Act One Scene One.
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The rising sun cast a rosy hue across the morning sky, and the lights of dawn seeped into Mateo's room gently waking him up.
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The sun pours through my window.
Another day had dawned, bringing with it new hopes and aspirations.
Time to leave the bed.
~Mateo
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While Mateo walks into the bathroom to freshen up there is a babel of voices downstairs.
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Ruth!
When I said that I love my coffee with no sugar, no cream, and no sweetener I meant it. Now why would she serve me this?
~Teresa
I tried explaining this to Lady Esmerald but she refused to listen to me, my lady.
~Ruth
I do not know how long I can tolerate her mulish attitude.
She continues to defy every single rule I set in this house and my son blames it on pregnancy hormones.
~Teresa
I beg you to simmer down my lady,
I will talk to her. Please!
~Ruth
Oh! Please!
Like she ever listens to anyone?
She is intractable just like her father, still wondering why Mateo decided to...
~Teresa
Why did Mateo decide to...what?
Peaceful morning to you Mom, I'm sure you had a great night.
~Mateo
You are awake already, son.
~Teresa
I mean who wouldn't with all this commotion?
Take the coffee away and get her exactly what she likes, Ruth.
~Mateo
Will do just so sir.
~Ruth
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Ruth exits the space while Mateo proceeds to have Teresa in a thought-provoking private conversation.
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Mom, I noticed you do not speak very good about my wife.
She is your daughter-in-law and she is also carrying your grandchild.
~Mateo
I care a lot about my grandson
~Teresa
And my wife?
She is a good woman, mom.
~Mateo
I have got eyes, son, hence I am in a good position to make that conclusion myself.
~Teresa
Please, Mom.
I did not mean it in that manner,
all I am saying is Esmerald is a good woman and you need to accept her.
~Teresa
I never said otherwise.
Look! Son, I am only concerned about you and the future of the ROD company.
There are so many good women out there but noble men like you do not go for them, they go for the heiress.
~Teresa
Ha-ha-ha!
I get it Mom, but Esmerald is the daughter of famous five-star captain general Fernando Reyes and Hannah Reyes a chief justice.
~Mateo
So?
When the ROD company is in a deep crime mess and military backing we will speak of her, but now she is beside the point.
~Teresa
Now what are you saying to me mom, I am doing my very best to make sure that ROD does not get swindled off that contract.
~Mateo
You are struggling son,
that is what I am saying to you.
If you do not take your chances you will fall into your rival's trap.
~Teresa
How so Mom?
What else am I supposed to do here?
The contractee middleman man Mr Richards is being very obdurate.
~Mateo
I'm not speaking of Richards here.
You see when I met your late father, the ROD company was just an infant company.
After my marriage to him, I watched the company widen and grow to become one of the best automobile companies in the country and the world at large.
Your father put in so much work to achieve this.
~Teresa
You are right Mom.
Father was a great man, a master genius in the business world.
Isn't that why he is being respected all over the world?
I doubt I could ever be half the man he was.
~Mateo
Are you done?
Like ị was saying, he built his company in wile and artifice.
He was very strategic.
Every single contract he won was majorly credited to women, these women were either daughters or owners of the company awarding the contract.
~Teresa
Wow!!
Intriguing! Tell me more Mom.
~Mateo
He was a badass in the business.
What was lacking? Absolutely nothing.
He had the good looks, always Ă la mode and the money was always enough just in case the damsels needed to be indulged.
You see I could not resist your late father, none of these women could resist your late father and these were his muzzles.
~Teresa
But... Hold on!
Do you mean fathers would use women to secure contracts?
Was he not supposed to be your husband? How did you cope with this?
~Mateo
There was nothing to cope with.
He had one explanation to give every time
"I'm doing it you and the children ", and he was right.
Look at you, today you are wealthy and famous all thanks to your father.
~Teresa
I understand Mom but you are a different woman,
Emerald would never let me do these no matter the amount at stake.
~Mateo
And who said that your father told me about his affairs with other women?
Listen!
Great men do not go about singing.
If you want to be as powerful as your late father then you would have to be a busier just as your late father.
~Teresa
But I love Esmeralda and I know doing what Father did would shatter her heart.
~Mateo
You do not love your wife as much as your father loved me, yet he was a desperado for more wealth and power.
The desire to see his son retain that same respect, wealth, and power in the world stole his loyalty to me as a husband.
You have a choice to let your sons speak of you in the same manner you speak of your late father.
Or you can choose to carry on with your Romeo and Julieta replication.
Remember,
To be a Gorilla in the business world you need to act like one.
~Teresa
Mmmm....
~Mateo
If you don't mind I would love to retire in my room now, tell Ruth to bring my breakfast over to my room.
I want some lonely time.
~Teresa
I will Mom,
see you later then.
~Teresa
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Both Teresa and Mateo leave the space.
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Teresa Rodriguez
Wife to the late Andrew Rodriguez and mother to Mateo Rodriguez, Maria Rodriguez, and Lopez Rodriguez, Teresa is a strong-willed and intuitive woman.
Her brilliance earned her the position of head of ROD while her husband was still alive, she resigned after his death.
Act One Scene Two.
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Mateo is having breakfast with his wife Esmeralda.
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So what exactly is the issue?
Don't you enjoy the taste, sight, or smell of the food?
~Esmerald
Pardon me!
I have a loss of appetite.
~Mateo
I already saw that and am simply asking why.
Last night you came back from the office dejected and this morning you have a loss of appetite.
What is it that I need to know?
~Esmerald
It is just a mere fatigue from work, I just need some rest and I will be fine.
~Mateo
That is it? A mere fatigue?
That is all I get to know because I am not your mom.
~Esmerald
Now you need to stop.
Talking about my mom I heard what you did earlier on.
Why would you serve her sweetened coffee? As I already specifically told you her taste.
~Mateo
It is not my fault that your mom is unappreciative,
What is wrong with me trying to sweeten her lemon life a bit?
~Esmerald
Enough!! Esmerald!
What I will not tolerate is your rudeness towards my mom.
Never!
~Mateo
Oh! Good then.
You get your mom a different house, is it not obvious that we both can not cohabitate?
~Teresa
Now you listen,
I will take exception to your situation and repeat myself for the last time.
This mansion Casa Bonita belongs to my mom
and no one not even you can detect if she gets to stay or leave.
EstĂşpida! "Stupid"
~Mateo
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Mateo angrily walks out of Emerald.
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