Cassidy pulled into the office parking lot and sat there for a good twenty minutes before finally getting the motivation to go inside. Her weekend had been spent between phone calls with Shellie and her mother, and nights talking with her Loki stand-up and debating on buying a new mattress. It wasn’t like she’d get any action on it though, so she didn’t know why she was worried about fornicating on the same bed her parents had.
The office lights were dimmed, and Cassidy sighed, flipping them on and taking a wide berth around Big Bully Barry as she went straight to the billing office. Always the first one here, even when she sat in the parking lot forever before going in. Maybe the new hires would be more punctual.
She slumped into her desk chair and woke her computer up, rubbing her eyes. It was just her luck that the man of her dreams was her boss. There would no doubt be a weave of gossip around them constantly if they pursued a relationship, and with Cassidy pointing fingers—no matter how accurately—at her co-workers, it wasn’t smart to get involved. She wasn’t sure if there would ever be a time that would be smart.
Her phone binged, and she reluctantly gazed at the message from her ex. Steven had apologized for being too forward, and Cassidy just hadn’t had the mental energy to explain to him why she’d been so aloof. She took a deep breath and typed a long message back, confessing that she was focusing on work, that things weren’t good right now for any type of relationship, but friendship was always on the table. As it whooshed off, she prayed that he would understand. His perfect record sure helped ease her mind, but there was a smidgeon of doubt.
The morning slowly woke, and she could hear the office coming to life as nurses, docs, and midwives came in, the front office door clicking and banging open and shut. Cassidy cursed the leap in her chest with every noise, the small hope that one of those entries belonged to Jon, and he’d find his way back here. She wasn’t going to jeopardize her career, but there was nothing wrong with wanting to see his beautiful face, hear his wonderful laugh…
But Mondays were his surgery days, and he was most likely at the hospital.
The familiar chatter of her fellow billing girls filled the hallway, and Cassidy’s thoughts—and her stomach—knotted into a ball of nerves, and she stayed focused on her computer screen, making sure her headphones were settled over her ears, even if no music was filtering through them at the moment.
She hated to admit that as upset as she was at those girls, they scared the crap out of her, too. They had no qualms about humiliating her, and when they found out she’d discovered the theft, she couldn’t imagine what they had in store. Hopefully just a few choice words for her before the door hit them in their butts on their way out.
Thank heavens they didn’t know where she lived. But for safety, maybe she should ask Steven to park outside her place for a while.
Or maybe someone else she hadn’t just rejected wouldn’t mind keeping her company for safety. She supposed that took Jon off the list, too.
She shook her head free of her downward spiral of thoughts. Everything was going to be fine. The girls had gotten themselves into this mess, and she wasn’t going to feel guilty for catching them. Hours had been cut, jobs in limbo because of what they’d done. A single memory of Rebecca tearing up in the breakroom after one of the staff meetings when hours were diced a year ago had Cassidy straightening her back in resolve. Rebecca had three boys to take care of, and she deserved her hours. They all did.
The daily gossip pings of the chat windows filled the room, and Cassidy’s stomach lurched. If Julie said anything about Cassidy using Jon’s room, or the pink glowstick juice on Cassidy’s hands and Jon’s pants, or the fact that Jon and Cassidy always sat next to each other, shared notes and inside jokes, and basically had the best week ever… it wouldn’t matter if Cassidy had slept in her own hotel room the whole time, the rumor mill would go wild. She knew she shouldn’t care about any of it, but damn it… what bad timing was this? She snatched her coffee mug up and meandered into the breakroom, noting that Kami’s door was shut.
Cassidy peeked at reception, at Julie’s curls poking up from behind the high desk counter. She pricked her ears, catching a few words in the conversation Julie was having on the phone. Sounded a lot like rescheduling some of the morning appointments to that afternoon—not abnormal, especially since unexpected deliveries happened all the time, and docs had to rush in and out of the office all day, but reception was awfully quiet for 9:30 on a Monday.
A sick coil ran under her skin, and she seriously considered calling it a day and heading home. But she could hardly leave Shellie alone to deal with the entire billing department on the busiest day of the week.
The breakroom was empty, the smell of a fresh pot of coffee permeating the air. Cassidy poured it to the top, leaving just enough room for two creamer cups. The third cup sent it spilling over and collecting on the counter. She spun the paper towel roll and wiped it up with shaking hands, breathing in and out a little too fast to be all that soothing.
These were felony charges she’d accused them of. Jail time. Prison? That was if the docs decided to press charges. The evidence was enough to get Hallie and Bethany fired, but she wasn’t sure it was enough to prosecute. Her head had spun with all sorts of scenarios all weekend. The only reprieve she’d gotten was the memory of Jon’s hands around her neck and his lips on hers. She frowned, already missing them and wishing she could have more of it.
“Whew!” Julie said behind her, crossing the breakroom in five long strides and going straight for the coffee. Cassidy slid over to give her space. “Thank the lord we only have three providers in office today, or I’d still be out there.”
“Is that what’s going on?” Cassidy asked, nodding toward the general direction of Kami’s office. “Provider meeting?”
“Impromptu one, I guess. Probably something to do with your little project last week.” She winked and leaned up against the counter, blowing across her mug. “Had to reschedule all the patients this morning. Kami said the docs wouldn’t be available ‘til after lunch.”
