Chapter 22 - The Broken Heir
Across the city, in a cramped, dingy apartment that smelled of stale beer and desperation, Javier sat staring at his phone. The screen was cracked, much like his entire existence.
Since the divorce and the humiliating eviction, his life had spiraled into absolute ruin. His prestigious friends had abandoned him, his mother complained endlessly in the tiny flat they now shared, and his sisters were forced to work menial jobs they despised. He had lost the mansion, the cars, and the unearned respect he had thrived upon.
His phone buzzed. It was an unknown number. He answered it with a gruff, irritated sigh.
"Javier Valdés?" a smooth, cultured voice asked.
"Who is this?" Javier slurred, taking another sip of warm beer.
"My name is Mauricio Salazar. I understand you have an intimate, historical knowledge of Natalia's architectural firm. I also understand you have a profound, personal grievance against her."
Javier sat up, the haze of alcohol clearing slightly. He knew the name Salazar. Everyone in Guadalajara knew that name. It meant limitless money and ruthless power.
"What do you want with her?" Javier asked, his voice hardening with a sudden spark of malicious hope.
"I want her building," Salazar replied smoothly. "And I want her firm dismantled. She embarrassed me today. I intend to crush her. I need someone who knows the internal layout of her company, her client list, and her vulnerabilities. I am willing to pay you a very handsome consulting fee if you help me destroy her."
Javier looked around his pathetic, dirty apartment. He thought of Natalia, sitting in her glass tower, laughing at him. He thought of Doña Refugio, the woman he had slapped, living peacefully in a beautiful house while he rotted in squalor.
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"I know all of her passwords," Javier lied, desperation fueling his bravado. "I know her primary suppliers, and I know exactly which municipal inspectors she relies on. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow morning," Salazar promised. "Welcome to the team, Javier. Let us teach your ex-wife a lesson in humility."
