Julien
Nursing my Jack Daniel’s, I walked out onto the balcony in my bedroom, the burning liquid soothing my overactive brain. Glancing at my phone, I smirked at the conversation I’d just had with the English rose. Ellie. I rolled the sound of her name in my mouth as I took a sip, imagining her in my bed, screaming out my name in the throes of pleasure.
Work was hectic, especially after the disaster we almost encountered thanks to Nina’s negligence. I scowled as I recalled the incident - she was under strict orders to keep a vigilant watch on the patient. Had it not been for Ellie’s fast thinking, I’d have probably lost my patient and be facing a lawsuit right now.
I replayed the scene of running into the room, seeing Ellie administering CPR and temporarily confused as to who the hell she was or what she was doing with my patient. Flicking to the monitors I quickly realised she was saving Mrs Wilder’s life as my team jumped into action. Later, seeing her waiting in Nina’s office, obviously shaken up, she had looked so young and vulnerable until she quickly pulled herself together in my presence. I couldn’t help it. Like a speeding train screeching to a halt, I was mesmerised by her natural beauty. Her flawless skin was so perfect - something no laser technique or chemical peel could achieve. And, shit, those freaking curves on her had me immediately lusting like a rabid dog. I’m so used to seeing, fucking and briefly dating women with perfect size zero figures and accompanying model looks that it made a refreshing change to actually see someone naturally beautiful and… fresh. Untouched by a surgeon’s knife. Her long dark hair was tucked behind her ears and I admired the challenge in her sparkling green eyes, in preparation to see if I would call her out once again. Her creamy skin only revealed a hint of the seasonal tan, and when I touched her hand, the softness of her skin had me wanting to hold on for longer than necessary. Thankfully, I refrained. I inhaled sharply as I finished my drink, my pants getting uncomfortably tight, picturing her sweet face.
It hit me hard. I had to have her. I wanted her writhing in my bed as I took her, controlling her pleasure as I fucked her nine ways to heaven. I groaned, thinking about taking her from behind, running my hands over that sweet curvy ass that I would let sit on my face for hours and then leaving behind my hand imprint, as I introduced her to pleasure intermingled with pain. I would make her come so hard over and over that it would take her weeks to remember what normality felt like.
Walking back into my house I quickly stripped, my cock becoming painful with my need for release. Turning on the shower, I stepped under the warm spray and with the water beating down on me, I wrapped my hand around my throbbing erection. Pumping quickly, I braced myself with my other hand against the shower wall as I imagined her plump lips wrapped around me. Her face flashed before me and I saw the tumble of her hair around her face, the lush curves of her petite body and those irresistible green eyes. I came hard, groaning, not experiencing this intensity in a long time.
As I dried myself off, I reasoned it was only just that I would have her. After all, I was the famous Julien Berthou - fucking world-renowned surgeon. I was thirty-four and had the world at my feet! And rightly so, I reasoned, having worked damn hard to get to where I am today. I liked that my name was mentioned in the most hushed voices and in the most elite circles. Life was good and everything came at a price, especially here in L.A. Money was not an issue for me - I could have or buy whomever I wanted and my sights were firmly set on Ellie.
Unfortunately my release had taken the edge off but, still feeling unfulfilled and irritable, I almost considered calling one of the many girls I had on my cell for a late night booty-call, who would only be too eager to come over and play. However, flicking through my contacts, I soon realised that they would only be a poor substitute and I’d only have to deal with the crap of asking them to leave afterwards. No, I wasn’t in the mood for that shit-fest tonight. Only Ellie could cure my lust at this time.
I decided I’d start my chase tomorrow, by sending her a huge welcome basket. Hell, I’d even have Nina schedule her an appointment at the Spa - the full works, whatever she desired.
I spent the following week watching Ellie from the sidelines. In between consults and ops, my schedule was full but I was still able to keep tabs on my new intern. She seemed to have made friends with Penny, one of my specialist reconstructive nurses, and I was glad to note that she had someone nice to show her the ropes.
