EPISODE 152

 

Shortly after,

At the main boardroom of Montes De Alba inc,

The board including Hernan, Gabriela, Aranza, Gabriel, Helena, and Carlos as well as Martin (invited by Gabriela) and Aurelio (invited by Hernan) were there. Antonio and Adrianna were however not there. There are whispers among the people there before Helena calls things to order, by saying in an authoritative voice hallo and reminding people that they should get down to the business of the day. As the chatter dies down, she says that those people who have to be there are there (she gives a quick dark look to the twins, Aranza, Gabriel, Aurelio, and Martin).

Aranza rolls her eyes at her mother. The meeting begins. Helena says that what happened the previous day was an unfortunate misunderstanding that will hopefully be cleared up soon. She says that both she and Carlos will defend themselves against all false claims leveled against them. She pauses, looks straight at Gabriel, and says that they will fight to retain what is rightfully theirs. Gabriel asks her with barely contained sarcasm what the false claims are. Helena is momentarily caught off guard and freezes.

Gabriel says that if the matter is serious enough for the police to personally come for them then they should be enlightened on the matter. Carlos steps in. He says that it isn't anything of consequence. He adds that it is still the same old accusations of causing the accident that nearly killed him. Gabriel asks him if new evidence turned up. Hernan, Gabriela, and Aranza look at each other and smile. Their father is doing a fantastic job of making Helena and Carlos look guilty and bad. Carlos says that no new evidence turned up because he and Helena are not guilty.

One board member says that the company's image will negatively suffer from the new developments. He says that the first time was largely scar-free for the company but another link with such serious crimes can do serious damage to the company's image. Carlos says that it's a small legal issue and they will sort it out. A second board member, this time a lady, says that while none of them can claim to be perfect, the crime they ( Helena and Carlos ) are being accused of isn't a small misdemeanor but multiple counts of murder and fraud.

She says that it's in the company's best interests for them to be suspended as investigations go on, to prevent the situation from looking like the company supports murder or fraud. A third member, a man says that he agrees, he adds that a second summon by the police especially after so long, looks so bad. Hernan says that while it is not their place to declare anyone guilty, the charges are very serious. He adds that they have to maintain a good image of the company.

Helena glares at Hernan then says that what happened yesterday was nothing new and was more of a routine interrogation to find out if their statements were still as they were. She says that their statements checked out and that is why they are free. Carlos starts to add to that, but there is a knock on the door. Martin goes to open it and is shocked to see Antonio and Adrianna. He lets them in. Everyone looks at them surprised. Martin says to himself that things are about to get more interesting.

Elsewhere,

At a secret location,

Claudia looks at a picture of Antonio. She cries and then wipes away the tears. She calls him my dear grandson and says that she misses him. She says that once the madness calms down, she will go straight to see him. She says that she cannot wait to hold Hannibal in her arms and play with him.

Elsewhere,

At a bar/restaurant,

A cleaner is busy wiping the lounge area. She touches something hard and puts aside the duster that was in her hand. She reaches out for the item (which was lightly placed in the inner part of the chair). It is a phone. She shakes her head as she says to herself some drunks. She puts it in her pocket and says that she will hand it over when she finishes cleaning the lounge.

Elsewhere,

Back at Montes De Alba Inc.,

To say that Adrianna and Antonio's arrival has caused a stir would be an understatement. All the attention was now on them. Adrianna follows Antonio. They stand on the opposite ends of where Helena is seated, despite there being empty chairs near where Martin and Aurelio are seated. (Helena is seated on the central big boss chair. Carlos is seated on her left and another board member on her right) .Adrianna looks at Hernan for a few seconds and she can see the questioning in his eyes. She looks back to Antonio as if waiting for guidance or assurance.

Antonio smiles at her and squeezes her hand. Hernan curls a hand, a little jealous. Antonio and Adrianna then turn to face both Carlos and Helena. Carlos (talking as if he is talking to a naughty child and pissed) tells Antonio that they are in the middle of a meeting to discuss the crisis at the company and there is a protocol for such an important meeting. Antonio looks around the room and apologizes to everyone for being late and for barging in. He says that it is however for a good reason. He then looks at Adrianna.

