My name is Richard Valmont, and the night I followed my cleaning lady, I thought I was about to catch a thief.
I had no idea I was about to confront the worst version of myself.
Rain hammered against the glass walls of my office on the 35th floor of Valmont Tower. But the storm outside was nothing compared to the one inside me. In my hands was a financial report—cold numbers, undeniable losses. Expensive supplies had been disappearing for weeks.
And every trail pointed to one person.
Elena Cruz.
My night cleaner.
Quiet. Humble. Always polite. The kind of woman who lowered her eyes when she spoke. The kind I thought I understood.
“How could you?” I muttered, disgust burning in my throat.
That night, I didn’t confront her.
I hunted her.
I turned off the lights in my office and waited in the shadows. I watched her arrive, just like always, moving carefully, wiping down the shelves, dusting the awards I used to admire.
Then I saw it.
She slipped into the supply room… using a key she shouldn’t have.
I held my breath as she filled a black bag—not with money, not with electronics—but with industrial disinfectants, masks, gloves.
Cleaning supplies.
“For resale?” I thought bitterly. “Black market?”