Chapter 6 Your cat won't die

I was paralyzed in a painful hold of shame and primal fear. Marco didn't pause. His footsteps—a slow, heavy thudding—eased the distance between us, I became acutely aware of the sheer size of the room. It felt too open, exposing my shame and fear in a wide, , unforgiving space. I fought desperately to avert my gaze, to focus on anything else, but before I could, his shadow completely consumed me.

“I asked a question,” he pressed, his voice flat and dangerous, refusing to halt his deliberate steps.

A desperate plea escaped before I could stop it. “Please stop.” My voice cracked under the pressure.

He stopped inches away, looming. “Why? Afraid of a naked man, Doctor? You look terrified.” His volume rose. “I’m the one exposed here. I should be furious that you barged in. So tell me, why the hell did you invade my room?”

I swallowed hard, focusing every ounce of willpower to push the necessary words past my throat. “I was sent to tell you that Dr. Thomas is here,” I managed, the phrase barely audible above a choked breath. The raw shame of my delivery made me shrink internally; I despised how weak I sounded, how completely undone I was.

“Get out,” he snapped, his voice utterly devoid of warmth, his eyes dismissing me as if I were irrelevant dust.

Without another word, he turned his back and walked toward the bathroom. I stood frozen, still struggling for breath, unable to move my feet, and found myself unable to look away—my gaze fixed, involuntarily, on his retreating form. God, he must spend all his time in the gym, I thought, an embarrassing, almost appreciative thought briefly overriding my shame.

Then I snapped out of it. Marco reappeared immediately, a towel hastily knotted around his hips. That sudden movement broke the spell. I quickly pulled myself together, yanked the door open, and fled the room.

I was already hurrying back to Luca's room, my mind still spinning from the chaos, when the familiar chime of my phone cut through the hallway noise. The screen flashed Sarah's name. It wasn't just ringing—it had been silently vibrating with message alerts the entire time I'd been here. I'd been avoiding her calls and texts, knowing I couldn't face her, and now, with everything else unfolding, I still had no idea what I could possibly tell her.

The phone kept ringing, but I ignored it. At least now I'll be able to go home and tell Sarah face-to-face,I thought, a desperate wave of relief washing over me. I can’t wait. I’ll probably spend the whole day in bed. Driven by that thought, I entered Luca’s room.

The scene had changed entirely. Standing at the bedside was an older man, perhaps in his fifties, casually dressed in a simple T-shirt and pants, intently checking Luca's vitals. Rose and Alex stood beside him. As I entered, all three gazes snapped to me.

“You must be Dr. Emily,” the man stated, walking toward me, extending his hand,  It’s nice to meet you. You are an excellent doctor, I must say.”

“Nice to meet you, Dr. Thomas,” I replied, shaking his hand. “Marco is on his way. Maybe we can wait for him before I update you". Before I could finish, the door yanked open. Marco paced in with urgency, completely unbothered by our recent, humiliating encounter. He didn't spare me a glance as he quickly joined the group around the bed.

He then spared me only a brief, cold glance. "Please make it quick," he ordered. "I have somewhere I should be."

Ignoring his contempt, I focused entirely on the patient. I began giving Dr. Thomas the update, finishing the five-minute summary efficiently. "Thank you, Doctor," Dr Thomas said as I concluded, "I will take it from here."

Just as I stepped back, Marco turned, telling Alex to follow, and headed toward the door. Dr. Thomas and Rose immediately began the process of moving Luca to his secure surgical area, with two guards simultaneously entering the room to assist. The reality of my situation—the delay, the uncertainty—finally began to settle in. I had to find a ride home.

I sprinted, following Marco and Alex into the hallway. The facility was maze-like, and I nearly lost them until I saw them emerging from Marco's office. They were both armed, carrying guns and expressions so sour and determined they looked ready for war.

I ran toward them, my voice loud and frayed with desperation. "Who is going to take me home?"

Marco halted, turning slowly to face me. He let out a harsh, mocking laugh. "The way you are insisting on going home, one might think you have a man waiting, Doctor." His eyes raked over me, chillingly dismissive. "But we both know you are as lonely as they come, so relax and go sleep. I will take you home myself when I return. Your cat won't die."

He gave me one last look—a signal of cold finality—and gestured for the others to follow. They left, disappearing down the corridor. I was left alone, stunned by the insult and the sudden, paralyzing reality. I was stuck here, with no idea when or if they would return.

I had no fight left in me. With nothing else to do, I headed to the room I had been assigned and collapsed under the covers. I usually slept naked, but here, in this strange, guarded mansion, I knew that wasn't an option.

I was tempted, briefly, to call Sarah, but the idea died instantly, I knew the guards wouldn't even allow her through the gates. So I had to wait. I hadn't even called my mother, breaking the promise I'd made earlier. This day hadn't just been long, it had been a genuine nightmare.

After tossing and turning for what felt like an eternity, I gave in to the habit. Ignoring the discomfort of the location, I pulled off my clothes and settled naked under the sheets. The effort was minimal, but the payoff was immediate, sleep claimed me instantly.