♥ Mi Corazón es Tuyo ♥ Lunes 11/10/14 # ♥ 81 ♥

Capitulo 81:  House of Cards

La Costeña: Fernando accused Linda of using the altered photo as a pretext for forcing him out of the company. She tried to get on the moral high horse of “You are a blot on the company escutcheon” and turned to the two other men present at the meeting to ask for a reason why Fernando shouldn't be ridden out on a rail. However, he stood up and told her not to bother; he was resigning.

She grinned in triumph, like Joan Crawford in Mommy Dearest, while the two other men watched in some confusion. He explained he had been there over twenty years and had managed the company honestly. Nonetheless, he was resigning.

He then told Linda – sotto voce – that he knew she had something to do with manipulating the photo and had sent it to the media and he would get to the bottom of it. She brushed this off as though it meant nothing and gloated at him. He said to the group that despite his love for the company he wasn't going to waste his time and it was better that he left. He picked up his notebook and exited the conference room. Linda gloated and the other two men looked confused. None said a word.

Lascuráin Mansion: In Ana's room, Diego surfed the internet to look for the source photo used for the trick one.

Ana & Jennifer's House: Edna broke up with Johnny because she couldn't compete with his being in love with another woman, even a married one. He didn't take it too badly, wishing her well instead. She hugged him in gratitude, but he had a sad expression on his face that she didn't see.

Lascuráin Mansion: As Diego surfed Ana looked over his shoulder. She recognized the pose as being from the photo from their picnic on the day of the mountain climb. He looked for it and pulled it up on the laptop screen for comparison. He also figured out that the person who did this wanted to humiliate Fernando. They immediately finger Isabitch because of the divorce, because she could countersue on a charge of adultery.

La Costeña: Fernando summoned Beatriz into his office to dictate his letter of resignation. She was shocked, but he didn't want to talk about it. He just told her to prepare it immediately for his signature.

“Enrique is some piece of work,” said Aphrodite. “Obviously he's just using her.”

“It doesn't look as though he has completely brought her over to the Dark Side,” said Hera. “She doesn't seem to know his actual master plan.”

“Of course not,” said Athena. “He secretly thinks that all women are dumb sheep. Even Linda.”

Linda was still in the conference room when she called Enrique on her cell. He was in his living room cranking up the stereo as “Largo al factotum” was about to begin. With a shyte-eating grin she told him that Fernando had resigned; Enrique was pleased.

“Interesting choice of music,” said Aphrodite. “If he fancies himself as Figaro he's grossly mistaken.”

“Figaro is an opportunist, but he's not a killer.”

Public University: In the lecture room Natalia spoke about discrimination and motives for suicide and war prior to the slideshow of photos.

Bullyboy Lenin passed a note to Fanny which said she might want to close her eyes or she would faint. Natalia talked about the social purpose of photography as she displayed photos of warfare and terrorist attacks.

Fanny's note back to Lenin said that the only reason she would close her eyes would be to not see him. Natalia finally announced that in the next class they were to present what photography signified to themselves, then dismissed the class. Three boys climbed over the seats in front of them to talk to her, but she wanted to talk to Fanny. Fanny asked Edith to wait for her.

Lascuráin Mansion / La Costeña: Beatriz asked Fernando why he doesn't calmly reconsider his resignation. He told her he was tired of Linda's hounding him and that despite his love for the company he no longer wished to deal with conspiracies against him. He looked over the letter. Just as he was about to sign his cell phone rang and he saw that it was Ana calling.

She told him that they had discovered the source photo that had been manipulated. He wasn't happy when she mentioned Diego's name. She knew from the tone of this voice that something was wrong. He told her he was about to leave the company.

“Does he actually think Diego had anything to do with that?” asked Hermes.

“I hope not,” said Apollo. “They may have been rivals over Estefania, but Diego isn't the sort of man to do this. He does have a conscience... and seven sobrinos who would suffer.”

“Good point. Fernando has enough children to compensate for the ones Diego won't have.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Didn't he say he didn't see children in his future?”

