Episode 1

Cristina was a beautiful young woman, with long black hair that fell to her back, white skin, light eyes, and an enchanting smile. She was orphaned at the age of five when her parents lost their lives in a car accident. With no one else in the world, she was taken to an orphanage where children stayed until someone decided to adopt them. Despite her energy and joy, she was never lucky enough for someone to love her enough to take her out of that gray and gloomy place. Thus, time passed without that happening.

Years passed, and that little girl became a beautiful woman. However, as she approached adulthood, her time at the orphanage was coming to an end. The director of the place, Mirian, had grown fond of her and decided to talk to her good friend Rafael Sarmiento to offer her a job in his company. Rafael, being a good friend of Mirian, agreed to help the young woman without knowing her.

"Cris, dear," Mirian told her as they walked towards the garden. "Tomorrow you have a job interview with a good friend."

"Thank you," Cristina replied with a nervous smile. "You have always been good to me and have supported me since I arrived at this place."

"Don't be nervous," Mirian encouraged her. "My friend Rafael is a good person; I'm sure you'll do well."

"I know he must be a good person," Cristina said, grateful for Mirian's unconditional support, who had been the only light in those dark years.

Since the death of her parents, Cristina had felt that she did not fit in anywhere. She felt lost and hopeless, but her life was about to change, although not in the way she expected.

"I'm sorry I couldn't get you adopted. I feel guilty for not doing enough." Mirian's tone of voice went from optimistic to nostalgic. She had always tried by all means to get someone to adopt the girl; however, for some strange reason, no one seemed interested in Cristina; when a family did, they gave up after a few days.

"It wasn't your fault. I am deeply grateful for everything you have done for me. Without you, I would never have been able to bear the great void that my parents left." Cristina's sincerity was innate; she really felt grateful to the director of the orphanage, because thanks to her she was able to cope with the pain caused by the loss of her parents.

The next day arrived like a gust of wind, making Cristina tremble; not from the cold, but from the nerves of facing real life. Looking in the mirror she realized that her clothes were not the most suitable for an interview; her attire was simple and somewhat worn. With great sadness she left the room she shared with other young women; although Laura, her only friend in that place, tried to encourage her: "You look beautiful, so change that face," she said as they walked down the hall that led to the dining room.

"It's not true. Look at me; I look more like someone who is going to beg for alms and not look for a job."

"Stop putting yourself down; you are beautiful and very intelligent so go and show what you are capable of." Laura was not lying when she said that about her friend; it was true. Cristina was very intelligent and excelled in mathematics; in addition, wherever she went she caught the attention of everyone around her. However, that same insecurity prevented her from recognizing it.

After breakfast, Cristina left the orphanage carrying with her the encouraging words of her friend. She had sworn to help the children of the orphanage and, of course, Laura.

Mirian had left the address of the company written on a piece of paper, but being almost all the time locked within the walls of that gloomy place, she did not know the city very well. Although the director knew that, she also thought it was time to let Cristina fend for herself.

On the other hand, in that luxury car was a man reviewing some documents. With a frown and hawk-like eyes, he inspected every word, every letter on the paper he held in his hands. Enrique Sarmiento radiated a cold and calculating confidence, but under that impenetrable shell hid a man marked by secrets and painful decisions. His aura was so imposing that whoever saw him would feel a chill, but few knew the vulnerability hidden behind his intense gaze.

"What happened?" Enrique asked with a firm, though slightly tired voice, when he felt the car stop abruptly.

"I'm sorry, sir. A young woman crossed the street and I almost ran her over," the driver replied with a slightly altered voice.

Enrique looked out the window, watching the young woman with long black hair walk away quickly. He did not know then that that fleeting figure would awaken in him an obsession that would jeopardize his entire controlled world.

"Continue, we have no time to lose," Enrique said as he turned his gaze back to the documents in his hands.

At 28 years old, Enrique was a tall and athletic man, with deep black eyes and skin as white as marble. His presence commanded respect and fear; in the business world he was known not only for his ruthless intelligence, but also for an ambiguous ethic: capable of destroying his enemies without mercy, but also of protecting those he considered trustworthy with fierce loyalty. Under that implacable facade was a man who struggled against his own ghosts and hidden desires.

The driver continued his way towards the Sarmiento companies, whose owner and founder was Enrique's father: Rafael Sarmiento, seventy-five years old, who unlike his son was characterized by being a fair and kind-hearted man, who liked to help the most unfortunate and who wanted to give his son a lesson in humility.

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