Chapter 7 - Actually, They Already Have
The door handles turned.
For the first time all evening, Rodrigo looked toward a sound without believing he controlled it.
The dining room doors opened, and Elena Sáenz entered in a black suit, followed by two investigators. Behind them, Camila stood in the hallway, pale but steady, one hand gripping her own folder.
Rodrigo stared.
“Camila?”
She did not answer him.
She looked at Mariana instead. “I’m ready.”
Teresa pushed back from the table. “This is outrageous. You cannot walk into our family dinner.”
Elena Sáenz glanced around the room with professional coldness. “This is Mrs. Mariana’s residence. We were invited.”
Fernanda stood too quickly, nearly slipping in the spilled wine. “I didn’t do anything.”
Mariana looked at the corporate card statements on the tray.
“Designer handbags. Cosmetic procedures. Resort charges. All billed through my company.”
Fernanda’s face collapsed.
Teresa turned on her daughter. “Fernanda.”
“Don’t,” Fernanda snapped. “You made the invoices.”
The investigators exchanged a look.
Rodrigo’s voice lowered. “Mariana, whatever you think you have, we can discuss it.”
“No,” she said. “We already did. You called it pasta.”
Elena stepped forward. “Mr. Rodrigo, you are not to approach my client. The prosecutor’s office has the full evidence package, including the recording from tonight.”
Rodrigo looked at Mariana.
She finished the sentence.
“Actually, they already have.”
Silence spread through the room, thick and final.
May you like
The family that had ordered her back into the kitchen finally understood she had not gone there to obey.
She had gone there to end the performance.
