Chapter 1 - The Men in Black
The heavy iron gates of the Coyoacán estate creaked open as the three black SUVs rolled onto the gravel driveway, their headlights cutting through the romantic glow of the white candles. The doors opened in perfect synchronization.
Six men in tailored dark suits stepped out, but they weren't security guards. They carried heavy leather briefcases and tactical tablets, their faces expressionless, moving with the cold, unhurried precision of federal agents. At the front of the group was a woman with sharp silver hair, dressed in a sharp charcoal pantsuit.
Rodrigo’s father, Aurelio, took a step forward, his chest puffing out with artificial bravado. "Who authorized you to enter this property? This is a private family celebration! Get out before I have my security remove you."
The silver-haired woman didn't stop walking until she was inches from him. She pulled a leather wallet from her breast pocket, flipping it open to reveal a badge bearing the seal of the Unidad de Inteligencia Financiera (UIF)—Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
"Mr. Aurelio," she said, her voice cutting through the soft string quartet music like a blade. "I am Director Alicia Fuentes. And this property does not belong to your family. It belongs to Valeria Vega. And as of exactly seven minutes ago, every bank account, corporate trust, and asset associated with the name Whitmore-Vargas and its subsidiaries has been frozen under suspicion of systemic money laundering and tax evasion."
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Camila gasped, her hand flying to her throat, her fingers brushing Valeria’s grandmother's pearl earrings. "Rodrigo? What is she talking about?"
Rodrigo had gone entirely translucent, the champagne glass slipping from his hand and shattering on the terrace tiles. He looked at Valeria, his eyes wide with a sudden, desperate panic. "Vale... what did you do?"
