His suit was wrinkled. His hair was perfect, but his eyes were not. He looked around the office as if expecting people to bow from habit.
No one did.
He stopped in front of me.
“You embarrassed me.”
I tilted my head.
“I sold my property.”
“You humiliated my mother.”
“Your mother posted my replacement on Instagram.”
His jaw tightened.
“That was unfortunate.”
“No, Mauricio. That was educational.”
He glanced at Victor.
“Why is he here?”
Victor smiled politely.
“To make sure you don’t say anything useful by accident.”
Mauricio’s eyes flashed.
“I want to speak to my wife alone.”
I said, “You lost that privilege somewhere between the forged signature and the honeymoon.”
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
Victor noticed too.
Mauricio laughed once. “Forged signature? What nonsense have they put in your head?”
I picked up the copy of the power of attorney and placed it on the table.
“Did you sign this?”
He did not look down.
“You’re emotional.”
“Did you sign this?”
“You’ve always been dramatic when you feel rejected.”
Victor’s voice cut in. “Answer the question.”
Mauricio turned on him.
“I don’t answer to you.”
“No,” Victor said. “You answer to prosecutors.”
For the first time, Mauricio’s mask cracked.
His mouth opened, then closed.
I stepped closer.
