Samuel cleared his throat softly before giving the numbers.

“Twelve million four hundred thousand pesos in direct default, effective at midnight tonight.”

He set his brass fountain pen on the blotter beside the documents.

“Alejandro’s sister, Paola, didn’t sign any corporate lease guarantees,” Samuel said in a low voice.

“And several of those young cousins were only invited guests at the house in Zapopan.”

“They sat at that dining table for five years,” I said.

“And they laughed when Doña Victoria called you an orphan who came from nothing,” Samuel said quietly.