My plans for seduction? Well, I’ll be damned but I was honestly stumped. I was sure she’d have been in my bed by now and frustratingly; I had even begun to question my seduction techniques. Could I possibly be doing something wrong? I quickly dismissed the thought, my techniques had never let me down before, I had them honed down to a fine skill.
I heard from my Spa manager that whilst she seemed to enjoy her session, she had refused a haircut or colour, viewing most of the specialised treatments with some scepticism. I shook my head in disbelief - the poor girl had a lot to learn with just how far the lengths the women and men went through in this town to keep themselves looking fresh. Apparently she had spent most of her time asking questions about how the business side was run. She intrigued me - she was clearly bright; now I just had to figure out what made her tick. I was also unsure as to why she appeared to be denying her attraction to me - it was obvious I had an effect on her. I spent an hour with her on Tuesday morning, giving her an overview of the practice and I could feel the desire radiating off her. Almost smell her arousal. So why hadn’t she responded appropriately? We were both consenting adults and I wasn’t used to games. Women were normally putty in my hands.
Late Thursday, I had a few minutes to spare, so, needing some refreshment, I headed to our staff kitchen to grab a fresh juice. I had made sure to equip the place with all the latest gadgets and appliances - my nurses needed a place like home when they were working shifts so I wanted it to be as comfortable as possible.
Walking into the kitchen, I stopped short as I was greeted with the sight of Ellie’s curvy ass bent over the table, flicking through a magazine. A slow smile spread across my face and I immediately felt myself getting hard at the sexual thoughts that immediately filled my head. Fuck. I hadn’t had sex in over a week and the frustration was getting to me. She must have noticed someone behind her so she immediately sprang up.
“Nice view.”
Her face was flushed. “Oh, Julien. Hi, I didn’t see you there.”
She straightened her nurse’s scrubs, pulling consciously at her chest, where I noted the fabric was slightly too tight around the area.
“I was just on my break.”
I held a hand up, slowly approaching her. “Please, continue. I’m just here to grab a juice.”
Her long hair was pulled up in a ponytail but some strands had escaped, framing her face beautifully. I couldn’t help myself as I closed the distance between us and reached out to tuck a wayward strand behind her ear. I saw her sharp intake of breath and she instinctively closed her eyes, clearly enjoying my touch. Her eyes flew open, rapidly blinking and drawing my eyes further down; I noticed her pulse throbbing away in the soft curve of her neck. I desperately wanted to kiss her there, to feel the power I was exuding over her. The final straw came when she licked her lips, her eyes locking on mine. Without a moment’s hesitation, I leaned forward, placed my hand around her neck and softly kissed her. Controlling myself, I wanted to kiss her hard and fast but that would come later and besides, I was enjoying the feel of her plush and soft lips. She seemed unsure at first but I preserved, running my tongue along her bottom lip, seeking entry. I felt her soften against me as I deepened the kiss, enjoying this a whole lot more than I expected. Just as I was getting into it, she abruptly pulled away, her eyes darting behind my shoulder to the door.
“Julien.” She was breathless as she backed away. I watched as a smile crept around her mouth, which didn’t reach her eyes. What the hell? I looked at her in confusion.
“I’m sorry, Julien. I can’t do this.” She shook her head, still smiling.
“What are you saying, Ellie?” Why was she smirking like that?
“Look, I just think that you may need to, you know, change your seduction techniques?” She raised an eyebrow and turned away to gather her bits. What the fuck? I was at a loss, speechless, merely standing there like an ass.
This was a first.
“I mean - I’m sure the women around here respond to all the gifts and flattery that you shower upon them…” She walked right up to me, so close, I caught a whiff of her citrus scented shampoo. “…But you may want to try a new technique with me. I’m not like all the women around here.” She flashed me a smile and walked away.
What the fuck just happened? I couldn’t help it, shaking my head, I broke out into a grin! Damn, she had balls, I’d give her that. She was clearly onto me. Beautiful and bright - a heady combination. My resolve to have her deepened, consumed me in that moment. She wanted better? I’d give her more. I wasn’t about to walk away from such a direct challenge and once I had her in my bed, I’d make damn sure to punish her for playing games with me. If anyone would be begging for mercy, it would be her.
