The woman said nothing, but her eyes shone. She had known wealthy men with far less dignity than this young mechanic.
When the repair was finished, she pretended to search her bag.
“Oh dear… I think I forgot my wallet,” she murmured, embarrassed.
Mateo hesitated, then smiled.
“It’s alright. You don’t owe me anything. Just drive safely.”
“But your boss—” she whispered.
“It’s okay,” he replied quietly. “Some things matter more than money.”
Behind them, a furious voice erupted.
“What did you just say?” shouted Raul Benitez, the owner of the shop. “Did you give away a repair?”
Mateo tried to explain, but Raul cut him off.
“That’s why you’ll never get ahead. This isn’t a charity. It’s a business.”
The elderly woman watched, horrified, as Mateo was scolded in front of everyone.
“I didn’t do it for charity,” Mateo said, his voice shaking. “I did it because it was right.”
“Doing the right thing doesn’t pay bills,” Raul snapped. “You’re fired.”
The workshop fell silent. Mateo removed his gloves and set them down.
“Thank you for the opportunity,” he whispered. “I guess my mother’s medicine will have to wait.”