Caray, Caray!

 Promises are supposed to be good things, but sometimes they can't be kept. There is always something or some jerk in the way. Does that make it a lie?

Sorry we're a little short on the banter today; it's been a tough weekend. – Dashiell Hammett

Leo and Elisa kissed and talked about starting over. They forgave each other. They could not be without each other. She showed him a computer storage device and they left together.

“I'm just waiting for an answer,” he said. Majo stared at her hands while gritting her teeth through this. The maid entered to tell Victoria that Clara was waiting to talk to her. She left Majo alone with her secret lover and captor. He looked more like the latter than the former.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“You were free of me. I just wanted to be close.”
She looked behind. “If she sees you –”
“Your mother? Your mother left you with a messenger. Only you can tell her otherwise.” He moved in closer, causing her to back away at the same pace. “What are you going to do? Are you going to tell her who I am?:
“No, no” she said, shaking her head. “I won't tell her. But I don't want you to be here. I don't need the anxiety. The fear.”
“Fear? Why?” he asked He moved in closer. “You know I would never hurt you.”
“You have hurt me,” she said, grimacing. “Don't you remember? Leave me alone, please.”
“I am completely insane about you.”
“Go. Go. Please,” she said, shaking her head. He stroked her face. Neither of them saw Renata on the other side of the window in the room's door.
“You will always be mine,” he whispered. “Don't forget that.”

He stepped away without kissing her. She was crying. She crossed her arms and closed in on herself. Renata did not enter the room. She was quiet as a mouse.

Victoria spoke with Clara in the kitchen. Clara told her she needed the job an Victoria took out her phone to call Fernanda. She did not like what Fernanda told her and asked Clara to wait for her in the kitchen while she attended to this. As soon as she left Clara's phone rang. Dario told her that if she expected him to help her she had to continue in Victoria's employ. He wanted her in the house.

She told him she was there. He said he was watching the house and she was not to lose that job. She was to offer to help Majo because of her depression. She was to do whatever she had to but not to lose the job. He said he would see her later when she left the house.

Adriana and Mario looked at photos of the artifact that was in Marcelo's guilty hands. They recognized it as one of the stolen artifacts that had been presented for sale fifteen days before. He asked if they should show this to Gilberto but Adriana said No. They would be taken off the investigation.

Teresa met her former flame in the park. He told her he was married and had two children. She told him of her situation. They remembered their past dreams from when they were young. He suggested they meet again.... purely as friends. She looked like she was hoping for something more than that.

Elisa and Leo spoke of being in love as they drove. His phone rang but he chose not to answer. The caller was Adriana who was pulling up in front of the archaeological society. The one from which the gnomish figure had been stolen from. This was confidential and he was told to call as soon as possible. This was urgent.

Fabricio left a message regarding a lunch date. Fernanda entered his office just before he ended it.
“I think Elisa has forgotten your lunch date.”
“This is the second time she's stood me up. I don't know she's on the edge about her lover.”
“Therefore, if she is on the edge about her lover, this is the perfect opportunity, isn't it? So that you – handsome, charming, smart – to console her, to be with her –”
“You need to help with this. Do you know who controls the galleries' finances?”
“Why so you want to know?”
“I'm not related. Why isn't it someone related to Señor Cantú?”
“I don't know. Augusto ran all the galleries.”
“So what does Elisa do?”
“Different things. The galleries and the construction company.”
“I see, but you can find out more.” She smiled slyly as he kissed her hand. “An of course this is just between us.”

Her phone began ringing and she excused herself. It was Elisa, whom Fernanda asked what was going on, telling her that Fabricio had left several messages. Elisa told her she had heard all the messages and had decided to take the day off and not deal with work. She said she trusted Fabricio and if there was a problem they'd solve it the next day. Fernanda asked where she was and she told her she was at a gas station on the highway... with Leo. Fernanda played the overprotective friend about him as in “He's investigating your father.”

Dario met with Eugenio, who told him he had to control Elisa. Dario told him he had her under control. Eugenio then said once more that he had to kill Majo. He would never have her “because I say so” and if he went near her again, “it will be I who will kill her.” Dario turned away silently and left. His face was cold as stone.

Victoria could not get Majo to tell her who had sent the flowers. She also couldn't persuade her to go out shopping or do anything else. Majo did not want to leave the house. Victoria said she was worried and Majo asked “Are you afraid I will become crazy like Renata?” When her mother didn't answer she said “If only it were like that!”

