Chapter Text
Laptop
Phone
Phone charger
Extra charger
Presentation Slides
Clicker
Fina Valero mentally checked off her packing list for what felt like the thousandth time that morning. Today was the big day—her company was presenting at The Power of She Conference in Madrid.
Dream of Freedom Security had come a long way since its humble beginnings during Fina's university days. She'd always had a strong sense of justice and a fiery character, known for being a person who would work tirelessly to protect her friends, family and a community. But it was a harrowing experience in her final year at university that transformed her determination into a life-changing mission.
It began with Santiago, a classmate who mistook Fina's friendliness for romantic interest. When he discovered she was a lesbian, his behaviour spiralled out of control. The messages and phone calls became incessant. He began showing up uninvited to her classes, and his harassment culminated in a terrifying incident where he tried to drag her into his car.
Luckily, Fina's best friend, Carmen, arrived just in time to stop him. Reporting Santiago to the police uncovered a disturbing history of similar complaints, many of which had been dismissed by campus security. That ordeal left Fina shaken but resolute: no other woman should feel unsafe or unsupported.
With her Business and Economics degree as her foundation, Fina decided to take action. Alongside Carmen and another close friend, Claudia, they launched the #AskForAdela campaign.
Carmen, an aspiring social worker with a natural flair for communication, brought charisma and compassion to the team. Her bubbly personality and popularity on campus made her the ideal advocate to spread their message: if you felt unsafe, text "Adela" to +34 555 1958, and someone would come to help.
Claudia, the group's tech wizard, used her IT and Computer Science expertise to refine the system. She integrated their service with the University's Eduroam Wi-Fi network, enabling precise location tracking. Within 15 minutes of a distress signal, help would arrive.
The campaign quickly gained traction, expanding to include partnerships with local bars and restaurants near campus. By the time Fina and her friends graduated, #AskForAdela had become an indispensable safety net for students—a legacy they passed on to a new cohort.
The campaign's success lay in its discreet and thoughtful design. Fina, ever the perfectionist, developed clever support tools like lip balms with the helpline number disguised as a serial code and mints with similarly subtle packaging. These innovations became a hallmark of their work and remain in use to this day.
The name "Adela" held deep significance for Fina—it was her late mother's name. Raised by her father, Isidro, after Adela's untimely death, Fina had inherited her mother's fiery spirit and fierce protective nature. Naming the campaign after her felt like the perfect tribute.
After graduation, the trio turned their success into a business: Dream of Freedom (DoF) Security. They expanded the concept into a discreet app disguised as a "Settings" cog. The app allowed users to silently signal for help, identify safe zones, and connect with emergency support.
Two years later, DoF Security had grown into a thriving start up business. With a team of 30 working from a rented office in Barcelona, the company was ready to expand. While the service welcomed all genders, its leadership was proudly female-driven.
For the conference, Carmen's husband, Tasio, had helped set up a stall to showcase their services. While Fina had initially doubted him—seeing him as little more than his muscles—he had proven himself reliable and supportive. Carmen would manage the stall, while Claudia worked on an IT feature for Fina's presentation.
In their Madrid hotel suite, Fina sighed as she surveyed the chaos. Her corner was meticulously organised, with essentials lined up with military precision. Claudia's belongings, however, were scattered across the room like the aftermath of a tornado, and Carmen hadn't even opened her suitcase.
"Fina, have you seen my other shoe?" Claudia asked, hopping on one foot as she searched frantically.
"It's under the bed," Fina said, exasperated, pointing to the offending shoe.
From the bathroom, Carmen's voice rang out. "I'm so nervous, Fina! I don't think I can eat anything... It'll just come right back out!"
Fina rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "Carmen, we leave in ten minutes! I'm not missing breakfast because of your nerves!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Carmen replied.
"Carmen, I have more reason to be nervous than you! I'm practically giving a TED Talk," Fina said, half-joking, though the tension in her voice betrayed her.
"And you'll be brilliant," Carmen reassured her, adjusting her outfit.
The trio dressed uniformly to emphasise their "brand" over individual identities: black utility trousers and black cap-sleeved shirts featuring the DoF logo embroidered on the breast pocket. Claudia had campaigned for purple hoodies, but those were reserved for casual days. Today, they were all business.
Once ready, they huddled together for their customary moment of support.
"This is our moment," Claudia said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Let's show them women aren't bossy we are the boss," Carmen added with a wink.
"For Adela," Fina said firmly.
"For Adela," the others echoed.
Fina glanced out the window at the bustling streets below. Today wasn't just a milestone; it was the culmination of years of hard work, friendship, and resilience. No matter what happened at the conference, they would face it together.
The breakfast suite at the Madrid Marriott buzzed with activity. Delegates attending The Power of She Conference mingled over plates of food, sharing ideas and milestones.
"I'm starving," Fina said, grabbing fruit, yoghurt, and granola.
"My stomach's already fit to burst," Carmen said, piling her plate with hot food.
"I'm making sandwiches to sneak out," Claudia announced, stacking bread and cheese onto her plate.
"Claudia! You can't do that," Fina laughed as they found a table at the far end of the hall.
"Who says? We've paid good money for this hotel—I'm making the most of it," Claudia retorted, grabbing a fistful of napkins.
As they settled, a loud ruckus drew their attention. A boisterous group of men entered the hall, calling to each other across the counters.
"I hope they're not here for the conference," Fina muttered with a grimace. "There's a football match today—maybe they're here for that."
"Don't remind me," Carmen groaned. "That's all Tasio's talked about for days."
"He didn't have to come," Fina teased, smirking as Carmen swatted her arm.
"Guys, I'm heading out for some air," Claudia said, standing up. "I'll meet you outside."
"Look at her go, bag overflowing," Carmen quipped.
"At least if she gets caught, we're not accomplices," Fina added with a laugh.
The friends finished their meals, with Fina heading back to the counter for something sweet and a cup of coffee.
"I'll step outside and call Tasio, see how he's getting on with the setup," Carmen said, standing up. "I'll meet you out there?"
"Sure, I won't be long," Fina replied, glancing into her bag. "Just need to finish my coffee, and I'll catch up."
Carmen gave her a knowing look. "Fina, don't start overthinking your presentation again. It's perfect, and you'll do great."
"I know, I know," Fina said, though the guilty look on her face gave her away. "I'll be out before you know it."
"Alright, see you soon," Carmen said, giving her a quick smile before heading outside.
Once Carmen was out of sight, Fina reached into her bag and pulled out her laptop. "One last glance won't hurt," she murmured to herself as she powered it up and opened her presentation.
Engrossed in reviewing her slides, Fina didn't notice someone approach until a voice interrupted her focus.
"Excuse me, Is this table taken?" the woman asked, standing beside her.
****
Hello all, I, like some others have felt a strong personal connection to the story line with Fina and Santigao. Although set in 1958 we know that things like this still happen. I wanted to put my spin on things so have started this fic. There will be no parts of the fic that will be in any way violent or triggering but please let me know if you feel otherwise.
Additional information: The Ask for Adela Campaign is based on - Ask for Angela - which is a support system that is in bars where I went to University. You can read more about it here: https://askforangela.co.uk/
I have a background in Safety and Security, the DoF app mentioned is a slight twists on an app called SafeZone that is used in various further education settings.
Anyway, thanks for reading. I wonder who is at the table?