Chapter 10 - MATEO’S CONFESSION
Mateo came to the kitchen at midnight.
Teresa found him sitting at the preparation table with his head in his hands.
“I signed the transfers,” he said.
“I know.”
“I did not read them.”
“I know that too.”
Mateo looked toward the recipe box.
“Father always said Veronica understood money better than I did.”
“She told me the medical fund was overcapitalized.”
“She said moving it would create larger returns.”
“Did you ask where it was going?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she promised to pay my gambling debts.”
Teresa poured two cups of coffee.
Mateo stared at his.
“You are still serving me.”
“I am drinking the other one.”
He almost smiled.
Then he pushed a flash drive across the table.
It contained emails Veronica had deleted from the company server.
Mateo had copied them because he feared she would blame him.
The messages showed Adrian and Veronica planning the warehouse transfer.
They also discussed Manuel’s trust.
One message read,
If Teresa appears at the reading, remove her before Arthur reaches the final envelope.
Veronica had fired Teresa over the wine because she wanted her out of the house before the sealed instruction was opened.
The spill had been convenient.
The humiliation had been deliberate.
Another message said,
Once she signs the release, attach the medical-reserve confession.
Teresa looked at Mateo.
“Will you testify?”
“I may go to prison.”
“You may.”
“You do not promise protection.”
“No.”
“I have spent too long watching this family use protection as another word for hiding.”
Mateo nodded.
“I will testify.”
Before leaving, he stopped beside the staff entrance.
“We never thanked you.”
“For what?”
“Birthdays.”
“Funerals.”
“Meals after bad days.”
“Remembering what Father could eat when his hands started shaking.”
Teresa looked at him.
“Gratitude now does not erase how you treated me then.”
May you like
“I know.”
It was the first honest thing he had said all night.
