2. Miguel Benites

The alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., but I was already awake. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept through an entire night.

My name is Miguel Benites, CEO of one of the largest security companies in the world. My body seems to run on an internal clock that doesn’t allow me to rest for long. I got up slowly, trying not to make any noise so I wouldn’t wake Giulia.

In the kitchen, I made myself a cup of black coffee and a glass of chocolate milk for her. Meanwhile, Maria, our housekeeper, took care of the rest, since my long work hours kept me from handling our meals.

Then I went upstairs to her room. Giulia was curled up under the covers, hugging her teddy bear.

“Princess, time to wake up,” I said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

She opened her eyes slowly, her face still heavy with sleep.

“I don’t want to go to school, Daddy.”

“I know, sweetheart. But you’re so smart… you need to go so you can become even smarter.” I ran my hand gently through her hair, earning a small smile. “Come on, breakfast is ready.”

With a little persistence and a lot of affection, I managed to get Giulia out of bed. But a work email demanded my attention, so I let Maria finish getting her dressed and brushing her hair.

Something she did out of love—not because she had to.

No matter how hard I tried, it never seemed to be enough. She needed something I couldn’t give her.

In the car, she stayed quiet, staring out the window with her teddy bear in her arms. I knew that distant look meant something was bothering her, but I didn’t want to push.

When I dropped her off at school, I knelt down to her level.

“If you need anything, call me, okay?”

She nodded and walked slowly through the gate, glancing back at me a few times.

I arrived at the office more than twenty minutes late. Carmen, my secretary, was waiting at the door with a stack of documents.

“Miguel Benites, late again?” she said in that firm tone only she could use with me.

“I had to take Giulia to school.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to gather my thoughts. “I can’t leave her alone.”

“I know, but you need help. Have you thought about hiring a nanny?”

“No, Carmen. I don’t want a stranger taking care of my daughter.”

She gave me that look—a mix of patience and disapproval.

“Just think about it.”

“No.” I headed straight to my office, trying to shut the subject down.

The day went by in a blur of meetings, reports, and decisions—each one demanding my full attention, enough to make me miss the three calls from the school.

Then the phone rang a fourth time.

My heart dropped when I saw the school’s number.

“Mr. Benites? This is Principal Ana Paula. Giulia had a crying spell. She refused to stay in the classroom. We think it would be best if you came to pick her up.”

“I’m on my way.”

I left in a hurry, Carmen watching me with concern. On the drive, I tried to think of a way to help Giulia. Maybe I was wrong to believe I could be both father and mother at the same time.

I found my daughter sitting in the principal’s office, clutching her teddy bear so tightly it seemed like it was her only anchor in the world.

“Daddy…” she whispered when she saw me, running into my arms.

“I’m here, princess. Let’s go home.”

“I don’t want to stay here…” she sobbed.

“I know, sweetheart. You don’t have to.”

I signed her out and took her with me. But instead of going home, I brought her to the office. I couldn’t miss any more meetings—and I couldn’t bear leaving her alone.

When we walked in, Carmen raised an eyebrow at the sight of Giulia in my arms.

“Looks like little Miss Benites is working with her dad today,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

“She’s staying with me,” I said firmly.

Giulia sat in an armchair in the corner of my office, holding the tablet Carmen had given her to keep her distracted. I tried to focus on the reports, but every glance at my daughter reminded me of what Carmen had said.

Maybe she was right.

Carmen appeared at the door a while later, balancing a tray with a glass of juice and some cookies. She shot me a quick look before crouching in front of Giulia, who was still clutching her teddy bear tightly.

“You must be starving after all that crying.”

Giulia shook her head, her face still buried in the plush toy.

“I don’t want to eat…”

“But your teddy does, doesn’t he?” Carmen held out a cookie as if offering it to the bear. “I bet he’s starving.”

Giulia glanced at her, her lips trembling as she tried to hold back another wave of tears.

“I don’t want to go to school anymore,” she murmured, her voice breaking. “It’s bad there… I want to stay with Daddy.”

My chest tightened, and I knelt beside her.

“Sweetheart, I know today was hard,” I said, running my hand through her hair. “But school is important. Daddy doesn’t like being away from you either, but we have to be strong, remember?”

“I don’t want to,” she insisted, sniffling. “I just want to stay here… with you.”

Carmen sighed and sat beside her, gently taking her small hand.

“Giulia, sometimes we do things we don’t like so we can grow stronger and smarter. And you know what? Your dad does that every single day. He works this much because he loves you.”

Giulia looked at me, her eyes filled with tears. I swallowed hard, a knot forming in my throat.

“That’s right, princess. I do everything for you. And if you eat a little now, I promise we can draw together later here at the office. What do you think?”

She hesitated, but when Carmen offered another cookie to the teddy bear, Giulia slowly took it and gave it a small bite.

“That’s my brave girl,” Carmen said, winking at me. “And tomorrow, we’ll figure out together how to make school a little less boring. Deal?”

Giulia nodded, still a little down, but a faint smile appeared on her lips.

When the clock hit 6 p.m., Carmen walked into the office again. Without a word, she placed a folder on my desk.

On the cover, it read:

“Nanny Candidates – Urgent”

I looked up at her.

“Carmen…”

“It’s not a suggestion, Miguel. It’s a necessity.”