“Are they all here?” she asked, trying to be nonchalant, but she wasn’t fooling anyone.
Julie’s mouth perked up knowingly, and she nodded. “Yup,” she said, popping the p. “Dr. Bateman looked like he had a hell of a weekend.”
“What do you mean?”
“The man had dark circles that could rival a raccoon, and he was nursing about thirty-two ounces of Monster Energy.”
“Maybe he had a few deliveries,” Cassidy offered up. It was the most logical explanation, but tingles ran over her heart that it might have had to with her, just like thoughts of him kept her awake most of the night.
Julie shrugged, tapping one of her many rings against the coffee handle. “Well, something was keeping him up.” She gave Cassidy a once-over, and Cassidy wondered how put together she herself looked. Probably not much.
Cassidy pushed off the counter and headed toward the billing office. “Let me know if you need help rescheduling anyone.”
Julie saluted her, and Cassidy nibbled the inside of her cheek the whole way back to her chair. Hallie and Bethany were still IM-ing away, oblivious to the provider meeting deciding their fates just on the other side of the wall—and oblivious to the phone ringing apparently.
Cassidy picked it up and helped out the patient, grateful for the temporary distraction. Hawkeye sat atop her computer, and she tugged her drawer open and searched for a replacement. He’d given her a few lucky days, she’d give him that, but she needed some Black Widow comfort. Girl power.
She adjusted the stuffed doll until it could sit without toppling over, finishing up her phone calls. The morning rolled on; every few seconds she’d snap her gaze to the locked manager’s door.
“So, Cass…” Hallie said from her corner desk. Cassidy reluctantly spun around, trying on a smile that she couldn’t quite feel. “I heard you had a great time this conference.”
She gulped and took a calming breath. “It was all right.”
“Any particular reason?” Hallie probed. Bethany’s gaze flicked over her shoulder, landing on Cassidy’s red cheeks.
“Maybe,” she said. Black Widow stared down from the top of her computer. There was courage somewhere in her, she knew, but she was having a heck of a time drudging it up.
“A doctor, perhaps?” Bethany added, a wicked gleam in her eyes. They wanted her to dish, to admit to things. Cassidy straightened her shoulders and slowly spun back to her computer screen.
“Yes, actually,” she said coolly. “I found where Dr. Bateman’s money has been going.”
A tornado could’ve blown right outside the window, and neither of the girls would’ve noticed, each of their gazes burning holes into Cassidy’s cheeks. Cassidy casually clicked through the batch of EOBs she was working on, her anxiety turning into satisfaction as she had them gob-smacked.
“R-really?” Hallie said after a long moment. “That’s a relief.”
“For sure. No more cut hours. Everyone’s going to be so happy.”
Bethany’s chair squeaked as she spun it to the closed manager office. Her fingers tumbled across her desk, snatching up her purse. “I think I’m gonna run out for a smo—”
The distinct click of the fate echoed through the room, the manager office door creaking open, cutting Bethany’s exit short. Dr. O’Neal passed the billing office, barely peeking in, his stride purposeful. Pete and Debbie walked by next, Pete pointing a finger straight at Cassidy and giving her a wink of approval. Heat shot through her neck, but she stayed as composed as possible. Shellie popped into the doorway, looking like she needed a sip of Jon’s Monster drink.
“Cassidy, would you mind taking lunch early?”
She shook her head, quickly clicking to clock out. Hallie’s jaw clenched hard as she passed, eyes shooting daggers. Bethany blurted behind her back, “Guess you get out of things when you’re sleeping with the boss.” She waved her arm in protest. “Her name is on all that stuff. You can’t prove we stole it all.”
“Will you shut up, you idiot?” Hallie hissed.
“Actually, we can,” Shellie said, crossing her arms. “And there is a doctor on the other side of that wall who only wants you fired. Unless you’d like to anger him enough to press charges. Accusing him of sleeping with the staff might do that.”
Bethany’s face drained, and Cassidy’s mouth twitched up at her friend. She didn’t envy the job ahead of Shellie; thank heavens she could handle it.
Cassidy shut the billing office door behind her and stuck her arms into her Wonder Woman jacket. As she flipped her hair free, her eyes drifted up a pair of black scrubs hanging loosely off what she knew was a nice, strong torso. Jon’s arms were crossed, muscles tempting and lovely, his shoulder pressing against the doorframe of Kami’s now empty office. He could even rock a surgery cap.
“I like that one,” he said.
“What?”
He pointed to her jacket. “Wonder Woman. I actually saw that movie.”
She scratched an imaginary itch on her cheek. “It’s no Marvel, but still good.”
He smiled, almost sadly, his eyes not far off from what Julie described. Cassidy turned her head toward the closed billing office. “You hear all that?”
He nodded.
“I’m sorry,” she rushed. “I didn’t tell anyone anything.”
His eyes fell to the floor. “Whatever they think happened isn’t illegal, even if it were true. What they did on the other hand…”
A smile was hidden somewhere deep in her, slowly making its way to the surface. “And you’re not pressing charges?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I can only speak for myself, but it seems like a lot of time in court. And I don’t do this job for the money.”
“Better person than me.”
He let out a genuine laugh, pushing off the doorframe. “I don’t think it’s possible for anyone to be better than you. Believe me, I’ve tried to find her.”