Chapter 4 - Whispers and BetrayalsThe next morning, Mateo arrived discreetly at Diego’s apartment building, carrying a laptop, a new smartphone, and a pair of prescription glasses for Valentina.
When Mateo stepped inside the small apartment, his eyes widened upon seeing the powerful CEO of Farmacéutica Azteca sitting in sweatpants on a worn couch, sipping tea prepared by a security guard.
"Madam CEO," Mateo said, bowing his head slightly before setting his briefcase on the table. "The situation at the headquarters is critical. Rodrigo has called an emergency shareholder meeting for tomorrow morning to officially remove you as CEO and take control of the new patent."
"The patent for the affordable insulin drug?" Valentina asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Mateo confirmed grimly. "Rodrigo intends to sell the patent rights to an international conglomerate that will triple the market price. He claims your low-cost distribution plan was proof of financial incompetence."
Valentina’s fists clenched. That patent had been her life's work—a promise she had made to honor her mother, who had suffered from diabetes. She had built Azteca not just for profit, but to make life-saving medicine accessible.
Diego, who was preparing Sofia’s school lunch in the kitchen, overheard the conversation. He froze, holding a sandwich bag. "Farmacéutica Azteca? You’re that Valentina Herrera?"
Valentina turned to him, feeling a sudden pang of anxiety. "Yes, Diego. I am the CEO."
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Diego looked at her with a mixture of shock and quiet contemplation. "My wife... before she passed... she relied on Azteca's subsidized medication. It gave us two extra years with her that we couldn't have afforded otherwise."
He walked over, his gaze unwavering. "Rodrigo Vance is a monster if he takes that away from families like mine."
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