Public University: While Edith sneered at the sight of them talking, Fanny found out that Natalia was the chick whom Diego traveled with around the world. Natalia told her to call her by her first name and that she was thirty years old. Fanny suspected that there was more to all this.

Lascuráin Mansion: Ana thanked Diego for sending the photos to her cell as she prepared to go to Fernando's office. She told him that they couldn't just abandon him to fate. Diego told her not to worry, that he loved her above all things.

Bruno came inside with Siete, whom Ana introduced to Diego. She asked Bruno to give her a hand with the kids while she went to Fernando's office. He agreed and asked if they could talk later. She told him they would and left. Bruno then told Diego he could count on him, but Diego pointed out that Bruno owed his primary loyalty to Fernando.

Diego's cell phone rang and he saw it was Natalia. She told him she was with Fanny and asked if he would meet her for coffee. He looked all too happy to say yes.

“Would you say she is the right woman for Diego?” asked Athena.

“I think so,” said Aphrodite. “Except he hasn't figured that out yet.”

Jennifer and Nick's Place: She thought they were going to fight about money again, but Nick told her he wanted to pay Ana's debt to Doroteo that she incurred when Jennifer became ill. There was a checkbook on the table and he encouraged her to write out a check for that money.

She hugged him, saying she loved him and she never thought there were men like him in the world.

Private University: Nando arrived to meet Ximena only to be approached by Laura la Loca. Nando almost panicked, telling her that Ximena would be out of class shortly. She said she was apologizing because all was well, her dad came through with the dinero for her tuition, and she wanted to say she missed him.

Before he could effectively stop her she kissed him and right on cue Ximena came out and pulled her back.

La Costeña: Fernando stared at his computer screen for a moment and touched the image of the company logo. Ana knocked before entering and he told her to take a seat. He then told her he had resigned. The letter was still in front of him in its leather jacket. He turned it around and handed it to her so she could read it.

Private University: Ximena shouted “How many times have I told you to stay away from my boyfriend?” and a crowd began gathering. Laura tried making excuses, but Ximena wasn't having it.

She slapped her hard. Nando rushed forward to pull her back and the two guys who had been hanging with Gustavo came forward to hold Laura back so this couldn't get any worse. They shouted at each other, Laura taunting Ximena to escalate her anger.

While Gustavo held Ximena back and Laura went on about Ximena belonging in a manicomio, Nando told Laura to shut her mouth and get lost. Both girls kept using their favorite “m” words as Laura walked away and Ximena struggled against Gustavo. Both Gustavo and Nando looked shocked as she walked away from them continuing to threaten Laura.

“Laura is an idiot,” said Aphrodite. “She gets involved with a perv to get her tuition paid off and now she thinks she can cleanse herself with a pure young man like Nando?”

“That's usually a male fault,” said Athena. “However, what concerns me here is this ugly interaction with her former friend and the fact that she talks too much about it with Enfrique.”

“Because of his revenge plan against Fernando?”

“Yes, because it won't stop there. He may demand something of her that would cause harm to Nando. He may also kill Laura and frame Ximena for it.”

Lascuráin Mansion: Manuela was making a hearty soup when Bruno entered the kitchen to talk. Johnny walked in on this with his toolbox, rambling on about nothing important when he noticed the adorable Siete. He crouched down to offer the petite canine a bite of banana, but Manuela told him not to; this wasn't good for dogs. He got up and went on about how handsome he was in his uniform (Surely he jests) and Bruno motioned for him to depart. He got the message, picked a mango off the big plate, and walked out. After he walked out Manuela told Bruno that Johnny was right, that he was rather distant.

Bruno then finally told Manuela that they really weren't right for each other. She was surprised.

La Costeña: Fernando went through the list of his problems to Ana, finishing with telling her that he would exit the company he and his father founded with his dignity intact. She told him that she would help him if that was what he truly wanted, but that if that were not the case he should fight for what he loved.

