Caray, Caray!

Rod has surprised Erika in her office and is pacing back and forth excitedly jabbering a hundred miles an hour to her about the fabulous success and acceptance that he had promoting his new tequila. He says it is just the moment to make a change in his life since Ricardo will pay off his debt shortly and then he will be able to get his freedom from Isadora.

His priority will now be himself. (Sorry, but what is new about that, Rod?) He'll become an independent businessman and own his own tequila manufacturing and distributing company. It's all due to her coaching and advice. Erika, secretly crossing all her fingers and toes, asks him where Gaviota fits into his plans. Rod says later on they will have to think about what will happen with Gaviota since now, no she is clearly not a part of his future.

Back at the hacienda, an angry Frankie asks Ofelia who opened his mail and when she says it was Sofia he orders her to go fetch her for him. James walks in to remind Francisco that the copper sulfate has to be sprayed again, and it's particularly important now since there have been outbreaks in the surrounding area reported recently. Frankie rudely tells him he knows by now what his responsibilities are. James backs off and grumbles under his breath.
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Back to Erika's office. For spite, in a gesture that definitely rates a 12+ on the mean and nasty scale of 1-10, Rod gives Erika his recognition award from the promotional tour. (Rod, I am so going to enjoy it when the anvils of retribution right the wrongs you have so ruthlessly committed these past four years, and especially these past few weeks. You're gonna be eatin' so much humble tarta. I have grand visions of plagued agave plants, bankruptcy, and much grovelling at the feet of the new head of P.R. at the CRT while you're desperately trying to save the reputation of the Montalvo brand....) Erika, somewhat brighter than the average Burly Bear, doesn't accept it at first and demurely says it should go to Gaviota.

Rod tells Erika that he will take her rejection as a slight. "Why don't you want it, because it has my name on it?" He says it should be hers for having "cured" him through her (miraculous, condensed and transient) therapy sessions. She must agree 'cuz she accepts the gift immediately, throwing any semblance of caution out the proverbial window, and places it on the credenza behind her desk.

Rod insists on seeing her again the next day. She gives him a feeble "I'll be too busy". He asks if she doesn't want them to see each other anymore. She stutters over some non-answer which he cavalierly ignores. He kisses her on the cheek and walks out the door saying he'll call her tomorrow. (What?? Dr. Erika, therapeutic top doc of the D.F., doesn't see the pattern in his manic behavior?? To wit: Rod feeling insecure; Rod hearing bad gossip about his girlfriend; Rod believing gossip and not girlfriend; Rod running to nearest gorgeous available female; Rod spitefully entering relationship with said "other woman"; Rod devastating girlfriend but later wanting her back; and Rod saying to hell with the other woman in totally jackass-style chauvinistic, spoiled, rich-boy triumph.) Erika hugs the plaque looking like she's just hit the sexy charm jackpot with Mr. Mania. (And now he's her man-ia.)
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Frankie confronts Sofia for opening his mail and calls it a crime (who should know better than the Fraudster?) and a nasty invasion of his privacy. "Oh, so now I'll have to deal with your lawyer?" "--Don't kid around, Sofie." Sof says it shouldn't matter unless he's got something to hide and by the way, just why does he owe so much money and why is he behind on his payments? Frankie is so damn fast on his feet, he never fails to entertain with chutzpah up to his eye-balls and then some. "--Well, to keep up my image, of course!" Then the weasle throws the blame onto greedy BIL, Rod.

In yet another oscar-winning performance the great de la Vega complains that HE could have taken a great paying job in Japan, but NO-O-O!! HE chose to stay there sweating like a horse on the hacienda to please Sofia. However, don't worry about him. He plans to take out a loan from the bank to pay it all off, even has a lunch meeting with the bank manager planned to discuss it. Why??? Because HE IS NOT A KEPT MAN! And with that he exits, stage right.
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Rod arrives home and spies the brand new BMW sedan sitting in Isadora's parking space. Belisario reports to him that the car was purchased the past week by his wife and that nobody visited her except Minnie and Fedra. In fact she has to be pretty lonely because she hardly even left the apartment. Rod considers this as strangely suspicious.

