Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 31 - Chapitre 40

Eloise returned to the table with her usual elegance.She had changed on her way back from the restroom and was once again wearing her black pencil skirt and immaculate white blouse. Her expression was serene, her hands freshly washed, and her hair neatly secured in place.She sat down as though she had not noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere.“Is everything all right?” she asked politely.“Perfectly,” Heitor replied with a smile Augusto found far too charming.Eloise returned the smile discreetly and picked up her cup of coffee. Its warmth and bitterness helped ease the discomfort of being watched by two men for entirely different reasons.Augusto remained silent.His hands rested firmly on the arms of his chair, his gaze following Eloise’s smallest movements.The way she crossed her legs.The delicate way she held her cup.The effort she made to appear professional.Distant.Flawless.For some reason, it bothered him more than he had expected.The final points were clarified

Eloise and Nathalia entered the company break room, a spacious area with discreet tables, a coffee counter, and a view of the inner courtyard.It was one of the few places where employees could breathe without the weight of formality.“I swear I’ve been counting the minutes until I could have some coffee,” Nathalia said enthusiastically. “And chocolate cake too? This is practically a miracle.”“Miracles are meant to be shared.” Eloise gave her a knowing smile as she offered her the plate.They sat at a table near the window.The cake was rich and soft, covered with a generous layer of chocolate ganache. Eloise took her first bite and sighed.“My God. This could cure any kind of stress.”“Almost any kind. You still work for Monteiro.” Nathalia laughed and brought her coffee to her lips.Eloise gave her a crooked smile, like someone who knew far too much.“Some days are easier than others. Then there are days when he decides to become a thunderstorm in an expensive suit.”“Welcome to th

The clock read 5:40 p.m. when Augusto walked past Eloise’s desk with his usual impeccable posture. “I want the Rio branch’s financial report first thing tomorrow morning,” he said firmly. “Make all the arrangements for the trip.” He continued toward the elevator without waiting for a response. Eloise had already shut down her computer and was organizing the documents before leaving. She simply added the instruction to her schedule, committing the important reminder to memory. When she arrived home, she opened the door slowly, her entire body protesting after a day that had seemed endless. The first thing to greet her was not the silence of the house, but the familiar scent of home-cooked food. Her father was in the kitchen wearing an apron, stirring a pot with a proud smile. “You arrived at the perfect time,” he said, serving the rice and stroganoff with the natural ease of someone who knew how to take care of her. “I made it exactly the way you like it.” The creamy aroma, mi

The clock struck noon as the private jet landed in Rio de Janeiro.The sun blazed over the tarmac of the airport’s private terminal, and the city’s characteristic heat was already impossible to ignore.Outside, a driver wearing a light-colored suit and dark sunglasses waited beside a car with the rear door open. The moment he saw Augusto Monteiro, he greeted him with a respectful nod.Eloise followed closely behind, holding the document folder and tablet firmly while maintaining her professional composure.The air conditioning inside the car provided immediate relief.They settled into the back seat.“The appointment begins at three,” Eloise said firmly, her gaze directed through the window. “Mr. Fernandes preferred not to meet us at the company headquarters. It was his decision.”Augusto turned slightly toward her, giving her his full attention.“So?”“I arranged for the meeting to take place in the hotel penthouse,” she continued without hesitation. “I reserved the space in advance.

Claudia had barely entered the office when she ignored every formality and broke into a wide smile at the sight of Augusto.“My boy!” she exclaimed, striding toward him.Before Eloise could process what was happening, Claudia wrapped Augusto in a firm embrace and planted two loud kisses on his cheeks, as though he were still the stubborn teenager she had once helped set straight.“Every time I see you, you somehow seem even bigger—and that scowl doesn’t fool anyone.”Augusto did not pull away.On the contrary, he returned the embrace with quiet respect, his expression softening in a way he rarely allowed anyone to see.Standing nearby, Eloise discreetly raised her eyebrows.She had never seen him look so… human.So approachable.Claudia stepped back slightly but kept her hands on his shoulders.“You still refuse to smile the way you did as a child. But I know that look,” she said firmly.Then she turned toward Eloise with a knowing expression.“He pretends he’s made of ice, but he has