An Unexpected Request

Chapter 45

"Nigel, it does not interest me if they do not have all the samples yet," Miranda Priestly pointed out impatiently in a low voice from a corner of the hospital corridor. "Fix it," she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to tame her irritation as she listened to the man's new complaints. "I repeat: It does not interest me. If I had to waste time on these matters, I would not have assigned you to handle them. I want to see all the samples on our videoconference-the woman paused to look at the watch on her wrist-two hours from now. See how lucky you are. Plenty of time. That's all!" Miranda hung up the cellular before Nigel could react.

The editor slipped the device into her coat pocket with a sigh. When she turned around, at the end of the corridor, she saw one of the nurses coming towards her. The young woman had that annoying smile on her face.

"Mrs. Priestly."

Miranda shuddered internally at the childlike tone and goofy green eyes.

"Ready to see your girls?" The singing voice and honeyed smile.

Miranda resisted a surly response to the silly question and limited herself to pursing her lips and a nod. It would be unwise to make enemies with the hospital staff, especially those who treated her daughters directly. Also, go figure out why, but her girls liked Sally.

"Please," the plump blonde young woman pleasantly asked, waving her hand in the direction, and the editor resignedly followed her, thinking that the girl was in dire need of considerable weight loss. As for her boring manner, that would probably have no solution.

Three doors down, they entered. There was another corridor, and on either side, more doors. In the end, a reception area and a restricted entrance.

"The clothes are in the third room. Same procedure as the other days."

"Thank you," Miranda used her rehearsed gentle voice, common at events.

In the small room indicated, on a bench, the editor found the green sterilized clothes, foot protectors, latex gloves, medical cap, and face mask, protected by a vacuum-sealed plastic envelope.

Miranda removed her coat and jewelry and placed them on the bench. Grabbing her shoulder bag, she took out a small plastic bag and, from there, a pair of flat, soft shoes, which she exchanged for the heels she wore. Then, the woman used one of the lockers to store her discarded items.

Once she had finished washing her hands and forearms in the tiny sink with the slimy, wonderfully odorless liquid soap, the editor changed into the hideous but necessary outfit.

Even with all the apparatus at home, Miranda's doctors were unanimous in stating that, after the transplant, it would be safer for the twins to remain in the hospital. They would need isolation, and the sterile facilities there were better prepared.

The specific sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the bone marrow destruction process began in the townhouse, and when the transplant material arrived, they transferred the girls. They finished that stage at the hospital and then received the transfusion with the progenitor cells, which will circulate in the bloodstream and lodge in the bone marrow, multiplying again. The procedure would take two to three weeks, with the twins hospitalized in isolation, based on a special diet and strict hygiene system.

During the period in which is reconstitute the marrow, the patient is more exposed to infectious episodes and hemorrhages. Even with all the precautions, they expected the twins would have a fever or infection. However, in a controlled environment, their doctors believed they could perform a quick containment, and consequently, they would not have to deal with a more severe condition.