Chapter 6

"Armando, will you finally tell me what's going on or not?" - Mario was running out of patience.

"I don't know where to start." - Mendoza sounded resigned.

"Finally. I thought Hugo ate your tongue. When you start a story you usually start it from the beginning."

"When I entered Betty's office, I saw Daniel licking orange juice from Betty's wrist."

"WHAT? And Daniel is still alive?" - Calderon was appalled.

xxx

Marcela stared at her brother, not believing what she was hearing. First her... fiancé. Now her brother. She wondered what it was about this woman that made men so attracted to her.

"Beatriz Pinzon Solano? Don't tell me you're just another fool who marvels at her transformation." - her voice was dripping with venom.

Daniel's throat went dry and he hesitantly asked, "Another?"

"I didn't mean anything deeper. I just noticed the reactions to Beatriz the day she came back." - Marcela sighed and continued - "When did this madness start? And is it serious? Regardless of how you feel about her, breaking up with her could be disastrous for us."

"Sister... I'm serious about this. I know or rather feel that it can be mutual but I don't want to have conflicts in the family. I can find another woman and no one can replace you and Maria Beatriz." - Daniel was playing with the end of his tie as he spoke, which was a signal to Marcela that he was more nervous than she initially thought.

"You know I don't like her, but I'd love to hear how and when it started. I'll also tell you what really happened to cancel my wedding. If you're still interested in her, I'll bend over and reach out to her." - She smiled reassuringly at her brother. - "One thing you can be sure of. If it goes your way, the company will get really interesting. Really interesting."

Daniel placed a lollipop on the desk and grunted - "So I'm all ears."

xxx

"You're losing focus, man. Not long ago, you would have beaten a vampire to a pulp for such a blatant violation of your woman's personal space." - Mario stared into his friend's eyes. He couldn't understand why Armando hadn't exploded yet.

"What the hell am I supposed to do? Scream, hit, rage? Show her I haven't changed at all since I beat up Nicolas? It's enough that she noticed me while I was following her. Maldita sea, she explained to me why Daniel ended up in her office. She sharply explained the professional reason to me and made it clear that I had no right to ask her about her private matters."

"Sharp." - Calderon was surprised. He always thought Betty would follow Armando to hell.

"It's not everything. She doesn't even bother to ask Daniel out first. She got me, Mario, she got me. She's not my Betty anymore and I don't know how to deal with it."

For Mario Calderon, seeing his friend so broken was a real blow, but he was known for not losing his head even in the most difficult moments. Sometimes he had to revise his ideas because they were either underdeveloped or too complicated. But this time he thought he had hit the mark.

"You must actively search for franchisees. Venezuela's fashion fair season begins next week. you will go there. You need to clear your head or you'll go crazy. It's only two weeks. I know a lot can happen in that time, but you might as well take a break. Damn... I'm trying to explain what I mean but I'm at a loss for words."

"Two weeks in Venezuela with models without Ecomoda on ours heads? It doesn't sound that bad."

xxx

Meanwhile, in the president's office, Beatriz paced restlessly around the office. She felt excluded. The clan girls once again called a meeting without including her in their plans. She knew they were up to something. What worried her was the fact that being excluded from the meeting, she might be the subject of them. Just what could they discover? Her thoughts were interrupted by the appearance of Nicolas Mora.

"Are we going to lunch? I am hungry."

"Hungry? You're always hungry. I don't know where you put it. When it comes to food, you're like a bottomless sack. For you, the perfect woman would be a beautiful cook." - she said with a sneer.

"How we went from lunch to my matrimonial preferences in such a short time?" - Nicolas frowned, which showed the president that she had stepped on shaky ground. She knew very well that her friend still longed for a certain not-naturally bleached blond secretary. - "Are we going or not?"

"Let's go."

xxx

He was looking at his sister. He felt she had given him a shortened version of events. He didn't know if he was more appalled by Mario Calderon's callous letter, Armando Mendoza's ruthlessness or Beatriz's lack of self-respect.

"For God's sake, how could Armando treat you both like this?" - Daniel Valencia was really outraged.

She was looking at her brother. She didn't know what to feel. He should stand behind her and he is outraged on behalf of both of them. Both Beatriz and her. - "Us? Rather me."

"Honey, think about it. Do you remember what Miss Pinzon was like in the beginning? Brilliant in finances and completely helpless on interpersonal issues. No wonder she succumbed to him. Flattery in the absence of self-confidence can fall on fertile ground. She helped him and he took full advantage of her."

"You're not saying that because you have feelings for her?" - Marcela leaned back in her chair.

"Woman. I treated Patricia in a similar way." - Daniel saw his sister raise her eyebrows in doubt. - "Yes, really, but don't make me explain it now. I treated her like, let's say... an escort. However, she knew the conditions from the beginning. Beatriz has been lured into a vision of love by a man who can manipulate women."

"I need to reconsider your point of view. What about me?"

"You've known my opinion for a long time. Drop Armando and live on." - Valencia sighed, thought, and repeated the question he had come to his sister with. "So what do you think of me and Betty?"

"If you can understand it and in some twisted way it really turns you on... Who am I to forbid you something? After all, it's not me you're supposed to ask, it's her." - Marcela subconsciously saw Beatriz on the board of Ecomoda. Beatriz Valencia not Beatriz Mendoza.

"I know she's interested in me at least sexually. And we unite in the love for oranges." - Daniel's smirk revealed more than she wanted to know.

"Too much information. Too much information. Too much information." - March ostentatiously covered her ears and smiled. - "But remember. If you want to talk to her about it, try to talk it out of her slowly. I promised her that I wouldn't reveal these details to anyone. However, given your intentions... I wouldn't forgive myself if you got more involved without knowing everything."

"I will remember. I'm going now. See you later." - Her brother approached, grabbing her wrist, offering her hand and smilingly kissed her cheek.

After the door closed, Marcela made her decision. If her brother was involved with this woman, applauding her new strategy may be the first step in warming their relationship. After all, everything for your family.