Chapter 5: The Secret in the Safe
Gabriel took the photograph from my hand as though it might burn him.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he turned it toward the light coming through the bridal suite windows.
“That's my father's office,” he murmured.
“The photograph was taken in front of the old workshop. I remember it.””
“Where did you see it?”” I asked.
“In his safe. When I was seventeen.””
Patricia moved toward him.
“Gabriel, give me the photograph.””
He pulled it away.
“Why was it in Dad's safe?””
“Because your father kept thousands of documents.””
“Not photographs of men he supposedly cheated in business.””
Patricia's eyes flashed.
“Watch your mouth.””
“No, Mom. I'm done watching my mouth.””
The words startled even him.
He turned back to the photograph, studying my father's face.
I watched something unfamiliar move through his expression. Confusion first. Then doubt. Finally, something that looked dangerously close to shame.
“My father told me Daniel Márquez had walked away from the partnership,” he said.
“He said your mother had accepted the settlement and refused to discuss it again.””
My mother gave a quiet, bitter laugh.
“Ricardo never showed me a settlement. He told me the debts had swallowed everything and advised me to stop asking questions.””
Gabriel swallowed.
“He said your father had made poor decisions.””
“He made one decision,” Elena replied.
“He trusted Ricardo.””
Patricia snatched the leather folder from the vanity and tucked it into her handbag.
“This conversation is over.””
“No,” I said.
“It isn't.””
She headed for the door.
I moved in front of her.
“You're not leaving with that document.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Move.””
“Not until you tell us what you were planning to make me sign.””
Patricia lowered her voice.
“You have no idea how much your wedding depends on people behaving sensibly.””
“I know exactly what my wedding depends on. It depends on whether I'm willing to marry a man whose family may have stolen everything my father worked for.””
Gabriel flinched.
Patricia turned to him.
“Are you going to let her speak to me like this?””
He looked at the floor, then slowly lifted his head.
“Mom, what's in the folder?””
She tightened her grip on her handbag.
“An agreement concerning the resolution of a historical financial dispute.””
“That's not an answer.””
“It's the only answer you're getting.””
“Then show me the original.””
For one brief moment, her face went completely blank.
Then she laughed.
“You think the original is here?””
Gabriel stared at her.
“You said you brought the paperwork.””
“I brought a copy.””
The room fell silent.
I looked at the pages on the vanity.
The paper bore no visible stamps, and the signature was slightly blurred. A photocopy.
My mother reached toward it.
“Then where is the original?””
Patricia's composure returned in a rush.
“Somewhere safe.””
“Where?””
“That is none of your concern.””
I stepped toward her.
“If my father's signature was forged, it is absolutely my concern.””
She looked me up and down.
“You're an emotional young woman who has confused a wedding with a courtroom. I suggest you think carefully before making accusations you cannot prove.””
I almost laughed at the irony.
“You brought a document accusing my dead father of abandoning his business, and I'm the one making accusations?””
Patricia's face tightened.
“Gabriel, control your fiancée.””
He didn't move.
She said his name again.
“Gabriel.””
He looked at her.
“No.””
It was one small word.
But it seemed to shake the room more than all my shouting had.
Patricia stared at her son as though he had slapped her.
“You would choose her over your own mother?””
“I would choose the truth.””
“And if the truth destroys everything your father built?””
Gabriel's eyes flicked toward the photograph.
“Then maybe it shouldn't have been built that way.””
Vanessa sat down abruptly on the edge of a chair.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered.
“Dad is going to lose his mind.””
Patricia spun toward her.
“Be quiet.””
But Vanessa was no longer listening.
She was staring at the photograph.
“Wait,” she said.
“Why is Dad wearing that suit?””
Gabriel frowned.
“What?””
“The suit in the photograph. That's the one he wore to the hospital when you were born. Mom had it altered for him after he lost weight.””
Patricia went perfectly still.
Vanessa looked at her.
“You told us this photograph was taken months before Daniel died.””
Nobody spoke.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“Months?”” I repeated.
Vanessa stood.
“No. I mean, that's what Dad said. He said the partnership had ended before Daniel got sick.””
My mother clutched the vanity.
“He was already sick when this photograph was taken.””
I looked at the date on the back.
My father had been in and out of the hospital during that period. He had suffered complications after an operation, and for several weeks he could barely walk without assistance.
He certainly couldn't have spent long days negotiating a business settlement.
Patricia's voice turned sharp.
“Vanessa, you are confused.””
“No, I'm not.””
“You were a child.””
“I was seventeen. I remember the photograph because Dad was furious when Gabriel took it out of the safe.””
Gabriel looked at his sister.
“You took something from Dad's safe?””
Vanessa's face flushed.
“I didn't take anything. You did.””
“What are you talking about?””
She looked from him to their mother.
“You were the one who opened the safe. I was with you.””
Gabriel stared at her.
