Chapter 2 - The Name They Never Asked About
The Mendoza estate stood beyond a private road surrounded by tall trees.
Sofia had not returned there in years.
Elena's security team opened the gates before the SUV reached them.
Inside, everything was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elena led Sofia into a private office.
A fire burned behind a glass screen.
“Sit.”
Sofia did.
Elena remained standing.
“Tell me what happened.”
Sofia looked at the floor.
“They told me to leave.”
“Why?”
“They said I embarrassed the family.”
Elena's expression tightened.
“How?”
Sofia hesitated.
“Because Javier changed his mind about the company merger.”
Elena's eyes narrowed.
“Explain.”
“Javier blamed me for the failure.”
“Did you cause it?”
“No.”
“Then why did you accept the blame?”
Sofia looked up.
“Because I knew who actually caused it.”
Elena went still.
“Who?”
Sofia opened her bag.
She removed a small envelope.
She placed it on the desk.
“Elena, I didn't come here because they abandoned me.”
Elena looked at the envelope.
“I came here because they were about to destroy something they don't even know they own.”
Elena opened it.
Inside were copies of financial records.
Bank transfers.
Property agreements.
Private correspondence.
And one document that made Elena stop breathing.
The signature belonged to Sofia.
Elena stared at it.
“You signed this?”
“Four years ago.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I wasn't supposed to know what it meant.”
Elena looked up.
“Who gave it to you?”
Sofia's answer came quietly.
“Your father.”
Elena's face changed.
Her father had been dead for eleven years.
“He was gone when you were nineteen.”
“I know.”
“What did he tell you?”
Sofia looked toward the fire.
“He said the Alcantara family would eventually come for the Mendoza assets.”
Elena's fingers tightened around the paper.
“He said you would need to decide whether you wanted revenge…”
Sofia paused.
“…or control.”
Elena stared at her.
“And what did you choose?”
Sofia gave a tired smile.
“Neither.”
“What did you choose?”
“To wait.”
Elena sat down.
For the first time that evening, she looked genuinely frightened.
“What were you waiting for?”
Sofia's phone vibrated.
She checked the message.
Unknown number.
The text contained only six words.
They know about the second account.
Sofia's face went pale.
Elena noticed.
“What second account?”
May you like
Sofia slowly locked her phone.
“I was hoping you wouldn't have to find out tonight.”
