João Felipe
He turned to me abruptly, for I had followed him and was already near the stairs as well.
"I'm not caring about the company right now. More important is to make sure that there is nothing serious behind this fainting of Mom. "
"Well know that if she will have the best medical care, it is thanks to the money we can earn with Mendes de Albuquerque. "
My father came to the top of the stairs at that moment and stared at us with a closed expression.
"Money is important, yes, João Felipe, and we already have it. Your mother is what matters most to me at this moment and João Pedro is right because she is more important than the company, which by the way is very good. Therefore, I make a point of accompanying your mother to the appointment. You take over the company in my absence and João Pedro will be by your side, to work together. "
He said this and left, not waiting for any response from us. We stared at each other, the mood tense, as it had never happened between me and my brother.
He walked strangely, he didn't treat me with the same camaraderie as always. I didn't know what had brought about the change, but I wasn't willing to confront João Pedro for answers either.
"The day will come when you will understand that people are worth more than any business. "
That said, he went upstairs and I preferred to keep silent. I wondered what he was talking about, or rather about whom, and it made me afraid that Vivi had told me about what had happened between us. I sincerely hoped not, as I didn't want this story to reach my parents' ears at all, for different reasons.
My mother would be extremely disappointed in me, to have been involved with someone so below us on the social ladder, and my father... he would be furious that it was Viviane, someone he had as his own family and who he cared for to always have the best. And knowing that I had been the first man in Vivi's life and that I had no intention of assuming any kind of relationship with her, would make him despise me.
What a situation I had gotten myself into!
João Felipe
I went into the kitchen in search of something to eat, as it was already past three o'clock on Saturday afternoon and I hadn't had lunch yet. I was so focused on the last details for the implementation of our branch that I didn't even pay attention at the time.
I was early in the library of the mansion, studying some contracts we signed with the investors of our project and now I was feeling the absence of the meal I did not make.
I found João Pedro talking to Lúcia while removing some food from inside the refrigerator and putting it inside a plastic container.
"Good afternoon! "
"Until finally, you showed up! You haven't been eating right, boy," Lúcia complained, looking at me with her hands on her waist in an angry posture.
"I'm eating well, don't come to me with complaints, Lúcia. Business can't wait, but now I'm here, looking for a juicy meal, as only you know how to do. "
I spoke in a way that pleased him. I was really hungry now and Lúcia's food was excellent.
"Business first, Lúcia. In front of anything or anyone," João Pedro spoke, withdrawing from the kitchen.
"What crazier story is this, Pedrinho? His father never said that sort of thing here. Don't come to me with that, now that you've started working at your father's company. "
He did not answer and left the kitchen, leaving Lúcia amazed at his unusual attitude.
"What's the problem with Pedrinho? He's been very strange these last few days! It even looks like Vivi! "
I realized that Lúcia spoke more to herself and that information bothered me a lot. I decided it was time to face João Pedro and whatever was leaving him in that state so different from his usual.
I hurried out of the kitchen as I was going to confront my brother and it would be now. There was no more reason to postpone.
"Aren't you going to eat, Felipe? "
I still heard Lúcia ask when I was leaving the kitchen. She must have been even more confused, I figured.
I met João Pedro already in the corridor that led to our rooms and when he was arriving in front of his door, I questioned him.
"What's your problem? "
He stopped his hand in the lock of the door. His face was a mask of coldness and it didn't resemble the ever-loving brother I had lived with since I was a child.
" Is there a problem?" he replied with another question, his eyebrow arched and his tone was icy.
"I don't know. Tell me you. "
He opened the door and went into the room. When I realized he was going to slam the door in my face, I held it and pushed it so that we both entered together.
João Pedro looked around, as if looking for something, and came to sigh in relief. I didn't understand his reaction, but I had something more important to deal with.
"So what? What's been going on for you to be treating me so aggressively in the last few days? "I pressed.
He sat down on his bed, after placing the container that was in his hands on top of the bedside table.
"Do you still ask me? Put your hand on your conscience and analyze if everything you have done since you returned home was correct attitudes. I'm sure you'll come to some conclusion about my motives. "
"Viviane told you, didn't she? "
It could only be that. I couldn't understand what prompted Vivi to tell my brother about what had happened between us. It was unnecessary. We weren't even together anymore.
"She didn't have to tell me anything. I didn't have to look at the two of them together for an entire minute to suspect that something was going on between you. It was only by paying attention to all the times that one disappeared and the other as well, that I put it all together. "
"It's not possible that you're upset with me just because you suspect Viviane and I were hanging out together. "
" You weren't "hanging out together "He made the quote mark with his index fingers. " You were using it, with no intention of taking on any kind of relationship. "
"I don't know what Viviane said to you, but that's not how things happened. We were getting yes, but she knew full well what to expect from me when we started. And when she decided she couldn't give it anymore, I didn't insist, let alone hinder anything about moving away. So tell me where did the part I was using come in? "
"In the fact that you've always snubbed her, and now you've taken advantage of her feelings for you that way. "