I adjusted my pants and grabbed my juice.
Ellie
I couldn’t believe that a month had flown by since I had arrived here in LA. The pace of life was fast at B&P MediSpa but I was really beginning to enjoy my work, especially as I was getting to grips with the policies and procedures and honing my surgical skills in the reconstructive unit. There was nothing more thrilling then when it came to time where I could carefully remove a patient’s bandages to reveal the new part of themselves. Even under the temporary swelling, most patients were so grateful, tearful and incredibly appreciative with their new appearance - their flaws, which once hindered them, now fixed. I even found myself forming a great friendship with Penny, who was the nurse I had briefly met at my interview. She was especially kind and patient with me, even inviting me to her home on a couple of occasions to have dinner with her family, when our schedules permitted.
We were taking our lunch break together one day and catching up with life outside work.
“So,” Penny drawled, as she bit into her sandwich, “have you found an apartment yet?”
“Yes - remember the one I went to see last week in North Hollywood?”
She nodded her head as she took a sip of her drink.
“Well, I think I’m going to go for that. Ugh. I’ve looked at so many apartments but nothing that grabbed me like this. It’s also just within budget so I’m hoping to make an offer this evening.”
I smiled as I picked at my salad, relieved that I had finally found a place to live. I was fortunate to have the use of Jonas’ apartment for two more weeks than originally planned as he was held up in South Africa, but now that he was due to arrive back within the next week, I was keen to secure my own place as soon as possible.
“That’s great, Ellie. I’m so pleased you’ve found somewhere - God knows, the rent is crazy around here.”
“Tell me about it! I thought London was mad!” I smiled as I speared some of my chicken.
“So, how’s Nina with you these days?”
I made a face. I had no idea why she made my life so difficult. “Well, honestly, I just try and stay out of her way. Thankfully I’m not in her team.” I shrugged my shoulders trying my best to appear nonchalant.
“I hear ya, girlie. She’s a gossip, best to stay out of her path.”
“Yeah, I figured that out quickly. I mean I’ve overheard her a few times now spreading gossip about who’s sleeping with who, which celebrity slept with the other…I mean, damn, she must have a direct line to The National Enquirer!”
We burst out laughing at the thought. However, joking aside, I was getting sick of the snide remarks. It was like she was permanently taunting me with the amount of women Julien had slept with, pointing out the models and actresses he had dated. Talk about trying to damage what little confidence I had gained around him. She also didn’t hesitate to fill me in on the fact that they had also been together in the past and how amazing it was. It didn’t really come as a surprise; disgusted, I had made my excuses and left that conversation. I was soon beginning to see that she was a total bitch, just out for herself, claws in full sight.
Penny looked at me with concern. “You shouldn’t let her get to you though, okay? I mean, it’s clear she’s intimidated by you.”
I almost choked on my mouthful. “Intimidated? For heaven’s sake, why?”
“Come on, Ellie. I swear you are so focussed on your job that perhaps you forget to look in the mirror from time to time? You want me to say it? You’re gorgeous, Ellie.”
I felt a blush stain my cheeks. “Not like she is.” I relied softly. “She is stunning.”
“Aesthetically, yes, I agree, but anyone around here can tell that she’s had some excellent procedures done. In comparison, you’re completely natural and beautiful.” She shoved me playfully and winked. “Some girls get all the luck!”
“You’re very kind, Penny. But honestly, I feel like a frump next to her. I probably need to lose a few pounds, too, to fit in around here.”
“Nonsense! Don’t you dare - I’ve had kids so I’m not bothered, but it’s so refreshing to see a young girl with real curves - I’m so sick of the size zero nonsense. And what - you’re only like a size four, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess so. Anyway, so enough about me. Tell me, how did Mr Knight react when you removed his dressings?”
And so we talked about our patients for the remainder of our lunch together. Penny was paged and had to leave abruptly, whilst I sat and slowly sipped my drink, thinking about my new apartment and hoping that it was still available.
