HER DEAL WITH THE DEVIL

Elena's face contorted in desperation. "Tell me, is it money you want? Anything, I'll pay! Just name it."

The devil's expression remained unmoved. "You have to pay with your life."

Elena's face contorted in horror. "What? That's absurd! Why would I pay with my life? Don't you think it would be devastating for my mother if I died? She relies on me, and my death would surely kill her too. Dying for her would be a waste."

The devil's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes cold and calculating. "That's the only price you have to pay."

Elena's desperation grew. She grasped the devil's arm, her nails digging deep. "Please, bring up another option! I beg you!"

The devil's gaze never wavered. "Fine. I'll give you a second option, one I've never offered to anyone before."

Elena's heart skipped a beat as the devil continued, "You're twenty-nine now, and according to my knowledge, you have eighty years to live on this earth. You've used twenty-nine years, leaving fifty-one years remaining. I'll take fourty of your years as payment. You'll die at the age of forty,that is after 11 years"!

Without hesitation, Elena nodded her head. "Fine, forty is a better deal."

The devil vanished into thin air, leaving her stunned and reeling from the weight of her decision.

Suddenly, nurses rushed into the hallway, their faces filled with excitement. "It's a miracle!" one of them exclaimed. "Your mother's hands are moving, she's blinking her eyes... it's a miracle!"

Elena's heart leapt with joy as she followed the nurses back into her mother's room. And then she saw it - her mother was sitting up in bed, a faint smile on her face. But that wasn't all - with the nurses' assistance, her mother stood up, her eyes shining with a newfound vitality.

The doctor's voice was filled with amazement. "I've never seen anything like this. This 'miracle' is beyond anything I can explain."

Elena's mother smiled at her, and Elena felt a surge of love and gratitude. In her mind, she thought, "The deal... it actually worked. I traded half my life for this moment... and it's worth it."

With tears of joy streaming down her face, Elena rushed to her mother's side and wrapped her in a tight hug. The doctor and nurses smiled, clearly delighted by the miraculous turn of events.

As the medical team began to discuss the details of her mother's discharge, Elena held her mother close, basking in the warmth of their reunion.

Elena spent the rest of the day with her mother, catching up and cherishing every moment. As the evening drew to a close, she reluctantly said her goodbyes, promising to return the next morning to pick her mother up.

The doctor had explained that they needed to monitor her mother overnight to ensure she was stable enough for discharge. Elena didn't mind; she was just grateful her mother was on the mend.

As she left the hospital, Elena's secretary, who had been waiting outside, fell into step beside her. "Ma'am, I'm glad to see your mother is doing better."

Elena smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Yes, it's a miracle. I need to find a place for us to stay, though. I don't want to take my mother back to my father's house."

Her secretary nodded understandingly. "I know an agent who can help you find a rental property. His name is Agent John."

Elena's eyes lit up with interest. "Great, can I have his number? I'd like to speak with him tonight."

Her secretary nodded and began searching for the number on her phone.

Elena continued"I don't want my mother exposed to... unnecessary stress."

Her secretary nodded sympathetically, handing Elena the agent's phone number.

Elena took the phone number from her secretary and copied into her own phone then she suddenly looked up"Remember, don't breathe a word to anyone about my mother's recovery," she cautioned.

Her secretary nodded vigorously, making a zipping motion across her lips. "My mouth is zipped, ma'am. I won't tell a single soul."

Elena nodded, satisfied. "Good. Now, take me home."

Her secretary bowed slightly and led Elena to the car. As they drove away from the hospital, Elina gazed out the window, her mind whirling with thoughts of her mother's recovery and their uncertain future.

************************

In a luxurious shopping mall, a woman emerged from a sleek, jewel-toned car, surrounded by attendants who opened the door for her. She wore designer clothes, her dark glasses glinting in the evening light. As she strode into the mall, the staff greeted her with obsequious bows.

This woman was the second wife of Elena's father, a man who had all but showed less concern to his first wife and daughter. The second wife had borne him four children and reveled in his attention and adoration.

As she walked through the mall, the staff scattered before her, eager to cater to her every whim. But one young sales associate failed to notice her approach, too busy calculating sales figures to bow. The woman's eyes narrowed as she approached the girl.

"You," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I'll make sure you're fired. You didn't even bow to me."

The girl trembled, apologizing profusely. "Ma'am, I was busy... I didn't notice your presence..."

The woman's laughter was cold, mirthless. "You didn't notice my presence? Am I a fly that you can ignore?" She turned to the head of staff. "I'll be back for her."

The staff watched in terror as the woman stormed off, her attendants scurrying to keep up. She demanded to see the finest clothes in the mall, and the head of staff hastened to oblige, leading her to a exclusive boutique. The woman selected almost fifty outfits, her choices whisked away to be packaged and prepared for her.

As she prepared to leave, she sought out the young sales associate who had failed to bow. "Call the owner of this place," she commanded, her voice dripping with malice. "I want this idiot fired.else I will lockdown this mall right now!!!!!"

The owner, a sycophantic man who knew the woman's influence and wealth, hastened to comply. "Right away, ma'am. I'll take care of it immediately."

The woman dusted her hands, a gesture of disdain, and walked away, leaving the young sales associate to tremble in tears.