Shall we get Married? It's a Deal!

Edan O'Connor was speeding down the highway in his Ferrari, rushing to work, having been late arguing with his girlfriend, Vivian, again.

As always, she wanted Edan to sleep next to her until late, but he had to go to work. Although Edan was a man of resources, he had responsibilities, and the money did not come by itself.

He was upset with Vivian, that woman made him lose his mind, she was spoiled and stubborn, but how she made him go crazy in bed, that's why he wasn't able to leave her, he was crazy about her and although he was upset, in fact, he was thinking about what detail to have with her to please her.

Edan looked at the time on the dashboard, it was too late, he accelerated the car. He had to set an example in the company and be punctual, since he was currently serving as the CEO of the investment company INCAPITAL, which was founded by his father. But due to heart disease, Erick, Edan's father, had retired to give the position to his son.

That was a very large company, with several branches and his younger brothers taking over other branches, but the main headquarters had fallen under the responsibility of the eldest son.

A call rang out, Edan stopped at a traffic light and looked at the dashboard, it was his mother, he sighed in frustration, his mother Angelica, it could be quite... Absorbent. But he had to answer, otherwise he would have to put up with a tongue syrup afterwards.

He pressed the button on the dashboard to answer the call and when the traffic light changed, it started.

"Edan? "It was heard on the loudspeaker.

Good day, mother.

"Edan, it's urgent. His voice sounded.

"What's wrong? He asked, looking for a place to stop, Edan had a bad feeling.

"It's your father. The woman let out with a sigh.

Alma Contreras was in the middle of a class, she had just started the day and was already tired, lately she was trying twice as everything. Between college, working as a waitress, and helping her mother with household chores, she felt so exhausted.

But she didn't give up, she knew that one day her effort would be worth it and she daydreamed of the day when she would be able to take her mother and her siblings to a new home, away from their father.

It was unbelievable how this man she had admired so much, and who was once kind, could have changed so drastically after she had applied for his job. Yes, he spent a lot of time looking for a new source of income, but he had already seemed to lose the fighting spirit that he himself had instilled in his daughter from a very young age.

Now he was engaged in nothing but drinking and gambling. And what little he got from the bets he used to buy more drink. Not only was he that, but lately he had become aggressive, it seemed that the world he was in now had consumed him and ended up turning him into a completely different person from who Alma remembered.

But at least, there was his mother, Luz Rivas, who had now become the pillar of the family and worked hard cleaning homes to support her family.

Alma was in the middle of a class and hadn't noticed the countless missed calls on her cell phone, which was stored in her purse in silent mode.

At the end of the hour of classes and checking the device, a strong hunch attacked her, there were too many calls from her home and from her mother's personal phone, something must have happened.

Desperate, Alma looked for a secluded place and called her mother first, the phone was answered by a strange voice.

"Nice day? - Heard on the other end of the line, Alma looked at the screen, checking that she had called the correct number. Yes, it was his mother's number, he put the phone back in his ear.

"Please with Luz Rivas.

"You're his daughter, Alma, aren't you?"

"Yes.

"Excuse me, we've been trying to get in touch with you, my name is Abigail, I'm the nurse on duty at the central hospital, your mother is admitted here.

"What?

"We tried to contact a relative, we called the number that is registered as the house, but since Mrs. Luz's husband is indisposed and her other children are minors, she told us that we could contact you.

"Yes, yes. Alma felt her body begin to shake and tears welling up in her eyes. "I'll go right away.

*

Edan arrived at the central hospital quickly, everyone looked at him surprised, it was not every day that you saw a man arriving in a Ferrari, wearing a designer suit.

He ran to the front desk, asking for Mr. Erick O'Connor, the nurse who blushed at the mere presence of the man, sent him to the third floor, his father was in intensive care. Edan quickened his pace and as he entered the indicated corridor, he saw his mother in a flood of tears, who greeted him with a hug.

"Mum! What happened?

"Your father... Your father had a seizure. The woman explained through tears.

"How is he? Edan asked, pulling her away from his body, to look her in the eye. She began to shake her head as the tears came out.

"He's very bad, the doctors say he probably won't make it through this episode.

