Yo No Creo en los Hombres #50 Lunes 9/21/15

Chapter 50: More than Greed

Two security men stopped Maria Dolores and Doris. They said that Maria Dolores was being detained because she had gotten violent with Ivana. Maria Dolores denied this. Doris asked about Ivana's questions regarding her alleged pregnancy.

Gerry revived Ivana. Her secretary offered to make her tea but she declined. Danny Boy strode back in, offering to take Ivana to the hospital. Gerry looked like he wanted to brain him but Ivana held him back. She said she was alright and didn't need a doctor. When her back was turned to the men Gerry grabbed Danny-Boy who denied his part in the violence. “The only guilty one in this is Maria Dolores,” he said. Ivana stared at them.

Isela cried as Alma pounded on the door. “I know everything,” said Alma. Isela opened the door. Alma told her she had a call from Ho-sefa. She told her that Orlando tried to rape Isela and asked “Was he the man who had tried to rape you before??” Isela shook her head. Alma insisted that she stay at her place for a few days. Isela looked confused.

Max spoke with Esperanza. He explained that he was taking Leo in to spare him being shipped off to a US military school. He wanted to help her and her daughters. Doris called to tell him what happened at Ivana's office.

Isela spoke to Ho-sefa, who didn't like the idea of her being away. She was going to have to stay at the Bustamantes' anyway. She told her she had previously spoken to Claudio about an order of protection against Orlando.

Maleny slithered into the study where Arango was seated at the desk. She asked about Mama Bear.
He answered that she had gone out and he didn't know where because he had just arrived. Maleny approached , wanting to talk about her father's death. He said he didn't know why she wanted to talk about it. “Because my mother never stops reminding me about it.”

“How far are you willing to go?” he asked.

“As far as you want,” she answered. She slid onto the desk in front of him, giving him a chance to look up her tight skirt.

“I'm serious,” he said.

“So am I,” she said. “You worked for my father and at my mother's side all these years. Like a faithful lap dog. Know what?”

“What?”

“I think you're in love with my mother.”

“Me?” He took off his glasses.

“Wheee, and you're all tense again.”

She pushed back his jacket, forcing him fully against the back of the chair. She closed in for the kiss. He took the bait. He suddenly got up and pushed her back onto the desk and began kissing her, trapping her against the surface of the desk.

“Is it true?” Gerry asked.

“That it was Maria Dolores who knocked her out?” started Danny-Boy. A half-second later Mama Bear charged past the secretary into the office.

“Daniel called me. Did the ambulance get here?” she said.

“It's OK, Mother,” Danny-Boy said. “It wasn't necessary.”

“Thanks, Úrsula,” said Ivana. “Let's just say that I lost the baby because my husband hit me.”

“Get out of this office, the house, and Ivana's life,” Gerry said. He grabbed Danny-Boy by the lapels. Ursula tried to protest.

“Enough!” Ivana shouted. Gerry released Danny-Boy. “It's over, Daniel. This is the limit.”

“Are you sure of what you're saying?” Mama Bear asked. Gerry opened the door behind her.

“I never want to see you again. Get out!” Ivana shouted.

Mama Bear and her cub walked out. Ivana sat down at her desk. Gerry stared at her.

Orlando and Ari were in Ari's apartment. Ari told Orlando to forget Isela. “She cheated on you, man,” he said. “Don't do anything you'll be sorry for.” Orlando muttered something and walked out in frustration.

“I'm not alright with this either,” Claudio said to Isela. “But she just wants to help.”

“She's your wife,” Isela answered. “You can't say no to her.”

“You can't say that. If we're under the same roof she'll get suspicious.”

“Do you know how hard this is, Claudio?”

“What?”

“Living with your wife, knowing how I feel?”

“Do you think I like this any better? Having you with my family? At least Orlando won't come near you there.”

“At your house?”

“Alma will calm down.”

Isela's cell rang and she went into the main office to answer. Ari told her that Orlando had wanted to borrow his car but he didn't lend it. He wanted to take her away. She ended the call without a word in reply.

Max got to the Duval security office just as Maria Dolores and Doris were being brought in. Doris admitted calling him. Max asked what happened and Maria Dolores said “I was arguing with Ivana and it looks like she fainted afterwards. I'm being blamed for it.” Doris said Gerry got involved and said he didn't think she had any responsibility. Maria Dolores wanted to go home. Max told her he just came from there. He had told Baldomero and his shyster to stop bothering her. He said he would drive them back and had to get his things also.

