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Andrea hurriedly walked to the reception desk. She was expecting any of the old clients who were obviously nervous about the change in management, but when she arrived she was met with an unexpected surprise. Before her stood a tall, handsome man dressed in a dark blue coat. He had a kind face and a gentle disposition that Andrea had seen many times over the past two weeks, although almost always by video. “Mr. Stormhold?” Andrea was surprised. “Can you just call me Gideon, please, I’m only twenty years old even though I look older,” he replied in a deep, soft voice as he extended a hand to shake her. “And you must be Mrs. Brand. I’ve come to meet you.” Andrea felt her heart skip a beat. She had been running after him, of course, but she had never expected him to show up there. “Sure, of course… Shall I buy you a coffee?” Gideon nodded and Andrea grabbed her company card to go down to the cafeteria with him. A few minutes later they sat at a small table and Andrea gave him all her attention. “Listen… my mother and I were talking about you. I’ve been thinking about a professional representation for a while now, but my mother refuses,” the boy said. “So I decided to come on my own.” Andrea frowned. “So… am I to understand that your mother is not in favor of you signing a contract with us?” Andrea asked. “No, but I’m here to prove you wrong,” the boy replied. “I’m willing to sign a contract with you, I’m of legal age, it’s my decision, not yours. Thank you for reading on LeeNovelas.com.” Andrea was speechless. She felt her heart racing with excitement at the possibility, but a few seconds later she shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that,” she said. “What?” Gideon scolded her with a frown. “My mother said that you had been very insistent that I sign the contract…!” —That’s true, but it’s also true that I promised your mother that I would do what was best for you, and what’s best for you isn’t to get into an altercation with her —Andrea said seriously. If you two don’t agree on this, then I’m not going to get involved. —But… this is what I need! —Gideon insisted. —That’s not true—Andrea smiled at him—. This is what you want, but who you’ll always need is your mother. And I’m not going to betray the word I gave her just because I want to be your representative. Remember. Read this novel only at LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites. They talked for a few more minutes, but Andrea didn’t let herself be convinced by the boy. By the time she returned to her office she could barely contain her desire to cry, she really needed that contract, it was her chance to earn enough money to fight for Adriana, but what kind of mother would she be if she got her daughter back by hurting another family? She locked herself in her cubicle, her head in her hands and tears running tirelessly down her forearms,and she didn’t know how long she was there, immersed in that despair until that pair of strong arms lifted her up making her stifle a scream. “Everything is going to be okay…” Zack murmured, holding her against his chest and kissing her hair. “I promise you that everything is going to be okay, you won’t even realize how soon we’ll have Adriana back…” “Let me go, Zack,” she growled, wiping her face and trying to get away, but he held her firmly. “Andrea… listen, I know I have no right to ask you for anything, but we…” “Let’s start by eliminating the plural,” she interrupted him. “There is no longer us, what you don’t have the right to do is promise me anything.” With a gesture she broke away from his arms and raised her chin, defiant although her face was still stained with tears. You left. You left exactly as Mason did: without explanations. So deep down you are not very different from him. “Don’t say that, Andrea.” —Zack felt like he was drowning—. I just want to help you get your daughter back…! —So that she forgives you and comes back to you? Or because you feel guilty? Or both? Andrea rebuked him without flinching—. Well, just so you know, all three options are disgusting, because it’s the same thing Mason is looking for. I don’t want you to help me get my daughter back. —Andrea… if I’m doing this it’s for Adriana! —And Adriana is my daughter, mine! —Andrea snapped at him—. And if I’m not capable of protecting her alone then I’m not doing my job as a mother right. I don’t want your help, I don’t want to owe you anything because a saved ass is an indebted ass, honey… and I’m not going to allow any man on this earth to have that kind of power over me again. He stood mute, paralyzed, seeing the determination in the eyes of the woman in front of him. She had all the instinct of a feline about to attack and he could only close his eyes and internally self-flagellate. “I’m not going to sit back,” she warned him. “Then uncross them, but away from me!” she growled and, turning her back on him, she left the cubicle and went to lock herself in the nursery with Adriana. From here she worked, made all the calls and appointments she had to and organised the next plan. She couldn’t resign herself to her fate now that she had lost Baby Storm. There were some athletes who didn’t depend on the seasons, they weren’t as important as Stormhold, but she had to get something at all costs. However, it wasn’t easy, people didn’t like the fact that she was just an apprentice. She was about to tear her hair out when the girl at reception ran in. “They’re looking for you again and now a woman with a very unfriendly face, I think they’re going to hit you, should I call security?” the girl warned her. Andrea hurried to the reception to find herself face to face with Dianne Stormhold and her son. They said little, and less than five minutes later Andrea pushed open the door to Ben’s office without even knocking. —I need… —he gasped, leaning on the frame because he had run halfway up the floor—,“I need… a