Chapter 3 - The Gathering Storm
My father laughed, a dry, humorless sound that echoed off the book-lined walls. ""Pack our things? Mauricio, you seem to forget whose estate this is. You are the Chief Operating Officer of DeLuca Enterprises, but I am still the Chairman of the Board. I built this house. I built that company. If you think you can threaten me over a dead boy's illegitimate brat, you are severely mistaken.""
""This estate belongs to the family trust,"" I countered, tapping the open legal brief with my forefinger. ""A trust that, according to paragraph twelve of grandfather’s will, grants immediate executive oversight of all residential assets to the legal guardian of the primary heir in the event of Julian’s death. You hid her existence to maintain your board seats. That is criminal fraud, Hector. That is felony concealment.""
The color drained from my father's face once more. He hadn't counted on me reading the fine print so quickly. In my years running the corporate arm of our firm, I had reviewed thousands of contracts; legal jargon was my second language.
Just then, the study door swung open wider, and my sister Paola stepped inside, holding a glass of vintage champagne. Behind her, her husband Richard loitered, an arrogant smirk plastered on his face.
""What is going on in here?"" Paola asked, rolling her eyes. ""Mauricio, your little stray is supposed to be clearing the dessert plates. Mom, why are you crying on the floor? The girls want to open their gift from Grandma.""
""Paola,"" I said quietly, walking over to Renata and scooping her up into my arms. I pulled a warm wool throw from the sofa and wrapped it tightly around her damp shoulders. ""Take your husband, take your spoiled children, and get out of this house.""
Paola gasped in mock offense, looking to Hector. ""Dad! Are you going to let him speak to me like that on Christmas? After everything we've done to include him despite his... lifestyle choices?""
""Your daughter Sofia didn't earn that pony in the stables, Paola,"" I said, stepping past her into the hallway. ""Neither did Emma get her private trust funded by your hard work. You’ve been living off Julian’s designated dividend for four years. And the girl you treat like a scullery maid is the legal owner of the roof over your head.""
Paola looked between our parents, her smirk fading as she realized neither of them was arguing back. ""Dad? What is he talking about? Julian is dead!""
""Renata is Julian’s daughter,"" I said, letting the words drop like lead weights in the expansive, marble-floored foyer.
The silence that followed was deafening. The only sound was the crackle of the massive hearth and the faint holiday jazz playing from the living room speakers.
""That's impossible,"" Richard scoffed, stepping forward, his voice tight. ""Julian never married. Any bastard child has no claim under state probate law!""
""Under state probate law, perhaps,"" I said, turning on my heel to face the entire family gathered in the foyer. ""Under grandfather’s private, irrevocable offshore trust? Blood lineage proven by direct DNA overrides marital status. You all knew grandfather hated the idea of Hector controlling his legacy. That's why he wrote the clause that way.""
Carmen pushed herself off the wall, her eyes wild, her dignified facade entirely destroyed. ""Mauricio, if you do this, you destroy us! Vance & Sterling will take this to the press! The board will vote Hector out by Monday morning! Our shares will plummet! Everything we sacrificed Julian for will be worthless!""
""You sacrificed Julian?"" I asked, stopping dead in my tracks.
The slip of the tongue hung in the frozen air. Carmen clamped her teeth together, her eyes darting toward Hector in sheer panic. Hector’s fists clutched so tightly his knuckles turned chalky white.
""We are leaving,"" I whispered to Renata, kissing her cold cheek. ""We are going home, baby.""
""Mauricio, stop!"" Hector commanded, taking two heavy steps toward me. ""You take one step out that door with those papers, and I will freeze your corporate accounts. I will tie you up in custody battles for the next ten years. I will claim you adopted that girl illegally through back-channel bribes!""
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I looked back at the man who raised me, feeling nothing but profound disgust.
""Try it, Hector. By tomorrow morning, every major newspaper in the country will have a copy of this DNA registry. Let's see whose empire burns first.""
