She was CEO of Altavista Hospitality Group, a multimillion-dollar luxury resort and boutique hotel company.
That afternoon, she was scheduled to inspect The Pines Manor for a lucrative three-year exclusive venue and catering partnership.
Elena checked her phone and saw Sofia’s GPS location moving slowly along a dark highway.
Her executive assistant then showed her a video circulating online, recorded by a local photographer who had witnessed the scene at the terminal.
Elena watched without speaking.
Teresa refusing to open the door.
Mariana laughing from the back seat.
And Javier sitting silently while his wife was left alone in pouring rain.
Elena didn’t raise her voice.
She called her Chief Legal Officer.
“Cancel the site visit.”
“The entire evaluation, ma’am?”
“Cancel it completely. And remove them from all future negotiations.”
Twenty minutes later, the general manager of The Pines Manor received the call.
Teresa was directing kitchen staff to bring out the fine china when the manager hung up, his face drained of color.
“Mrs. Alcantara… Altavista Group just canceled everything.”
“What? Why?” Teresa demanded.
The manager swallowed.
“Because the woman you left walking in the rain… is Elena Mendoza’s only daughter.”
