Episode 44: Drinking With The Devil

Marissa is a spectacle and big lesson for me in this telenovela. 18 years of blindness was enough to learn to SEE well, but unfortunately she revelled in, and celebrated her dumbness, with her greatest enemy: Jennifer de la Cunning, as I love to call her. I hate weakness, even my own weakness too. I was so sad tonite seeing Marissa foolishly marketing her weakness to an eager buyer in Jenny. Much later in this telenovela Marissa is going to deeply regret her current cosy friendship with the devil,... I mean, with Jennifer de la Vega, the evil queen of this soap opera.

Andreina received her worst humiliation yet tonite in this episode. Marissa 'washed' her with the mire from the smelly location. And she crowned it with a hot bitter slap on Andreina's face. Calling her a shameless whore, which Andreina did not dispute. She told her that she ought to have backed down the moment she discovered that L.A. was her husband.

Jenny ran after her to explain her 'innocence' in the conspiratorial show. On getting home Marissa found that all L.A's clothes were about to be sent to him, she intercepted them, the beast in her, (and every angry human being) came out, and tore them to shreds with scissors. Ceasar took the clothes to L.A. and Marissa said she finally have a reason to celebrate, she went wild into a drinking orgy with Jennifer. In her stupor she opened her mouth wide and poured out her heart to her 'good friend' Jennifer. She told her how her life would be void without L.A. Jenny took a mental note of this revealed weakness for furture use.

Carlos challenged L.F. whom he accused of treating him like her enemy. He complained to her for treating him with indifference. He frankly told her that the reason why he was offering her the money for Pedro's treatment is because he desires to support her because he loves her. He said he is not bothered with L.F's fear of not wanting to be bound to him, saying: "...that's your problem, but I can't stop loving you". He ordered that Ordonez and Lupe should prepare a check to the tune of any amount that L.F. may need.

After the board meeting, Carlos told Ordonez of how Jennifer caused problem between him and L.F. and why he still loves L.F. Ordonez encouraged him not to give up and fight for his love. Ordonez also warned him of the impending danger, as L.A would scheme by legal manuovres and by "any means" to get a good part of Marissa's forutne as settlement in court during the divorce proceedings. He explained that it is only the holdings in the Bank Conglomerate that L.A. cannot touch because of the smart prohibitive clauses in the bank's statue. He however warned Carlos that Marissa has a lot of investment outside of the bank's statue in the last 18 years of Marriage to L.A. those are the vulnerable assets which L.A. may be plotting to win. He warned him not to let L.A catch him by surprise.

Alfredo joined the camp of schemers in this telenovela tonite by warning L.F to beware of Carlos because he had another girl-friend called Jennifer. That was stale news to L.F. and she told him so. After Alfredo thought he had done enough damage to the image of Carlos, he now posed the million-dollar question: "...do you love him?" He received his first jolt when L.F. nodded her acknowledgement that she loved, him but can never reconcile with him because she was hurting.

Leopoldo visited Andreina's apartment, only to meet L.A. there. There was a hot debate on who Andreina truly loves. L.A. told him the truth that Andreina would never love him (Leopoldo). He said that she was only "using" Leopoldo to make him(L.A) Jealous. He told him that he has packed out ( the coward did not say that he was booted out by Marissa), of Marissa's house to stay permanently with Andreina, saying: "...I've stopped loving her (Marissa), may years ago, I don't want to keep up public appearances of a happy couple with her anymore."

Consuela scored another bull's eye by painting Heriberto as untrustworthy because of his recent infidelity, to Don, and therefore she needed to be on the board of directors to have a voice and manage the family's interest in the steel factory. The old man concurred with her. She surreptitiously passed the New Will to him, lying to him that those were the papers to empower her as a new member of the board of directors which was prepared by L.A. the new legal advisor to the Company. In tomrrow's episode, would the old man sign away his fortune? Let's wait and watch.

Ceasar came with the luggage of L.A. to Andreina's apartment, after tipping Ceasar, he opened his box, alas! he shouted, "... my London suit! my Italian ties! torn to shreds, this woman must is crazy! it can't be, it can't be!!!" Andreina watched with fear and dread at the capacity for havoc exhibited by Marissa's action. she had earlier frown at what she called "... a twisted family tradition" referring to how Marissa slapped her after the fashion of a similar slap by L.A. some few weeks earlier.

Carlos visited the Mental hospital, and it was time for the scheming cynic Alfredo to ask him another question, saying "... how many girlfriends do you have?"

Vanessa showed up and went home with L.F. While asking L.F when she would resume at the university, she replied that: "... College can wait, but my father's health cannot wait." She told her how she is plannin to look for a job to earn some money to take care of her father. At that point Vanessa remembered Don and Rigo's needs. So she offered her if she would like to be a paid companinon for someone- her step-grand father who needs exactly that service. The stage is set for destiny encounter between Luisa Fernanda and her grand father!

