Chapter 6

Alex

I have always been an early riser. But that morning I barely had time to sit up in my bed. My little ones came running into my room, as if the house was on fire. Thank goodness I was already dressed, because I sometimes sleep naked.

- Hold on, my children. What's your hurry? - I say this grabbing Caio who came jumping on top of my bed. Thank goodness I was already dressed, because sometimes I end up sleeping naked.

- Daddy. We want some cornflakes," says Caio.

- Calm down. What kind of hunger is this? Have you brushed your teeth yet? - I joke with them.

- Yes - they shout, making me cover my ears.

- Then, let's go to the kitchen. - I call.

I don't have to say it twice, the twins run out. These two have a lot of energy. I go down after them, who were already in the living room, turning on the TV to watch the cartoon. I go to the kitchen and start to prepare their juices. I pour it out, they eat it, and then I warn them:

- Let's take a shower. Today you have a doctor! - I warn them when they finish eating.

They go upstairs, each one to a bathroom in the apartment. I go to my room and do the same. Nothing better than a bath to relax. As soon as I finish my shower, I go to my closet, put on a white shirt and a black suit, and then go after the twins, who are almost ready.

My little girl, sitting in front of the dressing table, was having trouble fixing her hair. She looked so much like her mother. She was struggling, as if the task of combing her hair was something very difficult, you could see she was losing her patience, which was not her strong suit, just like her mother.

- What happened, angel? - I ask and she looks at me quickly with a sign of relief on her face.

- Daddy, my hair is unruly," she says almost crying. My little girl is very delicate.

- Hey, calm down, my love! - I calm her down.

At such times I wish Sarah were here to help me, but she is not. And that hurt like hell. I will never love another woman like I loved you!

The guys always call me to go out at night, to go out for a while, but I almost never want to go out, it is always more important to me the welfare of my children.

I pick up the brush and start combing her golden curls. She is my little girl, my ray of sunshine, who is growing up fast and soon will become a beautiful woman. Caio is my warrior, another angel in my life. He is my strength on good days and bad days. When Valentina is sleeping, he and I play videogames, it's like this almost every day... I finish combing her hair and braid it. It's not quite perfect, but I'm a single father with little skill in combing hair.

- There you go, my love," I say, putting a pink bow in her hair.

- Thank you, Dad," she tells me, and my heart overflows.

- You're welcome, my love. Now let's go get your brother," I say.

Soon after leaving the room, we go to find Caio, who was lying on the sofa, playing with his tablet. I call him and we go to the car. Before arriving I realize that I forgot my cell phone, so I go back. I notice that Renata is walking towards the stairs wearing only a robe, I can't believe the situation, how does she have the courage to walk like that in my house?

I wait for her to go up the stairs, grab my cell phone and leave the apartment. I wanted to put her up against the wall and understand why she was walking around the house like that.

The twins were waiting in front of the elevator and we were already late for our appointment. However, at night I would have a very serious talk with Renata. I call the elevator, get to the garage, put the children in the car and we go to the office.

When I arrive, already in the waiting room, I notice that all the women who were there keep looking at me. I feel like a juicy meat. My God! I even got goose bumps from those looks.

- Kids, sit over there while I let Angela know that we have arrived. - I ask and watch them sit down and smile back at them.

I go to the reception desk to see if Angela, the receptionist, has informed Tiago of our arrival.

- Hello, Mr. Mendonça, how are you? - he asks.

- We are fine, Angela, thank you. And how are you? - I ask.

- Fine, thank God! I've already told Dr. Tiago Duarte that you've arrived.

- Thank you - I thank him and stay close to the twins who are playing in the play corner.

It doesn't take long and we are called to the doctor's room. We stay there for about 30 minutes, Tiago examines the children, talks to them and we are released. I leave my friend's office with the promise of going out drinking at the weekend.

I return home, leave Caio and Valentina with the nanny and say:

- Renata, I would like to talk to you later. Come to my office as soon as I arrive.

- Okay. Sir! - she answers quickly and calls the children to get ready for school.

