Chapter 5: The Envelope in the Parking Garage
I showed my father the photographs.
He studied them without speaking.
Then he enlarged the second image.
Victor stood beside Alejandro's car.
His right hand held the brown envelope.
Alejandro's left hand was extended toward it.
The picture was grainy, but the faces were recognizable.
“Where did this come from?”” my father asked.
“An unknown number.””
He handed the phone to Marcus, who had returned to the library.
“Trace the sender.””
Marcus examined the message.
“We can investigate the number, sir, but it may be a temporary service.””
My father pointed to the photograph.
“Find the original source. Identify the garage.””
Marcus nodded.
I looked at my father.
“Why would Uncle Victor meet Alejandro?””
He sat down.
“That is what I intend to discover.””
“Could the envelope contain money?””
“Or documents. Or something else.””
I took my phone back.
There was another message.
Ask Alejandro what he knows about the waterfront land valuation.
I read it aloud.
My father stood immediately.
“Bring me the De la Vega property records.””
Marcus left.
I remained beside the desk.
“Papa, do you think Alejandro was involved from the beginning?””
“I don't know.””
“He knew Camila was accessing the file.””
“Possibly.””
“He knew about the bracelet payments.””
“Possibly.””
“And now he's meeting Victor.””
My father turned toward me.
“Isabel, I want you to understand something. A photograph is not a confession.””
“I know.””
“Then don't allow your anger to make the investigation easier for whoever is manipulating us.””
I looked at him.
“What if they're using Alejandro to get to you?””
My father didn't answer.
Because that possibility had already crossed his mind.
The following morning, I went to Desarrollos De la Vega.
I hadn't visited the company headquarters since my divorce.
The building stood in the financial district, a glass tower with the company name displayed above the entrance.
I remembered attending its annual charity gala with Alejandro.
Back then, Beatriz had introduced me to everyone as her son's beautiful wife.
She hadn't mentioned my career.
She hadn't asked about my work.
And when an executive asked what I did, Alejandro had laughed.
“My wife keeps herself busy with little projects.””
I had smiled.
I hadn't corrected him.
That memory made the elevator ride feel longer.
When I stepped onto the executive floor, the receptionist looked up.
“Good morning. Can I help you?””
“I'm here to see Alejandro De la Vega.””
“Do you have an appointment?””
“No.””
She checked her computer.
“I'm afraid Mr. De la Vega is in a meeting.””
“Tell him Isabel Mendoza is here.””
The receptionist's expression changed.
“Of course.””
She picked up the phone.
A minute later, the executive office door opened.
Alejandro appeared.
He looked surprised.
“Isabel?””
“Can we talk?””
He glanced toward the conference room.
“I'm in the middle of something.””
“Then I'll wait.””
He looked at the receptionist.
“Cancel my next meeting.””
He led me into his office.
It was exactly as I remembered.
Dark wooden furniture.
A large desk.
Photographs of completed developments.
A framed picture of Alejandro and his father.
There was also a photograph of Camila.
It sat beside the computer.
I noticed it immediately.
Alejandro followed my gaze.
He picked it up and placed it face down.
“What do you want?””
I took out my phone.
I placed the photographs on his desk.
His expression changed.
“Where did you get these?””
“That's an interesting first question.””
He picked up the phone.
The first photograph showed him entering the garage.
The second showed Victor handing him the envelope.
Alejandro put the phone down.
“This is not what it looks like.””
“Then tell me what it is.””
He walked toward the window.
“Your uncle wanted to discuss a private matter.””
“Why?””
“Business.””
“What business?””
He turned around.
“Isabel, I can't discuss everything with you.””
“You can discuss enough to explain why my uncle was giving you an envelope at midnight.””
He rubbed his face.
“It contained documents.””
“What documents?””
“Information about the waterfront property.””
I stepped closer.
“What information?””
He hesitated.
Then he opened a drawer and took out a folder.
“Look.””
I examined the papers.
They were valuation reports.
One came from Northbridge Capital Advisory.
Another came from an independent surveyor.
The figures were different.
The Northbridge valuation placed the property significantly higher than the independent survey.
I frowned.
“Why is there such a difference?””
Alejandro sat down.
“The independent report was incomplete. It didn't account for the planned infrastructure improvements.””
“Who commissioned the Northbridge report?””
“Your uncle introduced them.””
I looked up.
“Victor?””
“Yes.””
“Why would my uncle introduce your company to an outside valuation firm?””
“He said they had experience with waterfront developments.””
I studied the documents.
The Northbridge report included a projected increase in land value based on a planned transport corridor.
But the transport corridor had not yet been approved.
In fact, the government's preliminary planning map showed the route passing several blocks away from the property.
I looked at Alejandro.
“Did you know this?””
He shifted in his chair.
“I knew there were different interpretations.””
“That's not what I asked.””
He sighed.
“The valuation was based on future development.””
“Future development that may never happen.””
“We believed it would.””
“Who is we?””
He didn't answer.
I turned another page.
There was an email printed at the back.
The sender was Victor Mendoza.
The recipient was Alejandro.
The subject line read:
*FINAL FIGURES BEFORE SUBMISSION.*
I read the first paragraph.
Victor had written that the Northbridge valuation should be used in the financing proposal because the higher projected value would strengthen the company's borrowing position.
I placed the page on the desk.
“Did you submit this valuation to my father's company?””
Alejandro looked down.
“Yes.””
“Knowing the transport corridor wasn't approved?””
“We had reason to believe it would be.””
I stared at him.
