PART 1
Mateo slid the legal document across the pristine mahogany table with a look of absolute contempt, his Rolex clinking arrogantly against the polished wood. The sound echoed through the freezing boardroom on the 40th floor of one of the most exclusive buildings in Santa Fe, Mexico City. The air conditioning was so strong it felt like punishment, a sterile atmosphere that smelled of old money and expensive cologne.
Across from him, Jimena sat with her hands folded in her lap. She wore a beige knit sweater that had seen better days, with small pills on the elbows, and her hair tied in a simple bun. She looked insignificant, swallowed by the large black leather chair. For three long years, Mateo had made her believe she was nothing. To him, Jimena was still the same broke girl he had “rescued” when she worked serving tables in a small diner in Coyoacán.
Mateo, on the other hand, looked impeccable. His tailored navy suit from Polanco screamed corporate success. His slicked-back hair gave him a sharp, aggressive appearance. He didn’t even look at her; his eyes were fixed on his latest smartphone, smiling faintly at messages from Valeria, the 22-year-old PR intern waiting to celebrate his freedom with champagne that night.