In Your Care

The next morning, Carmen stood in front of the hospital, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself for the interview. Her nerves were almost drilling her. Diego’s worsening condition dealt heavily on her, but this job was a lifeline for her. It was her chance to help him, to keep her promise. She squared her shoulders and walked inside.

Mariana met her in the hallway with a supportive smile. “Hey, Carmi. You’ve got this, just be yourself, okay?”

Carmen nodded, though her stomach churned with nervousness. She followed Mariana to the supervisor’s office as they approached the door. Mariana knocked softly.

“Come in,” a voice called from inside.

They stepped into the office, where a middle-aged man with kind but serious eyes sat behind the desk. His nameplate read Mister Rodriguez. He gestured for Carmen to sit.

“Good morning, Mister Rodriguez,” Carmen greeted him, taking a seat.

“Good morning, Miss Valiente. Mariana has spoken highly of you,” Mister Rodriguez began, glancing at her resume. “But she also told me you have no formal experience.”

Carmen swallowed hard. “That’s correct, sir. Before my dad passed away years ago, I cared for him while he was ill and managed to balance my high school with those responsibilities. I know it’s been a long time, but I have a passion for caring for people. But I’ve never had professional training.”

“Sorry for the loss,” Mister Rodriguez said.

“Thank you, sir,” Carmen replied, forcing a small smile.

Mister Rodriguez tapped his fingers against the desk. “I understand where you’re coming from. Professionalism is normally a concern for any organization, as you well know, Miss Valiente. But we’ve had a last-minute request from a very influential family in the country, the Monteiros. Their only heir is physically challenged because of an accident. Our experienced caregivers are all unavailable, and we need someone to fill in immediately.”

Carmen blinked, her mind raced. The Monteiros? She’d heard the name before, everyone had. They were one of the wealthiest families in Madrid, with a reputation for both power and fame.

Mister Rodriguez leaned forward, his eyes steady on hers. “I won’t sugarcoat this, Carmen. The Monteiros are important clients. If anything goes wrong, it could harm our reputation. Mariana told me you’re diligent, but I need to know that you won’t crack under pressure. Can you handle this?”

Carmen’s throat tightened, but she nodded firmly. “Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.”

Mister Rodriguez studied her for a long moment, then sighed. “Alright. I’ll trust you with this. Please, don’t make me regret it.”

“I won’t, sir,” Carmen promised.

“Good,” Mister Rodriguez replied, relaxing slightly. “Mariana will brief you on the specifics. You’ll need to be professional, attentive, and ready for anything. Show empathy when doing your job.”

Carmen nodded, standing up. “Thank you for this opportunity, Mister Rodriguez.”

“Just do your job well, that’s all I’m asking. Mariana, please give her the details.” Mister Rodriguez said, a note of finality in his voice.

Mariana motioned for Carmen to follow her out of the office. Once they were in a hallway, she handed her a folder. “Everything you need is in here; addresses, contact numbers, medical details. They’ve requested extra discretion due to some personal matters.”

Carmen raised an eyebrow. “Personal matters?”

Mariana nodded. “Their son, Romero Monteiro, was in a car accident. He lost his family recently in a plane crash, and he’s not in a good place physically or emotionally. You’ll be helping him recover, but it won’t just be about his body. He’s broken, Carmen. You need to be prepared for that.”

Carmen’s heart clenched. She almost wanted to tell her friend that she couldn’t do it, but she drew in a deep breath, steadying herself. “I’ll do my very best.”

“I know you will, Carmi. Just stay calm, follow the instructions, and remember this is about more than just a job. You’re making a difference. Come with me, let me brief you on a few things,” Mariana said, squeezing her hand before leading her to her office space.

A few hours later, Carmen stood outside the Monteiro mansion, her breath catching at the sheer size and grandeur of the estate. The tall iron gates loomed before her, and beyond them, the mansion stretched out like something from a fairy tale. But carmen knew there was nothing magical about what waited inside.

She pressed the buzzer, and a stern voice crackled through the intercom. “Why are you here?”

“I’m Carmen Valiente, from Lifeline Medical Center. I’m here to assist Mister. Romero Monteiro,” Carmen said, her voice surprisingly stable despite the nerves eating at her insides.

There was a pause, the gates swung open slowly, allowing her entry.

