Pod zemou Bratislavy, v útrobách starého klubu, sa zhromaždili hráči okolo stola, kde napätie prenikalo vzduchom ako dym z cigariet.

Under the ground of Bratislava, in the depths of an old club, players gathered around a table where tension permeated the air like cigarette smoke.

Bolo teplé jesenné večer, Halloween, čas pre masky a tajomstvá.

It was a warm autumn evening, Halloween, a time for masks and secrets.

Avšak tam dolu, v tej tmavej miestnosti, mala Ivana na mysli iné masky - tie, ktoré ukrývajú pravé úmysly za úsmevmi jej súperov.

However, down there in that dark room, Ivana had other masks on her mind - the ones that hide true intentions behind her opponents' smiles.

Ivana, známa kardiologička, mala pred sebou viac ako len karty.

Ivana, a well-known cardiologist, had more than just cards in front of her.

Potrebovala peniaze, aby mohla podporiť svoj lekársky projekt, ktorý jej ležal na srdci.

She needed money to support her medical project, which was dear to her heart.

Kým sa zamýšľala nad svojou stávkou, pri stole sedel Jozef, jej starý priateľ, ktorý jej ponúkal vstup do svojho rizikového podnikania.

As she contemplated her bet, Jozef, her old friend, sat at the table, offering her entry into his risky business.

Naproti nemu sedel Marek - záhadný muž s kartami v rukách a plánmi za očami.

Across from him sat Marek - a mysterious man with cards in hand and plans in his eyes.

Prvotné napätie rušilo len jemné klapkanie ich žetónov, keď Ivana vyťukala na mobile poslednú správu.

The initial tension was disturbed only by the gentle clatter of their chips as Ivana tapped out one last message on her phone.

Zrazu, v tej chvíľke ticha, zavibroval telefón.

Suddenly, in that moment of silence, the phone vibrated.

„Pani doktorka!

"Doctor!"

“ zaznelo z druhej strany.

came the voice from the other side.

„Máme tu kritického pacienta, potrebujeme vás okamžite.

"We have a critical patient, we need you immediately."

“Ivana pocítila, ako sa jej srdce zrýchľuje.

Ivana felt her heart race.

Dilema.

Dilemma.

Musí pokračovať v hre, alebo odísť zachrániť život?

Must she continue with the game or leave to save a life?

Zmenu atmosféry necítil len ona.

The change in atmosphere was felt not just by her.

Marek zdvihol oči od svojich kariet a začal ťukat niečo na svoj mobil.

Marek lifted his eyes from his cards and began tapping something on his phone.

Čo tak veľmi skrýva?

What was he hiding so intently?

„Ivana,“ zašepkal dramaticky Jozef, „musíme sa rozhodnúť.

"Ivana," Jozef whispered dramatically, "we must decide."

“Rozhodnutie však nebolo možné urobiť bez ďalších informácií.

However, the decision was impossible without further information.

„Päť minút, prosím,“ žiadala Ivana úpenlivo Mareka, kým sa zamýšľala nad Marekovej nečakanou správou.

"Five minutes, please," Ivana pleaded with Marek as she pondered Marek's unexpected message.

„Viem viacej o tom telefonáte, ako si myslíš,“ povedal Marek, pričom vyložil svoje karty.

"I know more about that call than you think," Marek said, laying out his cards.

„Je to súčasť hry.

"It's part of the game.

Medzi pacientom a jedným z našich hráčov sú väzby.

There are connections between the patient and one of our players."

“Znepokojená, ale rozhodnutá hľadať pravdu, Ivana použila všetky svoje schopnosti a inštinkt.

Disturbed but determined to find the truth, Ivana used all her skills and instincts.

Karty teraz nemali význam.

The cards now had no meaning.

Musela rozlúštiť túto hádanku.

She had to solve this puzzle.

Pomaly a s prižmúrenými očami sledovala Mareka, ako predložil dôkazy o spájaní nitiek medzi pokerovou hrou a týmto zvláštnym cirkusom.

Slowly, with narrowed eyes, she watched Marek as he presented the evidence of threads connecting the poker game and this peculiar circus.

„Takže všetko je prepletené,“ povzdychla si Ivana.

"So everything is intertwined," Ivana sighed.

„Kto je ten pacient?

"Who is the patient?"

“„Syn jedného z hráčov.

"The son of one of the players.

Potrebujú zmenu.

They need change.

Možno práve vy tú zmenu môžete priniesť,“ odpovedal Marek, jeho hlas zamatový a nevyspytateľný.

Maybe you can bring that change," Marek answered, his voice velvety and inscrutable.

Vo svetle tejto informácie Ivana spojila svoje lekárske schopnosti s talentom pre šachovanie na pokerovom stole.

In light of this information, Ivana combined her medical skills with her talent for strategizing at the poker table.

Ešte stihla vyniesť poslednú hru, ktorá jej dokázala vyriešiť nielen jej projekt, ale aj stabilizovať pacienta, ktorý bol v ohrození.

She managed to play one last game that not only solved her project needs but also stabilized the patient who was in danger.

Tým, že riskovala, Ivana získala nielen potrebné financie pre svoju chorobnicu, ale aj pochopenie, že riziko je niekedy najlepšou cestou k zisku.

By taking a risk, Ivana gained not only the necessary funding for her clinic but also an understanding that risk is sometimes the best path to gain.

Ako hory dymového oparu pomaly mizli, vzdychla úľavou a vďaku.

As the plumes of smoky haze slowly disappeared, she sighed in relief and gratitude.

Ivana sa obrátila na Mareka, pocítila nové priateľstvo a dôstojnosť, ktorej dala prednosť.

She turned to Marek, feeling a new friendship and dignity to which she gave precedence.

V ten večer, za ticha jesenného nočného vzduchu, pochopila svoj osud.

That evening, in the silence of the autumn night air, she understood her destiny.

Adrenalín z hry a záblesk jej rozhodnutí otvárali dvere pre nové možnosti, ktoré nikdy predtým nečakala.

The adrenaline from the game and the insight from her decisions opened doors to new possibilities she never expected before.

Poker nebol len hra o žetóny.

Poker was not just a game of chips.

A Halloween?

And Halloween?

Ten večer, ukladala si pod masky pravdu ich života.

That evening, she laid the truth of their lives under the masks.