A successful entrepreneur returns unexpectedly… what he discovers changes everything.

I enjoy spending time with Elena. She’s a very special girl. Special in what way? Antonela seemed surprised by the question. Excuse me, sir? You mentioned she’s special. In what way? Antonela smiled for the first time since Ricardo’s arrival. She’s very persistent, sir.

Even if the exercises are complicated and I want to cry from frustration, she never gives up and has a huge heart. She always worries if I’m tired or melancholic. She’s a very loving girl and more capable than anyone imagines. Ricardo felt that tightness in his chest again. When was the last time he’d recognized those qualities in his own daughter? And the exercises? How do you know which procedures to use? Antonela looked down again.

I have experience with this, sir. What kind of experience? There was a long pause. Antonela seemed to be internally debating what to reveal. My younger cousin, Paloma, was born with severe cerebral palsy. I spent my entire adolescence accompanying her to therapy, learning techniques, helping her with motor coordination exercises.

When I met Elena, I couldn’t remain inactive, seeing that she needed support. Then I thought maybe I could help. Help with what? Ricardo inquired. I wished she would smile more, sir. A girl should smile every day. She should feel intelligent and capable, not limited. Ricardo was silent for a moment. He reflected on how many times he had seen Elena smile in the past few weeks. He couldn’t remember any specific occasion.

“Where’s Gabriela?” he asked. The lady went out to dinner with the ladies from the golf club. She mentioned she’d be back very late. And you stayed here with Elena? Yes, sir. She ate dinner and took a bath. We practiced our exercises, and I was organizing the materials when you arrived.

Ricardo looked around the living room, noticing for the first time how immaculate everything looked. The designer furniture gleamed. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere, and even the white gardenias seemed more radiant than usual. Antonela, may I ask you a personal question? Of course, sir.

Why do you work as a domestic worker? You clearly have knowledge of occupational therapy. You’re excellent with children. You’re dedicated. Why don’t you work in the health field? Antonela smiled wistfully, because I don’t have a college degree, sir. I learned everything taking care of my cousin, but that doesn’t count for anything official, and I need to work to support my family.

Paloma is 19 years old now. She can’t work because of her condition, but she’s very cheerful. My siblings are in high school. My grandmother sells tamales in the mornings. We make do as best we can. Ricardo experienced a strange combination of admiration and shame. There was a 25-year-old woman working hard to support her family and still finding the time and energy to care for her daughter with love and professional dedication. And you never considered studying, pursuing a career in therapy? Antonela laughed,

But there was no joy in the sound. With what money, sir? How long do I leave my house? At 5:15 in the morning, I take two minibuses to get here by 7, and I work until 7 at night. I take two minibuses back.

I get home at 9:15, help my siblings with homework, prepare dinner, assist my grandmother with her pigeon, and by the time I go to bed, it’s almost 1:00 a.m. On Saturdays, I work in other homes to earn extra income. Ricardo remained silent, absorbing this information. He had no knowledge of his employee’s life beyond the 12 hours she spent at home. Antonela, may I watch the exercises you’re doing with Elena right now, sir? She’s already in her pajamas, and we usually do the main activities in the morning before her online classes. In the morning. Yes, sir.

I arrive at 7, prepare Elena’s breakfast, and while you’re still resting, we do a cognitive exercise session in the backyard. Afterward, she showers, eats breakfast, and gets ready for her classes. Ricardo realized he was completely unfamiliar with his own daughter’s routine.

He left home at 6:15 in the morning and always returned after 10:00 at night. On weekends, he usually stayed in the home study working or went out to business lunches. And she likes those exercises. She loves them, sir. At first, it was difficult because she would get frustrated when she couldn’t accomplish something, but now she asks me to do the activities herself. Yesterday, she managed to write her full name without help for the first time.

Her neurologist commented that such progress could take years to develop. Years. Ricardo opened his eyes in surprise. But Dr. Mendoza indicated that this type of fine motor coordination would be very difficult for Elena. Antonela blushed. Maybe Elena is more motivated now, sir. Motivated. Why? She wants to impress me. She hesitated.

And she also wants to impress you. To impress me. She always talks about you, Mr. Ricardo. She says that when she grows up and is very smart, she’ll be able to collaborate with you in your company. She mentions that she wants to be successful like her father.