Carmen walked up the long driveway, her heart drumming in her chest as the mansion appeared closer. She couldn’t shake the feeling that once she stepped inside, everything in her life would change for good or bad.

As the door opened, she was greeted by Pablo, his face tight but polite. “Miss Valiente, I presume?”

“Yes,” Carmen answered, feeling small in the shadow of the mansion.

“Follow me,” Pablo instructed, turning sharply and leading her through the vast hallways.

The interior was as grand as the exterior; crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and art pieces that looked priceless adorned the walls. It looked amazing.

Finally, they reached a large set of doors. Pablo paused and looked at Carmen. “Mister Romero is inside. I need to tell you this for free, he’s not an easy man to deal with. But he needs your help, and I’m hoping you’ll do your best,” he said.

Carmen nodded, her mouth dry as Pablo pushed open the doors, revealing a dimly lit room.

And there, sitting by the window in a wheelchair, was Romero Monteiro. His once powerful frame was slumped, his face pale and haggard, eyes dark with grief and exhaustion. He looked nothing like the man she had heard about.

“Mister Romero, this is your caregiver, Carmen Valiente. She’ll be helping you with your recovery,” Pablo introduced her.

Romero didn’t bother glancing in her direction.

“I’ll be going to the company now to monitor what is going on. I’ll see you when I’m back,” Pablo said, and turned to leave. He stopped at Carmen’s side. “I’m leaving him in your care.”

Carmen nodded and, with that, Pablo left the room. She stepped forward cautiously. “Mister Monteiro, I’ll be assisting you with your recovery,” she said, her voice soft but firm.

Romero didn’t look at her, his gaze fixed on the view outside. “I don’t need help. Leave,” Romero’s voice was cold and distant.

Carmen gulped, her heart pounding. “With all due respect sir, you do need help. Recovering from both physical and emotional trauma isn’t easy, but I’m here to make sure you don’t go through it alone.”

Romero’s eyes, icy and full of grief, finally shifted towards her. “Alone is exactly what I am. And exactly how I like it.”

Carmen’s heart clenched at the raw pain in his words, but she refused to be deterred. “You may want to be left alone, but that’s not how healing works.”

Romero scoffed, looking away. “Stop wasting your time. Leave.”

Carmen frowned. This was going to be more difficult than she had imagined. Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward again, her soft footsteps muffled by the flush carpet. She moved to stand beside him, the large window framing the breathtaking view of the city below. The sprawling skyline stretched out, lights flickering on as the day began to fade.

For a moment, Carmen remained silent, simply watching the world beyond the glass. “The view is beautiful,” she said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that seemed out of place in the cold room. “I could take you for a walk around the grounds if you’d like. Fresh air might help you relax.”

Romero didn’t respond. His jaw clenched, and his gaze remained fixed on the horizon, as if he hadn’t heard her.

Carmen wasn’t discouraged. She stepped a little closer, her eyes catching the subtle twitch of his fingers as he gripped the wheelchair. “Staring out of the window won’t change anything, you know. But perhaps a walk will. You just need to breathe,” she continued, her tone gentle.

Romero’s lips pressed into a thin line, his silence growing louder with every passing second. His grip on the armrests tightened until his knuckles turned white.

“Stop bothering me. I’m not going anywhere,” Romero finally muttered, his voice low and cold.

Carmen's eyebrows lifted, folding her arms across her chest. “You’re really going to sit here all day and do nothing?” she asked, her tone teasing just enough to get under his skin. “Suit yourself, but I’m still getting paid, whether you accept my services or not.”

That made Romero look at her, his sharp eyes narrowing in irritation. “I don’t care about your damn paycheck. If you think you can push me around like some charity case, you’re mistaken,” he snapped, his voice filled with disdain.

Carmen smiled slightly, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I don’t think you’re a charity case, Mister Monteiro. But sitting here, refusing help…what exactly are you proving then?”

Romero’s jaw clenched tighter. “I don’t need your help. I didn’t ask for it.”

Carmen tilted her head, her gaze steady as she met his glare. “You didn’t ask for it?” she echoed. “But clearly, someone thought you needed it.” Carmen paused, letting the words sink in. She leaned in closer. “Do you really think you’re going to prove anything by wasting away in this room? Or are you just afraid of facing the world without your family?”

The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating. Romero scowled, his eyes flicking back toward the window as if he could shut Carmen out by ignoring her.