“$11,000 for the deposit on Mariana’s Manhattan wedding venue,” Sofia read calmly. “$9,000 for custom designer dresses. $7,000 for guest lodging. $4,500 for the DJ. $3,800 for flowers. And $5,500 to cover an overdue mortgage payment on this manor.”
The general manager turned sharply toward Teresa.
“The mortgage payment came from her?”
Teresa said nothing.
Sofia kept reading.
“$2,500 to repair Javier’s truck. $4,000 for an ‘investment’ his father made. $2,200 to clear Mariana’s credit-card debt.”
Javier began sweating.
“Sofia, please… married couples share expenses.”
“No. Those are debts you convinced me to pay for your family.”
Then she opened the final document.
It was a commercial loan application for **$140,000** in working capital for The Pines Manor.
Javier was listed as the primary applicant.
Sofia was listed as the primary co-signer and guarantor.
There was one problem.
Sofia had never seen the application.
And she had never signed it.
She looked at Javier.
“Care to explain this?”
