Caray, Caray!

CL is seated with Mama Ana. They are both ill at ease. Paula has slipped out to "let them talk." Ana can imagine what this is about. Yes, CL wants to make things better with her, he is so...uh, earnest about it. Ana tells him that he doesn't sound like he really wants to apologize, he's just going through the motions with Ana to please Paula.

Don Angarito is lying in his bed, telling Juan how old he is getting. He's worked so hard and has no sons. He wants to change his will to give Juan a part of his estate. Juan will have none of that and they banter back and forth. Juan says Don A is going to live a long life. And Juan will take care of that little issue with Dona Delfina -- to make a long life for Don Anarito more possible. Don A is relieved!

CL fesses up to Ana that Paula made him apologize. They agree that they will not be great friends, and each looks away in disgust with the other.

Dona D is talking to Don A. Does she still want to marry him? Despite his infirmities? She says she wants to. She wants to!!

Juanito is finishing up his bedtime prayers and hears the folks shouting upstairs. Juanito says his teacher at school is old. He asks his dad if he was scared on his first day of school. Juan responds that his teacher was his first love! Juanito wants to know if Juan loves him more or less than his mom does. Big Juan is torn. Juanito says he loves Juan more! Juan hugs him and tucks him into bed.

CL tells Paula that things went really, really well with her mom. He felt just like a boyfriend, meeting with the mom. What a weight off of his shoulders! She says, what's important is that she can learn to trust him. Just then, his cell rings....

CL turns away to answer and pretends to shout to Gaitan as Monica tries to talk to him. Call him back later, he's in the middle of a very important discussion! Where was he again....?

By the way, Alirio has asked another guy to store the bag of chorizo.

CL tells Paula how important their relationship is. He eyes go glazed with longing and he leans in to kiss her. She turns her face from him and says a guarded goodnight. He saunters out.

Dona Ana tells Paula that CL apologized to her, but she just didn't believe that he really meant it from his heart.

Fernando calls Marely -- just to see how things are going with her mom. They are both nervous on the phone. OK... see you tomorrow!

It's the first day of school for Juanito. Juan is giving his son a pep talk outside. All these kids are your people, you've got to learn to get along with them! The encouraging words continue as Juanito fearfully walks toward the older teacher. She has to drag him by the arm into the classroom to his desk. All the other children are already seated. The older teacher introduces a young new teacher to the class. Juanito is in love with his new maestra! He gazes at her and she winks at him.

Outside Herlinda's place, Juan greets H's dad. The dad goes off to wake Herlinda. She jumps out of bed -- she has nothing to wear. In the meantime, Juan exchanges barbs with the PJ-clad younger man of the house about their respective prospects with the ladies.

At Farrell Industries, Monica leans over CL's desk and tells him he looks very, very attractive. Of course he does! She tugs on his tie as he gazes at her. She strides out of the office, slowly, as his eyes follow her out.

Herlinda makes her grand entrance in a white dress with ribbons in her hair. The younger man-of-the-house laughs at her. Is that her quinceanera outfit? Juan tells her she looks lovely. The dad tells H to thank Juan and scolds Jr. for not being a gentleman like Juan. She thanks Juan, who makes a comment, thank the clowns (?). The younger men laugh for a moment, then all goes quiet, the dad scowls, and a dark cloud passes over the scene. For a moment, we hear the crickets outside. Dad tells Jr. that H and Juan have some important business to discuss, so they should give them some privacy. Jr. scoffs, leave them alone??

Herlinda looks expectantly up at Juan. He tells her he has an important proposal. He wants to be buddies, friends. Yes, she says. Friends for life! Juan clarifies, he'd like her to be his secretary. She is crushed and each of them tries to get the other to listen. He explains what he has in mind, that they'll work together side by side. He thinks to himself that he can tell that she was expecting a marriage proposal... She says a reluctant yes to the job offer.

Susana is all citified and comes to pay a visit to Monica at Farrell Industries. She can't go along with their prior agreement as before, things have changed. The deal related to the Japanese businessman is off. Monica is aghast.

The guy who was supposed to keep Alirio's chorizo tells him that it's gone. All of it! He got hungry during the night.

Susana steps out of Monica's office. Marely tells her to have a good day, then quietly urges Fernando after Susana to find out the dirt on the visit to Monica.

In CL's office, Monica is fuming about the loss of the multimillion dollar deal. CL doesn't have to tell her how much Farrell is losing. She wants to know why there was such a sudden change in Susana. She's sure it wasn't a simple economic interest. There is something else, maybe a threat. Extortion. Someone needs to go to that town and find out what really happened. CL says, who? There's no way that Monica can go. She proposes that she send someone loyal, discreet.

Fern introduces himself to Susana in the elevator and politely inquires about the nature of her business visit. She is mostly reserved until he asks if the matter might just relate to Juan Dominquez.

Juan is saying his goodbyes to H's dad. The dad tells Juan he's always welcome. Juan manages to get away.

At a cafe, Susana and Fern have a little off-the-record conversation. She wants to know about Juan. Is he someone she can trust? She had heard he was a VP at Farrell. Fern is very discreet and vague about Juan's position. Susana wants to know why Juan left and Fern finally tells her that it was because of a personal matter. She is curious. A woman. She looks distressed. Fern tells her that when it comes down to it, Juan can be trusted in business. She asks Fern not to disclose their discussion for her sake and for Juan's.

Alirio and Gaitan are looking each other over with suspicion and bickering at the office. Gaitan's not going to go for Alirio's reorg scheme.

Juan comes to the school to pick up Juanito, but he does not want to go home. He has a dreamy grin on his face. He wants to stay at school! Juan is puzzled.

At Farrell, Yvonne is sneering at Marely and says they have some personal business to discuss. Just then, Fern comes back to the office and the conversation breaks off.

Back in the pueblo, Herlinda's dad is asking her if she's really sure that Juan offered her a secretarial position and not marriage? She is disappointed, but she resolves that this is an opportunity for them to work together and for her to win over Juan.

Monica has called Fern into her office and is telling him about the very sensitive job that she has for him. He is to go out to the town and find out what happened. She has her suspicions about why the business deal went bad, but she wants evidence. Fern will tell no one about the matter at hand and report his findings only to her.

Outside of the corporate world, Paula has an appointment with her therapist. She updates the therapist on the latest with CL and concedes that there is another man in her life. She can't believe she just said that! He's not a lover, he's actually in a town far away right now. He's an amazing person. But he's from the country and they're not from the same social classes. Definitely not. But he's romantic and exciting. And she did spend the night with him. That was one of the best experiences of her life! Of course CL knows about it and that it doesn't mean anything. She doesn't know how she feels about this other guy -- does she?


Note: Any similarity to real events or people is purely coincidental.

Labels: Juan