“Her late father created the trust six years ago.

You signed personal debt guarantees against her land leases three years ago.”

Alejandro froze completely, his hand dropping from his watch strap to his side.

“The personal guarantees?” Alejandro asked, his voice suddenly hollow.

“If she enforces this lease default,” Oscar said, “every credit line Mendoza Development has with the commercial bank will be frozen by eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Alejandro got to the mansion in Zapopan at six o’clock and rushed past the entry hall into the formal parlor, where Doña Victoria sat on the velvet sofa.