Across town Hilario is playing Truth or Dare with his two little girlfriends. He answers their question about wanting to ever get married. "Not in your wildest dreams."

We cut to the couch at Casandra's where San Juana is caught napping as the boss lady walks in. San Juana says she's been extremely tired lately, figures it's worms and is ready to take a home remedy. Casandra says she has a much better idea and will take her to the doctor's office instead. (That works for me.....)

Rod gets home and begins playing with little Ricky. He shows him the presents that he brought home for him and pointedly gives the maid a gift of perfumed lotion, but he purposely ignores Isa. She has to ask twice if there is a little something for her. Rod says no, since he has no idea what she likes and besides she has a credit card for things she wants, like the pretty car she just bought. (And he had the gall to tell Gavi that he wasn't a millionaire?) Isa gets her nose all out of joint and says she got tired of waiting for him to trade in the other and anyway, she deserves something for being the mother of his child. She walks out and leaves Rod to smirk.
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Next morning Aaron has another fit about the fall in prices on the market and is ranting at the traders who are apparently speculating on the futures market. Bruno walks in about this time with Medina to assist in getting his books in order for review and repayment of Aaron's loan during tomorrow's business meeting. Aaron screams he wants to wait till Friday when Oñate returns, but Bruno refuses. As he leaves he says hopefully what Aaron's just lost won't interfere with the repayment of the loan to the corporation.

Aaron breaks another cell phone on Medina's desk and screams at the traders to start buying even though they're telling him to sell everything. Rod walks in and complains that whatever Aaron's doing it is risking the solvency of the corporation. They snipe at each other and Rod asks if it's true he'll be repaying the loan the next day. Aaron screams frantically to let him just do his job. Rod leaves.

Rod asks Margarita again if there were any calls from the CRT. She reports that there was one call. He is extremely interested in knowing who it was from and gets depressed after hearing that it was only Nancy calling on behalf of Dr. Santoveña, and that no, she didn't leave a message. He of the brutal, major league brush-off last month says to himself that it's clear, as far as he's concerned, that Gavi has completely forgotten him. (Dunno, but it seems this guy's elevator is still stuck somewhere a floor or two shy of the penthouse.)

At the same time over at the CRT's P.R. department, Gavi is asking Nancy who called so far for her. Nancy answers everybody except Ing. Montalvo. She tells Nancy it doesn't matter now that the so-and-so means nothing to her anymore.
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Dani is waiting for Rod in his office. She's impactada to hear that Rod gave his award to Erika. Dani asks Rod what he's going to do about the hacienda if he stays in the city to start his own tequila business. He says he'll leave it in James' hands. She asks if his plans include Gavi. He says he's decided to kick her to the curb. He refuses to fall into that same deep, dark pit and jealous Hell. He doesn't need or want the upset. Anyway, it was Dani who set him up with the great Dr. Erika Robledo to help him solve his problems and he's supposed to be getting over Gaviota. Rod refuses to continue to talk about her anymore, ever.

Nestor Videgarray, the ever charming, dependable and loyal old legal eagle, arrives for his appointment. Rod has Dani sit in. Nestor tells Rod that Isa's daddy hasn't paid a dime towards the principal and the best they can do is wait the remaining few days till the deadline has passed. He is certain Ricardo's banker buddy will make him the loan like he said.

That's not enough for Rod. He explodes over the thought of what it will mean if Ricardo Duarte defaults on his debts beforehand: a full year's earnings of the hacienda's and no capital to supply his organic tequila to his new American or European customers. Rod, conveniently forgetting that he, an arrogant jack-ass, chose to sign the papers in a fit of ego-maniacal machismo, orders Nestor to make sure that Ricardo's banker buddy authorizes that loan and that he gets it signed and in writing on his desk ASAP. (Talk about your cuckoos fouling their own nests.....)
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Nancy informs Gavi that she sent the invitations to the bevy of brujas de Montalvo by special messenger. Neither of them are looking forward to hosting them. Gavi tells Nancy that if Rod should call to tell him she's not in. Nancy says well, seems like she still hasn't given up hope.