My mind briefly flitted over to Julien. I couldn’t help it, the man dominated my thoughts for a lot more than I cared for. The kiss we shared a few weeks ago still had my body tingling from the memories. I felt heat flood my face as I recalled how good he felt against me, clearly an expert in seduction. Thankfully I came to my senses before I totally melted and told him as much. I wasn’t just going to be another easy lay for him - if he wanted me, he’d have to try much harder. I smiled at the thought, not understanding the part of me that felt inextricably drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. We didn’t have any more exchanges of that kind since, but I noticed that he seemed more…thoughtful, perhaps. It was like he was trying to get into my head, trying to figure out my psyche before he planned his next move. Somewhat slightly unnerving, but nonetheless flattering.
I was just clearing the table when I felt his presence behind me. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I turned around slowly. The man looked like he had stepped out of the pages of GQ and I felt my heart start to pound in anticipation. He looked incredible in his black shirt, which failed to hide his muscular physique, and grey trousers, which were clearly tailored. I moistened my lips as my eyes locked with his.
“Hey, Ellie, how’s it going?” He casually strolled over to the coffee machine.
“Fine thanks, Julien.” I smoothed down my scrubs whilst he prepared his mocha.
“Coffee?”
“No, thank you.” I shook my head as I gathered up my bits. Too bad, I was enjoying the view.
“So, have you found a place yet?”
“Actually, I think I have. In one of the areas you recommended.” He turned around with his cup in hand and asked me about it, so I gave him the details without thinking. I stopped talking when he placed his cup on the table and pulled out his phone.
“Who are you calling?” I asked, confused. He held his finger up and I watched in silence.
“Kerry White? How are you? Julien, here.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be listening to the conversation or if he preferred me to leave. After introductions, I heard my name being mentioned and realised he was talking about my apartment. Stunned, I wondered what he was up to. After a further few minutes, he smiled as he hung up.
“What was that about?”
“You want to live in that building, right?”
“Er, yes?”
“Well, I know the apartment manager - a patient of mime. Let’s just say she owes me a favour and she’s agreed to cut the cost by thirty per cent if you sign today.” He casually picked up his coffee and took a sip, all the while watching my reaction.
I was shocked. Thirty per cent was a huge difference to me - whilst my tastes weren’t particularly expensive, living in LA certainly was. Suddenly I was suspicious. What did he want in return? He must have seen the mixed emotions across my face.
“Relax, Ellie, it’s not a big deal.” He drained his cup and then walked towards me, approaching me slowly. I stood rooted, my legs un-cooperating, as I watched him get closer. He reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. Leaning in close, he whispered, his warm breath against me, shooting tingles up my spine. “Enjoy your new place.” With that he backed away and walked out of the kitchen.
The breath I must have been holding came out in a whoosh and I grabbed the edge of the chair, suddenly feeling weak. The scent of his expensive cologne lingered in the air and I lightly touched my ear, my heart still racing from his feather-like touch.
I decided I wouldn’t assume that I would owe him any favours for this. Yes, I was incredibly grateful and thankful - which I managed to express to him a day later after signing the lease. However, I also reasoned that this was easy enough to write off as a perk of working here. I mean, surely anyone could probably mention B&F MediSpa to the apartment manager and receive some special consideration? Whether or not Julien called in a favour. In fact, I convinced myself this very thing, sure that he would have done this for any other employee.
I finally got to move into my new place over the weekend and it felt really nice to have somewhere I could call home at last, a month after moving here.
I spent all day Saturday unpacking and arranging my things to my liking, even buying a few soft furnishings to make it feel more homely. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction when I finally finished on Sunday evening. Throughout the weekend, my thoughts escaped to Julien, wondering what he was doing…or maybe who he was doing, which was probably more likely! Then I remembered how he acted around me - surely someone who seemed so keen wouldn’t just go off and screw someone else? I thought about that kiss we shared, questioning his actions in the workplace and then deciding that I couldn’t really frown upon it as most adult relationships started in the workplace, anyway. Oh God, that kiss. I felt my stomach involuntarily tighten at the memory and I sighed. It was perfect - well practiced and practically scientific in execution, but then again the man was a surgeon - the way he had laid me bare. If it hadn’t been for Nina’s constant snide commentary about the number of women he has been with, I’m sure I would have lost my head.