Claudio asked Isela if she spoke to Orlando. She said no. She told him her mother wanted more for her than a mechanic and he had wanted to marry her. She had always wanted to get married and not be anybody's mistress.

Mama Bear finished telling what had happened at Duval's, saying “We're right back where we started from.”

Maleny said “No, Mama; we're worse off than before. We started out with flowers, but you, velociraptor, rat, idiot, It's as though you urinated all over her.”

“You've got a vulgar way of putting things,” Mama Bear said.

“Ivana was provoking me, Mother,” Danny-Boy whined. “You should have heard what she said.”

“The whole world doesn't revolve around you,” Maleny said.

“Think about this carefully, Daniel” said Mama Bear. “Because Ivana isn't a fool like Maria Dolores.”

“She caused this,” Danny-Boy said. He explained the business loan Maria Dolores had scored and the revelation that he had stolen the red dress.

“Ivana is now the cat is playing with the mouse,” said Arango, who had been listening and observing.

“She wanted to keep her close to see if we were telling the truth about whether she was pregnant or not,” said Mama Bear.

“Look, now you won't see a growing stomach,” Maleny taunted.

“So Gerry sent you packing,” said Mama Bear. “But if she is having a baby all is not lost.”

“I'd rather seduce Maria Dolores again than go back to that butterball Ivana,” he said.

Leo was leaving his parents' home. He had two suitcases. Alma wasn't happy but said it was better than him being sent away. He was still angry with her because this was her fault.

Maria Dolores and Max talked about the situation with Ivana. He didn't like the idea of her being near Daniel. She said she and Doris would figure out the division of labor. She once thought that Ivana was another of Danny-Boy's victims. Now she was convinced that Ivana was as bad as Danny-Boy. Max was sure that Ivana was influenced by Danny-Boy. He told Maria Dolores he wouldn't let her go through this alone. He was going to help her whether she liked it or not. He tried to kiss her but she didn't let him. He backed away, but didn't want to.

“No, Daniel, it's not a hardhip,” said Mama Bear. “You won't even have to talk to Maria Dolores to make her pregnant.”

“He won't be able to.” Maleny taunted while gesturing with her drink. “Because Maria Dolores is obviously in love with Maaaax.” She was making the sound of a sheep bleating.

“No, no, no,” said Danny-Boy. “That remains to be seen.”

“We have to figure out how to make her pregnant,” said Mama Bear.

“How? How? Mother, it's not that easy.”

“I want no excuses,” she said. “Max is not with Maria Dolores, you're not with Ivana. You have all the time in the world to do it.”

“No, no!” Maleny said. “You have no time to lose.”

“The next time you're at Ivana's house you're going there with a baby in your arms.”

He stared as though she had gone mad. Mama Bear took away his drink and finished it. Arango stared at the three of them but said nothing.

Ivana stared at her garden. She told Gerry she wanted to be alone. He kissed her gently and left without saying a word. She thought about the night Danny-Boy knocked her up, the dive in the pool for the ring, and the proposal. She cried, but without becoming hysterical.

Maria Dolores, Doris, and Esperanza talked about what happened. Maria Dolores seemed confused about whether Ivana was pregnant, then remembered Danny-Boy telling her about the hysterectomy. She wasn't sure that was true. But the truth about the stolen red dress was out. That was why she didn't want to accept the business loan. However, they were not in a position to change their minds.

Max welcomed Leo to his apartment.

Claudio returned to his office. He called Isela, who was walking home. She told him she was going to elope with Orlando after all. She told Claudio she wasn't going to feel right in his house. He started to panic about losing her. She didn't want to call any problems.

Maria Dolores, Doris, and Esperanza talked about reserving money for the rental of the sewing machines and how they would deal with the other things. Maria Dolores escorted Doris out to continue the conversation.

Isela was trying to get out of Ho-sefa's house. When Ho-sefa asked why she was doing this she reminded her of her complaints about the cost of maintaining her. Ho-sefa smiled. Or did she?

Maria Dolores and Doris walked to the sidewalk outside the courtyard. They talked about the loan, who would take charge of what about the business. They seemed to talk about designing clothes for women like Doris. Neither wanted to deal with Ivana. Doris promised to stick together with Maria Dolores. They got to the courtyard entrance. Neither saw Danny-Boy watching them from behind the wheel of his car. Orlando pulled up in front of the courtyard entrance.

Julian and Fermin talked about Fermin's schedule for the next day. Julian reminded him to put his recovery first. Fermin was determined to prove his worth. He had gotten off to a good start. Honoria seemed proud. Julian smiled at his parents.

