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4

I just wanted all of this to end as quickly as possible. How could I be so impulsive? I need to learn to control myself. Now, here I am, sitting through this meeting, and I'm not even sure what it's about.

"What do you think, miss?" The man in front of me asked, and I had no idea what he was talking about. I was completely lost in my thoughts.

"Hi," I replied, while Fred looked at me anxiously.

The man repeated his question, waiting for my opinion on selling the land to Fred. I knew I couldn't continue ignoring the conversation, so I took a deep breath and tried to focus.

"Sorry, I was a bit distracted," I said, attempting to appear more engaged in the meeting. "Can you repeat the question?"

Fred seemed relieved that I was finally paying attention, while the man repeated his question about the land sale. I knew I didn't have enough information to give an informed answer, but I couldn't just stay silent.

"I think... well, it depends on the circumstances and the price," I replied, choosing my words carefully.

The man seemed satisfied with my answer and continued the discussion with Fred, while I kept wondering how I got involved in all this confusion and when I would finally be able to free myself from the handcuffs that bound us together.

Once again, the man caught my attention with another question, while Fred seemed entirely uncomfortable.

"Answer, my love," Fred requested, making me look at him indignantly.

"If you were to sell the land?"

"Look, if Fred has a significant interest in this land, it's because it has great value, so I wouldn't sell it," I said. As I spoke, the man in front of me looked at me attentively, while Fred, upon hearing my answer, turned red and seemed very nervous.

"Love?" Fred called.

"But on the other hand, I would take advantage of this opportunity, sell it, but only if it allowed me to participate in the venture."

The man in front of me opened a big smile, while Fred squeezed my hand tightly under the table.

As I spoke, the man in front of me seemed increasingly interested in my response. My words appeared to have sparked his interest, and he smiled broadly when I finished my answer.

"That's an interesting proposal, miss," he said, addressing me. "I would definitely consider your suggestion."

Fred, on the other hand, was clearly uncomfortable with my response. He squeezed my hand tightly under the table, and his expression was red with embarrassment. He clearly did not expect me to suggest negotiating the sale of the land in exchange for participation in the venture.

"Love?" he called, sounding a bit desperate.

However, I wasn't willing to back down. I was determined to resolve the handcuff situation in the best way possible, and if it meant making a bold proposal, I was willing to do it.

"Very well," the man in front of me said, still smiling. "Let's consider that option. Thank you, miss, for your contribution."

The meeting continued, and I knew I had taken a significant step toward resolving the handcuff situation. While Fred was visibly embarrassed, I was starting to realize that maybe my impulsiveness could be an advantage in some situations. However, I also knew we had a lot of work ahead to get rid of this handcuff and resolve our past issues.

"Fred, thank your fiancée because I'll only sell you my land because of her," said the man in front of us, extending his hand to close the deal with Fred.

The man's words in front of us took both Fred and me by surprise. He extended his hand towards Fred, ready to close the deal.

"Fred, thank your fiancée," the man said with a smile, pointing at me.

Fred, still visibly embarrassed, nodded and shook the man's hand, formalizing the agreement.

"Thank you, Luana," Fred whispered to me, his expression a mix of relief and discomfort.

I smiled at him, knowing that somehow we had managed to resolve the situation regarding the land sale. However, I also knew we had a lot to discuss after this meeting, especially about our complicated relationship and the handcuffs that still bound us.

Descending the 15 floors through the stairs proved to be a tiresome task, especially for Fred, who continued to complain and wished he had used the elevator. While he grumbled and protested, I couldn't help but enjoy the situation a bit, especially because the land sale deal had been closed thanks to my suggestions during the meeting.

I couldn't resist teasing him a little more, seizing the opportunity to play with his frustrated expression.

"Fred, you need to exercise more," I said with a mischievous smile. "After all, it wasn't that bad, right?"

Fred shot me an annoyed look, but I knew he was also starting to see the positive side of my intervention in the meeting.

When we finally reached the building's exit, we were surprised by a group of people waiting for us. To my surprise, even my friends were there. How did they manage to find me? I had a lot to tell them, but for now, the priority was to get rid of the handcuffs that bound us.

My friends ran towards us, eager to know what had happened in the meeting. I knew I had a lot to explain, but before that, I needed to resolve the handcuff situation.

"Girls, what a surprise to see you here!" I said with a forced smile. "But first, we need help getting rid of this." I pointed to the handcuffs still attached to our wrists.

They were visibly shocked to see the handcuffs, and their expressions alternated between concern and curiosity.

"Let me handle this, friend," Fifi said, taking something out of her purse.

She fiddled around for a moment, and in seconds, the handcuff was open.

"Thank you, my friend!" I said, feeling relieved. "You're amazing!"

Fifi smiled and winked at me. "Always ready to solve problems, Luana."

Now that we were free from the handcuffs, I knew we could finally have a more detailed conversation about everything that had happened. My friends were clearly curious and concerned, and I was eager to share everything with them.

"Let's go somewhere we can talk in peace," I suggested. "I have a lot to tell you."

While my friends headed towards the car, I turned to say goodbye to Fred. I knew this was an opportunity to express the anger I felt towards him. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't let the chance to confront him pass.

"Fred," I said firmly, looking directly into his eyes. "I want it to be clear that our current situation changes nothing between us. I still haven't forgiven you for what you did."

Fred looked at me with an expression that mixed regret and discomfort. He knew I was serious.

"Luana, I understand that you're angry," he began, but I cut him off.

"I don't care if you understand or not," I said, my voice filled with frustration. "You ruined my life, and nothing will erase that."

The tension between us escalated even further, and there was a silence filled with unspoken emotions. I knew I had to walk away and join my friends, but I couldn't help but make it clear to Fred how much I held him responsible for what had happened to me.

With one last look of disdain, I turned away and walked off, leaving Fred behind to contemplate his actions. It was evident that our relationship was far from resolved, and I had no intention of making things easy for him. And I had no plans to see him again.

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