Denise felt deeply offended by what she had just heard. How could that man have the nerve to suggest something so disgusting? Without giving him any reason to think otherwise about her, she immediately answered him.“Are you kidding me?” she asked in a louder tone. “You're old enough to be my father, and besides, I'm not that kind of person!” she said bluntly. She wasn't about to give that dirty old man any encouragement.The man, in turn, was surprised. He hadn't expected the young woman to react so negatively to his advance. Because she looked like a simple, somewhat country girl, he had assumed she would stay quiet.Trying to reverse the situation, he apologized.“You must have misunderstood our conversation. That's not what I meant. You're the one who got the wrong idea, girl. Look, let's just forget about it, all right? You'll work in the cafeteria. I'll send you there.” Túlio was breaking out in a cold sweat. “And let this misunderstanding die right here, do you hear me?” he ask

Denise told him everything that had happened in Túlio's office when she had gone looking for a job earlier that morning.“Listen, brunette, don't worry about it, okay? I'll make sure he never disrespects you again. You'll never have to go through something like that in your life again, I guarantee it.”“Thank you, but what are you going to do?” she asked worriedly.The last thing she wanted at that moment was to cause any kind of trouble.“Nothing serious. I'll just have a conversation with him.” He stood up. “We'd better go. It's almost lunchtime. I'd really like to invite you to the capital city, but today won't work.”“No problem,” she replied sadly.She had thought they would spend the day together, but he seemed eager to leave, and a few doubts began creeping into her mind.On the way home, they remained silent. Denise even wondered whether it had really been a good idea to tell Saulo about the administrator's behavior, since he drove with a very serious expression on his face.O

Denise explained the same story she had told her aunt, and although still suspicious, her uncle accepted her version of events.“When something like that happens, you need to come to me immediately, sweetheart. I never liked Mr. Túlio very much, and after something like this, I'm even more upset.”“But the important thing is that everything has already been cleared up, Uncle. Saulo helped me.”“Mr. Saulo, Denise. Mr.!” he corrected her. “Even if you seem to be about the same age, he's also our employer. There should be distance and respect between employee and boss to avoid any kind of trouble.”“All right, Uncle. I'm going out for a walk now, okay?”“And where are you going?”“Just for a walk. Since I start working tomorrow, I need to enjoy my last free afternoon.”“All right, but be careful. There's a festival tomorrow, and they're already setting things up in the square. There are a lot of strangers wandering around the village.”“Okay. I'll be back later.”Denise left the house an

In the bedroom, the two cold-blooded accomplices stared at Mr. Caetano's lifeless body lying on the floor.“We're not going to touch anything. We'll leave him exactly as he fell so everyone will think he simply became ill,” Túlio explained. “Are you absolutely sure this poison won't show up in the autopsy results?”“Of course I'm sure. I've been researching it for a long time. It wasn't easy getting it into the pharmacy,” Liana said.“Where's Lúcia?” Túlio asked anxiously.“I sent her and Joaquim into the village to buy the month's groceries. Relax, nobody will suspect a thing. Besides, she told me Caetano was already upset. Everyone will assume it was a heart attack. What nobody will ever know is what caused the attack.” She laughed wickedly.“You're certain about this, aren't you, Liana? Let's get out of here. Take that cup with you. Wash it and put it away. Nobody can know we were inside this room.”“And nobody ever will.” She laughed. “Come on. Oliver should be back soon.”The two

It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria was packed. Denise served a long line of hungry men.Although she appeared calm on the outside, inwardly she was calling Saulo every name she could think of. She felt betrayed and deceived. Her hands trembled.She hated being made a fool of, especially after making it clear that she despised lies. She had never demanded a serious relationship, but she did expect there to be no misunderstandings of this kind.After finishing the dishes, she saw Saulo walk through the main entrance. A surge of anger mixed with adrenaline rushed through her. She was carrying a huge pot in her hands to put away in the cupboard and seriously considered throwing it at the man's head as he leaned against the kitchen counter and called out to her.“Denise, can I talk to you?” he asked quietly, as though he didn't want the other employees to notice.“I'm working. Can't you see that?” she replied without even looking at him.“I've already spoken with your supervisor.” He rece