As I relaxed on my sofa, I took a sip of chilled wine and contemplated what it would be like to really allow myself to be pursued. So far I had rejected all his advances but I liked the new controlled version of Julien. At least he had backed off with the overtly sexual gestures for the past few weeks. If we did get together, how would it affect our work life together? A thrill of desire shot through me as I considered stealing kisses behind closed doors. God, what would Nina say? I groaned as I thought about her vicious tongue, worried if she would spread rumours about me. Could I really see myself on the arm of someone so handsome, so powerful, so….expensive? I battled with my decision and came to the conclusion that the same kind of questions got me to LA in the first place, so ultimately, I might as well go with what my dad said - after all, I was young, I had time to change my mind and I could use this experience to learn from, if nothing else.
I grinned at my decision, shocked, excited and nervous at the same time. With resolution, I made up my mind to talk to Julien and sound him out. Whilst I knew the sex would assuredly be expert, I wasn’t interested in being a casual fuck. No, I’d want to be treated with respect as his partner and I wouldn’t settle for anything less. Perhaps we could start with a date to see if there really was something there, with no promises beyond that.
I blew out a breath, confident with my decision. For once in my life I wanted to be reckless and to go with the flow. To stop overthinking and analysing my decisions. I’d talk to him this week - ask him out myself!
I slipped into Julien’s office, smiling and taking a moment to admire him concentrating on his notes, whilst I leaned against the door. His shirt was stretched across his broad shoulder muscles and I moistened my lips in anticipation, waiting until those powerful arms would be wrapped around me.
“Hey, gorgeous.” His face lit up with a slow smile and he placed his pen down, leaning slightly back in his chair. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this late night visit? I thought you had left for the evening.”
“Nope.” I popped the ‘p’ and locked the door behind me, giving him my best flirty smile.
His eyes widened in surprise but then visibly grew darker as he watched me. I walked across the room, feeling bold and sexy and stopped just before him. His gaze was riveted on my face, then travelled over my body slowly, not bothering to hide the lust which has transformed his eyes. I felt a sense of female prowess, so boldly hitching up my dress, I straddled him, placing my arms around his neck. His arms immediately encircled me. “I thought I’d stop by for a good night kiss.”
I immediately felt a reaction from his groin as he hardened beneath me and I closed my eyes rubbing myself against him, the friction feeling so good. He grabbed my hips, stopping my motion and my eyes flew open in surprise.
“Ellie,” his voice was tight with tension, “you better stop that now or I swear I’ll bend you over this desk.”
I groaned in frustration. I was desperate for his touch and any day now, I’d be ready to sleep with him. I was making him wait, but this was proving equally agonising for me. His face softened at my scowl.
“Let me take care of you.” Before I could respond, he swept his papers to the side and his strong arms picked me up and placed me on the desk, pushing my dress up along the way. I gasped at the swift move, feeling exposed and turned on at the same time.
“I think it’s time for your exam, Miss Hartley.” He began to lightly run his hands along my thighs, pushing my legs further apart. “Let’s check that everything is in working order.”
His fingers stroked my thighs until he reached my panties, running his fingers along the edge. I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes, biting my lip.
“Hmmmm….looks like these are in the way. We can’t have that. Lift up.”
I used my arms to support me and pushed up as he pulled down my panties. Heat and lust spread through me.
“That’s better. Now, what do we have here?”
He traced his fingers against my wet folds and I jumped, his touch electric, setting me on fire. Playing with my wetness for a moment, he pressed a finger inside me, his thumb lightly circling my clit at the same time. It felt so good I let out a long moan in appreciation. “Ohhh…feels…so amazing.” My body trembled as I whispered his name, trying my best to stifle my moans, not wanting anyone outside to hear us. He slowly inserted another finger inside me and I fell backwards against the desk, the sensations almost too much. I felt my body building up as he continued his steady rhythm, getting faster as he sensed my need. “Oh God…I’m going to come.”
