Chapter 2 No, I'm sorry

confirm his true identity and make sure he gets the care he needs." "Okay, sir," Sofia replied, her voice sounding a little more restrained than before. "The social worker can keep him at the shelter until we can resolve this situation." I could see the light in Sofia's eyes slowly fading as she took in my instructions. "To a shelter?" "Yes, Sofia. To a temporary shelter until we can resolve this situation properly," I stated, keeping my voice steady, even though I knew how difficult this decision would be for her. Sofia's expression turned serious, and a hard smile formed on her lips.

It was a smile that looked forced, almost painful to see. "No," she stated, her voice firm and determined, but thick with emotion. "No?" I began, but she held up a hand to stop me. "You can't leave him. You can't just send that baby to a shelter like he's some unwanted commodity," she said, her voice wavering slightly as she struggled to contain her emotions. I raised an eyebrow. "They'll take good care of him there, why are you talking like that?" "I'm sorry, sir. I'll call the caseworker, but we can't leave him at the shelter." CHAPTER 5 Sofia I had never spoken to my boss like that before. But he was stronger than me. That innocent little baby couldn't go to a government shelter. "Call the caseworker. Make an appointment with her," Lucius ordered, turning his back on me. "I'm going to go into the meeting right now." "But we don't have the head space for that right now, sir!" "Do as I say, Sofia." I took a deep breath and nodded. After being alone, I left his office with my cell phone in my hand, rescheduling Lúcio's meetings and juggling to fit clients in the middle of the earthquake that had just hit us. Every now and then, I would take a peek at Lígia. She was much older than me, a mother of three children, and was holding down the fort for Lúcio and me with his "nephew." So, with all the work matters resolved, it was time to take care of the baby-related matters. "Hello, you've reached the Child Protection Agency. How can I help you?" a friendly voice answered on the other end of the line. "Hello, my name is Sofia and I work for Mr. Lúcio Xavier. I need to schedule an appointment with the trusted social worker as soon as possible." I waited. "Yes, it can be here at the company. The appointment is for Mr. Xavier. Is there any chance the social worker will come here today?" "Hmm, let me check... Oh, it seems the social worker is only available for tomorrow morning. She could meet you at 10:00 at the office. Is that okay? I sighed, a little frustrated with the postponement, but I accepted. "Yes, that's right. Thank you very much. See you tomorrow." I hung up the phone, feeling relieved that I had scheduled the meeting, but still worried about what would happen next. As I headed to my desk, several people stopped me in my tracks, commenting on Lucio's nephew. Yes, gossip traveled quickly in that company. And Ligia wasn't the most discreet person in the world. The hallway was full of excited voices, and I felt a little overwhelmed by all the attention. A colleague approached, her eyes shining as she mentioned the baby. "Sofia, what a beautiful baby! He looks so much like Lucio, doesn't he?" I forced a smile, trying to hide my anxiety. "Yes, it's amazing how much they look alike." Another colleague joined the conversation, expressing surprise at finding out about Lucio's supposed nephew. - I had no idea Lucio had a nephew! He's never mentioned it before. A lump formed in my throat as I tried to find a convincing explanation. - Well, it's a recent situation. His sister is going through some personal problems, so he's temporarily taking care of the baby. As my colleagues continued to approach me with questions about the baby, an anxiety I hadn't experienced in over two years began to take hold of me. Each word seemed to weigh tons on my shoulders, and I could barely breathe under the weight of expectations and fear of the unknown. With a forced smile and evasive answers, I managed to free myself from the conversation and excuse myself to leave. I ran to the bathroom, afraid of having a meltdown in front of everyone. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my tumultuous thoughts. But as soon as I looked in the mirror, chaotic memories began to fill my mind, memories I wanted to forget. An abandoned baby. Social workers. Child Protection Services. Shelters. A wave of panic enveloped me, threatening to suffocate me with its overwhelming intensity. I tried to push away the memories I was struggling to suppress, but they clung to me like sharp claws, clawing at my mind and heart. With shaking hands, I turned on the sink faucet, letting the water run over my hands. The cool sensation was a welcome shock, a momentary distraction from the turmoil inside me. I closed my eyes and focused on the sound of the water, trying to block out the memories that threatened to engulf me. For a moment, it was as if I were back in those dark days, days I didn't want to remember, struggling to survive in a world that seemed determined to destroy me. But then, with a conscious effort, I pushed the memories to the back of my mind, locking them in a mental box and throwing away the key. I couldn't afford to get lost in the past now. There was a baby who needed help, a boss who was counting on me, and a situation that demanded my immediate attention. With a resigned sigh, I wiped my wet face, gathered my courage, and left the bathroom. I knew that this day would be a long one yet. CHAPTER 6 Lucio I was in the middle of a conference in one of the large rooms at my company, leading and conducting the meeting with partners and clients, as I always did. My voice sounded confident, my words flowed with precision, but as much as I could talk, my mind was elsewhere. I couldn't stop thinking about the baby. That baby who had suddenly appeared in the reception area, with curious eyes and a birthmark so familiar. Did I really have a child? Why had Melissa never said anything? The questions echoed in my mind like a constant mantra, filling me with a suffocating anxiety. I tried to focus on the discussions of the meeting, the business proposals and the numbers presented, but my mind kept wandering to the baby and the mysteries it represented. I felt as if I were in a dense fog, unable to see clearly or make concrete decisions. It was too much to think about, and I felt like I would collapse at any moment. The pressure was building, the air in the room felt heavy and suffocating. I needed fresh air, space to breathe, but I knew I couldn't just walk out of there and leave the meeting. I swallowed hard, trying to control the tremors in my hands as I continued to lead the discussion. I was Lúcio Xavier, CEO of one of the largest companies in the country. I couldn't afford to falter now. "Mr. Xavier? Mr. Xavier?" I looked at one of the partners who had caught my attention. "Tell me." "Did you hear my question?" "No, I'm sorry. The numbers here excited me." I laughed to disguise the growing tension in me. "Can you repeat the questi