Alexander stared at her for a moment.
“You look different today.”
“Different how?”
“I don’t know. More distant.”
Valentina leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“It’s just exhaustion, love. It was a long day. But I’m happy.”
“Sure.”
But Alexander kept watching her with suspicion.
At that moment, Richard came over.
“Alexander, come. I want to introduce you to Henry Gonzalez, my accountant. You two are going to work together from now on.”
“Of course, Mr. Richard.”
Alexander smiled, but Valentina saw the anxiety lurking behind his eyes.
While Alexander spoke with Henry, Valentina slipped away to the restroom to breathe. She needed to think about the next step. Inside, she found Mrs. Carmen retouching her makeup.
“Valentina, dear, what a beautiful party,” she said, though her tone held no warmth.
“Thank you, Mrs. Carmen.”
“I hope you’re very happy. Alexander deserves a good life after… well, after the problems he had.”
Valentina froze with her hands under the water.
“What problems?”
Mrs. Carmen looked as if she had said more than she meant to.
“It’s nothing important. Just some financial difficulties all young people go through.”
“What kind of difficulties?”
“Well, you know. Loans. Credit cards. Nothing a good marriage can’t fix.”
The cold way she said it told Valentina everything. His mother knew exactly what her son was doing.
“I understand,” Valentina said simply.
“I’m sure you two will help each other mutually. After all, that’s what marriage is for, to share responsibilities… and resources.”
Resources. What an interesting choice of word.
“Of course, Mrs. Carmen.”
When Valentina returned to the ballroom, the party was at its peak. People were dancing, laughing, celebrating. The contrast between that glittering joy and the storm inside her head felt almost surreal.
Dylan approached while she was taking a glass of champagne.
“Valentina, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Sure.”
They moved toward a quieter corner.
“I know you heard our conversation this morning.”
Valentina decided not to deny it.
“And?”
“I tried to convince Alexander not to do this. You need to know that.”
“Why are you telling me now?”
“Because I can’t keep pretending everything is okay. He’s my friend, but this is wrong.”
“And what do you suggest I do?”
“I don’t know. Maybe… maybe you two can talk. Maybe he changes his mind.”
Valentina almost laughed.
“Dylan, you heard the same thing I did. He’s been planning this for two years. It’s not something he’s suddenly going to regret.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I’m still deciding.”
“Please don’t destroy him in public. I know he deserves it, but…”
“But what?”
“He has serious problems with certain people. If he loses this opportunity…”
“What people?”
Dylan lowered his voice even more.
“People who lend him money. People who don’t play around.”
A chill passed through Valentina. Alexander was not only greedy. He was desperate.
“How much does he owe?”
“A lot. More than two hundred thousand.”
“And if he doesn’t pay?”
Dylan only shook his head, leaving the rest unsaid.
Valentina stood there in silence for a moment, processing this new layer. Alexander was not just a scammer. He was a man in danger.
“Dylan, thank you for telling me.”
“You won’t do anything drastic, right?”
“I promise I’ll think carefully before I act.”
When Dylan left, Valentina stayed where she was. The situation was more complicated than she had thought. Alexander was in real danger. That explained some of his desperation, but it did not excuse what he planned to do to her and her family.
Sophia appeared at her side again.
“Val, I got preliminary information.”
“How? Already?”
“I have a friend who works at a law firm. I made a few discreet calls. Alexander’s name has been stained for over a year. Several overdue debts. Formal protests. A very messy history.”
“Anything else?”
“There are lawsuits against him. People trying to collect money. And it looks like he already tried to approach other wealthy families in the region before meeting you.”
Valentina felt the blood drain from her face.
“Other families?”
“Yes. He was engaged to a girl from Denver last year, but her father discovered something and canceled everything at the last minute.”
“Sophia, are you sure?”
“I even have the family name if you want to dig further.”
