Chapter 5 - The Snake's Appetite
The Larios family spent the night in a state of euphoric greed. Inside the damp, leaking library of the Coyoacán estate, Doña Teresa poured herself a glass of vintage cognac, her eyes glittering as she reviewed the contract terms Rodrigo had brought home.
"Thirty million dollars," Teresa whispered, her fingers tracing the embossed gold seal of the Barrera trust. "I knew that little country girl didn't have the stomach for a real fight. She’s terrified of losing you, Rodrigo. She’s using her family’s money to buy her way back into our good graces."
"The collateral clause is very strict, Mother," Rodrigo noted, though his own greed had largely silenced his caution. "If we don't clear the compliance audit within three days, the trust takes ownership of this house and my firm."
"Oh, please," Teresa scoffed, waving her hand dismissively. "Lucía is a corporate lawyer, Rodrigo. They always write these dramatic clauses to look impressive to their board of directors. She’s your wife. Do you really think she’s going to evict her own husband and mother-in-law? Once the money hits our account, we will hire our own legal team to tie up the collateral clause in civil court for the next ten years."
"You’re right," Rodrigo said, a triumphant smile returning to his face. "By this time tomorrow, the Panamanian debt will be erased, and the Larios name will be back on top of the city's social registry."
At precisely 9:00 a.m. the following morning, Rodrigo and Doña Teresa arrived at the Polanco headquarters of Barrera & Associates. Teresa wore her finest mink coat despite the morning heat, her head held high as she glided through the lobby, treating the security staff with her usual condescending arrogance.
They were escorted into the Grand Mahogany Boardroom. Lucía was waiting for them, flanked by her lead corporate notary and two senior financial compliance officers.
"Ah, Lucía, darling," Doña Teresa said, extending her hand with a sickeningly sweet smile as she took a seat. "I am so glad we could move past that unpleasant emotional outburst from Tuesday. Family must always support family, don't you agree?"
Lucía did not extend her hand. She remained seated, her expression as cold and unyielding as polished ice. "Sign the documents, Teresa. The notary’s time is billable by the minute."
Teresa’s smile stiffened, but her greed quickly overcame her offense. She grabbed the premium Montblanc pen provided on the table and scrawled her signature across the deed transfer documents for the Coyoacán estate. Rodrigo followed immediately, signing away one hundred percent of the corporate shares of Larios Architects.
The notary stamped the documents with a heavy, metallic clack.
"The collateral framework is now legally active," Lucía announced, her voice flat and precise. She tapped her tablet. "The wire transfer sequence for the thirty million dollars USD has been initiated. It will clear into your corporate liquidity node within sixty minutes."
Rodrigo checked his phone app. Within moments, the screen refreshed, displaying an astronomical balance: $30,000,000.00 USD.
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"It’s there," Rodrigo whispered, his eyes wide with manic joy. He looked up at Lucía, his old, arrogant confidence returning to his posture. "Thank you, Lucía. Now, if you’ll excuse us, my mother and I have a celebration luncheon scheduled at the Four Seasons."
"You can celebrate wherever you like, Rodrigo," Lucía said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her legs. "But I suggest you read the compliance addendum before you order the champagne."
