As memories of the past flooded Riana’s mind, and a solitary tear silently slid down her face. Junior was the embodiment of care and protection, a brother who had always been by her side with kindness and friendship. Yet, she knew she couldn’t show any weakness in this setting, with all eyes on her. Quickly, she brushed away the stubborn tear that threatened to escape her eyes.
At that moment, a soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. It was Marilia from HR, stepping into the room. They exchanged a few brief words, and Marilia soon left. As the door closed behind her, Felipe, the temporary assistant, entered the room, bringing with him a sense of attentiveness.
“Miss, is your lunch reservation still on?” he inquired.
Riana nodded, responding firmly, “Yes, please add one more to the reservation. And let Julião know he’ll be joining me. I intend to leave in about an hour.”
Felipe left the room with a concerned look on his face. Securing a reservation at that restaurant at this time of day would be challenging, but he knew he had to prove his skill and speed in handling the task.
An hour later, Riana and Julião were seated at the table, enjoying a quiet lunch together. Julião looked at Riana with curiosity and couldn’t resist asking, “Forgive my forwardness, but why are we here?”
A faint smile played on Riana’s lips as she took a sip of water before replying, “I needed to speak with you alone.”
Julião looked intrigued but waited patiently for her explanation. Riana continued calmly, “It’s about the new vice president.”
Julião’s expression brightened instantly, revealing his interest in the conversation. He smiled widely and asked, “And why me?”
The smile didn’t quite reach Riana’s eyes, but she held her gaze firmly on Julião as she explained, “It’s not just about you. I recognize your skills and leadership, but I also see that you and Mr. Mariano are the most qualified among the executive directors.”
The waiter approached them with typical elegance, offering wine to accompany the meal. Riana declined with a polite gesture, saying, “No, thank you.”
She rose from the table, leaving Julião behind for a moment with a promise to return soon. As she walked toward the restroom, Julião watched her with a mischievous look, a trace of desire in his eyes. For a moment, he found himself wondering why his brother Paulo hadn’t seized the chance to be with her when he had it.
It wasn’t long before Riana returned to the table, and the two soon headed back to the office. Julião felt flattered by Riana’s invitation to lunch with her. It was unusual since she typically dined alone, preferring her solitude during meals and avoiding interruptions.
That afternoon, around 3:00 p.m., Marilia appeared in Riana’s office accompanied by the three candidates. Riana observed the young people before her and directed a straightforward remark to the first candidate: “Never come to a job interview wearing a skirt of this length. The way you dress says a lot about who you are. Never forget that.”
The young woman was immediately escorted out, leaving the other two candidates in front of Riana. She briefly reviewed the young woman’s profile before turning to the next candidate. “Please, have a seat. Let’s talk.”
The red-haired candidate offered a slight smile and took the seat Riana indicated. Then Riana turned to Marilia and the third candidate, “Marilia, please wait outside with him.”
Marilia nodded and left the room with the young candidate. Riana took her seat and began a long conversation with Giovana Taylor, discussing the details of her responsibilities and expectations. When the conversation ended, she turned to the next candidate, Bryan Takaoka, and after careful consideration, decided both should return on Monday morning for further discussions and potential hiring procedures.
After the candidates left, Riana called Marilia and shared her decisions: “Prepare the assistant documents for Mr. Takaoka, and I want Ms. Taylor as my personal secretary. I need someone to accompany me on trips.”
Marilia nodded and left to carry out Riana’s instructions. Shortly after, Julião and David Mariano arrived for the scheduled meeting.
Riana arrived home that evening, exhausted after a long day of work, but upon seeing her son Miguel, all the fatigue seemed to vanish. The sweetness and gentleness of that little boy renewed her strength and filled her heart with happiness, leaving her speechless.
The next day passed quickly for Riana, who was eagerly anticipating dinner with William. She felt restless, without fully understanding why. She wasn’t in love with him, but something about his presence intrigued her in a mysterious and significant way that she couldn’t explain.
Even aware of the media’s insinuations about her following the interview she had given for Walk Time magazine, Riana was determined to go out that night; she wanted to see William at all costs. The whirlwind of emotions and thoughts swirling around her was intense, but she was determined to push forward.
Riana spent a good amount of time choosing her outfit and getting ready in front of the mirror. When she finally left the room, Aila looked at her admiringly and commented, “I could be wrong, but it seems you’re getting ready for a date, not just a dinner.”
Riana let out an amused laugh, realizing how happy she felt in that moment. Aila noticed the joy on the young woman’s face and added, “With all this media attention, would you like one of the security guards to accompany you?”
Riana placed a reassuring hand on Aila’s shoulder and replied, “Don’t worry; Dody will take care of it. Besides, I’ll only get out of the car once William is there.”
Aila’s face showed a hint of relief, though she still had a concern: “I hope he’s not the type who arrives late.”
They both smiled, and accompanied by the housekeeper, Riana headed toward the exit. Aila watched her, hoping everything would go well for her dear protégé.
When Riana arrived at the restaurant, William was not there. She stayed in the car, checking the watch on her wrist. To her surprise, he was late. Aila’s words echoed in her mind, and Riana couldn’t help but smile. After waiting for about ten minutes, she decided to call him. However, his phone was off. She tried again, but the result was the same. Leaning back in her seat, Riana was thoughtful for a few moments. She recalled the day she had been left waiting at the restaurant by William, who never showed up. Immediately, a wave of anger washed over her, first against him, then against herself. The disappointment was overwhelming. Riana had eagerly awaited the meeting, only to be left hanging. She looked at the restaurant through the tinted glass, feeling like the most foolish person in the world. A tear rolled down her face, but she quickly brushed it away with her finger. She didn’t want Dody to notice her frustration. Remembering her past relationships, she wondered, “Why do the men who come into my life only bring me pain?” Pither, Alex, Paulo, Julião... Riana hesitated. She wanted to add William’s name to the list, but wasn’t sure if he deserved to be branded as such. As she reflected on how these men had treated her, her mind drifted to the past, recalling the terrifying days of high school when everything was new and intimidating.