Rhodia River - In the stream of love [Book 1]

Chapter 31 - Photoshoot

MONICA'S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Monica is typing on the computer, producing more pages from her book, concentrating; until she looks to the left side. She sees the novel purchased by Fábia Peres. Monica stops and reflects on what she will do. Knocks on the door make her wake up and stand up to answer.

Monica opens the door and Annie enters anxiously, breathing badly.

"Monica! Something serious has happened, we have to do something!"

"Annie! What happened? Calm down, girl, let's sit down."

Monica gently guides Annie to the sofa, where Annie sits down, clearly shaken. Monica, noticing how distraught she is, breathes deeply to gather herself before heading to the kitchen.

As Monica disappears into the other room, Annie tries to calm her racing thoughts, taking slow, steady breaths. Her eyes wander around the living room, eventually landing on a book sitting on Monica's desk.

The sight of the book momentarily distracts her, but she's still too anxious to focus on it.

Moments later, Monica returns, holding a cup of water. She offers it to Annie with a soft, reassuring smile.

"Here—"

Annie asked, "Monica, what is this? Are you drawing inspiration for your book like that, the naughty ones? Is that what your romance is about?"

"Hey girl, who do you take me for? Of course not! I found it in the garbage of Fábia: in the garbage that she insists on leaving near my door and at night, for the dogs to tear up."

Annie raises an eyebrow. "Okay, and you made a point of taking this double garbage to..."

Annie drinks water, foreseeing a bomb. But Monica is determined.

"I want to rub this on Fábio's face. She keeps buying these readings, or else she didn't throw everything, everything away. I thought that Fábio didn't keep his promise, when in fact it's she who isn't."

Annie frowns, "Is that really up to you, Monica?"

"It was not. But, after Fábia Peres came here to slap me, and then Fábio said that it was my entire fault... It ended up becoming."

Annie reacts shocked. "But, my, my friend!"

"I don't care what kind of magazines they like to read, but now it has become war. Nobody comes here to give me slaps and pose as a saint when hiding this type of book from her boyfriend." She pauses, "Now, stop talking about me. You're calmer, but it looked like you were having a heart attack!"

"I'm still new to these things, but I feel like that was it! I discovered something horrible through Jonas."

Monica immediately gets up. "If it came from Jonas, then it's a lie!"

"Monica! Sit your ass over there and listen!"

Monica sits back and doesn't show to be offended.

Annie goes on talking, "Jonas swore to me that he saw Seu Aurélio try in vain to withdraw money from the Lottery. He has no way of paying for the print shop, the posters!"

It's time for Monica to shock, "This is serious, Annie! We need to do something. We need to order these posters! If Aurélio cannot pay..."

Annie is awesome, "My friend, I had an idea... Knowing Seu Aurélio, he might try something."

"Borrowing, borrowing from a loan shark—"

Annie yells wide-eyed, "Accept Ricardo's help!"

Monica gets up again, determined.