Alejandro took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts as he sat down opposite Camila. The plush armchair beneath him felt unusually uncomfortable. He had always prided himself on being a decisive man, someone who took action rather than hesitated. Yet, here he was, faced with a situation that couldn’t be solved with a business strategy or a contract negotiation.
“I’ve been thinking about how much I depend on you,” he began carefully, watching her reaction. Camila’s eyes remained steady, a mixture of wariness and hope. “You’ve been more than an employee to me. You’ve been a vital part of my life here, even if I didn’t realize it until now.”
Alejandro glanced at Isabela, now sleeping soundly in Camila’s arms, and felt a strange warmth in his chest. The little girl was oblivious to the complexities of adult life, to the struggles and injustices that her mother faced every day. He couldn’t change the world, but he could change this.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” he said, his voice gaining strength as the plan formed in his mind. “First, I’m going to make sure you have a proper contract. Full benefits, maternity leave, health insurance—the works. You deserve nothing less.”
Camila’s eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words came.
“And about Isabela,” Alejandro continued, “I have an extra room here. Why don’t we set it up as a nursery? You can bring her with you to work. That way, you don’t have to worry about finding someone to care for her. She can be with you.”
Tears glistened in Camila’s eyes, a mix of relief and gratitude. Alejandro had never seen her cry before, and it struck him how much she must have held back over the years, always presenting a strong front.
“Mr. Mendoza, I—” she began, but Alejandro held up a hand, stopping her.
“Please, Camila, call me Alejandro. And there’s one more thing.” He hesitated, thinking of his own family’s struggles back in Chiapas, the hard lives they had led. “I’d like to help your family in Oaxaca. If there are any medical bills or other expenses, let me take care of them. Consider it a thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
Camila’s composure finally broke, a sob escaping as she clutched Isabela tighter. “Thank you, Alejandro. I don’t know how to repay you.”
Alejandro shook his head. “You’ve already repaid me a hundred times over by being who you are. I’m just sorry it took me this long to realize it.”
The weight of responsibility felt different now—not a burden, but a choice to do better. Alejandro knew he was in a position to make a difference, not just in his business, but in the lives of those around him. And he would start right here, in his own home.
As he watched Camila rock her daughter, humming that unfamiliar lullaby, a sense of peace settled over him. In the complexity of life, sometimes the simplest decisions were the most profound. Alejandro Mendoza, the man who had mastered the art of business, was beginning to learn the art of compassion.
