Caray, Caray!

• Alejandra had lunch with Carlos and told him that she had had a relationship with Ricardo. She told him that the relationship ended because of Elena after she and the children saw them together at Ricardo's apartment. He then told her that he was Elena's lawyer and had filed for the restraining order that was keeping Ricardo away from Elena's children.
  
• Roberto and Juan were working on the most recent case of the girl caught with the trunk full of drugs. Juan was distracted and Roberto tried to tell him that he needed to work to forget it. Juan wasn't able to so Roberto suggested that Fernanda was playing hard to get and trying to get him to call her. Juan tried and was immediately sent to voicemail, so Roberto said to give it more time. Juan's phone rang and it was Tatiana, who said she was sorry he was having problems with his girlfriend. No news yet about Pedro. When Juan hung up in frustration Roberto said that he couldn't get any more involved.
  
• Alejandra asked Carlos why he did this and he said that Elena came to him in desperation, saying that Ricardo was not the children's father and that she was afraid he would try to take them away from her, that she was crazy with fear about it. Alejandra couldn't believe he had believed all this. He and Ricardo had known each other for a long time and Carlos should have known better than to believe this of Ricardo. Carlos told her that the case was safe in his hands and that Elena was capable of anything. He was looking to contain the situation for everyone's good.
  Alejandra told him to think about what will happen when Ricardo found out that he had filed the request. Carlos replied that he would talk to Ricardo and see if he could come to an agreement but Alejandra told him that Elena did this in revenge because of Ricardo's involvement with her. He should not expect any reason in this. Carlos told her he was sorry about this and knew nothing of their relationship but his only objective in this case was the children's good. “What else can you expect from me as a lawyer?”
  
• If Carlos hadn't been so intent on making Ricardo's life miserable he would have asked to meet with the children to make sure that Elena wasn't exaggerating her situation. Was it that the legal instinct for trouble and omissions that have been serving him in the Huerta case fell by the wayside in this situation where winning was all that mattered? Or was Carlos just lying to cover up his own pleasure at getting revenge on Ricardo?
  
• Juan went on about how he had become a lawyer to help people who normally didn't get help, people who couldn't afford lawyers still deserved justice. Roberto told him that was fine and noble but now that he works for Vega & Associates he needed to do what had to be done on this case. Their main objective now was to find Giselle's boyfriend, who owned the car. They went over some necessary details, including proving that Giselle's fingerprints weren't on the drugs or on the inside of the trunk.
  
• Carlos apologized to Alejandra about how her relationship didn't work out and all that she told him that she ended the relationship so Ricardo could work things out his with his children. He wished that they had been married so that this had never happened. He said he would do whatever he had to to see her happy again.
  His cell began ringing before he finished this. He looked at the screen and silenced the phone, but Alejandra told him not to ignore it. She also had to check hers.
  
  He answered and it was El Ciego. He told him he was working on the Huerta case because he had to be in court about it in two days. El Ciego asked about his money again and Carlos told him not to worry. He ended the call, looking a little worried himself. Alejandra asked whether anything happened and if he had a lot to do. He said he did, but added that the most important thing to him at that moment was her. She did not look convinced.
  
• Alan brought Olivia back to her office after lunch He looked very happy and asked whether she would like to go to a seaside concert that weekend. She loved the idea. They kissed, then embraced, each looking for the moment as though the rest of the world and its problems did not exist.
  
• Carlos escorted Alejandra back to her office, patting her hand as he told her he was happy she realized he accepted Elena's case on Elena's apparent desperation and not to hurt her. Ricardo arrived right behind them, angry as a bull at the sight of a red cape. He called our Carlos' name. Carlos turned around saying “You and I have to talk” while making sure that Ricardo noticed him holding Alejandra's hand. Ricardo charged him while accusing him of helping Elena take away his children. He grabbed him by the lapels as Alejandra yelled to stop and the entire office stopped what they were doing to watch.
  
  Ricardo pulled him away from Alejandra, Carlos kept asking to let him explain, Carmen tried to calm Ricardo down, and Alejandra asked him to look at her. She told him that Carlos was telling the truth. Ricardo told her that “If you believe his lies that's your problem, but he is enjoying this whole thing.”
  
