Clara stepped aside to look at him.
—Are you sure he can’t claim the house?
Mateo frowned.
—The house is mine.
—But you said it was in the name of a company.
—A company that I control.
The confidence in his voice did not reassure Clara.
—What if she tries to sue you?
Mateo placed the cup on the marble table.
—My mother took care of reviewing the documents. Elena has never worried about those things. She always believed she could resolve everything with money and good manners.
From the dining room, Margarita appeared with a leather folder under her arm.
“Stop talking as if Elena were a threat,” he said. “The woman left with a suitcase and a handful of bills. That should tell you everything you need to know.”
Clara smiled.
—And the sales documents?
Margarita placed the folder on the table.
“The agent wants the final copies tomorrow. After that, we’ll just have to wait for the buyer.”
Mateo looked at the folder.
—Is the transfer ready?
—Almost. We just need you to confirm the representation agreement.
Margarita opened the document and pointed to a line.
—Sign here.
Mateo picked up the pen, but stopped when he read the heading.
—Why does Elena’s company name appear?
Margarita’s smile disappeared for a fraction of a second.
—It’s a formality. The agent needs to confirm the chain of ownership.
—And why do you say that the operation is subject to the authorization of the main creditor?
Margarita closed the folder too quickly.
—Mateo, please. Don’t turn every piece of paper into a problem.
Clara crossed her arms.
—Your mother has been helping you for weeks. If you don’t trust her, who are you going to trust?
Mateo looked at Clara and then at his mother.
He finally signed.
Margarita picked up the document immediately.
—Excellent. Now we can move forward.
But Matthew had seen something he couldn’t ignore.
On the last page was a reference to a loan he had supposedly received years earlier to finance the purchase of shares in his own company.
The contract number seemed familiar to him.
Too familiar.
“Mom,” she said, “what is this loan?”
Margarita put the papers away.
—An old issue. It’s already been resolved.
—Why does it have my signature?
—Because you signed it.
—I don’t remember asking for that money.
Margarita’s expression hardened.
—You were going through a difficult time. There were a lot of documents, and I helped you organize your finances. Are you really going to question me now?
Clara took Mateo’s hand.
—Love, don’t ruin our first night together by talking about Elena.
That phrase seemed to bring him back to his euphoria.
Mateo smiled and put his arm around Clara’s waist.
-You’re right.
But, while she was kissing him, he looked back at the folder.
For the first time in years, she had the feeling that there was something important she couldn’t remember.
At the hotel, Elena was sitting across from Daniel when a second message arrived.
Look for contract 18-B. Date: June 4th, six years ago.
Elena opened her computer.
“Do we have access to the historical archives of Mateo’s company?” he asked.
Daniel nodded.
—Those that were handed over during the audit and those that were legally provided by the administrators. Why?
She turned the screen towards him.
—Because someone wants us to find something.
Daniel examined the message.
—We cannot assume that the sender is telling the truth.
—I’m not assuming it. I’m verifying it.
He typed the contract number into the digital file. The search took a few seconds.
Then a scanned document appeared.
*Financing Agreement 18-B.*
Elena opened the file.
The first page listed a financial company she didn’t recognize. The second, Mateo’s name. The third, a guarantee backed by shares in her company.
Daniel leaned towards the screen.
—This is interesting.
Elena expanded the signature section.
—I don’t understand. Why are Mateo’s shares linked to a loan from a company that no longer exists?
Daniel reviewed the attachments.
—The financial company was liquidated four years ago. But the contract states that the debt and security rights were transferred to another entity before the liquidation.
—Which one?
Daniel turned to the last page.
Her face changed.
—E.V. Holdings.
Elena remained motionless.
—My company.
-Yeah.
—I never bought that debt.
Daniel checked the dates again.
—Perhaps it was acquired by one of the company’s authorized administrators. We need the complete file and transfer documentation to find out how it happened.
Elena put a hand to her forehead.
Six years ago, Mateo had almost lost his company. She remembered offering him help, but he insisted he would solve his problems with a private loan. After that, his business recovered and began to grow at an extraordinary rate.
Mateo had always attributed his success to a brilliant investment.
