Alejandra's eyes widened when that comment. She threw a surprised glance at Nicolas and looked at Dr. June with a fake smile on her face.
"I didn't you were engaged, Alejandra. Congratulations to you both!" Dr. June said and stretched her hand for a handshake.
"Thank you!" Alejandra replied sheepishly and responded to the handshake,
"I wanted to... surprise my mum but she..."
"I'm sorry, Mr..." Dr. June said, apologizing to Nicolas.
"Mr Gonzalez!" Nicolas replied firmly.
"I don't know you are her fiancé. Please, let's go in!" Dr. June said and held the door handle.
"That won't be necessary. He won't join us. I just remembered he has things to do. Am I right, l-love?" Alejandra said, trying hard to pronounce the word love.
Nicolas didn't understand the message she was trying to pass. He furrowed his brow at her. Alejandra, who stood close to him, quickly stepped on his foot and Nicolas groaned inwardly to the pain. He bit his lips and still maintained a straight face.
"See what I mean, doc?" Alejandra said, acting innocent.
Dr. June nodded and opened the door. She went into her office and Alejandra slowly followed her.
"Stay here!" Alejandra lip synced to Nicolas and closed the door.
Nicolas understood what she said and rolled his eyes. He glanced at Pilar and walked to the ward desk. He saw a nurse sitting behind it and had her eyes on the folder she was holding. He tapped his finger on the desk and got her attention.
"Excuse me, Nurse?" Nicolas said flatly, still keeping a straight face.
"Yes, sir! How may I help you?" The nurse replied, keeping the folder aside and looking at him.
"The patient in that room is my mother-in-law and I would like her to be transferred to a private room." He said plainly.
"Sorry, sir! But all the private rooms have been occupied by patients." The nurse replied, looking at her monitor.
"Do you know when one will be available?" Nicolas asked firmly.
"Um, let me check!" The nurse said.
She tapped the keys on her keyboard and scrolled down using her mouse. She squinted her eyes to see the words written on the screen properly.
"A room will be available by tomorrow morning." The nurse replied.
"Okay!" He said.
"But the patient's bills haven't been paid yet and the private room costs more than the regular room." She notified him.
"Did I say I couldn't afford it?" Nicolas snarled.
"I'm sorry, sir! I'll have her switched to another room in the morning." The nurse said cowardly, hanging her head and had her eyes in the system.
"Do you have the hospital's account number? I want to pay for her bills online. I didn't come with my wallet." He said plainly, bringing out his phone from the pocket of his trousers.
The nurse brought out a folder which had the hospital's transaction details. Nicolas copied the account number and made the payment through his phone.
"Done!" He said and kept his phone in the pocket.
"One moment!" She said and picked up the telephone, next to the keyboard.
The nurse dialled the hospital's accountant and confirmed the transfer he made.
"Okay! Thanks!" She said and hung up the call,
"The alert was received, sir!"
Nicolas nodded and waited for Alejandra to come out from Dr. June's office. He remembered what she had told him about her flat and took out his phone from his pocket. He sent a text message to a real estate agent whom he had met at a party.
"Good day, Mr Gonzalez! What type of house would you like to buy?" The real estate agent replied.
"I want to rent a flat. With at least four bedrooms and a big living room." Nicolas replied.
"Do you have any particular flat you have in mind or should I send you a catalogue of the flats that would suit your taste?" The real estate agent asked.
"Send the catalogue." Nicolas replied.
In less than a minute, the real estate agent sent him the catalogue and looked at them. He scrolled up to the next picture and the next and didn't seem pleased with the interior designs of the flats he had seen so far. He kept scrolling up until he found the one that suited his taste.
"This one! I want this one. Send me the location of the flat. I want to check the flat myself." He sent.
Nicolas saw Alejandra leaving the doctor's office. She had a sad look on her face. Her eyes met Nicolas and she forced a smile on her face. He kept his phone in the pocket of his jacket and walked towards her.
"Are you okay?" Nicolas asked plainly.
Alejandra nodded, still maintaining the smile on her face until it faded.
"Alejandra!" A voice called.
She turned to her side and saw her sister as she approached her. Judy stood beside her while Nicolas was opposite the two.
"Judy! You're back!" Alejandra said, trying to keep her sister's spirit up,
"How was school today?"
"It was... I don't know. I barely paid attention in class. I kept thinking about Mum all day." Judy said sincerely, looking at Pilar's bed.
Alejandra hung her arm over Judy's shoulder and rubbed her arm using her hand. Judy placed her head on her sister's shoulder. To them, Nicolas seemed to be invisible. He cleared his throat and got their attention.
"I'll have to return to the office. I'll come back to pick you both up." Nicolas said flatly.
Judy removed her head from Alejandra's shoulder and looked at Nicolas askance.
"Okay! Thank you, Mr-." Alejandra said.
