CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN

UP IN ARMS

Clara was trembling. She looked at Dalia in disbelief.

"He fired Savio?" she repeated the question.

"Yes, I was telling Lipe. Can you believe he came here this morning, went to the backyard where the men and I were having coffee, and fired Savio out of the blue? Sit down, my dear, I'll make some coffee. The water must be drying up."

Clara was still trembling with anger. How could Otavio be so childish? She was already planning what she would say to him. She waited for Dalia to make the coffee and drank it while her friend and Lipe speculated about what could have motivated him to do such a thing.

"After I manage to talk to him, I'll ask the guy to come back. The construction work has been stalled without him, and it's not just that, but it was such an unpleasant thing, you know, I didn't know where to hide my face. Everyone was looking at me without understanding. Only Savio seemed to understand, but he didn't want to tell me anything and left," Dalia recounted.

"Don't worr