Valentina listens at the corner of the stairs until she can't stand to hear Andres talk about Victoria anymore and goes to her room. Esteban relates Alfredo San Roman's strong moral character and his adoration of his daughter and how Victoria was just decimated when he died in the accident. All the more reason not to fire her, Andres thinks. As a matter of fact, he'd like to make up to her for all this baloney she's gone through. She's turned out to be a very valuable employee, and he suggests they offer her a nicer position in one of the company's stores around the country -- away from the capital. Esteban agrees.
Chaquira is in her apartment doing her nails and giving an anxious Beatriz advice about Toni. She's posing to Beatriz that perhaps Toni's not got anything against her, but has something else going on in his life, something he's not talking about. Beatriz assumes she means another woman and gets upset right away. But she doesn't mean another woman. Chaquira and Toni both work in a cabaret, and Chaquira wants to explain that the world of "night people" is shadowy and not as clear as things are in the daytime. Beatriz does not get it. Later, back in the nurse's apartment, Beatriz is moping, and the nurse pulls out the tarot cards to try to help. What she reads surprises and concerns her: real danger for Toni!
Up in her room sitting on her bed, Valentina looks stunned and wrung out. She remembers Andres saying he wasn't going to get rid of Victoria, and the thought makes her whimper. The phone rings, and she sluggishly answers it. It's Jose Joaquin and when he offers to come over the next day and visit her, she latches onto this suggestion. She needs company to take her mind off her plaguing thoughts.
At the fire station, Samuel's razzing Benny about needing a haircut. Luis looks tired and down and tells Benny he wishes he could talk to somebody who doesn't know anything about his problems. His house is so empty when he goes home; it seems like Maru's gone forever. Benny keeps insisting he should go to Queretaro and get her. Back at Julia's, she and Lolita are munching on pastries, and Lolita is yelling they're going to be late for work when Victoria comes in with a letter in her hand. It's for Luis, she says, to tell him how much she missed seeing him last night and loves him and hopes things with Maru can get cleared up. The other two ooh and ahh about the romance of a love letter, which Victoria's going to slip under Luis's door. They laugh at Lolita's declaration she's never had a love letter, and I am just wishing that she and Benny could meet. They'd make a cute couple. Anyway, Victoria's getting seriously upset about how Maru's absence is affecting Luis.
Up in Queretaro, surprisingly, Mauricio is entering the conference room of Sergio's uncle's offices for a meeting Sergio arranged. Sergio makes small talk about the business complex, his girlfriend's house that they tore down, and offers their services; but Mauricio claims their own legal department can handle everything. Sergio gets around to asking, by the way, who is the owner of the property? Mauricio says he doesn't know and that he's just an ordinary salaried Joe doing a job for them. They rise to part, and as they were leaving I noticed a framed print of one of the well-known stylized Indian women by Navajo artist R. C. Gorman on the wall. Later on, Esteban is home (it must be a penthouse or something similar, because the elevator opens into his foyer), and he takes a call from Mauricio, who mentions Sergio's question. Esteban reminds Mauricio that he doesn't know who the owners are and that he just works for them, too. Don't foster any connection with Sergio, because he could be trouble, and again, be sure you don't mention MY name in connection with the business complex!
(Of all the homes in this show, I admire Esteban's the most. The green and rust is beautiful to me. The furnishings are sleek and sophisticated, and I love the Prairie-style dining table; but I had to laugh when I really looked at the decor, because they have put "columnar" suggestions (ahem) all over it! There are quite a few fake saguaro cacti and also at least one pair of 4-foot tall candlesticks sitting on the floor. This is really a good joke on Esteban. The set decorators have a mean sense of humor.)
Joaquin waits at the breakfast table on the Rivera lawn, watching Valentina approach. She wants some advice on what to do about her exploded marriage. He says maybe she should fight fire with fire (meaning himself), and she thinks this is no help at all. Look, I'm very much in love with my husband. I really need you as a friend -- only a friend -- right now. But he does give her an idea, and she blows him off none too subtley with a headache excuse, and he grumbles as he leaves. One of these days he's going to get mad at her doing that to him. Valentina runs right in and calls Sandra to invite her to come over. When she gets there, Valentina is all excited to tell her what she has in mind: she wants to change, and she's going to have plastic surgery. Ok, so that's what the mirror scene yesterday was about. I thought so, but wasn't sure. Valentina wants to look younger. Sandra volunteers to go with her, which pleases Valentina, but not without a dig first about leaving Andres alone while she's gone. Sandra takes every opportunity. At the dinner table later on, Valentina shows Andres an envelope containing an airline ticket to Brazil. She only tells him she needs to recuperate (not about the surgery), and he's regretful it's because of him; but if she's determined, he'll take her to the airport.
