COUPLE 1 - Chapter 4: After college

When I graduated, Pedro was already two years old. At that point he was already walking everywhere, always holding on to his grandmother, who was the first word he said. He was a beautiful boy, with very straight black hair, fair skin, a little upturned nose and those huge violet eyes that made me sigh. He was my sunshine! And now I would have more time for him.

After graduation, my boss called me in to talk. He was a great boss. He said he was very happy with me at the company, but he knew I deserved to go very far, so I should look for a job in my field, and he would understand. He assured me that my job at the construction company would be mine for as long as I wanted and that if I left and it didn't work out, I would have somewhere to go back to. But he said I should look for something in my field of study, to give my son a much better future. I was very touched by this and accepted his good advice. I told Melissa and she immediately told me that she was going to talk to her father so that he could put some contacts in touch. And it wasn't long before Mr. OtávioLascuran, Mel's father, called me into his office and handed me a card, saying:

- Catarina, I know you're a great girl and a good professional. I spoke to a friend and he arranged an interview for you at GrupoMellendez, for the position of assistant to the group's CEO. If you get this job, you'll be working for a global company, it's an excellent position, but it's not here in Campanário. You'd have to move to Porto Paraíso. I know it's a big step, but I think you should consider it, it'll be great for you. Anyway, send an email to the email address on the card with your response, either giving up the position or accepting the virtual interview.

- Mr. Lascuran, I can't thank you enough! You've always been so good to me! GrupoMellendez is one of the largest business conglomerates in the country! Working there is a dream come true! I will accept the interview, yes, if I have to move I will. I know it will be a great opportunity. – I said with conviction, because it wouldn't be bad to get away from those mean people in my family, especially now that the “queen” Kelly was pregnant and her mother decided to ask for everything that belongs to Pedro for the offspring of the scoundrel couple! Thank goodness my mother told her that this was absurd, but that it would be impossible anyway, because I had already given everything that was no longer useful to Pedro to an acquaintance who was pregnant. My mother was very upset with her sister, because she was always getting rid of my son, always referring to him as the boy without a father and this hurt my mother a lot. Leaving this city, I will only regret leaving my parents and my friends, but I know that they will support me once again.

I thanked Mr. Lascuran and left the office. I got to my desk and spoke to my boss, another Mr. Lascuran, but he didn't like being called that so I called him by his name:

- Aldo, your brother got me an interview at GrupoMellendez.

He smiled:

- I know, he just called me, I think you should grab the opportunity, if it doesn't work out you can come back.

I smiled at him and immediately sent the email to schedule the interview. I quickly received confirmation that the interview would be the next day at ten in the morning, since I had already taken the initiative to send my resume, the interview would be quick.

That night at home I spoke to my parents who understood, even though they were worried about how I would take care of a child alone in another city and were tearful because they would be away from their grandson. They supported me as always and were happy with the opportunity I had received. I asked them not to tell anyone. When Mel arrived, she went to see her godson every day, I told her everything and she helped me prepare for the next day. At the time of the interview, I went to the meeting room at work, my boss had released me, I sat down and waited for the call. I was interviewed by a very kind and intelligent lady, Mrs. Mariana Toledo. It was very pleasant, we talked for two hours, she gave me all the information about the position, salary and benefits, at the end she said to me:

- Catarina, you are hired! You will replace me, since I am going to a director position at the London branch, so you will occupy my position here. So I would like you to start as soon as possible, because I am traveling in ten days and I would like to tell you everything before I go. And I also would not like to reschedule my departure. When can you start?

- I just need my boss to release me, but I think I can be there on Monday. - It was already Friday, would Aldo agree to release me today?

- Perfect. You can send me an email confirming after you speak to him. Do you have any questions?

- No, ma'am. Everything is clear. -Great! Welcome to the Mellendez Group, I'm sure you'll do great. I'll see you on Monday.

She finished the call and my heart was racing, I had gotten it. The job was great, the salary even better and I would still have a chance to progress. It was a dream. But it was time to rush to sort everything out.

I immediately went to talk to my boss. He was happy, called accounting and told me to settle up immediately. After the settlement, he let me go, said that I would always have a place to go back to if I needed to, but that he knew I would do very well. I thanked him for everything and left. I sent the confirmation email to Mrs. Mariana, saying that on Monday, at eight in the morning, I would be at the company, and I went straight to talk to Mel and her father, I had to thank them. And then it was Mel who surprised me:

- What did you think, that you were going to take my godson away like that? You're not going to! My father got me an interview at Lince Mundi in Porto Paraíso. I'm going to move in with you and we're going to live together. What do you think?

That was perfect! I was very happy, but I soon asked:

- Mel, what about Nando?

- Nando has already asked the company to transfer him to the Porto Paraíso branch, where he will have more opportunities too. He will be leaving in fifteen days. My friend, a new life for the three of us.

I was very happy. Mel had already orchestrated everything. Nando would take us and she would stay with Pedro so I could work until we could get daycare. She already had three daycare centers to visit and her father had already made a furnished apartment available for us in the city. It was so good, I was even scared. Noticing this, Mel nudged me and said:

- Learn to accept the good things that life offers you!

I smiled at her and we went to my parents' house. It was time to tell them the news and say goodbye. Porto Paraíso is on the other side of the country, so we wouldn't see each other for a while. My parents were happy, until I told them I would be leaving the next morning, and then the goodbye was sad. It was hard to leave them behind, but it was necessary. With the salary I would receive, I could help them now. That was good.

The next morning, Nando and Mel arrived on time. Mel's father had given her a pickup truck as a gift, which made our move much easier. Nando put everything in the truck and off we went. We would be on the road all day.

We arrived in Porto Paraíso late on Saturday night. Pedrinho was very tired. He had had a lot of fun during the trip. Everything was new. We settled in, ordered food, and after eating, we went to sleep. On Sunday, we drove around the city, getting to know everything. Porto Paraíso was a very large city, full of industries, very modern. It was on the coast, and the port attracted a lot of business to the city. It was a first-world urban center.

The apartment we were going to live in was close to one of the daycare centers Mel had contacted, which was great. It wasn't far from the company either. I could get there in twenty minutes by subway. It was beautiful, decorated in a modern style, and was very airy and bright, with huge windows. That night, we dropped Nando off at the airport and went back home to rest. The next day would be a big day. I would start my job and Mel would have her virtual interview and would make an appointment with the director of the daycare center near the apartment to meet and talk.

I put my son to bed. He was tired from having so much fun today. I watched him sleep peacefully for a while and was confident that we would have a great life here. Pedro now had his own room. Mel and I decided to buy a few things to make it more like ours, to give it a personal touch. I grabbed the baby monitor and went to my room. I opened one of my boxes and started to organize everything there. When I opened the last box, I took out the box with my memories from prom night. I opened it, ran my hand over that beautiful dress and sighed once more. I picked up the perfume and thought, “Why not?” From tomorrow on, I would wear this perfume every day. My salary was good and when this one ran out, I could buy another one. I put the box away, left the perfume on the dressing table and went to sleep full of expectations about this new life that was opening up before me.