"What?! And what are you doing here?! Why isn't he in the clinic?

"We were on our way to the company, he insisted that he wanted to go for a walk and when he had the attack... This was the nearest medical center.

A doctor was approaching at that moment, carrying a folder in his hands, which he was reviewing with great interest and stopped in front of Angelica.

"Mrs. O'Connor?" The doctor called out to her, and she nodded. "We managed to stabilize your husband, however, that doesn't mean that everything is going to be okay, for the moment, we have to wait and trust that Mr. O'Connor will resist.

"What?! That's all they're going to say?! What to expect?! Do something! Edan interrupted, despairing at the calmness with which the doctor spoke.

"Lord...? The doctor looked at him with some suspicion.

"Edan O'Connor, I'm the patient's son. He introduced himself, somewhat angrily, without even extending his hand.

"I understand his concern, however, we have already done everything in our power, the rest is up to him. The doctor finished. Edan ran his hand over his face in frustration.

"We have to move it!" I don't think they're doing enough here; I need them to prepare for their transfer to the clinic immediately, I'll pay whatever it takes! Edan said, showing his displeasure.

"Mr. O'Connor, it's not about the money you have, your father is in a very delicate state for a transfer, if we do, we'd be condemning him. The doctor refuted, disgusted.

"Can we see it?" Angelica stammered, intervening. She knew what her son was like and it would surely all end in an argument with the medical staff.

For the time being, he will be isolated and resting. As soon as possible, we'll get them through. The doctor answered, using a slightly gentler tone towards the woman.

The doctor withdrew. Edan hugged his mother again, who began to have spasms caused by the crying crisis. Helplessness was beginning to fill him, he wished he could do something more for his father.

After a long hour in the hallway, Edan decided he needed to stretch his legs, walk around, or do something, whatever. He remembered that there were several vending machines at the front desk, so he let his mother know he was going to get a couple of coffees.

He went downstairs and began to pour the two glasses, when by chance he turned towards the reception and saw a beautiful young woman running in, she was wearing humble clothes and a backpack slung over her shoulder, so he deduced that it was surely a student, the young woman looked desperate. She arrived asking the nurse, who gave her some directions and again, she ran to the elevators.

"Poor girl," Edan thought, knowing that perhaps that young girl would face the same bitter pill that he was facing, possibly a person important to her, would also be on a stretcher, struggling.

Alma made it to the third floor, just as the nurse at the front desk had explained to her, asking all the way down the corridor about her mother, Luz Rivas, however, no one knew how to give her an answer, which increased her despair.

She continued walking, looking for someone who could help her, the tears that accumulated in her eyes made it difficult for her to see and just as she was wiping them, she collided with a strong body.

The person she had bumped into threw a folder with the impact and without looking up, in the midst of her desperation, Alma bent down to pick up the trail of papers while apologizing.

Warm hands took hers very carefully, it was at that moment, when she noticed how her hands were shaking and looked up to see who the person was holding her.

"Hey, are you okay?" An attractive man in a white coat looked at her with some compassion.

"Hey... I... I am sorry... I-" She began to babble, trying to control her crying.

"Don't worry, try to breathe. The man crouched in front of her, speaking calmly, trying to reassure her. Alma obeyed, tried to take a deep breath, to exhale calmly, when the man saw her calmer, she continued. "What's your name?" Why are you here?

My name... It's Alma... I... I'm looking for my mother. He let out with a sigh, his voice still breaking.

"What's your mother's name?" The man insisted, genuinely interested in helping that young woman.

"Light... Luz Rivas. Alma answered, feeling tears welling up in her eyes again.

"Very well, Alma. The man began, helping the girl to her feet, taking the folder with the papers already collected from his hands. "My name is Mateo, nice to meet you. He squeezed her hand firmly. "I'm the doctor who's treating your mother.

"Oh, doctor. Alma was surprised and at the same time she felt relieved, she had finally found someone who could help her. "Where's my mom?" What happened to her? How is he? In desperation, he began to blurt out the string of questions that he had felt had been stuck in his throat for some time.

"Don't worry, I've just checked on her, she's stable now and under observation.

"Ah, what a relief. But doctor, what happened to you? I don't understand, I didn't see her this morning because she had left for work very early, but last night I saw her and she was fine.

