Chapter 5: The Night Santiago Nearly Broke
At eight that evening, the board meeting began by video call.
Helena placed Santiago’s laptop on the dining table while my mother held me nearby.
Board chairman Rafael Mendoza appeared on-screen.
“Santiago, your system credentials accessed restricted trust records.”
“They were copied.”
“The messages appear to show you planned to change Valentina’s inheritance.”
“They are false.”
Victor joined from another window.
“My daughter believed she was following Santiago’s instructions.”
Santiago struck the table with his palm.
I screamed and buried my face against my mother.
Every voice stopped.
“Santi loud,” I cried.
He pulled his hand away as if the table had burned him.
“Vale, I’m sorry.”
Rafael cleared his throat.
“Pending a forensic review, Santiago is suspended as chief operating officer.”
Victor smiled.
“The contracts remain active if the board appoints my representative to oversee operations.”
“You created the crisis and brought the cure,” Ernesto said.
“I’m protecting twelve hundred jobs.”
The vote appeared on-screen: five in favor, four against.
Santiago closed the laptop.
The screen went dark with Victor still smiling.
My mother carried me upstairs, but I cried whenever Santiago approached.
At the bedroom door, he finally stopped trying.
“She’s afraid of me now,” he said.
“She’s afraid of loud voices,” my mother replied.
“I left her alone with Fernanda.”
“You stepped into your office for five minutes.”
“And that was enough.”
My mother placed me on the bed.
“Tell him what you need, Vale.”
I clutched my pink dolphin drawing.
“No shouting.”
Santiago sank to his knees.
“No shouting.
I promise.”
“You come back?”
His face folded.
He covered his mouth, but the tears came anyway.
“I should never have left you.”
I reached toward him.
“But you came back.”
My mother put my hand in his.
“She needs her brother, Santiago.
Not a man punishing himself.”
He pressed my fingers to his cheek.
“I’m here, Vale.”
A knock sounded downstairs.
Ramiro’s voice came through the hall.
“Ms.
Ward is back.
She brought someone.”
In the living room stood Elena Cruz, Victor’s executive assistant of eleven years.
She held a small metal lockbox against her chest.
Victor had once accused Elena’s brother of stealing from a warehouse.
Santiago had reviewed the records and cleared his name, but Elena had never spoken to our family.
“Why are you here?” Helena asked.
“Because Victor told me to erase Fernanda’s appointment calendar.”
Elena set the box down.
Her hands were trembling.
“Did you erase it?” Santiago asked.
“No.
I copied it.”
She opened the box and removed a flash drive, printed emails, and a hotel receipt.
“Fernanda met with your network administrator four times,” Elena said.
“Victor paid him through a consulting company registered to my name.”
“Your name?” my father asked.
“He planned to blame me if anyone found it.”
Helena picked up the receipt.
“Why help us?”
Elena looked at me.
“Because I watched Victor ruin adults who could defend themselves.
I will not help him do it to a little girl.”
Santiago opened the calendar.
One appointment was marked: TRUST AMENDMENT—FINAL SIGNATURE NIGHT.
“That was supposed to be tonight,” Elena said.
“Where?” Ernesto asked.
“At your private bank.”
Helena checked the time.
“The trust’s original copy is kept there.”
Elena’s phone buzzed.
A message from Victor appeared:
May you like
THEY TOOK THE BAIT.
BRING ME THE ORIGINAL BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
