CHAPTER 2 — THE EMPIRE BEHIND THE NAME
CHAPTER 2 — THE EMPIRE BEHIND THE NAME
The black SUV cut silently through the city.
Mariana never looked back.
Across from her sat her father, Alejandro Escalante, chairman of Escalante Capital.
He studied the red mark across her cheek.
His voice remained calm.
"Did he hit you?"
Mariana nodded once.
Alejandro closed his eyes for a moment.
"When you married Andrew, you asked me for one promise."
"I remember."
"You said if his family ever accepted you for who you were, I was never to interfere."
Mariana looked out the window.
"They never did."
He handed her a folder.
Inside were documents she had personally drafted years earlier.
When Andrew's company was drowning in debt, no bank had agreed to refinance it.
Escalante Capital had quietly stepped in.
Not through Andrew.
Through Mariana.
Every emergency loan.
Every investment guarantee.
Every rescue package.
Had one hidden condition.
If Andrew ever defaulted...
Control returned immediately to Escalante Capital.
May you like
Tonight...
He had defaulted.
