Chapter 9
Renee’s POV
A whirring noise sounds overhead and then the lights begin to flicker back on and just as quickly as they do, I let go of Eric‘s very expensive suit. Though he can afford a new dress shirt, I know that my cold sweat is going to leave a stain on his imported silky fabric.
I murmur an apology and smooth out my own dress, trying to avoid Eric’s questioning gaze. He suddenly grabs my arm, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. Too stunned to reply, I look at him with shock.
“What was that about?” Eric asks with a hint of accusation in his tone.
My gut is screaming at me, telling me that he’s only asking because he knows about my condition, or rather Annie’s condition. “I’m just afraid of the dark,” I tell him as coolly as possible despite my very uncool reaction.
Eric narrows his eyes, searching for a tail that I’m lying. Before he can question me any further, I try to yank my arm free without any success. “Are you mistaking me for someone else again? Who do you think I am?” I ask this time not holding the bite out of my voice.
Eric quickly releases my arms. “Nobody,” he tells me and I can't help but wonder if that’s how he truly feels about Annie. The elevator doors open and Eric steps off without another word.
As soon as he’s gone, I fall back against the cold mirror, letting it absorb the sweat off my back as I try to steady my heart. I curse under my breath. For the amount of money this business brings in they really ought to make sure the elevators run properly.
It’s been a few days since the elevator incident and I’ve managed to avoid Eric since which has been great for my heart health since it seems to beat uncontrollably when he’s around, however when he is not around Mia and her posse seems to take advantage of the opportunity to ensure I know I’m not welcomed.
Luckily the tasks are plentiful which keeps me busy, and for the most part, my other colleagues are helpful even if we only keep to business matters, which is totally fine by me. I don’t need anyone getting too close anyway.
It’s lunchtime. I’m about to ask a couple of designers that I’ve been working with this morning if they want to go out, that is until Mia struts into the collaborative design room and commands all the attention.
She doesn’t even have to say a word and all eyes fall on her. From what I can tell her designs aren’t even that good and that doesn’t matter either. All that matters is she’s with Eric and that’s enough to make all the wolfs here fall in line and know their rank.
“I’d like all of the designers to go out to lunch together, on me, obviously.” Mia feigns generosity though of course, we all know she really means Eric is paying.
I’m also not surprised when Mia looks pointedly at me and folds her skinny arms across her chest, “Well, not all the designers.” A few snickers fill the room, causing my ears to burn.
Before I can tell her I don’t care about her stupid lunch my cell phone rings. Looking at the caller ID, I see it’s Jasper and momentarily everything in the room melts away. He seems to always come in at the right time,
I look back up with a renewed sense of confidence. “I have plans, sorry can’t make it maybe next time,” I tell her letting the sarcasm drip from my voice.
I exit the conference room and bring the phone up to my ear. Before I can even say hello, Jasper excitedly tells me to meet him at the hospital. I sigh in relief, thankful for the midday pick-me-up. Aside from being busy at work, Debbie has consumed every other second of my life.
It’ll be nice to not only receive some help for her for her own sake, but also for mine.
On my way to the hospital, I call Margaux and let her know that I’ll be picking Debbie up early.
We pull up to the white building and with the sun out the brightness of the hospital is blinding. However, being here despite its sterile aura, feels like home because we’ve been here so many times- that, and the fact that the staff is so warm and welcoming.
We walk into the building and the buzzing hustle and bustle of doctors and long lab coats swarms around us. In the midst of all this, I hear someone calling out my name. I look up to see Jasper making his way over directly to us. He always seems to be able to spot us out in a crowd.
He smiles as he approaches us, and I have to applaud him because maintaining a smile in a work environment where death and illness are in every room has to be hard.
“Welcome,” he says flashing us a smile that shows off his polished teeth, and ruffling Debbie’s hair. “Come this way,” Jasper says as if we don’t know where his office is.
