Chapter 5 - The Woman With the FolderPaula had worked for me for six years. She knew which clients paid late, which contractors needed deposits, and how terrified I had been during our first winter without a major contract.

I called her. She answered on the second ring.

“Morning, boss.” Her voice sounded ordinary. That made the photograph worse.

“Where were you Tuesday night?”

“At home. Why?”

I watched a bus stop outside Lucía's window. “I have a picture of you at the restaurant with Javier and Sergio.”

Silence.

“Paula?”

“Clara, please don't make me explain over the phone.”

“Then come to the office at noon.”

She arrived wearing a gray coat and carrying no bag. I asked Inés to sit with us. Paula stared at the conference table as if the grain of the wood contained instructions.

“Javier said you wanted a credit line,” she began. “He said the hotel project was falling behind and you'd be embarrassed if staff found out.”

“Did he ask you to give him company files?”

“He said he already had permission.”

“That isn't an answer.”

Paula wiped her palms on her skirt. “I copied supplier lists and the budget forecast. I didn't know about the forged signature until I saw the loan documents.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“He said my brother's debt would become public.”

Paula's brother, Tomás, had borrowed money after losing his small trucking company. She had once asked me for extra hours to help him. I hadn't known how desperate things had become.

“He threatened you?” Inés asked.

“He knew the lender. Sergio. They said Tomás could be sued if I caused trouble.”

I was furious with Paula. I was also furious that Javier had learned exactly where to press.

“From now on, speak to Lucía,” I said. “You're being placed on leave while we investigate access to company records.”

Paula nodded. She stood, then sat again.

“There was a second folder,” she said. “Not yours. Mercedes brought it.”

“What was in it?”

“A contract to sell her country house. Except the house wasn't hers anymore.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“She sold it last year. The lender didn't know.”

As Paula reached for the door, she turned back. “Clara, Javier didn't just want your money. Sergio told him he needed a fall person when the deal collapsed.”

“Who?”

Paula looked directly at me. “You.”

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