“Thanks, Dad.”
After hanging up, Valentina got dressed and left. She had a meeting with one of Alexander’s creditors. The meeting was at a coffee shop downtown. She arrived at noon and looked for a gray-haired man in his forties named Ramirez.
“Are you Valentina?” he asked as he approached.
“Yes. Are you Ramirez?”
“The same. Sit.”
Ramirez didn’t look like the dangerous criminal she had imagined. He looked like any ordinary businessman, dressed simply enough to disappear into a crowd.
“So, you’re Alexander’s wife,” he said, stirring his coffee. “And you want to pay his debts?”
“That’s right. But with some conditions.”
Ramirez laughed.
“Conditions? Girl, you’re not in a position to make conditions.”
“Yes, I am. You want money. I have access to money. But I need some things in exchange.”
“What things?”
Valentina took a breath.
“I need you and the others to pressure Alexander for a few more days. Nothing violent. Just keep him scared.”
“And why would you want that?”
“Let’s just say I’m planning to teach him a lesson.”
Ramirez studied her for a moment.
“You found out he married you for money, didn’t you?”
“How do you know that?”
“A man who owes eight hundred thousand dollars doesn’t marry for love. He marries out of necessity.”
“Eight hundred thousand? He owes all that to you people?”
“To us and to five other groups. Alexander got himself into a lot of trouble.”
“And if I pay everything, then he’s free?”
“Yes. But before that, can you help me with something?”
“Depends.”
Valentina laid out the plan, catching Alexander in the act of trying to rob her family. Ramirez listened carefully all the way through.
“Interesting,” he said at the end. “And you really think this will work?”
“I’m sure of it.”
“And what do you get out of it?”
“The certainty that he’ll never hurt anyone again.”
Ramirez thought for a moment.
“All right. We’ll do it. I give you five days to get your proof. Meanwhile, we keep pressuring him. After that, you pay the debt and we disappear from your lives.”
“Deal.”
“But if something goes wrong, if he discovers what you’re doing, we are not responsible.”
“Understood.”
Ramirez stood up to leave, then paused.
“One question. Why don’t you just divorce him and walk away?”
“Because it’s not just about me. It’s about every woman he tried to trick.”
He gave her a strange look.
“You’re either very brave or very stupid.”
“Maybe both.”
When Valentina got home, Alexander was already there, visibly nervous.
“How was your first day?” she asked.
“Well… complicated.”
“Why?”
“Your father is very cautious. He didn’t let me do anything important yet.”
“That’s normal.”
“I know, but, Val, about that authorization… did you talk to him?”
“Yes. He said he’ll think about it.”
Alexander looked frustrated.
“Oh. I was hoping for a more positive response.”
“Alexander, relax. It’s only been a day. Soon he’ll give you more responsibility.”
“It’s just… well, I have some pressure. People collecting old debts.”
“What debts?”
Alexander hesitated.
“Nothing serious. Just some pending accounts.”
“How much do you owe?”
“It’s not much. Maybe twenty… thirty thousand.”
More lies. He owed nearly a million and was telling her thirty thousand.
“Alexander, why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. I thought with the new job I’d be able to solve it quickly.”
“Can I help you?”
He stared at her.