• Considering their history, it was certainly understandable that Ricardo didn't believe Carlos. He was certainly not mistaken about Carlos' pleasure in causing him pain. However, one had to hope that he gave some thought to what the water-cooler gossip would be for the rest of the week.
  
• Alan was in the deep stage of infatuation and it was obvious that Olivia also was. However, they were both adult enough to remember their work and agree to see each other the next day.
• Carlos took advange of their audience to tell Ricardo that Elena came to him in abject fear that
  
  he would take the children away from school or home and lock them up. He answered that he should know that he wouldn't do anything like this. He advanced on Carlos in an effort to get him to back down, but Carlos got out of his way, saying that it was his job as a lawyer to believe his client. “She said they are not your children and I want to set limits. You are obsessed at the idea of being a father to them. And that was just one of the reasons she was desperate.”
  
  Ricardo started to protest and Alejandra got between them to prevent this getting worse. Carlos went on about dealing with another mother as desperate as Elena. Ricardo tried advancing on him, Alejandra remained in his way, and Carlos said he was simply explaining why he did what he did. Carmen finally told Carlos that it was best if he left the office. She threatened to call security. Alan appeared and served that purpose. However, he could not stop Carlos from turning around and grandstanding for Alejandra's benefit with another apology and yet another comment about calling her later as the elevator doors closed.
  Ricardo turned around, angry at the situation and at Alejandra. She ran after him into his office. The fact that she believed Carlos was telling the truth was even worse to him than that he took the case to make his life miserable. The worst, of course, is what this would do to the children. Alejandra tried to explain that Carlos believed Elena's lies and that arguing with him would solve nothing. He would have to work this out with Elena. Ricardo was so irritated that Alejandra was defending Carlos that he accused her of loving him more. Alejandra saw that she was getting him nowhere toward reason and decided to withdraw and not bother him anymore. She left his office.
  
• Olivia visited Victoria, glowing over her date with Alan and what was coming up. Victoria told her to be careful. Olivia asked why she was so concerned and Victoria told her that Alan was a suspect in his cousin's case. Olivia did not want to believe her.
  
• Olivia's recent history with men wasn't good, so is she lying to herself about her chances for the future?
  
• Leonardo went to Ricardo's office to check up on him after Carmen told him what had just happened. Ricardo was angry because he knew that Carlos was laughing at him and he couldn't remain calm about it, particularly since this happened in front of Alejandra. Leonardo told him he needed to remain calm and carry on to come to an agreement with Elena. Ricardo said this was impossible because Elena had never thought of anyone but herself.
  
• Olivia could not believe that Alan was a murder suspect. Victoria told her that Leonardo was very worried when he heard that she had gone out with Alan. No proof, but Alan had been in the hotel the night of the crime.and this was just one line of investigation. Olivia still couldn't believe this after Alan began participating in the foundation and because he loved Carlos. Victoria told her to be careful, send her messages when she's out with him, etc.
  
• Leonardo tried to get Ricardo to calm down and think clearly about the situation but it was to no avail. Ricardo believed he was on the brink of losing everything, including Alejandra.
  
• Nicolás – with a little help from an orderly – set up dinner for himself and Astrid. The orderly left the room just before she arrived and Nicolás poured the wine. They drank to her brother's winning his case and to their new beginning. She commented that she thought there had to be more to him than his womanizing. He talked about it being a new – real – beginning of his life. She said she enjoyed being with him.
  
• They say that womanizers never change. At least Astrid always thought so before. Is she changing her mind about Nicolás?
  
• Olivia asked Roberto about Alan. He told her that Alan was a prime suspect and that he was Carlos' right-hand man. He is suspect because he was in the hotel the same night. Olivia said something about no luck, referencing Leonardo's girlfriend, then “Arturo” and now this. Roberto said, “If you feel good with him, go with it, but if you want Bobby's advice, don't fall in love. Think just about pleasure. It's not work falling in love with anybody. Don't think about Alan. Don't fall in love with anybody because everyone gets hurt. Look at Juan; he's having problems with his girlfriend.”
  “So what do I do about Alan?”
  “Have a good time with him. But don't declare yourself. If it goes against you you'll be sorry.”
  “Thanks.”
  