She glares at her aunt and says that they can only imagine the lies they have been feeding people. She then stares down both Helena and Carlos and with fake sweetness, while calling Helena dearest auntie, asks her if she cares to explain what she knows about how her ( Adrianna's) parents died. There are a few gasps. Carlos walks the few steps near Adrianna and says that he can see that she is also plotting to give control of the company to Gabriel and his children. Adrianna bravely faces him.

She says that for her, her primary concern is clearing the doubts about how her parents died and getting justice for them if necessary. Carlos says that they aren't murderers. Adrianna says that's for police investigators not any of them to prove or disapprove. Carlos says that he and Helena have worked so hard to make the company what it is and they won't lose it because of the fantasies of a spoiled little brat. Adrianna says that she can imagine all the work they did to shed a lot of blood for the company.

Elsewhere,

At a flat in the city, a young man (the same one who told Emma about what Marianna, Isabella, Horacio, and Alejandro did while drunk), is walking around, dressed in his boxers and a vest. He runs a hand through his shaggy hair and mumbles. He grumbles as he says what a way he has begun his day with his phone lost. He adds that he can't remember how or where his phone got lost. He walks to the kitchen and pours himself water that was in a jug. He takes a few sips and then says that he will go and replace his line later.

Something hits him and he curses silently. He says that the phone has the audio which can get him and his friends in a lot of trouble. He has a flashback of the day the audio was recorded. On this particular day, he and two of his friends met with Isabella, Horacio, and Alejandro to discuss what to do about Emma, now that she knew about the baby switching and drugging. Isabella is heard talking first and she says that they have come so far to lose everything because of a silly little girl. She reminds everyone that they all have something to lose. One of his friends says that he won't go to jail for being involved in drugging.

Horacio says that they may have scared Emma into silence for the moment, but as long as she is alive, she is still a threat and can talk. Alejandro says they should silence her permanently, for all their sake. Isabella is then heard asking the three friends if they will sort out the small issue and get rid of Emma Valdez. The third friend looks around then after a nod from both friends, he says that as long as they agree on the terms and payments, it will be okay. The guy having the flashback says that the sooner they do it, the better.

Alejandro says that he will discuss the payments with Isabella and Horacio and the six of them can meet again at the same venue the next day to finalize the plans. The young man zones out of the flashback and comes back to the present. The audio is pretty long, about twenty minutes. He tells himself that he and everyone on that audio is screwed if his phone is ever found. He says that he only recorded the audio and kept several backup copies incase Alejandro and his friends ever back-stabbed him and now that same information will screw them all.

Back at the bar/restaurant,

The cleaner is in the store alone. She had been going through the phone she found in the lounge for a few minutes. As she is going through the photo gallery to see if she can see an identifiable face, she stumbles on Emma's photo. She says to herself that she has seen the lady in the picture from somewhere but doesn't remember from where. She has a feeling that there is something about that picture and puts the phone back in the pocket.

Back at Montes De Alba ink,

Helena is standing behind Carlos. He is trying his best to intimidate Adrianna but she stands her ground. He looks at her with spite and hate. He insists that he worked hard to grow the company and he won't lose it. He glares at Adrianna and then in the flash of a second starts attacking her. Antonio steps in between and helps Adrianna. Hernan rushes to the scene and holds Carlos by the neck. Eyes flashing he tells him that he will kill him the next time he lays a finger on Adrianna. Carlos defiantly tells Hernan that he should tell his stupid girlfriend to stop spreading lies.

Hernan has had it and starts beating up Carlos. Martin and Aurelio rush to break up the fight. Carlos is still taunting Hernan who despite being restrained, still wants to beat him up. Helena starts to move back and moves to leave but Gabriel goes and blocks the exit. Helena says that she has to leave and Gabriel says that she will leave once everything is cleared up. Helena glares at Gabriel but steps back. Hernan turns towards Adrianna. He walks the few steps to her. Antonio steps back and Hernan embraces her.

Remembering where they are and what is going on, Adrianna steps away from Hernan. She wipes away some loose tears and apologizes to everyone in the room for the distraction and sideshows. She adds that despite everything they should continue with the business of the day. Hernan tells her that if she isn't upto it, they can continue later. Adrianna looks at him and says that she is fine. She sighs and says that given the current charges facing them (Helena and Carlos) and evidence that has been uncovered about her parents' death, she doesn't think, they deserve to be part of the company. Helena tells Adrianna to stop peddling rumors. Adrianna says that she would not make such claims without evidence. Adrianna then says that she will reveal to everyone what happened the previous day.

