My Devil Heart

It was strange being here without him, as much as we were distant and we didn't agree on almost anything in the last few years, I still had fond memories of my childhood, it was hard to believe that I wouldn't magically wake up in bed after falling asleep on the couch...

- Miss Anne, Marília made a snack for you, I can serve it here if you don't want...

Her voice was calm and carried a tone of concern.

-Alright John, I will, it's time to face the truth...

I was on a trip when John called me he was trying to sound calm but I could hear the pain in his voice, my dad had a stroke and couldn't resist, we had our problems my dad had a different way of running his business and I a lot sometimes did not agree. He stopped living his own life to take care of the lives of celebrities and petty sub-celebrities who couldn't bear the consequences of their own actions... that's why I decided to leave, and leave all that behind, I made my choice and he did his took away any and all privileges that his CEO fortune gave him, but I didn't care, I never cared, I got that from my mother, she was humble, she didn't have a big house, much less a luxury car when they met, and that's why that they fell in love my mother lived everything intensely and integrally I say this because she gave herself completely, always...

- Lost in thought my little one?

-Remembering why I left this place, Mari (I've always called her that, she's worked for my father since long before I was born, it's curious that I've always remembered her that way, it seems that she stopped in time).. .

-He missed you a lot, but he understood your decision, he was proud of his ideals, he always bragged to those actors that his daughter did good to others.

Her voice is serene and her speech makes me smile…

-Thanks…

She nods with a sincere smile...

-I know it's hard for you and that you don't like these people at all, but there are a lot of people downstairs waiting to give you a hug...

The room is full of celebrities and people who think they are celebrities, some of my father's friends, work colleagues, everyone was there for him and his memory... I try to find a less fake smile by practicing in front of the mirror...

-Be careful if you force it, but it may never go back to normal...

I turn, startled as soon as the husky voice reaches my ears, my eyes meet a pair of black eyes and a crooked smile. I roll my eyes when I realize it's one of the celebrities my dad was babysitting,

-God... he says closing his eyes and looking away, and of course I noticed the clenched fist...

(Admittedly this was a reaction I wasn't expecting, the eye roll seemed to hit his ego, I guess I was expecting a reaction like... OMG IS THAT YOU "DON'T KNOW YOUR NAME" THANKS FOR VISITING I'M A BIG FAN LIKE MAY I THANK YOU? … )

-Your father was a good human... his look was calmer, but you could still see a storm inside those black eyes, is he trying to be kind?

-Everyone is good at your wake, nobody goes to the wake to speak ill of the dead, and I bet he saved you several times, you celebrities love to do shit and leave it to others to solve … he lets out an angry growl …

-Aff, I already saw that it was a bad idea to come here, I thought you... He looks me up and down making my cheeks blush... never mind, just accept my feelings there, and good luck with life...

Your attempt at being friendly is almost comical...

-I finally found you Kay, I was looking for you, Jake was worried it looks like he wanted the pill it looks like he's getting hun...

His speech ceases when he sees me there hiding behind the one he called Kay at the height of my 1.65 I looked small compared to the two…

-Oh sorry I didn't see you there... he gives a little punch as if to warn his friend for not mentioning my presence... he had blond hair, green eyes and a smile that seemed genuinely sincere...

-Oh shit... nobody told you to come with that big mouth Thomas...

For a moment that gentle smile was replaced by an almost deadly look, which soon disappeared as his attention returned to me, he held my hand and gently placed a kiss…

-Nice to meet you, I feel that the circumstances have not been the best, and in that regard, I am very sorry for your loss, he loved you very much.

-No more than work...

-I'm sorry that he made you feel that way...

I could feel the sincerity in his words but I understood that there was nothing more to talk about and I left him there looking at where I was without understanding after that I didn't see them again during the ceremony or the burial in the cemetery. And despite being celebrities, they didn't seem to be like the others... the rest of the day passed slowly, alternating between handshakes, hugs and fake smiles, until finally there was only me and the void that the lack of my father's presence had left there … the night is long but when the sun finally rises, I feel ready to try to move on… “saudade strengthens the presence of those who once were” was what he used to say to me when I was little and I was crying because I missed my mom… I take a cold shower, I wear elegant clothes after all, I had a lot of things to solve, I don't remember when was the last time I put on something expensive or elegant, I put a smile on my face ready for what's to come, at least that's what I expected, until I arrived in my kitchen and I come across several men taking things in boxes out of the apartment, I didn't expect to live there I had a small kitchenette in a suburb of the city, but it was a little uncomfortable for everything my built to be taken away as if not worth nothing, he literally gave everything to build this, his family, my mother, at what price...

-Why can't I prepare coffee for her, after that you can do whatever you want with things...

I come across Mari fighting a frying pan over half a dozen eggs with a man in uniform…

-What's going on here ?

Her eyes widen when she sees that I'm there and she then gives up on the eggs and the man hurries out carrying several boxes...

-They are taking everything Miss Anne… her father he seems not to have thought very well when he closed the deals…

I smile wide so that she understands that it's okay, I've lived since I was 19 with much less than that, I really could get by with this.

-It's okay Marília, I didn't intend to keep my father's fortune...

-But Ms. Anne, your father built all this for you and your mother...

-And where is she now?

I speak in a sarcastic tone but without the intention of hurting her, I decide to walk to the company and have a coffee on the way there wasn't much left in the apartment. When I arrived, the family lawyer was already waiting for me with a pile of papers to sign, I was already a little aware of the situation, all the celebrities that my father represented and was so proud of that, walked out asking for the termination of contracts and taking practically all the money money together.

-So with that it's the last one now the only good that's left of your father is yours... I know you don't like this company, Ms. Anne, but your father sweated a lot to build it, and he really wanted you to touch it...

-There is no need for this speech all contracts have already been terminated, no more celebrities in the care of Groot Corp. It gets ridiculous how yesterday everyone was there hugging me and talking about how good he was and today they took everything he built, without even blinking…

Just like those movie clichés the door opens and there are the two men from the day before accompanied by a third who was probably Jake who was definitely someone with an inflated ego, I think I saw a clip of him playing somewhere isn't it as if it were easy to forget a guy who looks good with red hair and red eyes doesn't even look like a lens...

-I said there would be time... Thomas exclaims with a smile on his face...

-It's not like there are many people to leave...

As much as I hated that arrogant tone from Kay he was right, the building was as deserted as my house, I still don't know how my father got where he is with contracts like that each contract took a brick out of the whole empire he built...

-It's good that you're still here Miss Anne, we came to discuss our contracts... Jake says throwing a provocative look...

I didn't know what they wanted but I wasn't in the mood to talk.

-I think you're a little late, it's not like there's much you can take away from termination!

-Actually we arrived just in time, here Dr. Hiler if you can analyze and certify to you that the contract is legitimate...

The lawyer takes the papers from Thomas's hand and analyzes them, I'm even afraid of what I'm going to read when he hands me the papers, still with a scared look on his face.

Groot Corp.

… Contract modification clause.

And through this document we agreed that after my time ends and causes my death, this will become a contract made with my daughter, who will have to manage her life and career serving all the wishes of Kay Sakamoto, Thomas Colman, and Jake Dolton.

Failure to comply with this contract results in the payment of a fine and imprisonment.

Philip Groot

……………………

CEO of Groot Corp.

-It can'