Isela was going to pack a few more things, but saw that her suitcases were gone. Ho-sefa told Isela that she sent her suitcases to the Bustamante mansion. She ran out of the apartment. Ho-sefa grinned with satisfaction and ran after her.

Orlando was waiting outside the car. Doris asked him how he could do this after Isela had betrayed him. He ignored her questions and went inside the courtyard. Ho-sefa yelled at him that he would not take Isela away from her. Isela got to the bottom of the stairs and he took her hand. They continued out to the car with Ho-sefa not far behind. Maria Dolores got in between at one point, which lasted until they were out by the white car. Isela got inside and Ho-sefa ran after Orlando to stop him from getting into the car. Honoria joined the fray and tried to restrain her. Orlando got into the car on the driver's side and closed the door. Ho-sefa tried to stand in front of the car but Clara and Fermin got her out of the way with a little help from Orlando honking the car horn. He took off. Ho-sefa ran for a few steps, then collapsed into crocodile tears as her meal ticket disappeared.

A moment later she stood and caught her breath. The entire neighborhood had witnessed her humiliation. Maria Dolores was the first to hear her venom, accusing them all of being buttinskies. The others watched her sternly as she walked past them into the courtyard. They followed her back in at a distance. Two expressed the collective opinion to Esperanza that Ho-sefa had gotten what she deserved “after everything she said about your daughters.” Esperanza wasn't in the mood for this. She said they wouldn't treat her as she had treated them as they watched Ho-sefa slink back to her lair. Ari arrived asking whether Orlando had come for Isela. She answered him.

Claudio arrive home. Alma asked about Isela but he didn't have an answer for her. The phone rang as he sat down and a maid came out to hand the phone to Alma. It was Ho-sefa, telling her that Orlando had kidnapped Isela by force and everyone saw it happen.

Ari and Doris went back to the Morales apartment with Maria Dolores. Ari explained that he had no idea that Orlando would do this and he think he's gone nuts. He wouldn't lend him his car because he didn't approve so Orlando took a client's car. Doris became concerned that Orlando would be charged with grand theft auto and ordered Ari to go out and look for him immediately to make him return the car. For good measure she shoved him out the door.

Maria Dolores tried calling but got no answer. Julian arrived to find out what was happening. When they told him he said “We might all have different opinions but with the way Ho-sefa treats her I think it's better this way.”

Ho-sefa begged Alma to help. She covered the mouthpiece and told Claudio. “We have to help her because I think he's the man who raped her.”

Maria Dolores and Doris tried to make sense of this. Maria Dolores said there was a time when she would stick her hands in the fire for Isela, but wasn't so sure anymore. Doris was sure, though. She called Isela a slut and said she was playing both men. She had told Maria Dolores she was in love with Claudio, but Doris knew that Orlando had caught Isela with him. So why was this even happening?

Orlando stopped the car and they talked for a minute. She had nothing of hers with her, including identity papers. He promised to make it all up to her. They kissed. For a moment she convinced him she loved him but then suddenly broke the kiss, got out of the car, and ran into what looked like a shantytown. He ran after her just as a police car approached the car parked too far from the curb. The cop from the driver's seat radioed his station that they found the car.

Orlando chased Isela through the shantytown. When he caught up with her she begged him to let her go because they couldn't escape together. She seemed to calm down. Dogs barked nearby. Orlando led her out.

Ho-sefa sulked in her apartment. She answered a knock on the door and Esperanza entered. She was offering sympathy and help. Ho-sefa accused her of laughing at her. She told her to leave her alone because she won't tolerate busybodies. She ordered her out.

Honoria must have seen or heard this happen. She couldn't believe this. Julian reminded her that Esperanza and her daughters were good-hearted people. Fermin commented that people get what they deserve. He felt no pity for Ho-sefa, whom he knew not to be Isela's mother. He hoped that they wouldn't come back and that they would be happy.

Isela looked like she was in shock. Orlando led her out of the shantytown, telling her she was safe with him and would be alright. They went back to the car. The police were watching. When Orlando shut the passenger door and went to the driver's side, a cop asked for his driver's license and the papers for the car. He got inside, pulled out some papers, then floored the accelerator. The police followed. Neither Orlando nor Isela had their seat belts fastened. She screamed all the way. The police siren screamed during the pursuit. She grabbed his arm as they went through an intersection and were side-swiped.

Later Maria Dolores told Doris to all her at any hour if she heard anything. Doris headed home. Danny-Boy was very patient. He followed Maria Dolores and grabbed her, slamming her back against a brick wall.