Samuel Ortiz sat across from me at a wide oak table stacked four deep with blue canvas folders.

He pulled a heavy bound document from the bottom of the stack and laid it between us with both hands.

“This is the original 1998 land deed for the commercial plaza,” Samuel said.

He cleared his throat softly before turning the first page.

That little habit always meant an important figure was coming.

“Your father bought all four hectares before Mendoza Development ever broke ground on their headquarters,” he said.

I pointed to the black ink signature at the bottom of page three.