Finally, the prodigiously pedantic Professor Santoveña, having shown himself to be a totally disappointing dud as a romantic rival, arrives back at the office with another predictable "pffft." (Rod, if you only knew.....) Gavi greets Alonso politely and ignores the embarrassing declaration he made to her a month earlier. They discuss the matter of the invitations and she assures him it went by messenger, signature only, so that the women couldn't cause trouble saying that they never received them.

Avellaneda sends Nancy in to tell Alonso he needs to drop everything and come to his office immediately. Gavi stays to file something. Out in the hallway Nancy tells Alonso that Rod hasn't called Gavi once and that Gavi seems resigned to the fact it's over, since she ordered her not to put Ing. Montalvo through to her if and when he does call. Alonso starts smiling from ear to ear.

Frankie is at his office in town and orders Basilio, his crooked foreman, to advise him when the copper sulfate shipment arrives. The foreman warns him that they have had outbreaks of Brotes de Erwina and Picudo in the area, but Frankie brushes him off and says that the agave is healthy enough. It won't matter a bit if they continue spraying at half concentration. He bribes Basilio with a percentage of his cut to "quiet his conscience."

Isa calls right then and tells Frankie that she's deposited the money into his account and in exchange she is demanding he gets divorced from Sofia immediately. Frankie 's jaw drops down to his drawers.
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Avellaneda tells Alonso he's got to go to some global warming summit and present against the U.S. since, darned if it isn't the good ol' U.S. of A. who is the biggest baddest CO2 producer/polluter worldwide. (This is presumably the reason their agave, according to this farcical fantasy, would need 2-4 years less growing time. Damn! Count your blessings, man!) Alonso mentions that global warming is complex and numerous other interests are involved in it.

In the meantime, Don Roberto informs Alonso that the London delegate feels overburdened and is considering resigning. He could do so at any minute. They've decided that the best possible replacement for this post would be Alonso himself, leaving Gaviota to take his place as director of P.R. for the CRT in Mexico City. Alonso, impactado at the horrid thought of his leaving Gavi forever, insists that for him to accept this highly prestigious position, Gavi will be leaving with him!

Avellaneda replies that it looks as if Mariana has proven absolutely indispensable to him and they'll discuss it further later. It's best he be prepared. Alonso is left alone and he starts imagining himself in London together with Gaviota. On the other side of the building, though, Gavi is in her office complaining to herself that she can't concentrate because of Rod invading her thoughts.
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Frankie tells Isa she's asking the impossible right now. Isa says do it or else. He says he refuses to become hers exclusively. She should just forget him for good. Isa gets incensed and screams back that he's hers and she is not about to share him with that dimwit, Sofia! He calms her down by telling her that they haven't had intimate relations for a long while now. It gets thick in there as he tells Isadora he's only been keeping himself for her. Right then the maid comes back with Ricky and her invitation to the CRT Grand Assembly. Isa covers quickly and hangs up.

Back at Montalvo Corp. Rod gets his current bank statements from Margarita and looks through them. He notices the huge amount of money Isa took out recently and wonders what's up.

At the Mexico City manse, Pilar gets alarmed when she sees an invitation arrive addressed to Elvis Perez III and wife since he and Daniel aren't married, and we get a nod to free love from Dani. Elvis says he will definitely be attending the Grand Assembly with them all. It would be a major snub to the family not to go. A bit later Dani reminds Grammy P. that Mariana complied with her request to invite the Montalvo wives. Pilar admits Mariana had no choice.

