Chapter 4 Tumultuous dinner

Noah

I let things unfold, after all, everything was so convenient and peaceful. The routine was pleasant, and she didn't make any demands. Even though I left early every day and always came home well after dinner, she never complained about my absences or anything else. The Tiffany who fooled me was always in a good mood, doing everything to please me, something that easily seduced me, and I had to admit that I made it easy for myself to be deceived by her.

And then, I thought, "why not?" I was thirty-two years old, and it was time to start a family, as my mother annoyingly repeated all the time. But even with the insistence that I should start my own family, I couldn't blame my mother either, as Tiffany was never well-received by my family, and they warned me that she wasn't the person she pretended to be for me.

And even with everyone insisting on trying to show me the truth about my then "convenient fiancée," I didn't listen to anyone and went ahead with that madness. I accepted our wedding to be scheduled and released all the necessary resources for the expenses she wanted to make for it. The only thing I couldn't agree with at all was her desire for a church wedding. To my total relief, I didn't go so far into stupidity. But about everything else, I was a complete idiot, and now I was suffering the consequences of my actions.

"About your wife's lawyer, I've witnessed her in court a few times, and she makes her fees worth it. So, I'll warn you; it would be easier for us if you decided to compromise a bit on your determination not to cooperate with the process."

"Ex-wife," I emphasized, feeling angry about going through all that procedure. "When is the conciliation hearing?"

"Tomorrow at nine."

"I'll need to cancel a very important commitment because of that..."

"Watch your language, my friend. You can't let emotions dominate you, especially tomorrow during the hearing with the judge."

"You're right, of course. I need to control myself, or tomorrow I might say something that complicates my situation in this ridiculous process. It would be so much simpler if we just signed this divorce already!"

I stood up from my comfortable CEO chair of the Abrantes Group and paced around my richly decorated office in shades of ocher and beige, hands clenched.

This had been my father's office for years while he was the man behind the Abrantes Group, or GA, as employees used to call it.

"Be careful with your actions, Noah," Afonso warned once again. "As much as Tiffany messed with you, it was you who let her into your life."

"I need a drink," I said as I stopped near the office door. "Shall we go to the club? I miss our favorite place."

I was joking, just trying to lighten the mood a bit, as I felt very tense, and Season Hot Club had always been a place Afonso and I frequented. However, since I started my relationship with Tiffany, I refrained from going.

That was just another thing I deprived myself of, only to still be labeled a traitor by that frivolous and deceitful woman.

"You think it's a good idea to drink on the eve of the hearing?"

"No. It's not," I agreed after a brief analysis. I looked around and again at the window view, thinking about how I could be so deceived by a person.

"We can go out for dinner and align some information," he suggested. "And I'll allow you to have a drink. Just one drink. What do you think?"

"Better than nothing. Let's go!"

I grabbed the briefcase with some documents I had left on the table, and Afonso did the same with his folder on the chair next to him. Together, we headed to the underground parking lot.

"Let's go to the restaurant that Antônio Garcia is opening today," Afonso suggested as we walked quickly through the company corridors. "What do you think?"

"I'm not in the mood for openings."

"Come on, it'll be interesting," he insisted. "I have two invitations."

"Why didn't you invite one of your 'friends'? I'm not the best company today."

"I'm your friend, man. And a lawyer. I need to protect you from trouble, and you seem to be a man looking exactly for that today. And if you cause more trouble, I'll also get more work."

Afonso had a bit of a point. I wasn't in the best mood to socialize with other people, and maybe if I went to my apartment, I would end up deciding to go out and create even more problems.

We reached the underground parking lot, where each of us took our respective vehicles and headed to the address of the restaurant he indicated, which, to my liking, was very close to the Abrantes office building.

"Table for two, please," Afonso instructed the hostess.

"Follow me, gentlemen."

We followed her, and once we were seated, menus in hand, Afonso immediately commented on the beauty of the woman.

"I didn't pay attention," I grumbled. "In fact, I intend not to notice the beauty of any woman for quite some time."

"It would be ideal if that happened, but I really don't believe in that possibility."

"You can trust my word. I'm fed up with beautiful women who pretend to be good girls when, in fact, all they want is what we have in our bank accounts."

At that moment, the waiter arrived to take our orders, and only after his departure did we return to that topic.

"Don't be so cynical, Noah," Afonso said with a big smile, which he kept the entire time he was placing his order. "Just because you had a bad experience doesn't mean they'll all be the same."

"And what an experience, my friend!" I quipped.

Afonso just smiled in agreement, and I looked around our table, scanning the restaurant's space, and appreciating the discreet beauty of the environment. It was then that I noticed all its tables were occupied. The place was spacious, and the tasteful decoration spoke of Antonio Garcia's marriage to an interior decorator, explaining the visually pleasing ambiance.

Something caught my attention at that moment, and I looked more closely at a table near ours, unable to believe the coincidence that had just occurred. I confirmed that the woman sitting upright, seemingly wrinkling her nose as she looked around the place, which was at least ridiculous given that everything was beautiful and elegant, was none other than the fortune-sucking lawyer, Cassandra Alencar.

"Any problem, Noah? It seems like something is displeasing you. Don't like the restaurant?"

Before I could respond, a couple approached our table, and Afonso immediately stood up to greet them. I had to follow suit as I noticed it was the restaurant owner and his young wife.

After we greeted the couple Marília and Antonio Garcia, I kept looking in the direction of the nearby table, trying to maintain as much discretion as possible.

"I hope you're enjoying our restaurant," Antonio inquired enthusiastically.

"We just arrived, but so far, only compliments for the service and the place. It's all very pleasant," Afonso commented with enthusiasm.

"I'm glad to hear that. And you, Abrantes, what do you think so far? I know you're known in the business world for your sincerity."

"As our friend Afonso said, everything is very pleasant," I replied as honestly as possible, but all my attention was focused on the beautiful woman who was an accomplice to my ex.

"I believe 'pleasant' is not exactly the description I expected for my new restaurant, but I imagine that after you taste our dishes, surely the adjectives will be much better."

Despite the words, Antonio Garcia smiled as if he had just heard a very funny joke, drawing the attention of some people around us, including the lawyer, who looked at us attentively and ended up staring at me without blinking, probably just now realizing that I was one of the attendees in that circle.

I didn't avert my gaze either and stared at her fearlessly. We both remained like that for a few moments until Afonso discreetly nudged me, bringing my attention back to the conversation.

"I'm sure everything will be divinely delicious, right, Noah?" Afonso spoke extravagantly.

"Of course," I agreed because Afonso was looking at me almost murderously, and I thought I should congratulate the decoration and the person responsible for it. However, I was too engrossed in looking at Cassandra.

"I'm happy, then. Very happy. Isn't that right, dear?" Antonio spoke, staring at his young wife, receiving only a nod of agreement from her.

They bid us farewell, and I was extremely pleased to be able to sit back at our table, even more so to talk to Afonso about what had just happened.