Riana entered the company with a serious expression, barely noticing her assistant's greetings as she hurried past her desk. Once in her office, she placed her bag on the table and sat down, immersed in her own thoughts. It was then that Marie entered, bringing with her more tasks and responsibilities.
— Excuse me, miss. The meeting with Mr. Berwill has been rescheduled for today at 3 PM, and Mr. Stronock requested to be informed as soon as you arrived. What should I do? — asked Marie, interrupting Riana's thoughts.
Riana looked up, her serious expression indicating that she was contemplating how to handle the situation. When Marie mentioned the surname Stronock, Riana slightly rolled her eyes, not too enthusiastic about the prospect of dealing with Paulo that day.
— Paulo or Julião? — Riana asked, making her preference for avoiding a meeting with Paulo clear.
— Mr. Paulo — Marie replied.
Riana sighed, resigned. Avoiding Paulo seemed impossible at that moment, but she was determined to confront the situation firmly.
— Tell Mr. Stronock that I want him to accompany me to the meeting with Mr. Berwill. We'll talk later — Riana decided, her voice firm.
Returning her attention to the documents on her desk, Riana noticed another urgent task that needed to be addressed.
— And ask Estevan from the IT team to come to my office. I need him here now — she added, emphasizing the importance of the situation.
Leaning back in her chair, Riana pondered how to approach the subject with Estevan. She knew the importance of maintaining the project's confidentiality and the need to stay vigilant regarding the brothers. When Estevan entered the room, she greeted him with a smile, but her expression quickly turned serious, indicating the gravity of the conversation she was about to have.
— Estevan, please sit here. We need to talk — Riana said, inviting him to take a seat.
Estevan accepted the invitation, thanking Riana for the opportunity she had given him in the IT team. Riana maintained a firm gaze on him, taking the opportunity to address the issue that was troubling her.
— This is what I want to talk to you about. I need you to keep this project confidential. When you test it, let me know. I don't want your brothers to find out. Additionally, I want you to keep an eye on your team. I don't want any of them sharing information with your brothers — she explained, emphasizing the importance of discretion.
Estevan assured Riana that he had already spoken to the team about the necessity of keeping the project a secret, but his expression showed additional concern.
— I thought you wanted to talk about something else — he said, visibly uncomfortable.
Curious, Riana inquired about the topic.
— About what?
— About Paulo and his assistant. They broke up — Estevan revealed.
Surprised by the news, Riana questioned the reasons behind the breakup.
— And why did this happen? I was waiting for the right moment to expose him — she commented, expressing her determination.
Estevan explained that, after the argument between Riana and Paulo the night before, Paulo went out for drinks with his brother while he stayed at the office to finalize some stages of the project. Leaving late, he ended up witnessing an argument between Marie and Paulo on the phone, revealing possible tension between the two.
Riana leaned back in her chair, absorbing the information, and expressed her gratitude to Estevan for the revelation.
— Once again, thank you, Estevan — she said, standing up and confidently shaking the young man's hand.
Hours later, after the meeting with Mr. Berwill, Riana returned to her office, followed by Paulo. She remained serious, watching him closely as he sat down in front of her. Paulo, visibly uncomfortable, broke the silence first:
— Riana, forgive me for yesterday. I know I overreacted, and I want to apologize.
Riana listened to his words but did not respond immediately. She pondered for a moment before making a decision.
— I might accept your apology, Paulo. But you will have to face the consequences — she said firmly.
Paulo, surprised by her response, asked what he needed to do to resolve the situation.
— What do you want me to do? — he asked.
Riana kept her serious and determined gaze as she explained her condition.
— I want you to tell Miss Marie Makarov that she has been fired.
Paulo's eyes widened in surprise at Riana's demand.
— Why? — he asked, confused.
Riana picked up the tablet on her desk, turned it on, and selected a video to show Paulo. His expression changed instantly as he watched the video's content. It was a recording of intimate moments between Paulo and Marie in a room at the company.
— It's all over between us — Riana declared with an ironic smile. — You broke the trust that existed between us.
Paulo tried to justify himself, but Riana interrupted him firmly.
— You should have a minimum of respect. If you wanted to have a relationship with her, you should have found an appropriate place. Bringing this into the professional environment is unacceptable.
Paulo, taken aback, tried to explain, but Riana was not willing to listen.
— Shut up! — she exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table in anger. — After you send Marie to HR, come back to my office to sign your suspension.
Paulo was visibly shaken, his face contorted in a mix of frustration and anger. He struggled to maintain his composure in the challenging situation he found himself in. Every word from Riana felt like a sharp knife piercing his pride and position in the company. With a visible effort to control his emotions, he began to speak, carefully choosing his words.
— Riana, you can't just make a decision like this against me. I am one of the directors of this company, and 20% of the shares belong to my family. I have as much right and influence in this company as you do.
He hoped that his position of power and his shareholding in the company would be enough to persuade Riana to reconsider her decision. However, deep down, he knew that the situation was delicate and that his reckless actions had consequences. He now faced the challenge of dealing with the repercussions of his choices while trying to maintain a facade of control and authority.