She nods.
“Did he scare her?”
Another nod, smaller this time.
Esteban cuts in, trying to regain control. “This is inappropriate. That child shouldn’t be here. Her mother broke policy bringing her.”
There it is.
Not concern. Not urgency. Just rules used as a shield.
Then Ximena speaks.
“He said if my mom caused trouble, she wouldn’t work here anymore.”
Every eye turns to Esteban.
He recovers quickly. “Children misunderstand.”
“I didn’t misunderstand,” she says, voice trembling but firm. “You told her to sign something.”
A muscle tightens in his jaw.
You stand. “What did you make her sign?”
“Nothing illegal.”
The answer is careless.
“That wasn’t your best choice,” you say.
Rafa steps closer, just enough to shift the balance. Esteban straightens, but the edges of his control are already slipping.
Then Ximena says the words that break everything open.
“Please don’t let him take my mom downstairs again.”
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