"Well. The doctor ran one of his hands over Alma's shoulder, pushing her slightly towards some benches on the wall of the hallway, so that she could take a seat, and he sat down next to her. "I understand that she was working when she got a severe headache, seemed to get disoriented and fainted, a coworker brought her, but she had to go to continue working.

"What does that mean? What does it have? It could be work fatigue, right?

"I'm sorry to say no, Alma. I recently received the results from your mother and everything indicates that she has suffered from acute liver failure.

"What? What does that mean? But if she is a healthy woman, she has never suffered from such a thing, it must be a mistake.

"I'm sorry to tell you that although these cases are uncommon, it can happen, a healthy person can suffer from liver disease from different causes. Tell me one thing, haven't you noticed any signs, some unusual behavior in your mother?

"Well, then. She thought about it carefully, the truth is that she hadn't been paying much attention to her mom lately, she barely had time to see her face. Luz left very early to work and Alma came back very late from work, their schedules didn't match much. - Ever since she started working, she was telling me that her head hurt a lot, that maybe she needed glasses because it was possibly about her eyesight, she felt that she was not focusing well.

"Hmm... And at some point, you saw the doctor for that?"

"No, I don't think so..." I was only taking pain pills.

"Mmmm, I understand. I think we have already found the cause of his illness. The doctor nodded, thoughtfully.

"What? Alma asked, surprised.

One of the main causes of this type of insufficiency is the excess of pain pills.

"Oh, it can't be! Again, Alma's eyes filled with tears, Mateo felt sorry for that girl and ran his hand over her shoulders as a way to comfort her. "What can we do, Doctor?" What will happen to my mother?

"Listen, for now she will be stable with the treatment, but in the condition, she is in, she will need surgery, the ideal would be to do a liver transplant, to be exact.

"Then do it, please! The young woman pleaded, desperate.

"It's not that simple, Alma. First, we have to get a donor..." The man began to murmur.

"I can do it!" Isn't it? I can donate. Alma interjected enthusiastically.

"Of course, of course, we'd just have to give you some tests..."

"Then let's do it!" Alma got up from her seat, busy, the doctor looked at her sadly, thinking that it was obvious that this young girl was a sweet and innocent girl.

"Soul... It is quite an expensive surgery, and not only the operation, but they will also face large pre- and post-operative expenses. Mateo blurted out, feeling the girl's enthusiasm crush.

Alma sat down again, running her hands through her hair in frustration. Ah, yes! The money! How could I pay for all that? If only what they earned from her and her mother's work, it was enough to support their family.

*

Edan went up to the third floor again, looking for his mother, with the two coffees in his hands, but she was nowhere to be seen. He took a seat on some benches that he had arranged around the place, he must have waited for her, perhaps he was in the bathroom or possibly, it had occurred to him to take a walk around the hospital.

As he sipped his coffee, he couldn't help but notice the young woman he had seen a while ago at the reception, she was a few meters away, sitting on a bench next to a young doctor, they were chatting and looked very closely, "Could that be why you came? Is that going to be her boyfriend?"

Edan was lost in the scene, trying to understand what was going on between the two, not because he was interested, but because he had nothing else to entertain himself with.

A few minutes later, he saw the young woman get up energized and encouraged, but after the doctor said a few words to her, she threw herself back in her seat, as if she had already lost a battle, without even starting it. "Poor girl," he thought again, perhaps the doctor had given him some bad news.

A few minutes later, Edan saw the doctor walk away, leaving the young woman discouraged. She threw her face against her hands and in the distance, you could see how her body was shaking from crying.

Something that had never happened before, happened at that moment, Edan felt compassion. The truth is that Edan was one of those men who believed that each person forges his destiny and therefore each one is guilty of the life he has, therefore, he had never stopped to pity anyone.

But what could that young lady be to blame for the suffering she was going through at that moment?

Edan felt that he wanted to do something for her, his insides churned when he saw her cry like that, although he didn't know why a stranger had affected him, he guessed that perhaps he was sensitive because of his father's condition.

Edan looked around, pondering, What to do? When he saw on the side of the seat, the glass of leftover coffee that was cooling, the one he had brought for his mother.