Ana took out the cell phone with the original photo of herself and Diego, but he didn't want to look at it. She apologized.

“Fernando, please get over this now,” said Apollo. “You need your brother's help to clear your name.”

“Son, I don't think he will listen to us,” said Zeus. “We can only hope he will listen to his own father.”

Public University: Natalia exited the lecture hall with Fanny, who said she would convey her greetings to Diego. Fanny asked Edith if she'd like to go out to eat and she said yes, but wanted to show her something first.

Ximena's House: Nando was clearly freaked out by what had just happened. He said loved her but it's all very difficult. She told him she loved him, too, and that he was the only ray of hope in her life. She thanked him.

“I don't like this at all,” said Aphrodite. “This sounded too much like a farewell.”

“I agree,” said Athena. “This girl needs to be in a hospital. She's living alone among servants and Nando doesn't know enough about this to help her. She needs supervision. And her mother needs severe punishment for being the selfish bitch that she is.”

La Costeña: Ana said that if they demonstrate that the published photo was falsified he could stay in the corner office of his company. Fernando told her he wasn't sure he wanted to under these circumstances. He told her about Linda kissing him only a couple of months after Estefania Sr died and that he rejected her advances. Ana still wanted him to fight for what he wanted and for what was fair. He wants to, but he needs to clear his name by finding out who manipulated the photo. She asked whether his image had been tarnished by the published photo.

He quickly kneeled in front of her and said that in other circumstances he'd be proud to be seen kissing her. They stared at each other.

“Aphrodite, I have a really bad feeling about Linda,” said Athena.

“You and the rest of us,” said Hera.

“No, I mean something critical; hear me out.”

“Go ahead, Athena. What is it?” said Aphrodite.

“Remember how Fernando's first wife was lying on the bedroom floor when Luz found her dead?”

“Yes.”

“The family photo was a few feet away, nowhere near the place where it was usually displayed. The glass on it was broken.”

“I remember that. I felt so bad for the child.” said Hera.

“Did it never occur to you that the photo frame might be a murder weapon?”

“You think Linda did it?” asked Aphrodite.

“Yes. She might have known the household routine well enough to sneak in when Bruno was out. She could have whacked Estefania, gotten out, and returned to the office during lunch or when others were in meetings and wouldn't have missed her. And she only waited a couple of months to make her pass at Fernando.”

“Okay, but how can it be proven?” asked Aphrodite. “I think they cremated the body.”

“Someone has to get her to admit it. Unfortunately that someone is most likely to be Enrique.”

Lascuráin Mansion: Manuela asked Bruno when this revelation came to him. He told her he couldn't pinpoint the exact moment but he has realized that she wasn't the right woman for him. She cried as he said he needed a different kind of woman. She asked him what kind and he said he would rather not say. She was persistent, however, and he told her he needed a woman who was more calm and more modest. The kids came home from school and were calling for Ana as they came in the front door. Manuela took this as criticism and brained him with the frying pan.

Immediately after, Sebastian opened the doors and entered, followed by Alicia, Luz, and the twins. Bruno did a theatrical fall worthy of John Cleese and landed on the floor at Manuela's feet. The kids became upset and ran toward him, Luz asking if he was dead. Manuela stared down, unable to speak.

La Costeña: Manuela had recovered quickly enough to call Fernando at the office to tell him what happened. He ended the call and told Ana, who said they should call for an ambulance. He picked up the phone and asked Beatriz to come in.

He then went to the sideboard and poured himself a stiff drink, shocking the daylights out of Ana. He took two large sips, saying that nothing justified what Manuela did.

Lascuráin Mansion: Johnny came in at the noise and saw the kids panicking. Manuela admitted what she had done and said it was because Bruno was an ingrate. Johnny checked and found a heartbeat.

He then remembered the night that he had sneaked into the house and saw Bruno being shocked by electricity. Finally he directed the boys and Manuela to help him take Bruno out into the living room.