contract… a representation contract for my client,” she said excitedly and Ben stood up while Zack, who was standing in front of the window, fixed his gaze on her. “Your client? Who?” Ben asked, bewildered. Andrea walked over to her mural, took that last photo and put it on her desk. “I got Baby Storm,” she said. She’s in one of the meeting rooms, I need a contract… Now, Ben! Now!” she exclaimed excitedly and Ben turned her around the desk to hug her. “I can’t believe it! Congratulations!” she said. “This is… it’s impressive! But come on, come on…! Do I look okay?” Ben’s enthusiasm was overwhelming and Zack quickly figured out who it was. He watched from outside how they met in the meeting room and managed to sign the representation contract with that impossible-to-get player. He felt proud of her, very proud that she had achieved something so exceptional, and his heart sank at the thought that, if it hadn’t been for the shadow of not having Adriana with them, he would have loved to take them to dinner, to celebrate… Meanwhile, Mrs. Stormhold was explaining to Ben why she had finally decided to sign with Nexa Sport Representation. “Because I found an agent that I really feel I can trust,” Dianne said, squeezing Andrea’s hand. The woman had been very touched to know that she had refused to sign with Gideon despite being so needy, so she had decided to give in. “And now what?” the boy asked. “Now you’re going to continue playing, training and enjoying college, while we get good advertising contracts and the best sponsors for you,” Andrea answered. When they said goodbye in the elevator, it was not known who was shouting more, Ben or Andrea, but undoubtedly that was a great achievement. “Do you know how many things we have to do now?” —Ben told him.Mrs. Stormhold was explaining to Ben why she had finally decided to sign with Nexa Sport Representation. “Because I found an agent that I really feel I can trust,” Dianne said, squeezing Andrea’s hand. The woman had been very touched to know that she had refused to sign with Gideon despite being so needy, so she had decided to give in. “And now what?” the boy asked. “Now you are going to continue playing, training and enjoying college, while we get good advertising contracts and the best sponsors for you,” Andrea answered. When they said goodbye in the elevator it was not known who was shouting more, Ben or Andrea, but it was undoubtedly a great achievement. “Do you know how many things we have to do now?” Ben said to her.Mrs. Stormhold was explaining to Ben why she had finally decided to sign with Nexa Sport Representation. “Because I found an agent that I really feel I can trust,” Dianne said, squeezing Andrea’s hand. The woman had been very touched to know that she had refused to sign with Gideon despite being so needy, so she had decided to give in. “And now what?” the boy asked. “Now you are going to continue playing, training and enjoying college, while we get good advertising contracts and the best sponsors for you,” Andrea answered. When they said goodbye in the elevator it was not known who was shouting more, Ben or Andrea, but it was undoubtedly a great achievement. “Do you know how many things we have to do now?” Ben said to her.Dates, meetings, proposals, advertising evaluations… Baby Stormhold can become the face of many brands and we have to take it there! Andrea was on cloud nine. Her first contract! It was like a promise of hope, because she also knew that the bonus for getting someone like Gideon would not be small. However, as life seemed ready to hit her every time she got up, they had not even finished celebrating when the door opened and Mason walked in followed by two people Andrea did not know. “What are you doing here?” Andrea hissed under her breath so as not to make a scene. “I came to file a complaint, because I do not believe that my daughter is safe in this place,” Mason spat with a defiant look and then his eyes went to Zack, who was approaching at that moment. “Since your boss took the trouble to threaten me this morning, I took it upon myself to bring two social workers to evaluate the daycare where my daughter stays during the day.” Andrea looked at Zack for a second but he only had his teeth clenched and the muscles in his arms in deep tension, without moving a single muscle. She didn’t need much imagination to guess that those two had had a run-in and Mason was taking advantage of that to corner her even more. She didn’t have to be very smart to imagine that those social workers already came with their pockets paid, because in less than twenty minutes they declared the daycare UNFIT and allowed Mason to take the baby. Seconds later Ben pushed them both towards the main office, where Andrea closed her eyes trying not to cry and Zack hit the wall in frustration. “I didn’t threaten him!” she growled helplessly. “That idiot doesn’t know what a threat is! But I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t have put Adriana at risk like that, you have to believe me!” she pleaded looking at Andrea and she nodded. “He’s not doing it for you,” Andrea murmured and Zack understood. —If Adriana can’t come to the daycare then you’ll have to go to her house… that’s where she wants you. Andrea didn’t bother to nod or shake her head but that was exactly how it was. However, before any of them could say another word, Zack picked up the phone and gave an order to his secretary: —Get me Mr. Gazca. —Ben and Andrea looked at him with questioning eyes and he shrugged. I’m not going to allow them to close my daycare. That asshole just revealed his biggest weakness and I’m more than ready to take advantage of it. He hadn’t taken long to react. Mason had acted immediately and that only meant one thing: he was afraid of him. “And he better be afraid of me,” he thought as they put him through to the lawyer. “This bastard is going to learn that I’m the one who’s got it in me, by hook or by crook.”