Chapter 4 - The Secret SyndicateThe atmosphere on the Cancún terrace evaporated into sharp, dangerous tension.
"That's impossible," Mauricio gasped, grabbing the phone from Valeria’s hand. "That account... that’s the primary reserve vault for Ortega Global’s regional expansion in Guadalajara! How does my mother even know that account number exists?! She doesn't even know how to use online banking properly!"
Valeria pulled out her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard with cold, calculated precision. She breached the company’s internal access logs and pulled up the IP address that had attempted the transfer thirty minutes ago.
The location pinged from a high-end private law firm in the heart of Mexico City’s financial district—Mendoza & Associates.
"Mendoza..." Valeria murmured, her eyes narrowing. "Oscar Mendoza."
Mauricio’s face drained of color. "Oscar Mendoza? My mother’s cousin? The corporate attorney?"
"Not just her cousin," Valeria said, pulling up old legal incorporation documents from five years ago when Ortega Global was first starting out. "When we registered the business, you recommended Mendoza to handle our initial corporate filings because he offered a family discount. I trusted him. I signed the foundational paperwork he prepared."
Valeria brought up a deeply buried sub-folder in the company's legal registry—a folder that had remained untouched for half a decade.
There, buried in the fine print of the original founding articles of Ortega Global Logistics, was an hidden clause.
A clause stating that in the event of a marital separation between Valeria Ortega and Mauricio Salgado, 50% of all corporate assets and cash reserves would automatically transfer to a holding company managed by Beatriz Salgado.
Mauricio stood up so fast his chair nearly tipped over into the pool. "WHAT?! I never signed off on that! Valeria, I swear on my life, I had no idea!"
"I know you didn't, Mauricio," Valeria said softly, looking up at him. "You were just an ambitious finance graduate back then. You didn't read the 200 pages of legal annexes Oscar Mendoza drafted. But Beatriz did. She orchestrated this from day one."
It all made sense now.
Beatriz hadn't just been an arrogant, status-obsessed bully. She was a parasite who had set a massive legal trap years ago, waiting for the right moment to trigger it.
Her cruelty toward Valeria’s parents in Valle de Bravo wasn't just random arrogance—it was an attempt to break Valeria emotionally, to provoke a explosive, mess-filled confrontation that would drive Valeria to file for divorce instantly.
If Valeria had filed for divorce in a fit of rage after the incident at the villa, the legal trap would have sprung automatically. Beatriz would have walked away with half of Valeria’s multi-million-dollar empire, leaving Valeria ruined and her parents back in the dirt.
"She wanted me to leave you," Valeria whispered, a dark, dangerous smile spreading across her lips. "She pushed my parents into the street on purpose, expecting me to throw you out along with her. She thought my pride would destroy my brain."
Mauricio fell back into his seat, breathing heavily, completely shattered by the sheer depths of his mother’s sociopathic greed.
"She didn't just want luxury, Mauricio," Valeria said, her eyes flashing like steel. "She wanted total ownership of everything I built."
"What are we going to do?" Mauricio asked, his voice dead and cold. "If she has those legal documents signed from five years ago..."
Valeria leaned back in her chair, taking a sip of her fresh juice. The warmth returned to her posture, but her eyes remained sharp enough to cut diamond.
"She forgot one tiny detail, Mauricio," Valeria said smoothly. "Five years ago, when Oscar Mendoza handed me those papers to sign... I didn't use my personal signature. I used my corporate seal signature, which is only valid if backed by an independent notary audit."
She closed her laptop with a quiet snap.
"Call Sofia," Valeria commanded softly. "Tell her to inform Beatriz and Oscar Mendoza that I am flying back to Mexico City tonight. Tell them I am ready to negotiate the exit agreement."
May you like
"Negotiate?" Mauricio asked, confused.
"Oh yes," Valeria smiled darkly. "I’m going to give them everything they ever asked for."