"You don't have to thank me." Nicolas said coldly, cutting her off.
"Ale, who is your friend?" Judy asked curiously and glanced at her sister.
"I'm-." Nicolas introduced.
"He is my colleague at work." Alejandra replied quickly.
"Oho! It's nice to meet you, sir!" Judy said.
"I'll see you off." Alejandra volunteered.
Nicolas didn't respond and left the ward. She followed him and escorted him to the exit.
"Why did you do that?" Nicolas asked as undid the button on his jacket.
"I didn't want to scare my sister and let her know that I'm your fiancée." Alejandra said cowardly.
"Fake fiancée!" Nicolas reminded.
"I'll tell her myself. About us. So, would you do me a favour and not tell her your my fiancé?" She said softly.
"Fine, I won't! Only if you agree to keep your own end of the deal." Nicolas said and stopped walking.
They had walked to the car park. Nicolas glanced at the paramedics rolling a patient on a stretcher into the building and looked at her.
"Our contract is strictly between us. I don't want any third party to be involved. No other ear must hear about this, got it?" Nicolas said sternly and she nodded.
Nicolas hummed and walked to his car.
"I'll come back later to pick you up. Once I'm done with work at the office." He said as he continued walking towards his car.
Nicolas unlocked the car and got in. Alejandra stood there and watched him drive out of the hospital premises. He went back to the company. He parked his car in the underground car park and entered the lift. He arrived at his desired floor and walked straight to his office. He was almost close to his office when an employee called his attention.
"Mr Nicolas?"
Nicolas heaved and stopped. He turned around and looked at the employee. He didn't reply and had a serious look on.
"Sir, the photocopy machine and fax machine in the general office isn't working." Sue said.
"Do I look like a repairman to you?" Nicolas said sarcastically.
Sue shook her head and wanted to say something but he didn't let her.
"If you don't have anything useful to say, then don't bother with stupid problems. Do I make myself clear?" Nicolas sneered.
"Yes, sir!" Sue said.
Nicolas didn't respond and went to his office. Sue watched him walk further to the hall and rolled her eyes.
"Do I look like a repairman to you?" She mimicked.
"I don't know what Mady sees in you."
As Nicolas walked to his office, he looked through the glass walls and saw Camilo sitting behind his desk. He shook his head and opened the door.
"What are you doing here?" Nicolas asked flatly, not surprised to see Camilo in his office.
Nicolas had access to his office without authorization. Camilo was loyal to his friend and was contented with his position in the company.
"Oh, Nick! You're back!" Camilo said cheerily as he saw Nicolas walk in.
"Still doesn't answer my question. Again, why are you here?" Nicolas repeated.
"I decided to fill in for you while you were on your romantic lunch break." Camilo said and winked at him.
"First of all, get up from my chair." Nicolas said firmly.
Camilo raised his hands in the air and did as he said. Nicolas didn't look at him and sat down on his chair. He pulled open the drawer and kept his car key. He closed it and looked at Camilo with an annoyed look.
"What do you want?" Nicolas asked.
He was used to Camilo's behaviour and knew he wanted something from him.
"I want you to tell me about... your girlfriend." Camilo revealed.
"Girlfriend?" Nicolas muttered.
"Come on, Nick! How could you have kept this away from me? Aren't we friends?" Camilo said excitedly and pulled up a chair in front of his desk.
"I don't have a girlfriend. And if I had, I won't tell you. You will end up telling my mother and then she will make a big issue out of it." Nicolas said flatly, without making eye contact.
"Don't you trust again? I've been your friend since secondary school and university. Close friends." Camilo said.
"Aren't you familiar with the saying, 'familiarity breeds contempt'?" Nicolas said.
"What does this have to do with your girlfriend? She does look familiar though." Camilo asked and rubbed his chin as he stayed in a thinking pose.
"I have nothing else to tell you. Besides, how do you know all this? Have you been listening to gossip?" Nicolas asked, not interested in what he was saying.
"No! I saw it with my very eyes in the car park." Camilo said with a grin.
"Car park?" Nicolas muttered and looked at him confusingly,
"And what were you doing at the car park?"
"I went to the mechanic workshop and got my car. I had it fixed." Camilo revealed.
"That's great! I don't have to give you lifts anymore." Nicolas said flatly.
"Okay! But since you don't want to tell me about your new friend, I totally agree with you. I know you like to keep things to yourself and will tell me when the time is right." Camilo said and stood up from the chair,
"I'm so happy for you, bro!"
Camilo walked to the door and left the office.
"I pray he keeps his mouth shut and doesn't tell Mum anything." Nicolas said inwardly, watching Camilo leave his office entirely through the glass walls,
"I don't want her to make a big deal out of it. I just hope Alejandra is able to deceive Mum and pull this stunt perfectly."
He heaved and opened the files on his desk.