Episode 43: Tit-For-Tat

Consuela is hot, I have no doubt, but she met a surprising match in Heriberto, her husband. She dragged him to their room to 'resolve' the scandal of infidelity caused by him at the factory. She was about to excercise her power of "Landlord's daughter" by throwing Heriberto (and his daughter, Vanessa) out of the mansion, for the shame of adultery. The man responded back with her own coin: COUNTER- BLACKMAIL! Consuela looked like someone who had just been drenched by a very cold water. Her con-husband, who had turned her into a "cash register" had pulled the rug from under her feet.

He warned her not to attempt to intimidate him, saying: "...I can destroy you anytime I want. I will expose all your dirty deals..." this was more than a big slap on the face of Consuela, she had no answer to this blackmail. Later the next day at work, Virginia was worried that Consuela may come to the office to cause a scene and possibly sack her, Heriberto exhibited his macho by telling her that she should never worry about Consuela, that he knows how to handle and manage his home and his office. In essence, he was telling her that he has caged Consuela.

Another dramatic counter-blackmail was played out between Jennifer and her right-hand woman- Andreina. Jennifer wants to have her cake and also eat it. Her ambition crossed the line of Andreina's passion. She discovered that Andreina has refused to follow her advise to run out of town for Marissa. Andreina told her that Leopoldo advised her to the contrary and she believed in the reasoning of Leopoldo. It was obvious that her manipulative counsel to Andreina to flee was purposed so that, she would use that as proof to Marissa that she had sacked Andreina, as demanded by Marissa.

Jenny expressed her disappointment, saying: "...It's a good to hear that you'd be in Mexico, but..., you can't come back to work for me at the Academy, not anymore..., Marissa would never forgive me if she knows that you are still working for me... I can't risk my friendship with Marissa." Andreina was shattered with this news, but like a typical street girl, she responded appropriately, as the circumstances demanded. Andreina said: "...Well then, I would have to tell Marissa that you have always known about my love affairs with Luis Alejandro..."

Jenny froze in her stride, she turned back and confronted Andreina, saying "...are you blackmailing me?" Andreina replied that "...if you don't have a loyalty to me, in spite of my loyal service to you, I would not have any loyalty for you too"

After Marissa sent L.A. out of her house, he proceeded, after spending the night at an hotel, to Andreina's apartment. Telling Andreina that he had been sent packing by Marissa. She laughed and told him that he has finally lost the hen that laid him golden eggs, she told him that situation has changed, and don't want him around her anymore. She asked him to leave her apartment. He quickly reminded her that he was the one paying the rent and therefore she has no right over the apartment. He also made her realise that they would swim or sink together, that he does not care a hoot anymore if Marissa knows that, he now lives in the same apartment with her.

Carlos and Alfredo went to a restaurant for dinner while waiting for their senior colleague Dr. Serrano, to join them. Carlos made Alfredo to realise that Luisa Fernanda was the love of his life. Alfredo told him that he was surprised by his claim because L.F never mentioned having any relationship with him as her boyfriend when he spoke with her. He even told Carlos that from his observation it seems L.F. is distant to him. Carlos replied that they had some misunderstandings but it would soon be resolved, that they love each other. Alfredo warned Carlos not to apply pressure on L.F. because she is the only emotional anchor for the recovery of Pedro.

Clarita phoned Carlos that his mom has become an emotional wreck because of the row between her and L.A. He took excuse to leave for home, to go and resolve some problems. Alfredo mocked him saying that he had more problems than running after L.F.

Jenny came to the hospital and asked to know Pedro's room. Graziela, the nurse, told her that Pedro has been transfered to a mental hospital. Alfredo walked in, so the nurse told him that Jenny wanted to know about Pedro. Alfredo introduced himself to her, as the Psychiatrist that treats Pedro now. She lied by introducing herself as the girlfriend to Carlos Eduardo. Alfredo mocked again by saying that Carlos is lucky to have her as girlfriend.

Marissa was so depressed that she could not attend the Bank's Board's Meeting. Carlos told Ordonez not to worry that he would replace his mom on the Board for the meeting. Marissa was happy because of Carlos involvement in the Bank's affairs. As he entered the the office of Ordonez for the meeting, he saw L.F. sitting in front of Ordonez requesting for financial assistance to offset Pedro's medical bill. Carlos interrupted by telling L.F. not to worry, that he would pick the medical bill.

Marissa surfaced in Jenny's Academy wearing all-black, presumably mourning the dead relationship with her husband of 18 years. She said she strolled out to avoid depression. As she was chatting with Jenny, Andreina strolled in, talking to Jenny..., her speech slurred into a stammering, on recognition of Marissa sitting in front of Jenny's desk. With a blazing and fiery eyes, Marissa stood up saying: "...Oh my God, why is this woman still working here? OK, that's fine, because I've got a lot of things to say to her!" Next episode would showcase the vituperations of Marissa on Andreina's head.

Don Fernando pleaded with Rigoberto to forgive him for not recognizing her the previous day because of his Amnesia. Rigo was depresed and told him that maybe she too was getting too old to be effective. She told him that Consuela's suggestion that a young nurse should be employed to care for him is most appropriate now. Don replied that old age is the worst enemy of any man. Vanessa heard them and chuckled. The stage is being set for the encounter of Luisa Fernanda with her grandfather. A memorial meeting between the Billionaire steel magnate and his unknown heiress grand daughter> Luisa Fernanda.