Then, slowly, he nodded.
“I remember.””
His voice became quieter.
“Dad was away on a business trip. You wanted to look at the photographs from his office. We opened the safe because he kept the spare key in his desk.””
Patricia closed her eyes.
“Enough.””
Neither of her children stopped.
Gabriel continued.
“There was a brown envelope inside. It had Daniel Márquez's name written on it.””
My mother covered her mouth.
Gabriel looked at her, then at me.
“I thought it was a legal file. I remember seeing a letter with Dad's signature at the bottom. I didn't read it.””
“Where is it now?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“I don't know. We put everything back.””
Vanessa suddenly rose.
“No, we didn't.””
Gabriel turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked terrified now.
“I took a photograph of one page.””
Patricia stepped toward her daughter.
“Vanessa.””
“I was curious,” Vanessa said quickly.
“I thought Dad was hiding something about the company. I took a picture on my phone, but I never understood what it meant.””
“Do you still have it?”” I asked.
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“It's on an old phone at my apartment.””
Patricia grabbed her arm.
“You will not give them anything.””
Vanessa jerked away.
“Stop grabbing me!””
The words echoed through the suite.
For the first time, Vanessa seemed to understand what it felt like to have someone use physical intimidation to control her.
She rubbed her arm and stared at her mother.
“Why are you so afraid of that document?””
Patricia didn't answer.
Gabriel moved toward his sister.
“Can you get the photograph?””
Vanessa nodded slowly.
“But if Dad finds out, he'll never forgive me.””
I looked at her.
“You helped destroy my mother's hair because you thought she was beneath you. You don't get to pretend you're suddenly innocent because your own family is in trouble.””
Vanessa's face twisted.
“I know what I did.””
“Do you?””
“Yes!”” she snapped.
“I was cruel. I wanted her to look out of place because Mom said the wedding photographs would be seen by important people. I thought if I made Elena look ridiculous, Camila would stop insisting that her family be treated as equal to ours.””
My mother looked at her.
Vanessa's voice faltered.
“I didn't think you'd actually cancel the wedding.””
I stared at her.
“So you admit you did it deliberately?””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
Gabriel stepped away from her as though he couldn't bear to stand beside her.
Patricia, however, looked almost relieved.
“Fine. There. You have your confession. Now can we return to the actual issue?””
I shook my head.
“No. We're only beginning.””
My phone vibrated again.
The unknown number had sent another message.
*Don't let them take the photograph. Check the lower-right corner. Your father wrote something there before he died.*
I turned the picture toward the light.
At first, I saw nothing but a small crease in the paper.
Then I noticed a few faint blue marks along the edge.
I tilted it closer.
There were three words, written in my father's unmistakable handwriting.
*Ask the notary.*
My mother made a strangled sound.
I looked at her.
“Mamá?””
She pressed a trembling hand to her mouth.
“Your father went to see a notary the week before he died.””
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I thought he was updating his will.””
She sank into the chair.
“But after the funeral, the notary disappeared. His office closed. Ricardo told me there had been a complaint against him and that any documents he had handled were invalid.””
Patricia's face had gone pale.
Gabriel noticed.
“Mom?””
She said nothing.
I held the photograph in both hands.
“Who was the notary?””
My mother whispered a name.
“Arturo Salcedo.””
Vanessa looked up sharply.
“Arturo Salcedo?””
I turned toward her.
“You know him?””
She shook her head.
“Not personally. But Dad mentions him whenever he talks about the company's early years.””
Gabriel reached for his phone.
“I'm going to find him.””
Patricia stepped in front of the door.
“You are not leaving this room.””
Gabriel looked at his mother with an expression I had never seen before.
“Move.””
For a moment, I thought she would refuse.
Then she stepped aside.
Gabriel opened the door.
A hotel employee stood in the corridor, holding a clipboard.
“Señor de la Vega,” he said, “your father has been asking for you. He says the ceremony must begin on time.””
Gabriel stared at him.
Then he looked back at Patricia.
“What did you tell Dad was happening up here?””
She smoothed the front of her suit.
“The truth.””
“Which truth?””
Patricia lifted her chin.
“That your bride is attempting to extort this family over a business dispute.””
My stomach dropped.
Before I could respond, the employee glanced at the clipboard.
“There's one more thing, sir. Your father asked me to deliver this message.””
He handed Gabriel a folded card.
Gabriel opened it.
I watched the color drain from his face.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He looked at me, then at his mother.
His voice was barely audible.
“Dad says if Camila refuses to sign the agreement, the wedding is canceled.””
Patricia's expression remained perfectly calm.
Then Gabriel turned the card over.
There was a second sentence written on the back.
*And if Elena Márquez mentions Arturo Salcedo, make sure she never speaks to him.*
My mother gripped my hand.
May you like
Because now we knew the truth was dangerous.
And someone in the de la Vega family was willing to do anything to keep it buried.
