PART 2
I got in the car not because I trusted this man, but because I no longer trusted my husband.
My baby fell asleep as soon as I started rocking her, and Emiliano settled down next to me, with that tired look he only gets when he senses something is wrong, even if no one explains it to him. The stranger drove two blocks in silence before speaking.
“My name is Esteban Salgado. I’m a forensic accountant, and I worked reviewing the transactions of your husband’s company.”
I felt a chill.
“I don’t know anything about the company,” I said immediately.
“Exactly,” he replied. “That was the plan.”
He took me to a small, clean hotel near Gonzalitos. Nothing luxurious, but safe. When we were finally in the room and Emiliano stayed watching cartoons on the low-profile TV, Esteban opened a briefcase and placed several papers on the bed.
Deeds. Bank statements. Copies of contracts. All with my name on them.
“The house where I lived, the truck, two properties, and even an account linked to the construction company… it’s all in his name, Mariana.”
I felt my ears start to ring.
“No, that can’t be. I never bought anything.”
“You didn’t buy it. He transferred it to his name.”
Then I remembered. The times Javier put papers in front of me “for insurance,” “for the birth,” “for a bank transaction,” “so you won’t have to deal with anything if something happens to me.” I would sign them with the baby kicking my stomach, or while cooking, or in a hurry, trusting him because he was my husband. And because you never think that the man you sleep with is building a business on top of your ignorance.
“Why would he do that?” I asked.
Esteban looked at me with a strange mix of anger and pity.
“Because there’s a major audit coming. And also a complaint for embezzlement.”
