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Chapter 3 - Dinner

"Betina could no longer stand to maintain that lie, the secret was torturing her. Having to pretend not to know Julio was a torment. She really wanted to tell her friend what an idiot he was. She wanted to talk about his shenanigans and how cunning he was at breaking hearts. Despite being less involved, she had suffered a bit from him, even if she constantly denied that fact. But Mikaella seemed so happy, and after her mother's death, it was the first time Betina had seen her friend smile. How could she break her friend's heart like this?

She saw the perfect opportunity arise when Mikaella decided to have a dinner in her apartment to officially introduce Julio as her boyfriend. She wanted him and her friends to finally get along. What she didn't imagine was that Betina already knew him well enough, and she wouldn't be the only one at the dinner who knew Julio very well.

The dinner was scheduled for 8:00 PM, but Betina arrived an hour early, hoping to find her friend alone. She had the key, but since the two had been distant for some time, she decided to ring the doorbell. She was surprised when Julio opened the door, holding a glass of wine and a lecherous look in his eyes. He invited her in, saying, 'Bonjour ma panthère' (Hello, my panther), referring to her with one of the old sexual nicknames they had shared. Betina made a face, trying to push any memories related to their past away.

"Can you be less disgusting?" she suggested angrily.

"Can you be less of a slut?" he retorted provocatively.

"Oh, I'll show you a slut!" She raised her hand to slap her ex, but they were both interrupted.

"Tina? Is everything okay in here?" Leona asked from inside the apartment.

Betina took a deep breath, holding back her hand. "It's fine. Just get me away from this jerk before I do something stupid," she replied as Leona took her arm and led her toward the balcony.

As soon as she felt the cool air on her face, Betina let out a sigh. "Damn it, Leo! What the hell have I gotten my best friend into?" She buried her face in her hands as if they held the answer to her despair.

Leona approached and lifted Betina's chin, making her look into her eyes. "Hey, stop this. None of this is your fault. You're not betraying Mikaella. You should have told her everything from the beginning, but I understand your reasons for holding back. I would have fallen for him too if David hadn't told me what kind of man he is. So, don't blame yourself. We're trying to open our friend's eyes now, but she's an adult and needs to make her own decisions. If she has to make mistakes, let her make them for herself, not because of our interference."

Betina nodded. They exchanged glances for a few seconds, and Betina was close to kissing Leona, but she sensed her friend's visible discomfort.

"Where's that yes-man David now?" Betina asked, trying to change the subject.

"He's not a yes-man," Leona replied, uncomfortable. "He's just a dedicated son. He's in the bedroom talking to Mikaella."

"Hmm, okay. No need to get all defensive. Anything is an excuse for you to defend your bossy little David. It's like..."

"Like what?" Leona asked, embarrassed.

"Oh, nothing. It just seems like you're involved in something more than just David's paperwork. I'd say you two have enormous sexual tension, something about to explode."

Leona blushed immediately and shook her head. "Of course not. That's absurd! I'm not having tension with anyone!" she protested.

"Oh, really?" Betina approached slowly, leaving only a few inches of space between their lips. "And with me? Are you not having sexual tension with me too?" She whispered, making Leona swallow hard.

They were startled by a noise coming from the living room. It seemed like they were being watched. Leona returned to the living room immediately, still out of breath, and Betina followed without showing any emotion.

To their surprise, Julio was waiting for them in the living room with a mocking look. "You know, girls, it was a delightful surprise. Who would've thought that you two were having an affair? Well, Betina, I expected anything from you, but 'Leo,' I didn't expect you to swing that way."

"Shut your disgusting mouth, Julio. She doesn't deserve to hear your vulgarities. Leave Leona alone," Betina ordered.

"Why, Tininha? Are you jealous of the secretary? What is it? You won't tell me she hasn't opened her legs for you yet? We both know that the 'good girls' are the worst. They act all quiet, innocent, but deep down, they're just bitches in heat, waiting for the initiative of a real man."

Julio didn't have time to react to the juice that hit him. "You bastard! Worthless! Never dare to speak to her like that again, do you understand?" David thundered, demanding a response from Julio, who was already on the ground with a nasty cut on his chin and an apparently broken nose. It would have been worse if not for Mikaella's interruption.

"What's going on here? Let him go, David!" She pulled her brother away from the scoundrel, albeit reluctantly. "Have you gone mad? Why did you attack him like that?" she asked, alarmed.

"Mikaella, this guy is an idiot! I knew I wasn't wrong about him! He's a damn motherf***er who doesn't respect women! You can't continue with this scumbag!"

He affirmed, and Mikaella looked at him confused. She looked from David to Leona and understood her brother's behavior.

"Look, I don't know what's going on between you guys, and it's not my problem. Besides, David, you have a fiancée; she should be here. She's the one you should be defending."

David remained silent, and Leona was clearly confused. "Come with me. Let's go to the bathroom, and I'll help you touch up your makeup," Betina suggested.

"No, Tina, thanks, but I think it's better if I go home," she decided.

"Leo, please, forgive me," Mikaella pleaded.

"It's okay, friend. You only spoke the truth. I need to learn to defend myself. You don't need me."

She wiped away a tear, and Mikaella looked at her sadly. "Stay here; I need you."

Leona shook her head. "No, you don't need me, friend. You already have what you need right there by your side. You prefer to be with him instead of listening to your friends and family, so you don't need me."

She grabbed her bag and walked toward the door, followed by David. "David, please don't go. Let's talk," Mikaella insisted.

"I have nothing else to do here," he said.

As soon as he opened the door, he came face to face with Roberto Assunção, his father. "Oh? Is the party already over?"

he asked sarcastically.

"For me, it's over," David said, leaving."

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