Chapter 12 - the boardroom without mercy
The emergency board meeting began at nine the following morning.
Twelve directors sat around a glass table overlooking the city. Financial reports showed falling shares, frozen credit, and threatened lawsuits.
At the head of the table sat Arturo Salcedo, the company’s oldest director.
“Your personal decisions have placed Alvarado Industries at risk,” he said.
“My personal decisions exposed fraud committed against this company,” Diego replied.
“You cancelled a critical merger without consultation.”
“The merger was designed to conceal theft.”
“That remains an allegation.”
Gabriel placed copies of the ledger and Elena’s recordings in front of each director.
“It is now part of a federal investigation.”
Several directors avoided Diego’s eyes.
Three had approved transactions connected to Sebastián.
Arturo pushed the evidence aside.
“Even if de la Vega committed fraud, your handling of the matter was reckless. You brought an unknown woman and child into the mansion, allowed private allegations to reach the media, and caused lenders to question leadership stability.”
“Marisol is not unknown.”
“To the company, she is.”
“She managed the foundation’s compliance office.”
“She resigned under suspicion.”
“The resignation was forged.”
Arturo looked around the table.
“I propose an immediate vote to suspend Diego Alvarado as chief executive.”
A hand rose.
Then another.
Diego remained still.
He had spent his entire adult life protecting the company. Now its directors were willing to protect fraud rather than admit they had ignored Elena.
Before the final vote, the boardroom doors opened.
Marisol entered carrying a blue folder.
Diego stood.
“You should not be here.”
“I know.”
She placed the folder on the table.
Arturo frowned.
“This meeting is private.”
Marisol looked directly at him.
“Then perhaps you should explain why your signature appears on the false guardianship petition for my daughter.”
The room erupted.
Arturo stared at the document.
“That is fabricated.”
“Judge Méndez authenticated it this morning.”
Gabriel took the folder and examined the seal.
The petition identified Arturo as the corporate witness supporting the claim that Marisol had abandoned Valentina.
“You knew about her,” Diego said.
Arturo’s face became red.
“I signed documents presented by the family office.”
“Whose family office?”
“De la Vega’s.”
“You tried to remove me while hiding your own involvement.”
Arturo stood.
“I had no knowledge of the child’s identity.”
Marisol removed another page.
“This email says otherwise.”
The email was sent from Arturo to Sebastián three years earlier.
If the girl is confirmed as Diego’s, the trust becomes impossible to restructure. Complete the guardianship before Elena reaches the court.
Two directors immediately withdrew their support for suspension.
Gabriel called the federal investigators waiting downstairs.
Arturo was escorted from the room.
The remaining directors sat in stunned silence.
Diego looked at Marisol.
“Where did you get the folder?”
“It was inside Valentina’s handbag.”
“The burned handbag?”
She nodded.
“Elena sewed a document pocket beneath the lining. The fire loosened the thread.”
Diego almost laughed.
Even after death, Elena had anticipated every hiding place.
The board voted again.
This time, Diego remained chief executive by a wide majority. The directors also authorized a full independent audit and suspended every executive connected to de la Vega.
The decision stabilized the company’s shares.
It did not solve the credit crisis.
Diego announced that he would sell his private properties before allowing employees to lose their jobs.
After the meeting, Marisol waited near the elevators.
“You did not have to come,” he said.
“You were going to protect Valentina by keeping her out of the room.”
“Yes.”
“I protected her by entering it.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
“Elena was right. I should not decide what protection looks like for you.”
“No. You should ask.”
“Then I am asking. What do you need from me?”
Marisol considered her answer.
“Time.”
“You have it.”
“Truth.”
“I will not hide anything.”
“And a home that does not belong to Paulina, Sebastián, the board, or the Alvarado name.”
Diego nodded.
“I can give you that.”
“I do not want you to buy it.”
“Then we will find another way.”
The elevator arrived.
Before entering, Marisol touched his hand.
It was the first time she had reached for him since returning.
The doors closed between them.
Diego’s phone rang.
It was the forensic analyst examining Paulina’s messages.
“We identified the person listed as N.”
Diego looked at the photograph of Nicolás beside Elena.
“My brother?”
“No. The account belongs to a woman.”
May you like
“What woman?”
“Lucía Herrera.”
