Chapter 4 - The Golden TrapTen years after graduation, the alumni committee of San Rafael Institute sent out invitations for the 10-Year Class Reunion.
The committee was headed by Patricia Montalvo and Rodrigo Castillo. To the public eye, Patricia and Rodrigo were the ultimate power couple of Marbella high society. But behind closed doors, their world was collapsing.
Patricia’s father had made catastrophic hotel investments, leaving the family chain buried under eighty million euros of debt. Rodrigo’s real estate company was secretly bankrupt, teetering on the edge of foreclosure. They desperately needed a new investor to save them before the public found out.
When Patricia remembered Valentina, a sinister idea formed in her mind. Patricia assumed Valentina was still living a miserable, low-income life. She wanted to use the reunion to publicly showcase how successful the rest of the class had become compared to the "scholarship loser," generating positive press coverage for their family brand.
Patricia tracked down Valentina's old contact email and sent a mocking, condescending invitation:
"Dear Valentina, We would love for you to attend our 10-Year Reunion at the Royal Marbella Golf Club. We know life hasn't been easy for you, but we'd love to see how you're holding up! Don't worry about the entry fee; the committee has covered it for you."
In her executive corner office overlooking London, Valentina read the email. A cold, elegant smile touched her lips.
"They want a show," Valentina said quietly to Mateo, who was standing across her desk holding a financial dossier.
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"Patricia's hotel chain and Rodrigo's real estate firm are defaulting on their loans this Friday," Mateo said softly. "The bank holding their debt is Aegis Capital—our subsidiary."
Valentina stood up, walking toward the floor-to-ceiling glass window. "Accept the invitation, Mateo. It's time to return to Marbella."
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