The businessman’s face turned blue as everyone watched, paralyzed, as he died.

Catalina dropped the bucket. The metallic bang echoed loudly on the gleaming marble of the meeting room, but no one turned to look at her. Seven men, all in fine suits, stood motionless in front of their boss’s lying body.

Martín Ortega, the country’s youngest and most successful businessman, was not breathing.

For three months, Catalina had been just another shadow inside that glass tower. No one greeted her, no one saw her. She was part of the furniture, a ghost that only took shape when something was dirty. But in that instant, she was the only one who moved.

He pushed the executives away and knelt beside the body. His heart was pounding so hard it seemed to rumble in his ears. He put two fingers on the man’s neck, searching for a pulse. Nothing.
Then he remembered a free first aid course he had attended just because they gave away bread at the end.
The instructor’s voice came to mind: “When everyone is paralyzed, someone has to act.”

Catherine tilted Martin’s head back, covered his nose, and blew air into his mouth. Once. Twice. Then she clasped her hands and began chest compressions, counting aloud. Sweat ran down her forehead.

“What’s that woman doing?” one shouted.
“Keep her away from Mr. Ortega!” ordered another.

But Catherine didn’t stop. Thirty compressions. Two breaths. Thirty more.
“Please… it works…” she whispered between gasps.

The sound that followed was faint, but unmistakable: a gasp. Martin’s chest rose suddenly, and Catherine froze. For a few seconds, silence reigned. Then chaos.
“He’s breathing!” one of the men shouted.
“Call an ambulance!” ordered another, as Catherine slumped back, trembling, her hands covering her lips.

The unattainable millionaire whom the whole city admired had just been brought back to life by the cleaning woman no one saw.

The paramedics arrived minutes later and removed her from the scene. Catalina remained standing, trembling, drenched in sweat and with a racing heart. It wasn’t just the adrenaline… it was the murmurs.

“Who do you think she is?”
“An employee kissing the boss… how daring.”
“Surely it was her plan to get noticed,” one murmured contemptuously.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she said nothing. She went back to her mop, trying to hide the humiliation. Martín’s body was taken by ambulance, and within minutes the room was empty.
Before leaving, the head of security stopped in front of her.

“Don’t come back tomorrow. Human Resources will contact you.”

That night, Catalina sat on her narrow bed in her small apartment. Her mother called to ask how work had gone.
“All right, Mom,” she lied.

But he knew it was all over. He had saved a life… and lost his job.

He did not sleep. He relived that moment over and over again: the warmth of his lips, the coldness of his face, the silence afterwards. He had done the right thing, but in his world, that was not called courage, but insolence.

The next morning, he went to the company to pick up his last payment. The guards did not let her pass.
“Orders from above,” they said.

She was about to leave when a black car pulled up in front of her. The window was slowly rolled down… And there he was.
Martín Ortega, pale, weak, but alive. He stared at her.

“You,” he said hoarsely. Get in the car.

The guards looked at each other in surprise. Catherine hesitated, but he insisted.
“Don’t be afraid. You saved my life. Now it’s my turn to save yours.

She went upstairs. The door closed, isolating her from the world that had despised her.
The businessman looked at her and murmured,
“From this moment on, your life will never be the same again.

Catalina remained rigid in the back seat of the luxurious car. Martín, still wearing dark glasses, was silent. The tension could be cut with a knife. Finally, he spoke:

“You got fired, didn’t they?”

“Yes, sir,” she replied quietly. They said I crossed a boundary.

Martin turned his face toward her.
“And what is that limit?” Saving a man’s life?

Catherine looked down, not knowing what to answer. He sighed, taking off his glasses. His face was still pale, but his gaze was intense.

“You shouldn’t have suffered for doing the right thing. I owe you everything.

The vehicle stopped in front of a mansion surrounded by tall iron gates. Catherine gasped.
“Come with me,” he said, opening the door. From today you will work for me, personally.

Inside, the house was a world apart: crystal chandeliers, marble floors, paintings that looked like they were in a museum. Catherine stood motionless, afraid to touch anything.

“I don’t understand, sir… why would you do this for me?”
“Because you saved me. And because—” he paused, “I saw something in your eyes when you refused to give up. No one has ever looked at me like that before. Not even the ones who charge me to do it.

For the first time, Catherine looked him in the face. In his eyes he saw something he did not expect: loneliness.
“You are a good man,” he whispered.
He smiled barely.
“If I am, it’s thanks to you.

Over time, Martín made her his personal assistant. He bought her clothes, taught her to communicate safely, to participate in meetings. Rumors among the staff did not take long to appear.
“I’m sure she’ll sleep with him,” they said behind his back.
Catherine ignored them. He concentrated on learning, on proving that he deserved his place.

But Martín began to change. Sometimes he was worried, locked up for hours. One night, Catherine found him in his office, sweating, with his face distorted.

“Sir! What’s wrong with him? She shouted, running towards him.

He took her hand tightly.
“I… they poisoned me, Catalina. The board… They wanted to eliminate me for discovering the fraud.

She froze.
“What?” Who…?

Martín coughed, trembling, and handed him a small black flash drive.
“Here’s the whole truth. Trust no one… not even in my family.

Before he could say more, his body collapsed. Catherine screamed, asking for help, but no one came. The house, which once seemed majestic, now felt empty and soulless.

Then the front door creaked open. A shadow appeared on the threshold.

“I warned you, girl,” said a cold voice. You should have remained invisible.

Catherine’s heart stopped. He knew that this man knew everything.

It was the end of his silence… and the beginning of something much darker.