The letter from Rodrigo Mendes's lawyer arrived in April, addressed to Leonardo's office.
She knew about it because he'd said — she'd made him promise this — that anything that touched the landscape of their life came to her first. He called at noon.
"Don't panic," he said, which was how she knew there was a reason to consider it.
"What is it?"
"A preliminary inquiry from Mendes's legal team. About the port contracts."
She went very still. "The ten-year contracts. The ones from September."
"Yes."
She let the silence sit for exactly two seconds, which was how long she allowed herself before thinking.
"On what grounds?" she said.
"They're claiming a procedural irregularity in the renewal process. Specifically, that the board vote was influenced by ex parte communication — contact fr
