João Felipe
I hugged her even tighter and kissed her slowly, to which I reciprocated. We kept kissing until she made a jerky motion, for me to let go.
"That's not right! We are kissing in João Pedro's room," he said moaning, running his hand over his head, through his voluminous hair.
" You're right, " agreed. " I think you should change rooms. You can't stay here with him."
She looked at me and looked like she was going to fight back at my words, but she just shook her head in consent.
"I'm not trying to impose anything on you, Vivi. It's just a matter of common sense. But you will always have the last word on whatever matter it is, I assure you."
I was being honest and hoped she could see it in me.
"I agree to have dinner with you, Felipe. I just hope that when the time comes, you will also use your common sense to understand the whole situation," she spoke cryptically but gestured for me not to ask questions.
I decided that I couldn't miss that opportunity and it was best to wait to learn more at another time. I then arranged dinner for the next night, since the day had already been so busy.
The night was long and I woke up feeling tense and anxious. Still, I went to the company in an attempt to be productive in some way, which didn't happen. I spent the whole morning trying to pay attention to something. My concentration only improved in the afternoon, when I reflected that I was very close to the moment when I could be with Viviane as I wanted.
I went to pick her up at the foundation, but unlike the other times, this one I told her I would go and asked her to wait for me. She replied with just an "okay," but that was enough for me, at least for now.
The way home was very different from what I expected because when pulling the subject and asking Viviane about her work at the foundation, she was very comfortable and talked a lot about the place and the people, which made me very satisfied.
When we got home, we followed the two of us towards the garden, looking for my mother and Sarah, and it was something so natural to both of us, that we ended up smiling at each other in understanding.
" Glad they arrived, dear " Mom soon greeted us, with her hugs and two usual kisses. " Sarah is more and more talkative, have you noticed?"
"Of course we did. My little one is very smart," I said, taking Sarah in my arms.
" Has João Pedro arrived, Marta?" Viviane asked, making me a little upset.
I don't want to assume it was jealousy that I was feeling.
"He's in the office with Rodolfo. They're waiting for you, João Felipe."
That information took me by surprise because, until the moment I was at Mendes, everything was within the normal range. I kissed Sarinha's cheek, handed her to Viviane, and went as fast as possible toward the office.
Viviane
A business setback, which had to be resolved with extreme urgency, necessitated the presence of one of Mendes' directors at a project being built in Mykonos, Greece.
To my surprise, João Pedro offered to go in place of Felipe, who was the person responsible for the negotiation.
"Why are you going to travel again, JP?" I asked him as I helped him pack.
"I've been feeling anxious lately. I believe you and my brother also need time alone so that you can understand each other in the best possible way."
"Do you believe that I should give Felipe a new opportunity? Be honest with me about your opinion.
"I would never say anything I don't feel, Vivi. I want you to be happy."
" I'm happy! " I interrupted him.
"Truly happy, be fulfilled in your life. You have a job that makes you feel good, you have Sarah, you have my family and yours supporting you, but I don't feel like you were fully happy," he pointed out pointedly. But who knows now that João Felipe has fallen into you, you can't be truly happy?"
I didn't agree with JP's words, but we kept packing his bag and putting only the indispensable things, which in his case, were many things, and we changed the subject.
João Pedro traveled that same night and due to recent events, my dinner with Felipe was postponed to the next day, and we all had dinner together, except João Pedro, who had gone to the airport.
The days passed and even though we did not go to the dinner proposed by Felipe, we created a routine together, in which he would drop me off at work in the morning and pick me up in the afternoon. Sometimes we had lunch together too, and in the evening we stayed with Sarinha and my in-laws.
João Pedro had managed to get around the situation in Mykonos, but he did not seem to want to return to São Paulo, because he was doing his work remotely, and that day, during a video call conversation, he confessed to me that he was thinking about taking a vacation because since he had started working at Mendes, it had not yet been possible.
" I am also in need of a vacation, thinking well " Felipe replied, during dinner that night, when Mr. Rodolfo commented to us about the request of the youngest son. " We could travel, what do you think Vivi?"
" It won't be possible now, dear " Marta spoke while smiling at us. " His father has already authorized João Pedro to take such a vacation."
"I can't do without my two directors at the same moment, Felipe. Only when João Pedro's vacation is over I can release his" Mr. Rodolfo completed.
Although we hadn't slept together yet, as I didn't feel safe enough to fully surrender to Felipe, we were understanding each other better every day, and between hot kisses and lots of caresses, we were always together.
That suggestion of a vacation together was not unusual, so it surprised me a lot. Traveling with João Felipe would be something I never dreamed of, as it always seemed to be totally out of reality. Now, however, the circumstances have changed and I liked that proposal.
"It doesn't matter if it's going to be a month from now, doesn't it Vivi?" he said taking my hand under the table, discreetly, but it made me feel huge happiness, to be now in his plans for the future. "We can organize everything calmly, choose a destination where we can take Sarah comfortably and safely."