“That's not a business assumption. That's a risk you're presenting as certainty.””
He leaned forward.
“Isabel, you don't understand the pressure we're under.””
“Then explain it.””
He lowered his voice.
“Desarrollos De la Vega has obligations coming due. Several investors are waiting for the financing. If we don't secure it, we could lose the project.””
“And the envelope?””
“Victor was giving me additional documentation.””
“Why not send it through official channels?””
He looked away.
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Because it wasn't supposed to be seen.””
He didn't respond.
I took a breath.
“Alejandro, did you know Camila downloaded the confidential page?””
He looked at me.
“No.””
“Did you tell her to send anything to Northbridge?””
“No.””
“Are you sure?””
His voice became louder.
“I said no.””
I watched him for several seconds.
Then I picked up my phone.
“Fine.””
I turned toward the door.
“Isabel, wait.””
I stopped.
He stood.
“I know how this looks. But your uncle approached me. I didn't approach him.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I knew you would assume the worst.””
I looked over my shoulder.
“Maybe you should ask yourself why.””
He moved closer.
“I don't want you to think I'm part of some conspiracy.””
“Then stop standing in the middle of one.””
I walked out.
But as I reached the elevator, my phone vibrated.
A new message.
This time, it came from Camila.
I have the original messages. Alejandro told me to send the confidential page. But there's something you don't know about Victor.
A second message appeared.
He paid my brother to keep Alejandro under control.
At 3:15 p.m., I met Camila in a private café near Central Park.
She arrived wearing sunglasses and a black coat.
She looked nothing like the confident woman who had insulted me at the restaurant.
Her hair was tied back.
Her hands shook as she placed a small envelope on the table.
“You came alone?”” she asked.
“Yes.””
“Is your father watching?””
I looked at her.
“Do you really think I'm here to protect you from the consequences of your own decisions?””
She swallowed.
“No.””
“Then tell me why you asked to meet.””
She pushed the envelope toward me.
Inside were printed messages.
Some were between Camila and Alejandro.
Others were between Camila and her brother, Rafael.
I began reading.
The first exchange was dated three months earlier.
Alejandro had written:
The financing committee cannot see the revised valuation yet. Wait until I confirm.
Camila replied:
Victor says the figures need to be sent tonight.
Alejandro:
Then send them to Northbridge. Don't use the company email.
I looked up.
“You told me he never instructed you to download the confidential page.””
Camila's eyes filled with tears.
“I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
“He told me he would protect me. He said if anything happened, I would be blamed because I was only a consultant.””
I continued reading.
There were several more messages.
One mentioned the bracelet.
Camila had asked Alejandro whether the money used to purchase it was legitimate.
His response was chillingly casual.
It's already been handled. Don't ask questions.
I placed the papers down.
“Why did you keep these?””
“Because I knew he would eventually abandon me.””
I stared at her.
“Did you love him?””
She looked away.
“I thought I did.””
“And now?””
She laughed bitterly.
“Now I think I was useful.””
I understood that feeling more than I wanted to.
She reached into her bag and removed another document.
“This is the payment record.””
I examined it.
A transfer from Serrano Advisory had been followed by a payment to a jewelry retailer.
But the original transfer came from a holding company connected to Grupo Vanguardia.
I looked at her.
“Who arranged this?””
“Rafael.””
“Your brother?””
She nodded.
“He told me Victor had promised him a consulting contract if we helped Desarrollos De la Vega secure financing.””
My heart sank.
“So Victor was paying your brother.””
“Yes.””
“And Alejandro knew?””
She hesitated.
“He knew some of it.””
“Some?””
“He knew Victor was helping the company. He didn't know how much money was moving through the accounts.””
I stared at her.
“Camila, you're asking me to believe that you and your brother were running financial transactions without telling the man you were having an affair with?””
She flinched.
“I know how it sounds.””
“It sounds like you're leaving something out.””
She lowered her eyes.
Then she said something that changed everything.
“Victor didn't just pay my brother.””
She leaned closer.
“He also paid Alejandro's father before he died.””
I froze.
“Alejandro's father?””
She nodded.
“He told me there was an old agreement between Victor and the De la Vega family. Something about the waterfront property.””
I felt a chill move through me.
“What agreement?””
“I don't know. But Rafael has a copy.””
“Where?””
Camila swallowed.
“He keeps it in a private storage unit.””
I gathered the papers.
“Then we need your brother to cooperate.””
She looked frightened.
“He won't.””
“Why?””
“Because he isn't the one making the decisions anymore.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
She looked directly at me.
“Rafael disappeared yesterday.””
At 6:40 p.m., my father received a call from the security director.
Rafael Serrano's apartment had been searched.
His laptop was missing.
His passport was gone.
And his car had been found abandoned near Newark Airport.
My father stood in his study, listening without interruption.
When the call ended, he looked at me.
“Your uncle has left the country.””
I blinked.
“What?””
“Victor's private aircraft departed for London forty minutes ago.””
I stared at him.
“Does he know we're investigating?””
My father picked up the brown envelope recovered from the parking garage photographs.
Inside was a photocopy of an old property agreement.
At the bottom were two signatures.
One belonged to Alejandro's late father.
The other belonged to Victor Mendoza.
But there was something else.
A handwritten note had been added beneath the signatures.
It contained a single sentence.
If Grupo Vanguardia refuses the financing, activate the original ownership clause.
My father read it twice.
Then he looked at me.
“Isabel, I don't think your uncle was trying to steal money from the De la Vega company.””
May you like
He turned the paper toward me.
“I think he was trying to steal the land.””
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