At their penthouse, Minnie gets a call from Fedra to tell her she's received her invitation to the CRT's Grand Assembly honoring Don Amador after all. She tells Minnie that she has an idea for a major snub of Mariana Franco during the event. They plan to invite Sofia and Isa over to discuss it. Minnie is eager to finally confront the famous husband stealing hussy and, speaking of husband-stealing, we can only hope Pammy doesn't pull a sick-out for this event.
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Alonso and Gavi discuss if Avellaneda asked about the invitations to the Montalvo wives to the Grand Assembly. She reiterates they were sent by special messenger, signature only. He tells Gavi that it's possible he'll be transferred to London. He asks her what she thinks. She's muy impactada at the news and says that when they put another executive in charge, the person will be very capable, but the department will not be the same without him. Alonso says nobody's indispensable. She tells him that for her, he is indispensable. This chokes him up. Embarrassed, he takes her advice to go home to rest up after 14 hours in the air nonstop. She's left thinking to herself that now this one's leaving her too.

Dr. Manzano tells SJ that she's a bit anemic and sleepy because she is about 7 weeks pregnant. Happy happy joy joy. San Juana now has a hook in Hilario. Across town, meanwhile, Hilario is getting a massage and enjoying the idle lifestyle of the rich and single.
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Frankie meets with the black market copper sulfate buyer in town and gets his cash literally under the table. This time they plan to pick it up in front of the chemical plant.

Aaron has another fit over the losses he's incurred that day. The trader warns him to sell so at least he can recover some of the losses. Aaron tells his trader he is an idiot and ignores his professional advice. Rod comes in at this point to check on Medina's progress and Aaron chases him out of the trading room again.

Casandra drops San Juana off at Hilario's apartment. SJ is dreamy eyed thinking he'll be jumping for joy when he finds out he's going to be a daddy. Casandra says he'll be jumping up and down all right, but probably not because he likes the idea. He is not ready for this kind of responsibility. SJ doesn't listen and tells her she'll be fine and he'll be fine. Casandra leaves and San Juana takes her regular place back on the couch and waits for him to come home. The housekeeper comes in and she tells her she's waiting for her boss, then orders the woman to bring her popcorn cuz she's got a heck of a craving. She rubs her belly and smiles to herself.
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That night at the hacienda Frankie gets home to find Sofia and James in the living room chatting. Sofia reminds him that they're supposed to leave for Mexico City in the morning. Frankie says he can't because he has to meet the copper sulfate delivery. He makes a big deal for James' benefit about needing to stay to supervise the mixing as well as the spraying especially because of all the reports of infestations around the region lately. Sofia says James can handle the delivery, but Frankie obviously can't allow that and refuses his help. They finally agree on changing the flight to midday and he goes up to take a bath.

Sofia tells James that she's feeling confused after getting on Frankie, especially about suspecting Isadora, and wonders if it wasn't just a ridiculous fit of jealousy. James tells her he thinks Frankie is truly committed to his job at the hacienda and asks why the sudden change of heart. Sofia smiles conspiratorially and says she thinks she's pregnant. Now James' jaw drops to his drawers.
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Gavi goes home that night and tells Clarita the depressing news about Alonso being sent to head the London office. Clarita wonders if she told him she'd be upset to see him go so far away. Gavi says no, because although she'll miss him, it would have probably caused him to start telling her things that she wasn't in the mood to hear.

Erika's in her apartment on the phone with a friend telling said friend how Rod surprised her earlier and that she knows she's playing a dangerous game with him so any therapy she gets for herself will have to be with her pillow. All of a sudden there is a knock at the door. She opens and a fully catered Japanese meal is brought in and set up by Geishas.

The Geishas leave and Rod appears. They sit down and flirt about her actually letting him in or even being sure she was home that night (we know how he finds that out, don't we?) and him not wanting to run the risk of her leaving him out in the hallway. She asks where his shyness around women went and he tells her that since the therapy she applied was totally a success it is gone. They toast each other all smiles.