Well, it wasn't much, but maybe, a little coffee, could make her feel better.

So, he got up, took the coffee on the bench, and walked over to the young woman who was still covered with her face covered as she cried.

"Hey! Edan tried to get the girl's attention as he stood in front of her.

Alma raised her face, surprised, when she heard a voice nearby speaking to her and saw a handsome man standing, who was holding out a cup of coffee towards her.

"I didn't want to bother you, but I thought maybe this would make you feel better. The man murmured.

She stood there stunned, thinking about how a stranger could come at a time like that to just leave her a coffee, how was the insecurity in those times, what did she know if that coffee was adulterated?

She nodded to the subject and without saying a word, received the coffee, waited for the man to leave, saw him sit a few meters away and when she saw him entertaining himself with his phone, she ended up throwing the coffee in the trash can.

Edan returned to his seat, not even he could explain himself what had just happened, he was surprised at his own action. He would never have approached a stranger to offer her anything, even if it was a small cup of coffee.

A minute later, Angelica, Edan's mother, arrived from the room of Erick, Edan's father. The doctor had allowed her to see him, since he had already woken up and asked to speak to his relatives.

Angelica swopped down on her son, making a simple request.

"Edan, your father wants to see you. Edan took a step toward the room, but Angelica stopped him. "Please don't go and tell him anything that might upset him, the doctor told me that he is in a very delicate state and has little time left.

Edan felt a shudder in his body, his mother's words hurt him as if he had been hit hard in the stomach. So, Edan hurried to his father's room.

"Dad! "She called out to him, as soon as she came in and saw him awake.

"Son, how are you?"

"How do you ask me that?" Worried, you better tell me, how do you feel? He walked over to the gurney.

"Don't worry, son. You don't have to worry about me, I've told you many times, everything that has a beginning, has an end. He murmured, Erick, serenely. While Edan swallowed thickly, trying to lessen the lump in his throat.

Although Edan was a cold and arrogant man, he had one weakness: his father.

Erick, Edan's father, had a very different personality from his son, he was a kind and forgiving man, however, that was not an obstacle for both of them to have a very diplomatic relationship.

Despite the hard work involved in building a major investment firm, Erick was always present in raising his children and had taught Edan everything he knew about business, making him a genius on the subject.

"Let's not talk about it, Dad, we need to be positive..." As soon as I can, I'm going to get you out of this... Place. "He wanted to call it a pigsty, but he held back because he knew it would upset his father. "And I'll take you to the best clinic..."

"That doesn't matter, son.

"Hey? How could it not?

"Listen to me, there's something I want to talk to you about..." Edan detailed it, serious, his father spoke slowly, in a thin voice, it seemed to hurt him, he seemed to suffer.

"Why don't you rest, Dad?" Better yet, we'll talk later.

"No, it's important. Erick insisted, trying to hold his son's hand. Edan gave his full attention. "Son, my wish, before I go..." It's that you feel headed, you're very good at your job, but you have to understand the importance of having a family...

"I have you and you are important to me..."

"From your own family..." Erick added, interrupting Edan. "I'd like... I wish I could have seen you married, as well as your brothers, but... Apparently, it won't be possible... And that's my only regret... Not being able to see my eldest son, married..." Erick paused for breath, he seemed to get tired when he spoke, Edan felt a pain in his throat, as he tried to hold back the tears. "But promise me..." Promise... That you'll find yourself a good girl, make her your girlfriend and get married.

"You-" he swallowed thickly. "I promise, Dad.

"Thank you, son. I'm so sorry I can't be here that day... On your wedding day... That will be, my only regret, but your promise, it makes me feel better..." Erick exhaled his breath, tired, closing his eyes slowly.

"No, Dad. Edan thought the worst. "If it's your wish, I'll do it..." Tears pooled in her eyes. "I'll do it right now.

"What do you say, son?" Erick opened his eyes again, turning dimly to Edan.

"Yes, Dad... You know I already have a girlfriend, don't you? Edan tried to cheer him up. "I'll bring her and we'll get married right here."

"You're not talking about Vivian, are you?" Erick frowned.