Luis lies on the sofa in his apartment, reading the letter Victoria slipped under the door. She misses seeing him so much (he goes in early, stays late because he doesn't want to go home), adores him and is so sad about the situation with Maru. He starts crying when she gets to the part where she reminds him, though, that she'd truly die without him. She signs it with love, and he puts the letter to his lips and kisses it. (I don't know how many times I rewound that scene! Boo hoo. And lovely closeups of Ernesto.)
In Esteban's office, Victoria can barely believe her ears when he relays Andres's suggestion about her getting a nicer job with the company somewhere else in the country. I don't want to leave my boyfriend! He needs me now, and I want to be there for him! He's a widower with a little girl, and -- she refuses to accept me. Esteban points out that this situation is just one more reason to take Andres's suggestion. Later on Andres himself comes in and talks to her about it, but puts it as though it would be good for her -- and the company, since she is such a valued employee. This angle starts to hook Victoria some, and she surprises Andres by assuring him that if he needs her to do it, she would. But then Victoria is a person who's always ready to help. Finally, talking to Maricarmen (who's against the idea), Victoria decides she has to leave so that Maru will come back. Maricarmen is sure Luis will think she doesn't care about him! But it's just the opposite.
Chiripas and Andres are in a restaurant (with an American "Highway 90" sign nailed up on the post next to them), having lunch and talking. Chiripas is suspicious of why Andres wants to send Victoria away from the capital, but Andres admits that it's because he's going to try to forget her. It's going to tear his heart out.
In a really obnoxious scene, that disgusting Roberto is on the phone to yet another girlfriend, Leonora. (He's going to need a secretary just for his date scheduling.) He hangs up and calls in Alma's father into his office, who is fooling around with some chick in the main room. The dad is so obsequious and agreeable to everything Roberto wants, including giving Alma a gift to mark their one-month anniversary. Later that evening, Roberto is being wined and dined by the fawning parents of another pobrecita named Nena, who thinks she's going to be marrying a real catch pretty soon. YUCK. When Roberto talks, it sounds like his false teeth are slipping. Back at the beauty shop, Alma is getting a new haircut, and she looks wonderful. (That actress is really pumped up -- ever noticed her arms?) Plus she's happy for once, because she's been able to put her feelings for Luis behind her, thanks to Roberto. She thinks well of him, and is really excited, believing they're going to be married before too long! Gawd, I don't understand what that Robert's game is. It's a bad one, though, whatever it is. There was one funny moment when Roberto fervently wishes Nena happiness "in body and soul" (Alma), and he had to stop for a double-take at himself. He was in the middle of leaving Nena's house early for his one-month anniversary date with Alma. HA!
Rufino catches Julia outside the apartment complex and helps her with her bag. She invites him in for a nice fruit drink, and he's pleased. Once inside, he has a proposition for her. He'd like to get her to help him with his business. She hasn't answered him yet.
In the fire station yard, it's exercise time, and the troops are dropping for 50 (pushups), and they look very nice indeed. Back up in formation, now it's Luis giving Benny garbage about a haircut, and we learn that Samuel is inviting them both over for dinner to meet his family. Luis is to bring Victoria, but Benny declares emphatically, like usual, he's coming alone! (Now, in my novela experience, when there's a confirmed heterosexual bachelor character, that is like waving a red flag at the bull. Chances of hitching up him and Lolita just improved about 75%, in my opinion.) Later that evening, we see Luis and Victoria and Benny leaving Samuel's after having a wonderful time at dinner. His wife is a good cook. Benny moans about Sammy's kids being little juvenile delinquents, but this makes Luis sad and he defends the kids. Victoria notices he's sad and gives him a hug. They all say a friendly goodnight and go their ways.
And finally, Luis and Victoria are at a restaurant later, I think, having a dessert and coffee. She breaks it to him that, it's going to mean a terrible sacrifice for her, but she's leaving so Maru will come back. She's accepting a transfer at work. He pleads with her not to go. Looking her in the eyes, he earnestly murmurs, If you go -- it's forever! What can he mean by that?!? Find out tomorrow. Don't forget your VCR.