#hell did break loose at inesita's--like that needs to be stated

[ladysophiebeckett]

So, do you think Catalina suspected something was going on with Betty and Armando before she saw them kissing? I just remember that Betty told her she didn’t want Armando to see she was crying, that she didn’t want to return to the office, didn’t want to be there for his wedding (might be wrong about this one but this is what I recall), that her personal and work life were one and the same. Also, she knew she was having a hard time over a man. It all sounds very suspicious and we, as the audience, already knew what was happening, but I realize that from Cata’s pov it could be a different story considering that she also thought Nicolas was Betty’s boyfriend. So maybe she saw Armando was a crappy boss who had Betty in charge of everything, but there was nothing more to it? Your ysblf analysis is always so spot on, I love it ♥️ thank you.

I think for a long time Catalina saw Betty as someone who's labor was being exploited. She's the only one outside of ecomoda to chastise Armando and Mario about her office\working conditions. And the only one in the meetings to say 'hey, if you need her for all these decisions then shouldn't she be in the room?'.

She, like everyone outside of ecomoda, saw how important she was to Armando in regards to work. She's a prime witness to a majority of the decisions that he delegates to Betty. At least 3 scenes exist where Catalina asks Armando something and he, as Betty's secret glorified secretary, sends her to Betty bc she knows the information where as he does not.

However, unlike everyone outside of ecomoda suspecting about the B x A affair, I don't think Catalina suspected because she was too close to the situation. She, like everyone else, thought Nicolas was her boyfriend because that is what she was told.

Betty's behavior clicks for Catalina once she sees the kiss. When Betty seeks her out, Catalina immediately says 'I didn't see a thing'. She's not judgemental about it, she understands why Betty wants to leave. She also immediately knows that Nicolas isn't her boyfriend, only a friend. From that scene on however, all Catalina really knows is that Betty is in a difficult situation with her boss that is way past a working relationship. She doesn't know the hows or the whys until Cartagena. Regardless of not having the full story, Catalina still takes it upon herself to help Betty in any way she can.

It's important to note that Catalina doesn't treat Armando any differently post the kissing she saw. She quietly judges his drinking but says nothing past that. She doesn't quite know his side of it, but just like Betty's previous behavior clicked when she caught them--Armando's behavior also must have clicked. Catalina doesn't know about the plan, but he is Betty's boss and at at glance it wouldn't take a lot to piece together that said boss crossed boundaries with said employee. She's also seen for almost a whole year how much Armando depends on Betty and how that working relationship could have turned into something else.

Despite that, she's still aware there's a power imbalance and takes Betty's side over any faux friendship she may have with the Valancia's and Mendoza's.

I don't think Catalina thought Armando was just a crappy boss because she saw that he saw how smart and capable Betty was. She saw how much he depended on her. She also saw how inattentive he was to planning his wedding to Marcela--'One would say it looks like she's getting married alone', she says at some point. She knew Betty and Armando were close, but didn't know how close.

When she saw them kissing, she was quietly surprised, not because Armando was kissing Betty, but because Betty was caught up in something that no one at ecomoda would imagine her getting caught up in. Betty goes after to her to explain because she feels ashamed and embarrassed, especially because she knows how highly Catalina thought of her and fears she's lost her respect. Betty greatly admires Catalina and appreciates her kindness, and Betty's afraid that she's lost that too.

Betty is always aware that she's 'the other woman' and despite her looks she always knew what her constant closeness to Armando would look like to others. (See: Picasso Exhibit scenes). So getting caught in her office was one of Betty's biggest fears come true and it wasn't even her fault. It was because Armando could never control himself. Whether he was angry or anxious.

In conclusion, I don't personally think Catalina knew or suspected but everything about Betty and Armando made sense after she caught them. And they're incredibly lucky that it was her and not anyone else because if it had been anyone else, all hell would have broken loose that night.