• Carlos went to Alejandra's home with a box of chocolates because they would be working late. They sat down and she apologized about what happened with Ricardo at the office. Like the Good Girl she thought she shoud be she assumed the blame for it, blame that no one was putting on her. She said that if Elena had not seen her with Ricardo none of this would have happened. He denied that she was at fault and said he was, for taking the case. Ricardo was and wanted to resolve the situation about the children had no time for anything else. Alejandra agreed. He then went on how he understood how he lost her, which made her uncomfortable. He then said he didn't understand how she could be with Ricardo.
  “He deceived you, and he was amiable with you. Now you're sad. Ricardo was not the answer. Remember when you were with me? You were happy. You made the decision and this is no exception. Now you're on the defensive.”
  “Carlos, this is not appropriate.”
  He rose to leave, but she asked him to stay.
  
• Nicolás asked Astrid to dance and they began waltzing around the table. This seemed to work.
  
  They kissed and started dancing again.
  
• Carlos and Alejandra sat down again and she looked over the file. There were two theories of the crime, one of them being that Imelda was an accomplice and the other that Vicente committed the crime alone. She said that she would talk to Imelda about her relationship with Vicente, Pilar, and Eugenio in order to get to the truth. The court date was two days later. She volunteered to talk to them. He took her hands as his cell phone began to ring and for that moment that Carlos looked at the screen El Ciego saved her. He told her that this was a client who didn't understand that things took time. She thanked him for being honest with her about Elena. She looked uncomfortable, however, when he said he hoped for an opportunity to fix things between them. He kissed her and left.
  
• The next morning Carlos looked ready to leave for the office when El Ciego and El Gato entered.
  
  They sensed that they were less than welcome when he said he had to take care of some things. El Ciego – after he made himself comfortable – then said that if he had problems with the police or the court Carlos was obviously not doing his job well. Then he changed his tune a little, got up, and handed the morning paper to Carlos, telling him he deserved some good news.
  
  The headline stated that Gilda Baldera – Vicente's lawyer – was murdered in front of her home.
  “She's dead?” Carlos asked.
  
  “What a shame,” said El Ciego, removing his shades. “We're friends, and it's nothing more than taking a problem out of your way.”
  “What did you do?” Carlos asked.
  “We did you a favor,” said El Ciego, as though he was talking about a lift to the airport. He then put his hand on Carlos' shoulder. “Your enemies are my enemies. And now there is nothing standing in the way of you laundering my money until it's clean. We can continue on.”
  
• Alan had warned him about this at the outset, but Carlos only had listened to his greed. This time Carlos realized he was in some level of hell and that there was no escape route. At the same time Ricardo stepped over its threshhold.
  
• As Elena led her children to the car so they could go to breakfast before school, Ricardo appeared. Natalia ran over to him and hugged him. For the first time in a couple of weeks she looked happy until Elena pulled her back. Ricardo showed the protection from the restraining order which gave him the right to see the children and told Elena that nothing could stop him.
  
• Carlos told El Ciego to take his hand back. When he did Carlos told him that he never asked him to intervene in this matter. He went on to say that he wanted no further interference.
  “The dead don't cause problems,” said El Ciego, as though he was trying to be reasonable. Carlos told him there were to be no repeats of this and there would now be limits. He wasn't to do anything like this again.
  El Ciego went on saying that he thought this would make Carlos happy, and got El Gato to agree with him. His henchman did not take his eyes off Carlos during this obviously uneasy exchange. Finally, El Ciego closed his happy-drunk act by wishing Carlos good day and the two narcos left. Carlos looked as though he realized that he life was no longer his own.
  
• 
  
  
  
  Natalia ran back to Ricardo and Elena ordered her to get into the van. She refused. Federico watched her with a blank expression. Ricardo said he needed to talk to the children, to explain things to them.
  “Explain what? That you have a girlfriend? That you will forget all about us? Is that what you're going to say?”
  “That they will always be important to me.”
  
  Elena ordered Natalia to enter the van. When the child refused Elena deputized Federico to pull her away from Ricardo. He succeeded and pushed her ahead of him into the van and Elena closed the door.
  “What did you do to Federico?” Ricardo asked.
  “I didn't have to do anything. Don't you get it? He doesn't want to see you with that woman.”
  “That same old song now? Stop this.”
  “They see how cynical you are. What do you want? What are you trying to do? What's going through your head? Taking my children to your girlfriend? You are crazy.”
  