Edan had forgotten that detail, in his moment of anguish, he didn't think about it, his father, he didn't pass on his girlfriend. There was no time when Erick advised Edan about his relationship with Vivian, he believed that this woman brought out the worst in his son.

Edan swallowed thickly, trying to find an answer, since he couldn't upset his father.

"No, Dad, of course not. Didn't I tell you? Some time ago I started dating another girl.

"Ah! Very nice... I would have loved to meet her. He murmured with a soft smile.

"Of course, I'll bring it right away, and I promise you, I'll fulfill your wish."

Erick fell asleep with a satisfied expression, that relieved Edan, but now, what could he do? Why did he say all that?

The answer was very easy, Edan could not bear to see remorse and sadness in his father's expression, much less when he is dying, and it was worse, if that suffering was caused by him.

He had to find a way to keep his promise to his father, right now.

*

Alma saw the handsome man who had given her the coffee, sitting on a bench a little away and a mature woman who could be her mother, approached him, then saw how the subject ran into a room.

She felt bad, she felt guilty for having thrown away that coffee, apparently, that man was just another family member waiting for news of a patient and tried to be nice to her. The guilt took its toll on his stomach, or was it, Hunger?

A few hours had passed, it was night and Alma was very hungry, she didn't want to get up from where she was in case, they gave her any news about her mother, but her stomach was rumbling and she hadn't eaten anything all day.

Alma always took advantage of eating at the restaurant where she worked and it is not that she carried a lot of money on her, however, she would have to sacrifice a few cents, even if it was for a snack, because she had already been waiting for many hours and the hunger was getting worse.

Now he really regretted throwing away that coffee. Alma sighed tiredly, decided it was time to go get some snacks, so she went down to the hospital cafeteria.

When she arrived, she was surprised to see the attractive man who had given her the coffee a few hours earlier. He was sitting alone at one of the tables, staring blankly. He looked quite affected and she felt a certain pity for him.

Alma checked her pockets, checked the backpack she was carrying, she didn't have much money and she couldn't overspend, since she didn't know if she would need it for her mother or something they asked for at the hospital.

So, finally, he decided to consume something inexpensive, so he walked straight to the coffee vending machine, so he could return the favor as well.

With the little money he had, he bought two coffees and walked straight to the table where this handsome man was.

"Hello. Alma caught Edan's attention cautiously. He looked up but didn't answer. "Can I sit down?" She insisted, he shrugged.

Alma sat down across from him and brought him the coffee on the table.

"Thanks for the coffee. She murmured a little embarrassedly, blushing, now that she was detailing the subject, she was very impressed with how attractive he was. "I saw you when I walked into the cafeteria and thought maybe you needed one.

The young woman did not stop talking and although Edan was not very interested in what she said, he decided to receive the coffee to see if she would shut up and leave, because he needed to think, he had very little time and he had to find a quick solution to his problem.

"Thank you. Edan murmured, receiving the coffee.

"Nice to meet you. Alma stretched out her hand to him. "He called me Alma.

"Edan. He answered, a little reluctantly, because she hadn't finished leaving.

Alma kept talking about the hospital and other nonsense that Edan wasn't interested in.

He was focused on something else.

He had to fulfill his father's last wish before he passed away, he had to get married in front of him, to see him happy and satisfied for one last time, but he couldn't marry his girlfriend, so with whom?

She couldn't tell any of her friends because their parents knew them. And a friend of Vivian's? Impossible, knowing her, she would kill him before he could ask her to.

The only solution, it would have to be, a strange one, perhaps one of those women who charge for their services? Edan could pay him very well for this kind of work, he wouldn't even have to get married, but he would have to fake it, and he could make a contract that lasts a few days, while his father is alive.

That was a good idea, however, as he imagined the whole picture, Edan felt that it wouldn't work, meeting his mother, he would find out what kind of woman she was, in an instant.

Edan ran his hand over his head in frustration. Why didn't he get a solution? How is it that for work he came up with thousands of answers for each problem and not for this one?

Edan heard the distant murmur of a female voice that wouldn't stop talking and looked up. The young lady, who had shown up a few minutes ago and had just given him a coffee, was still there.

Then, a great idea came along.