Page 79 of Please, Forgive Me

“The kid’s doing great. Asking a million questions about everything, as usual. He wants to understand what I do here—and he even said he wants to be like me when he grows up.”

“He will be,” Alexandre said. “But maybe with a little more heart. He’s got your strength, but he also has a sensitivity you sometimes try to hide.”

I didn’t respond, but deep down, I agreed with him.

My son was special—someone I wanted to protect from the world and its betrayals. Yet, at the same time, I wanted him to stay open to the good things in life. Something I was still struggling to do myself.

“And our parents? How are they?” I asked, steering the conversation somewhere less emotional.

“They’re good. You should visit more often—Mom was really happy the last time you showed up.”

“I’ll do that.”

After a few more minutes, he left the room, and I sat there, thinking about everything my brother had said.

He was right about more than I wanted to admit. And even though anger still simmered under my skin most days, I knew I had to keep it in check.

One way or another.

CHAPTER 32

“It takes courage to admit your mistakes—and even more to make them right…”

MARIA GABRIELA

“He’s really making you go to that party… or workshop, whatever it is?” Carol asked, rolling her eyes with pure disdain.

I couldn’t even blame her.

“Yeah, girl. But I’m not complaining—just a few more days and I’m out of there for good, thank God. And this workshop’s on a Sunday, so at least I won’t have to go back to the office on Monday.” I sighed, feeling that odd mix of relief and anxiety. “It’s just another one of those endless weekend meetings he loves. The kind where you’re on your feet for hours, surrounded by investors and important people. Diego made a point of telling me I had to be there, so… here we go.”

“Of course he did.” Carol let out a sarcastic laugh. “He probably loves watching you suffer while he strolls around looking all perfect, doesn’t he?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Carol always had this way of finding humor in everything, even when things were tough.

“It’s gonna be exhausting, but it’s the last time. After that, I’m free,” I said, trying to convince myself that leaving the company was really as close as it seemed.

“Trust me, Gabi. Once you walk out of there, it’s gonna feel like dropping twenty pounds straight off your shoulders. I bet Diego’s gonna be completely lost without you. Maybe he’ll finally realize how indispensable you were.” She paused for effect, then smirked. “Or maybe he’ll realize that being a boss isn’t just about being gorgeous and arrogant.”

I burst out laughing. Carol never missed a chance to take a jab at Diego.

Deep down, I knew she wanted the best for me—she wanted me far away from all that pressure—but she couldn’t resist turning the whole thing into a joke.

“Oh, you never miss a beat, do you?” I said, shaking my head, still laughing. “But yeah, it’s gonna be good to leave. To focus on what I actually want—my life, my plans… without his shadow hovering over me.”

“Without Narcissus breathing down your neck all the time!” Carol chimed in, laughing with me. “And then you can finally start your own business, like you’ve always wanted. Maybe even meet a decent guy for once.”

“Oh, come on!” I protested, laughing harder. “One thing at a time, please.”

“I’m serious!” Carol insisted, folding her arms dramatically, as if determined to convince me. “First, you’ll open your own business, then you’ll find someone who actually values you. And who knows—by the time that baby’s born, you might even have a decent man by your side. Because, honestly, Diego might be a lot of things, but decent? Oh, honey, that’s not one of them.”

I let out a deep sigh, my laughter slowly fading.

She was right, but the truth was… I was still confused about everything. Sure, Diego wasn’t the easiest man to deal with—arrogant, controlling, obsessed with work.

And yet, there was something about him that still got to me, something I couldn’t just switch off.