  The children rolled down the tinted window and watched behind their mother's back. She turne toward the car but Ricardo pulled her back, insisting that they talk. She told him he was to leave her children alone and forget about them immediately.
  
• Paula handed Alejandra her coffee as the morning news showed the story about Gilda Balderas' death. The newscaster mentioned the coincidence that the legal action was to have begun the following morning. Alejandra took out her cell, telling Paula she had to call Carlos. Paula was shocked that Alejandra was helping him with this case.
  
• “Elena, stop this. My children have nothing to do with what's going on between us.”
  “No, no, don't confuse yourself. They are not your children. They are my children and I decide where they go.”
  “You know that I was like a father to them. If this doesn't continue, everyone gets hurt.”
  “No, no, Ricardo; the only thing certain is that you disappear after giving a pretext of work and you spend the night with a woman. You deceive them.” She moved her finger as though telling him that this – or he – was insane.
  “I was working. Alejandra had nothing to do with them.”
  “I only have one thing to say. You have hurt my children enough and I will not permit you to do this anymore.”
  “Precisely why I want to talk to them about these things.”
  He moved toward the car but she pushed him back.
  “You have nothing to say to them. You've done enough. Don't you understand that?”
  “This is absurd.”
  “The only absurdity here is you. I don't want you anywhere near my children. If you don't leave us alone I'll take them far away from here and you will never see them again.”
  
• Elena, like most narcissists, lied very effectively to others and to herself. By this time she was likely to be believing her own lies, which helped her to convince others. Except people like Ricardo when he saw her for what she was.
  
• Olivia was in the elevator. She pushed the button to go down, but Leonardo arrived and asked her to let him in. As they were going down he started talking about Alan and their suspicion about his involvement in Patricia's death. She explained that she had already talked to Roberto about this. She was sure that neither he nor Roberto really knew Alan. She was sure Alan had never hurt anyone.
  
• “You can't take away my children.”
  “Of course I can. Do I have to remind you that I am their mother? You have nothing to do –”
  “Of course I do. I've cared for them, educated them, and most of all I love them.”
  “Yes, yes, yes,” she said, sarcastically. “I've very sorry, Ricardo, but you have no legal right over them.”
  “Yes, yes, yes, according to Carlos Ibarra. But nothing will keep me away from my children.”
  Elena was smiling smugly at him. “You know I have a lawyer who is helping me.”
  “Yes, yes. How convenient for you that it's that idiot –”
  “Pardon me? Well, it's not my fault that you were boinking your girlfriend. How do you think you will get around that?”
  “Because you can't make a legal case out of it. Ever since I know you you never wanted me to be their father legally.”
  “They have a father, Ricardo. I'm glad it's not you.”
  “They didn't know him because he disappeared. And you and I agreed I would be their father whether we made it legal or not.”
  “I changed my mind. I changed my mind and I don't want you anywhere near them.”
  “You can't do this any more.”
  “Of course I can! You have been hurting them and you are forgetting about them.”
  “Never! I will never forget about my children.”
  
  “Well, now you will have to forget about them, whether you want to or not. Dear God! Go back to her and leave us alone! I you keep this up I swear I will take them far away from here.”
  Elena walked around the front of the car to get to the driver's seat. Whether he noticed it before or not Ricardo now saw that the children had been watching and likely heard every word. He reached toward Natalia only for Elena to order her to close the window. Since Federico – who also had been listening with a face that was not quite so blank as before – was sitting closer to the door he rolled up the window as the car pulled away.
  
• Alejandra and Carlos talked about the murder and the coincidence that it happened on the eve of the court date. Carlos said that the case was causing quite a stir in the community and he was concerned that someone was taking justice into his own hands. For that reason he told her he would prefer her not to be involved. She said she promised and therefore she would follow through. He told her he didn't want her putting herself at risk.
  “If anything happened, I'd die,” he said.
  
  After a few more tries he convinced her to withdraw. She told him to promise her to be careful and he did.
  
  

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