LOGINChapter 43Meanwhile, in the hotel room, Maitê was still staring at her phone screen. Half a million. That was it. She wouldn’t do that kind of work anymore. Well… she hoped never again, actually.She ordered an Uber and went back home. She wasn’t going to risk running into another robber.She got home and went straight to the bathroom. From the absolute silence, the kids and Dafne were asleep.She let the hot water run over her body, passed the sponge over her neck where he had kissed and bitten her urgently, moved down to her breast that he had sucked so hungrily it had made her moan out loud, without shame. She shut her eyes tightly. She felt as if she had betrayed Rafael, even though they hadn’t been together for months.When she left the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, she ran into Dafne."Look, I’m going to tell you something once and for all. It’s decided. You’re not going back to that hell. I’ll do whatever it takes. Anything you need, I’ll find a way. Please, Maitê…"Maitê took
Chapter 42Rafael said nothing. He began removing his clothes very slowly, piece by piece. The dim moonlight filtered through the half-open window, partially illuminating his body. Even so, it was impossible not to notice him: strong, defined, broad shoulders, and… well-endowed. The sight made her swallow hard.He tore open the condom wrapper with his teeth. He put it on slowly, unhurried, watching her—she seemed nervous.Maitê felt her stomach twist. Would there be no kindness, no affection, nothing to help her prepare? How would she handle something that size without lubrication? The thought made her even more tense.She was acting as if she had never been with a stranger before. Honestly, the other times she hadn’t had children and did it because she wanted to. Now the situation was quite different—she was in love and had two babies at home waiting for her.He approached. He held her face with one hand and helped her stand. He brought his face close to hers, slowly licked her lower
Chapter 41At home, Maitê took several deep breaths, trying to calm the tightness in her chest. The fear of the cowboy was growing each night—it wasn’t just persistence; it was something more obsessive, more dangerous. If it weren’t for him, maybe it would be easier to endure. Maybe she could convince herself it was just work, just survival. But now, every time she stepped onto the stage, she felt his eyes glued to her, as if he had already decided she would give in at any moment.She sighed deeply, sitting on the edge of the bed. She wondered if she could handle another week of that. The club was what was keeping her afloat. But at what cost?She went to take a shower. Then she lay down beside the babies, who were sleeping peacefully, and turned off the light. In the darkness, fear and shame tangled together until they formed a knot in her throat. She closed her eyes and prayed for the cowboy to give up soon. Or for her to find the strength to quit before he forced her into something
Chapter 40The next day, the cowboy returned. He wore his hat tilted and a confident smile. He sat at the same VIP table. When Maitê went up on stage, he threw bills again, this time half of what he had left the night before. The money fell scattered. She danced with the same impenetrable mask, but she felt his gaze heavier and more insistent.The following day, he showed up again. This time he left even less, a handful of bills that barely covered the VIP entrance fee. Maitê began to suspect something. He wasn’t just an excited customer; he was playing with her.He believed that, over time, he would wear her down to the point that she would accept a private dance. Or something more. But she wasn’t going to give in. She already felt humiliated enough just being there, spinning on the pole under red lights, pretending her body no longer belonged to her.The next day, Thursday, he got straight to the point. When the music ended and she stepped off the stage, he approached the railing."
Chapter 39Two days later, Maitê called Dafne to the kitchen as soon as the babies fell asleep. She poured two cups of tea and sat at the table, her hands gripping the warm porcelain.“I need your help to find another nanny,” she said softly. “I got a side job. Night shift, three times a week. It’ll help pay the overdue bills and I won’t have to depend so much on you.”Dafne paused with the cup halfway to her mouth.“A side job? What kind of job, Maitê? You already work all day at the hospital.”Maitê lowered her eyes.“It’s… dancing. In a discreet place. Just dancing, nothing more. I went there yesterday, they accepted me. The money is good. Really good.”Dafne fell silent for a second, then reached out and squeezed her hand.“You don’t have to do this. I can pay the rent until you get settled. I don’t want you to feel like you have to—”“It’s not obligation,” Maitê interrupted, her voice firm, eyes moist. “It’s pride. You already do too much. I don’t want to be a burden. And I need
Chapter 38On Wednesday, the detective drove to Maitê’s last known address. He knocked on a few neighboring doors. Most of the answers were vague, but two confirmed the obvious:"She left not long ago. I saw the bags being loaded into a big black car. There was a friend helping, blonde, talkative. She seemed excited, but Maitê… she was quiet, like she didn’t want to go."He wrote everything down, thanked them, and returned to his small office in downtown São Paulo. He sat at his cluttered desk, opened his laptop, and began checking the nearest airports: Congonhas, Guarulhos, Viracopos. He called discreet contacts at check-in counters and passenger systems. Nothing. No commercial flight under her name in the past few days.He frowned. Something felt off. If she hadn’t flown commercially, maybe by car? But to where? And why hadn’t she left any trace on her cards? He called it a lost day, closed the computer, and went home with the uncomfortable feeling that the trail was going cold too