Back at the young man's house,

He is in a heightened state of panic. He says to himself that he can't tell his friends, Alejandro or Alejandro's friends. He adds that Isabella especially is ruthless. He paces around. He adds that to make things worse, he doesn't even remember where he left the phone. Just then, there is a knock on the door. He sighs and walks over to the door. He asks who it is. It is one of the friends on the audio. He takes a deep breath and opens the door. His friend comes in and looks around. He asks him why he hasn't been picking up calls. The audio man says that his phone got lost or was stolen.

He adds that he isn't sure which one it was. He then asks what's up. The friend says that he was just a little concerned because of the silence. He then asks the audio guy what he will do about his phone. The audio guy shrugs and says that luckily he has a bit of cash and will get a new one. His friend tells him that he can get his old phone tracked. The audio guy says to himself that there is no way he will go to the police to look for a phone that has evidence that proves they are killers. He adds that he hopes that his phone gets permanently lost, flushed, or destroyed. However, out loud audio guy says without much enthusiasm that he will try but he doesn't have much hope.

Sometime later,

Adrianna has just finished explaining the evidence that suggests her parents' deaths were not so accidental. Hernan and Antonio have Carlos under strict guard and he cannot attack anyone. There is pin-drop silence. Carlos asks her icily if they have evidence for their wild claims. Adrianna glares at him and says that she has soft copies of the falsified documents and they will be sent to everyone in the room as proof of her words. The lady board member coughs and says that given what has just happened, she suggests Gabriel gives guidance on the way forward.

She then adds that is if it is acceptable to a majority. Most people are okay with the idea, except Helena, Carlos, and their partner in crime, Flavio Basanez, the father of Mauricio Basanez, the guy who tried to rape Aranza years earlier. Gabriel is momentarily shocked. He then walks to the front. Gabriela looks at her father and asks herself what crazy plans he has this time. Gabriel looks all around the room and then says that first and foremost Helena and Carlos should be suspended from the company. He adds they can't, however, ignore the fact that together the two of them control sixty percent of the company.

He adds that in addition to the suspension, they should be stripped of their shares and interest in the company. Gabriel continues and says that fifty percent of that should go back to him and his children because it is now clear how much damage Helena and Carlos have done not just to his family but to so many other people as well. Aranza while calling her father, dad asks him where the last ten percent will go. Gabriel smiles at his youngest child and says five percent will go to Antonio and five percent to Adrianna. Despite the emotions swirling around her, Adrianna is very shocked. She tells Gabriel that she doesn't understand.

Elsewhere,

At the hospital,

Renata was with her grandfather, she had brought him for one of his regular check-ups. He had already been seen by his doctor. Santiago had felt hungry and suggested that they pass by the cafeteria. Santiago asks Renata what she thinks of Martin, as a person. Renata is a little surprised at the question. She says that from what she has seen so far from interacting with him, he is a nice person. Renata adds that not many people would have been so kind and willing to open up themselves to give someone another chance, the way Martin gave Marianna.

She then asks her grandfather why he asked that. Santiago says that he will never be able to thank Martin enough for what he has done and continues to do for Marianna but he can tell that they are in love with each other and that has complications. Renata asks him what those are. Santiago says that they don't know how long Marianna will be sentenced and Martin will be greatly affected by that. He adds that he is concerned because Martin will postpone his life for however long that will be. Renata admits that she too thinks about that.

She adds that it's only Martin and Marianna who can decide on that for themselves. Santiago agrees. He then says that either way, he is happy that Martin will let them be in Dianna's life. He adds that Marianna and Dianna are like a miracle and a gift all wrapped up in one because he wasn't expecting them. Renata agrees. She adds that Thiago loves his little cousin to bits and loves playing the older brother role. Just then, someone stops at their table. It is Octavio.

Renata introduces him to her grandfather. He says that he just stopped by to greet them. He says he is on his way to see a patient. He tells them goodbye and leaves. Renata turns back and focuses on her food. Santiago looks at his elder granddaughter for a few moments. Renata looks up and finds her grandfather still staring at her. She asks him what is going on. Santiago folds his hands and says that he should be the one asking that question.