Charlotte looked between the two men. ‘I think what Dan’s saying is that this is a compelling bird in the hand scenario for Marina.’

‘Precisely. I think that would be pretty attractive to someone in her straitened circumstances, and it wouldn’t take much in real terms to satisfy her needs – even offering an amount far below your father’s proposed gift would still prove life-changing. Plus the prospect of court action against someone like you, Mateo, would be highly daunting to her. I’m assuming you would contest the gift if it actually went through?’

‘Well I suppose we’d have to but—’

‘So then this could save you all that hassle, pain, drama, headlines. Who knows? She could decide to hold out for the whole shebang but you’ve got nothing to lose at this stage. Why not give it a go and try to head her off at the pass? Get your lawyers to make the offer and see what she says.’

Charlotte watched Mateo closely. He was looking conflicted. His eyes met hers.

‘Actually, I think I’d like Charlotte to take the deal to her.’

‘Me?’ she asked in surprise. ‘But I’m not a lawyer or banker.’

‘No, but you are the one building a relationship with her, she’s more likely to listen to you. Dan’s right, this is worth a shot. I’ll consult with my advisers and decide on an authorized amount you can go to her with. I’ll also get my legal team to draw up any ancillary paperwork so that if she goes for it, she signs a binding agreement there and then – as Dan says – agreeing to waive any future gift or donation from the Mendoza estate.’

Charlotte nodded. ‘. . . Okay. Well, I’ll progress things with her tonight and take it to her, see if she’ll bite; but she’s a shrewd woman and she may well have a game plan; she might even have anticipated all of this.’ Charlotte tipped her head to the side questioningly. ‘What if she won’t sign?’

‘Then it will come down to the matter of time – does my father recover sufficiently to make the donation, in which case we are facing a lengthy court battle? Or does he die before it can be enacted?’ He shrugged sadly. ‘Neither one is pleasing to me.’

‘I’m so sorry this is happening to your family, Mateo. It’s already a stressful enough time,’ Charlotte said.

‘I feel I have begun mourning him already. Whatever happens, it will be hard to get past the sense of betrayal that is attached to the donation – how he could put her before us, his family.’

‘Well, I hope at least that is something our professor will be able to help with. It may give you closure on that score.’

‘Professor?’ Milton asked, sounding bemused and crossing his ankle over his knee, looking across at Charlotte question-ingly. He wasn’t the sort of man to bend the knee to academia.

‘Dr Ferrante, a history professor at Carlos III University. He has agreed to research the family’s history for us. He should be here any moment, in fact; I asked my PA to book enough time for us all to talk first, but if we do end up needing his services, it could be very healing.’