Chapter 3 - The Fraudulent Heir
By 8:00 AM the following morning, the sun broke through the storm clouds over Monterrey, reflecting off the glass facade of Norte Firme’s headquarters in the financial district.
Inside the executive boardroom on the thirty-fourth floor, Mauricio sat at the head of the polished mahogany table—the seat I had occupied for fifteen years.
He wore a bespoke Italian suit purchased with my corporate credit card. Beside him sat his mother, Elvira, holding her silver-tipped cane like a royal scepter, and Camila, who was quietly checking her diamond watch—the one stolen from my nightstand three weeks ago.
The board members, five senior executives who had helped me build the company from two backhoe loaders to an industrial titan, sat in uneasy silence.
"Where is Renata?" demanded Hector Morales, my chief financial officer and oldest ally. "This emergency meeting was called with less than two hours' notice, Mauricio. You have no legal standing to preside over this board."
Mauricio chuckled, resting his hands flat on the table, displaying the gold ring I had bought him for his birthday.
"Renata has suffered a sudden, tragic medical breakdown, Hector," Mauricio said, his voice dropping into a well-rehearsed tone of solemn concern. "The strain of her... mental deterioration has become too much for her to manage the company. Yesterday evening, she had an outburst at home and left voluntarily."
Elvira nodded dramatically, wiping a non-existent tear from her cheek. "My poor daughter-in-law. Her mind simply snapped under the weight of her barrenness. She signed over full power-of-attorney to my son before she checked herself into a private clinic."
Mauricio slid a thick stack of papers across the table toward Hector. "As her legal guardian and spouse, I am stepping in as interim CEO of Norte Firme, effective immediately. My first order of business will be approving the strategic merger with Grupo Treviño."
Hector froze, his eyes scanning the signature on the last page of the document. "This signature... it looks shaky. Renata would never agree to a merger with Treviño. They’ve been trying to undercut our land concessions in Escobedo for three years!"
"Renata isn't here to make decisions anymore, Morales," Camila interrupted smoothly, crossing her legs, her voice dripping with venomous confidence. "Mauricio is in charge now. And as the mother of his three future heirs, I assure you, Norte Firme’s assets will be far better managed under new leadership."
"Is that so?"
The heavy double doors of the boardroom swung open with a loud, echoic thud that rattled the glass windows.
I stepped into the room.
I was not wearing the torn blouse or bare feet from thirty-six hours ago. I wore a crisp, tailored ivory power suit, my hair pulled back into a tight, flawless bun, four-inch red heels clicking with lethal precision against the marble floor.
Behind me walked Prosecutor Adriana Beltrán, flanked by four uniformed state police officers and Julian Torres carrying a heavy metal briefcase.
Mauricio’s face drained of color so fast he looked as though he had seen a ghost. He pushed his chair back, his hands trembling as he gripped the edge of the table.
"Renata?!" Mauricio gasped, his voice cracking. "How... what are you doing here? You're supposed to be—"
"Dead?" I asked, stepping to the side of the table, looking down at him with an expression of pure, razor-sharp contempt. "Or locked away in an asylum while your mother continues to poison my morning tea?"
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Elvira’s cane clattered to the floor. "You... you crazy girl! What lie are you telling now?!"
"It’s no lie, Elvira," Prosecutor Beltrán announced, stepping forward and placing a federal warrant on the table. "Mauricio Santillana, Elvira Santillana, and Camila Vance—you are under arrest for attempted murder, grand conspiracy, corporate fraud, and unlawful administration of toxic substances."
