me away if you feel these things. You need a... - She put her hands on his shoulders.
- Did she tell you? - It was stupid and it won't happen again. It just took me a few months to get over it.
Apollo knocked on the bedroom door, and opened it. He walked over to them.
- Belle, I brought you what you asked for! - He held out the bottle to her.
She took it and smiled broadly at him. - Thank you, my love.
Apollo smiled.
Peter felt so small, he felt he had to get out of there. It was so boring that seeing his son meant seeing Apollo and Cybele together. He stands for a while in silence, and a few hours later says goodbye.
He rises his chest, taking a deep breath before speaking - Well, I'm leaving! But I'll wait for you tomorrow, at the inauguration of the new part of the hospital. - She turned her face toward the cradle, and passed her hand caressing her son's face. - See you in the morning.
- Is it already tomorrow? - Cybele said, rising from her chair.
He nodded and walked away. Alexia passed by him like a hurricane going straight to her sister's room. Along with Paolo.
- Oh, he is so beautiful! - Alexia says approaching the crib.
- Well, since they have arrived there is something I need to show you! - Apollo whispers in Cybele's ear.
- What? But now? I... - She looked around the room and turned her face to him - I don't know if it's a good idea to leave these two. Here alone.
- Paolo took care of our little cousin, he can handle himself. After all it's about Rafael too. - Apollo closed his lips trying to contain himself with happiness.
Cybele frowned and put her hand directly to her ear - Okay! But hurry up.
Apollo and she went down to the living room, where he took a red handkerchief.
- An? What's this for! she asked curiously.
- It's for Miss! - He shook his head and stood behind her, putting the handkerchief over her eyes, sealing them. - You can't see where we're going!
- Okay, right! But hurry up and watch. - he says, gesturing with his hands.
He laughs, and takes her hand and they walk off, slowly. Until he stops and the wind messes up his black hair, he takes off the blindfold, revealing a beautiful house in front of Cybele.
- This is the house we are going to live in! - Apollo says opening his arms.
- The thee mou. - He puts his hand over his mouth in disbelief. - My darling, it's so! And so beautiful. - He says, widening his eyes. Delighted.
Translation: ( Thee mou = My darling)
He pulled her by the hip and stood in front of her. She felt a whirlwind of feelings, butterflies were dancing in her stomach. Her legs were shaking, this was the man she loved.
- Did you like it? - He raised his eyebrows and kissed her on the forehead.
- Of course I do! It's beautiful. - She brought her hands to his flushed face and kissed his neck, resting her head on his chest. Feeling his heart beating fast.
He puts his hands on her hair, caressing her. - This is where Rafaelzinho will grow up. And our children too, and here we will make history... And lots of love of course! - He laughs and his eyes meet hers. - I love you and I can't wait to marry you!
- Apollo, I love you! -I said, staring into his ocean eyes.
And there they stood, looking at the dream house. The house that Apollo had made a huge sacrifice to buy. The house was expensive, he had to admit! But it was worth it if with Cybele there he would share his life...