- Thank you," I thank her, walk over to the twins and give them each a kiss and a hug, saying goodbye.

Today Renata would not escape the conversation I would have with her. I have never given her this freedom to wander around the apartment practically naked and I don't accept it.

The guys have already commented that the nanny looks like she wants to eat me alive, I always thought it was an exaggeration, but today I saw that it isn't.

I leave home and arrive soon at the building where several companies are located and one of them was Rafa's company. While I wait for the elevator, my phone rings, I take a deep breath and answer, it was my friend Guilherme Lins. I get scared with the call and end up on the wrong floor.

- Hello? - I answer, afraid of what I'm going to hear.

- Hi, good morning. How are you, Alex? - Guilherme asks me, as if he didn't know about the situation. I am so angry with that bitch! I am in a horrible condition because of her and the only thing she wanted was to be fucked by me.

- I'm fine and you? - I ask with what little education I have left.

- Fine, too! What I have to tell you is something unpleasant. You won't like it at all...

- I said, "God damn it, I don't want to hear about that damned woman anymore! I let out my patience, but he continues.

- Apparently your ex-model is saying that there are pictures and videos of the two of you together in the office," he says.

- I couldn't believe that the bitch was saying these things. Ever since this woman came into my life, I have been living a real hell. I didn't even want to hear the shit she was spouting. I couldn't stand her anymore. - I end up exploding with William just as the elevator opens.

- Alex, I am sorry, my friend, but the thing is: this woman is worthless! The problem is that she said that she really has the photos, so you and your children will be very exposed.

- Guilherme, for God's sake, get in touch with Bruno, I don't want anything to get back to my children, they are children," I say, already getting angry with this bitch, I don't know what I did to receive this punishment.

I look and realize that I am arriving on the floor, I wanted to know more about this security guard Rafa had hired. - Alex, they are calling me, I will talk to you later. - Guilherme says this practically hanging up on me. I agree and hang up.

I really want to hit that bitch. I put my cell phone in my pocket, I get so agitated that as soon as the elevator opens the doors, I get out of the elevator very quickly and don't even notice that my cell phone fell in it. When I arrive at the penthouse, I find a woman who didn't look like a secretary. I get close to her desk and she says: receptionist.

- Yes, what can I do for you? - asks the receptionist, her eyes shining.

- I came to talk to Rafael Monteiro," I say seriously and she nods her head in agreement.

I wonder where this woman came from? I bet she is one of his fucks. This Rafael has no way of doing things, he keeps hiring his "Peguettes" to work with him.

- Mr. Mendonça, you may enter. - she warns in a very nauseating tone. I thank her and enter, finding Ralph sitting loosely on his chair.

- How beautiful! You there all sprawled out in your chair as if you were at home. Can you imagine if a shareholder came in here? What would he think of your president? - I say in an ironic tone.

- Well, well, Mr. Alex Mendonça in my company, what an honor. Can I have your autograph? - Ralph mocks me, we shake hands and I give him back the irony he always used to make fun of my face.

- Hahaha. Very funny. - I roll my eyes at him.

- How are you, my friend? - he asks and points to the sofa for me to sit down.

- Fine. Thank God! The only thing that's been bothering me is that pest Veronica. She is threatening to release pictures of us that I never took," I blurt out and start changing the subject. - I took the twins for a consultation with Tiago, he sent me a souvenir and invited us for a night of drinks.

- This Tiago... I want to see him pay for it himself. Inviting, he knows, but paying is hard! I hope he pays this time. - jokes Ralph and I laugh.

- So, tell me, did you really hire the security guard? - I ask curious.

- Yes, I have, and all that's left is for us to sign the hiring documents," he tells me in a serious tone.

- Ok! Give me the value of the services so I can make the deposit - I ask him taking out the checkbook.

- I want to pay for these services! - he says enthusiastically, leaving me surprised, but I say:

- Ralph, no way. You have already done a lot by looking for and hiring the man.

- What makes you think the security guard is a man? - he asks in a debauched tone.

- And he isn't? - I answer surprised.