He isn’t wearing a lab coat and his scrubs cut off right at his shoulder, extenuating the swell of his bicep as he extends his arm out showing the direction to follow him. I quickly avert my eyes and hurry Debbie along.
The inside of Jasper’s office is clean, as always. He doesn’t keep many personal items around, and I check every time we come in wondering if it might be the day when I get a glimpse into his personal life, girlfriend, a hobby, or whatever.
This time when I look around all I see is a fresh bouquet of beautifully arranged flowers. Daisies, lavender, and yellow roses blossom out of a vase next to a thank you card that I assume is from a patient of his.
One of the reasons why it’s so easy to trust Jasper with Debbie’s health is because of how evident it is that his other patients like him so much.
“All right,“ Jasper says, flicking a needle in his hands, and holding it up to the light while inspecting its contents. “I have a good feeling about this,”
Debbie hops up onto the exam table with an anxious look about her. “Is this going to hurt?“
“Not as long as you keep your eyes focused on your mom, when you look at her, everything is all right. Correct?” Jasper says.
Debbie eagerly nods and my heart swells. I crouch down next to her at the table and we lock eyes just as Jasper inserts the needle. Debbie gives a little wince but just as quickly as it started it’s finished.
“Nurse!” Someone shouts from down the hall, the call hardly reaching our room, though instantly Debbie lets out a gasp and brings her hand to her mouth.
I look at her in shock. “Did you hear that?” I ask unable to keep my tone level. I barely heard that call and Debbie has had hearing problems since she was born.
Debbie hops down from the table and jumps up and down squealing. “I did, I did!” I match Debbie’s excitement and pull her in for a hug.
“I don’t want to be a buzz kill,“ Jasper says tentatively. “This shot won’t cure her, but it will enhance her abilities.”
I pull myself off of Debbie and throw my arms over Jasper instead. “That’s wonderful,” I exhale “Thank you, thank you!” I say into his ear, squeezing him tighter.
“Eric!” Debbie exclaims.
I quickly untangle myself from Jasper and look at the door to his office, but no one is there. “What are you talking about?” I ask her just as Eric and Mia appear in the doorway.
“I knew I heard you talking,” Debbie says with a big grin on her face. “I just got better hearing,” Debbie happily explains to Eric and Mia while twirling in a circle. Though Eric isn’t looking at Debbie, he’s looking at Jasper and me, his expression unreadable.
Meanwhile, Mia doesn’t even attempt to conceal her amusement. “I’ve never seen a doctor holding a patient’s hand before,” Mia says while laughing and pointing down at our hands. I didn’t even realize they were intertwined. “Is Jasper your boyfriend?”
Eric’s expression darkens and my face reddens. Thankfully, Jasper can keep his composure as he adjusts the stethoscope around his neck.
“That’s highly inappropriate, Mia.” Jasper scolds while moving in front of me and momentarily shielding me from Eric’s observation. “How I comfort my patience is none of your business.”
I never would’ve guessed that Jasper knows Mia and Eric, but he just called Mia by her first name so clearly they know each other.
Then Jasper asks the question that I desperately want to. “What are you here for?”
I step out from behind Jasper and watch as Mia’s demeanor softens, and in that moment, I can see how pretty she is, and why Eric fell for her in the first place. “I thought you were supposed to be at lunch with all the other designers.” I pitch in adding my own curiosity.
Mia shoots me a pointed look and then ignores me as she looks back at Jasper. “Eric has been suffering headaches, I think he’s been working too much,” Mia looks back at me with disdain. “Which is why I decided to take him to the doctors instead of continuing with business,” Mia says as though her generosity is something to be admired.
I don’t mention that going out to lunch with many of her posse friends doesn’t necessarily count as business.
Jasper nods sympathetically. “And when did these headaches start?”
The silence lasts for a beat too long then Eric looks down at the floor sheepishly, an expression I’ve never seen him wear before. “When my ex-wife died.”