Renata tried to get Clara to talk about Julia's relationship with Augusto. Clara denied that they had been lovers. She said that Julia had worked for Augusto. Renata kept asking questions, Clara became increasingly nervous. She said nothing definitive. Victoria entered the kitchen and demanded to know what Renata was doing. “The same as you, Mother. Torturing her.” Victoria was not rattled. She told Renata she wasn't funny and dismissed her. She did not leave.

“Clara, go up to Maria José's room and bring me her phone down to me, please.”Clara left, then Renata sat down.
“It isn't enough for you to control your daughters' lives, you now have to control that poor brat.”
“Why are you having a setback?”
Renata did not take the bait.
“I hear what is said between the walls in this house and I see and feel many things about you.”
“What are you talking about?
“Uncle Eugenio is here almost every day. That's not good, Mother. Be careful and remember that I told you so.”

Clara tried to engage Majo in conversation but Majo was feeling as low as she could have. She was in no mood to talk to a girl who told her she had everything. She worked up no pity for the fact that Clara's father was dying. Clara told her that because of her father's condition she needed her work and wanted Majo to help her. Victoria walked in to get the phone, then told Clara to go to the office to get her severance pay. Clara told her she needed the work. Majo then stepped in and told her mother that she wanted Clara to stay to keep her company. Victoria said she should talk “to your friends”
Clara started to leave but Majo held her back.
“Mother, do you think I am impressed by your conditions?”

While Leo and Elisa were climbing among some ruins Sonia was being watched. She met Fernanda in a very public place.
“Why such mystery?”
“Tomorrow will be the sale,” Sonia tol her. “We will get the $6 million.”
“Who will launder the money?”
“I don't know. Marcelo is in charge of that.”
“What will you do with the money?”
“Leave. Together.”
“Sonia, Renata has lots of shares in the business. Do you think Marcelo will leave all that for you?”
“Yes.”
“You're playing Winner Take All. You know that?”
“You're involved in this, too. Do you know what Eugenio knows?”
“When Eugenio knows you two had better be far away. Obviously I don't know whether it will surprise him.”
“When will you have my money?”
“In the morning, when I get it. When we're ready to leave.”
“Does Marcelo have a bachelor pad?”
“How do you know that?”
“Calm down. Don't start mistrusting me.Your trust is important to me. Let me know when you have the money and we'll meet at the apartment.”
Sonia nodded and said “Very well. We'll see each other in the morning.” She then left.

Carla showed Dario a Google Earth image of Leonardo's home and told him who else lived there. She asked why he wanted to know all this. “Because he is my enemy, so he is also yours. Stop asking stupid questions.”

Renata teased Majo about being a princess with a lady in waiting but Majo was not in the mood for this. She had not been for some time. She asked for her sleeping pills. Renata talked to her about therapy and medication, but Majo did not want to talk about any of this. Finally Renata asked “What did he do to you?”
“Who?”
“The one who sent you the flowers. What did he do to you?”

Adriana, Mario, and Jose Luis talked about the artifact. It was identified as one from the stolen lot. “We have it. Good work.”

Sara noted that Leo had come home very late the night before. She realized why and wanted to hear about it but he wasn't ready to tell her anything. She took her basket and told him she was going shopping. His phone rang. It was Adriana trying to reach him since the previous day regarding the stolen artwork. She looked around as they spoke and sent him the location. As he was about to leave Elisa drove up to hand him the jacket he had left in her car the night before. He told her what was happening. She wanted to accompany him but he told her she could not. This was about to become an argument.

Marcelo was on his way as he called Sonia. He told her to take her things and meet him.

She took her purse and left the bedroom, not knowing that Eugenio had been listening from a room on the other side of the corridor.

Dario approached Sara from behind, offering to help her carry her bags. She looked at him with suspicion.

Marcelo arrived at his destination. Javier – his “buyer” – looked at the artifact and told him to wait while he got the money. “This could be the best day of my life,” he said to his companion.

Sonia tried calling Marcelo, but he did not answer. He was waiting for Javier, thinking he was taking too long. He looked up and saw several uniformed police. He picked up the carpetbag containing the treasure, but Jose Luis entered at the apex of the police formation. He asked whether Marcelo was the owner of the item. Marcelo said he was. He was then arrested for trafficking in stolen art.

Sonia became more nervous. She stood up and Eugenio entered with two of his thugs. “You were right, my love. These games always end badly.”

Leo and Elisa arrived at the scene of the arrest. He told her to stay in the car, but she did not. She followed him toward the building and saw Marcelo being arrested. He yelled to her to get him a lawyer. Jose Luis then told her that he was arrested for art theft. He was therefore a suspect in the murder of Augusto and Julia.

Labels: imperio

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