Ximena's House: Gustavo told Nando that he would be joining his parents in Los Angeles the following week. They wished each other well, Gustavo apologized for his earlier bad behavior. Ximena called for Nando from the other room.

Lascuráin Mansion: Bruno regained consciousness as Luz called Ana's cell phone. Ana and Fernando were in his car on the way back. Ana asked what was going on with all the noise and Luz told her that Bruno opened his eyes. Ana relayed that to Fernando and asked if he could drive a bit faster. She then told Luz they wanted to speak to Bruno.

She handed her cell phone to Fernando. Luz whistled so everyone would be quiet and handed the phone over to Bruno. Manuela held it to his ear, but it was evident that Bruno was not himself. He didn't recognize Fernando's voice or his name.

Fernando went into his usual “What is going on here” mode and Ana tried to alert him to the changing traffic light.

“Bruno, how can you say you don't know me?” asked Fernando, as his kids began to panic and shout. Ana tried to get him to see the red light but he didn't hear her and drove right past it.

Cue the traffic police, who passed a bus to end up right behind them, sirens blaring. Fernando didn't even seem to hear it. Ana knew they were done for as she let her hands fall into her lap.

“This is very bad,” said Hermes. “If they get arrested and it makes the news...”

“I'm way ahead of you, son,” said Zeus. “They are going to need our help.”

Another Part of Town: Fanny pulled up in front of the building Edith had directed her to. They had been talking about the rude male classmates. Finally Fanny asked where they were and they got out of the car. Fanny looked at the building, which had a quasi-classic facade. “This is where I lived for 15 years,” Edith said. “Really?”

Street: A cop stood at the driver's side while Fernando was still talking on Ana's phone. Manuela wasn't making sense, the kids quickly realized that Bruno had amnesia, and Ana was trying to get Fernando's attention toward the cop on his side of the car.

Siete began yapping, Manuela wailed that Bruno didn't love her, and Fernando yelled back to silence the dog. Finally the cop knocked on the side window and Fernando opened it. The cop politely told him to end the call. Ana tried to take over this, but Fernando started telling the cop what happened. The cop listed his offenses: speeding, running a red light, talking while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. Ana tried to intervene, Fernando shouted, the cop said he didn't have to shout, and then he smelled the booze. He called him on it and said he had to get out of the car.

Fernando closed the window and got out. A crowd was beginning to gather. Which wasn't a good thing when Ana decided to defend Fernando to the police, who then arrested both of them with disturbing the peace as an added charge. Fernando tried to say they could arrest him but not Ana, but she insisted on going with him. They were both cuffed and led to the police vehicle.

Ana and Fernando began arguing in the back of the car while the two cops told them to be quiet. At least a couple of dozen people saw this and stayed until the car pulled out.

Diego's Apartment: Diego poured coffee for Natalia and himself and she asked him why he was staying in Mexico. He explained he fell in love and was staying for the lady. Ana, the nanny to his brother's children. “Wow, you really must be in love,” she said. “Like a madman,” he said. She looked disappointed.

Police Car: The cop behind the wheel asked Ana and Fernando whether they were married. In unison they said “No” and turned away from each other. The cop then realized who they were. “Ah, you're the Executive and the Nanny,” he said. “Very bad behaviour,” he tsked. Fernando said, “Please, a little respect,” and Ana pointedly turned to look out the other window.

“I don't think he needs to worry too much about that,” said Hermes. “Isn't that kind of adultery rather routine among mortals?”

“The police will wink at it between men,” said Apollo. “But the news media will not be so forgiving.”

Diego's Apartment: Natalia had a bad experience with someone named Julio and Diego asked why she hadn't told him. [details, please, if anyone made them out]

Police Station: The desk plainclothes cop was reviewing paperwork when Ana and Fernando were brought in. After the charges were listed (including resisting arrest) the desk man told the uniformed cops to put them in separate cells.

Ana took out her cell to call Nick, but he didn't answer. She then decided to try Diego. She just about got the words out while Fernando tried talking to the desk sergeant.

For your amusement, Mr John Cleese: