Chapter 6: The Woman Victor Underestimated
Helena photographed Victor’s message.
“Reply that you have it,” she said.
Elena stepped back.
“If he sees me, he’ll know.”
“He already plans to blame you,” Santiago said.
“But you do not have to face him alone.”
Elena looked toward the stairs.
“Will Valentina be safe?”
My mother answered from the doorway.
“She stays with me.”
“I stay with Santi,” I said.
Santiago crouched.
“Not tonight, Vale.”
My lower lip shook.
“You come back?”
He held up his little finger.
“I come back.”
I wrapped my finger around his.
“Promise.”
“Promise.”
At the bank, Helena arranged for the manager to move the original trust into a secure room.
A harmless copy waited inside its old box, while Ramiro placed a camera above the vault corridor.
Victor arrived at 11:35 with Fernanda and the network administrator, Calvin Price.
Fernanda stopped when she saw Santiago.
“You’re suspended.”
“From the company, not from my family.”
Victor turned on Elena.
“What did you do?”
Elena held up her phone.
“I kept the records you ordered me to erase.”
“You signed those consulting payments.”
“Because you told me they were shipping audits.”
Victor softened his voice.
“Elena, give me the drive.
I’ll make certain your brother keeps his job.”
“He has a job because Santiago proved you lied about him.”
Fernanda stepped toward Santiago.
“We can still fix this.”
“You frightened my sister.”
“I panicked.
I was under pressure from my father.”
Victor’s head snapped toward her.
“Careful.”
She ignored him.
“Marry me, sign the amendment, and I’ll tell the board the messages were misunderstood.”
“You’re offering to clear me of lies you created.”
“I’m offering you your career back.”
Santiago shook his head.
“Valentina’s trust is not mine to trade.”
Fernanda’s eyes hardened.
“Then I’ll say you told me to discipline her.”
The corridor went silent.
“You would lie about hurting a three-year-old?” Helena asked.
“I’ll say Santiago knew she wasn’t safe with me and left her anyway.”
Santiago moved closer.
“The camera recorded every second.”
“Cameras can disappear.”
Calvin suddenly grabbed the flash drive from Elena.
He rushed toward a metal disposal slot, but Ramiro caught his wrist.
“Let go!” Calvin shouted.
The drive fell and slid across the floor.
Helena placed her shoe over it.
Victor backed toward the vault box.
“This meeting is over.”
The bank manager locked the corridor door.
“No, Mr.
Salazar.
It has only begun.”
Two investigators stepped from the security room.
Fernanda stared at the camera.
“You set us up.”
Helena lifted the copy of the trust.
“We allowed you to show why you came.”
Victor pointed at Elena.
“She planned everything.
She forged the payments and lured us here.”
Elena’s shoulders dropped.
Santiago picked up the flash drive and placed it back in her hand.
“Look at me.
He does not get to make you carry this.”
Elena’s eyes filled.
“I was so afraid nobody would believe me.”
“I do,” Santiago said.
“And so will the records.”
One investigator opened the copy of the trust.
“There is no amendment here.”
Victor smiled again.
“Then you have nothing.”
Ernesto’s voice came through the corridor speaker.
“You still don’t understand Isabella’s legacy, Victor.”
May you like
A secure door opened, and Ernesto walked in carrying a sealed ledger.
“The trust was never the only document protecting Valentina.”
