Paid To Pretend, Destined To Love

Monday mornings in Madrid arrived with a quiet energy that gradually gathered strength as the city shook off the last traces of dawn. The city had the same effect on Sterling Tech company. Rachel Martínez stepped through the revolving doors, adjusting the sleeve of her navy blazer as Luis greeted her. A loose strand of brown hair slipped across her face, and she tucked it behind her ear without breaking stride. The silver watch her mother had given her caught the morning light as she checked the time. The reception area was already filling with employees. Rachel stepped into the lift with several colleagues and pressed the button for the administrative floor. As the doors closed, she caught her reflection in the mirrored wall and absent-mindedly tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A few moments later, the lift opened. "Morning, Rachel," Cynthia called the moment she spotted her. Rachel looked up and smiled warmly. "Good morning." "You beat me again." "You were only two minutes behind." "Still counts." Rachel laughed softly as they walked towards their desks together. In the administrative block, the familiar sounds of keyboards, printers and quiet conversations welcomed another working day. Rachel greeted everyone she passed before placing her handbag inside the bottom drawer of her desk. A few moments later, her phone vibrated gently. She smiled before even reading the screen. It was a text from her brother, Benjamín. “Don't forget to go to the groceries store today.” Rachel laughed under her breath and was thankful for the reminder. Hours later she was so focused on the reports in front of her. Rachel was used to the organised chaos of working at Sterling Tech for the past few years. Her modest Madrid salary covered rent for the house she shared with Benjamín, bills, and tightly budgeted groceries, leaving no savings. Still, she felt fortunate for this stability. As she started her third report for the day, an unfamiliar number called her mobile phone. Though hesitant to answer, a sudden urge made her pick it up. "Hello?" A woman's anxious voice came through immediately. "Rachel? It's Mrs. Alvarez... your neighbour." Rachel straightened in her chair. "Mrs. Alvarez? Is everything alright?" There was a pause. When the older woman spoke again, her voice trembled. "It's a... it's Benjamín." Rachel's heart skipped. "What about him?" "He collapsed a few minutes ago." The colour drained from her face. "What?" "He was struggling to breathe. I called an ambulance straight away. They've taken him to Hospital Universitario La Paz." Rachel was already on her feet. "Is he conscious? Will he be fine?” "I... I don't know. They took him inside the ambulance very quickly." Rachel's fingers tightened around the phone until her knuckles turned white. "I'm coming." She ended the call before waiting for another word. Everything around her suddenly became a blur. "Rachel?" Cynthia stood immediately after seeing the expression on her face. "What happened?" Rachel swallowed hard. "It's Benjamín." Those two words were enough. Cynthia's expression changed instantly. "What happened to him?" "He collapsed... they're taking him to the hospital." Without another thought, Rachel grabbed her handbag, her phone and the light jacket hanging behind her chair. Her hands shook so badly that she almost dropped her keys onto the floor. "I need to go." "Of course you do. Should I follow you?” "No, I'll be fine. I’ll call you later.” "Don't worry about work," Cynthia said gently. "Just go. I'll inform Senor Torres there was an emergency.” Rachel nodded once before hurrying towards the lift, praying with every step that she was not already too late. She barely remembered pressing the lift button. The few seconds it took for the doors to open felt endless, and by the time she stepped inside, her breathing had already become uneven. The lift doors slid open into the lobby, and she hurried towards the reception. Luis, the security officer, immediately noticed the change in her expression. "Rachel?" She slowed only long enough to answer. "My brother's been taken to the hospital." Luis's face fell. "I'm sorry." She nodded quickly before rushing through the revolving doors into the bright street and reached out for a cab. She had opened the rear door before the vehicle had fully stopped. "Hospital Universitario La Paz, por favor." The elderly driver glanced at her through the rear-view mirror. One look at her pale face was enough. "¿Es una emergencia?" She nodded. "Yes." Without another question, he merged back into traffic. Rachel clasped both hands together on her lap, her fingers trembling despite every attempt to keep them still. She looked out of the window but saw almost nothing. "Please..." she whispered under her breath. "Please be alright." The driver heard her but wisely remained silent. Twenty-five minutes later, the taxi stopped outside the emergency entrance. Rachel paid quickly and rushed into the hospital. At the reception desk, a nurse looked up as she approached. “Excuse me. My brother was brought here by ambulance this morning. His name is Benjamín Martínez.” The nurse checked the records. “You're Rachel Martínez?” “Yes.” The nurse nodded. “The doctor asked to be informed when you arrived. Please follow me.” Rachel's heart sank. “Is he alright?” “He's stable,” the nurse replied gently. “The doctor will explain everything.” A few minutes later, Rachel was seated across from Dr. Herrera in a consultation room. “Your brother is stable,” the doctor said. “However, our examinations show that his heart is not pumping blood as effectively as it should.” Rachel stared at him. “We believe he may have a form of cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle. We'll need more tests to confirm it, but he requires treatment immediately.” “Is he going to be alright?” “His condition can be managed, but we must act quickly. We'll begin medication today, and depending on the results, surgery may become necessary.” Rachel gripped her handbag tightly. “How much will it cost?” “Some tests are covered by the public healthcare system, but additional treatments and procedures may involve extra expenses. We'll discuss all available options with you.” Rachel nodded silently, already calculating numbers in her head. Her only concern was Benjamin’s wellbeing. She was going to do all it takes to make him okay.