« Good evening. I am not here as Julián Torres’ wife. I am here as president of Grupo Aurora Continental and majority shareholder of the capital that sustained Torres Nexus for the last five years. »
Several people placed their glasses on the table at the same time. I heard glass clinking against the tablecloth, a muffled breath near the front row, and the faint buzz of a phone as someone started recording.
Julian climbed two steps at once.
« Elena, put that microphone down now. »
I didn’t move.
« The merger with Grupo Salvatierra is suspended until a review of governance, use of capital, and shareholding representation is completed. The documents have already been delivered to the board, the legal advisors present, and the Salvatierra team. »
Sebastian turned the folder toward the main table. Don Ernesto Salvatierra, who until a minute before had been behaving as if he were about to bless Julián in front of everyone, took off his glasses, read the first page, and leaned back in his chair without saying a word.
That’s where the night Julian had come to shop ended.
But I hadn’t waited five years to strike a quick blow. I had waited for him to understand exactly what he had mistaken for weakness.
Julian arrived on stage breathless. I smelled his cologne before he even spoke. That expensive cologne he always wore when he wanted to impress men who had already judged him at first glance.
« This is crazy, » he said quietly, through gritted teeth. « We’ll sort this out privately. Right now. »
I held his gaze.