“Come for me, baby.”
My body shuddered as he brought me to total ecstasy, with my heart pounding from such a strong orgasm.
I heard the distinct sound of his pager beeping and I tried to gather my strength and sit up. Repeatedly beeping, I wondered why he wasn’t responding, until it became irritating.
Moving around, I opened my eyes, attempting to get my bearings.
That’s when realisation dawned upon me…it was my alarm clock, not Julien’s pager. Sitting up, I batted my eyes as I tried to focus, still feeling hot and flushed.
Oh, good God. I dropped back down and buried my head in the pillow, letting out a muffled sigh of frustration. Shit. What an incredible dream.
Julien
A swift knock on my door had me looking up expectantly from a patient file I was perusing. I smiled as I saw Penny’s face peer around the door.
“Julien, Mrs Smalder has arrived. She’s in Room Three.”
I groaned inwardly but apparently not discreetly enough, which caused a smirk from Penny. Mrs Smalder’s regular shots of botox could have easily been carried out at our spa, but she insisted on having me administer them. Even at double the price.
“Great, please tell her I’ll be right there.”
“Sure.” She was just about to close the door, when I called out for her.
“Penny! Wait. Is her dog…er,er…” I frowned as I tried to remember the pooch’s name.
“Princess, you mean?” She raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on her lips.
“Yeah, Princess. Is she here too?” I couldn’t help my expression, which no doubt failed to hide my grimace.
Penny chuckled lightly. “No, apparently, Princess is napping.”
“Thank God.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I gathered her file from my desk.
Last time Vivian Smalder was here, she brought her white Maltese with her and inquired about botox for the pooch. When I delicately refused, she burst into tears, looking at me like I was the frigging biggest monster on Earth for denying her damn pooch. Seriously, this town was filled with weirdos with too much cash. I was dreading the conversation I would be having with her momentarily. After today’s procedure, she was going to have to put the brakes on botox for some time - it was now getting to a point where it was too much and my reputation was at stake. I stood up, grabbed my jacket and slipped out my door, making my way to one of our light procedure rooms. I was glancing at her file and stopped with a start when I realised I had almost bumped into someone coming from the opposite direction. I looked up, ready to apologise and stopped short.
“My apologies, Ellie.” My eyes swept over her and landed on her sparkling eyes, which were looking at me in amusement. She seemed almost shy and her full pink lips were tugging at the corners. Fuck. I didn’t need those visions of her lips on me right now. I cleared my throat.
“Good morning, Julien. No problem, you seemed engrossed.”
Was it me, or was she blushing? She looked away, as she gently bit her lip.
“How’s the apartment?” I needed to go but at the same time, I was glued to the spot. She was like damned nectar, which kept drawing me in.
“The apartment’s great - thank you again.”
She smiled openly, appearing to be genuinely happy which pleased me. She didn’t need to know that I had agreed to give the apartment manager a heavy discount on her next treatment.
“My pleasure. If you don’t mind, I have a patient waiting.” I stepped to move around her but she looked like she wanted to say something so I stopped in my tracks.
“Everything okay, Ellie?”
More chewing on that damn lip, as she looked away, her blush deepening. I wanted to pull the bottom lip out with my mouth but instead stood waiting somewhat impatiently.
“Um, would it be okay to have a quick chat later?” Her green eyes found mine and I noted a hint of nerves behind them.
“Sure - I’m in theatre for most of the day - swing by my office at five?”
“Will do. See you later.” She flashed me a tantalising smile then swung her hips as she strode off.
I smiled to myself. She was clearly attracted to me - I could see it in her body language even though she tried so damn hard to hide it. I still vividly recalled the feel of her lips against mine, the way she had weakened under my touch. Still, I admired her resolve. I had sensed her softening towards me over the past week - maybe securing that apartment had scored me a few points. I decided that I would try again and ask her out on a date. Try again? Who the fuck was this pussy I was turning into? Women fell over themselves to date me! I almost laughed out loud. Well, here I was, feeling hopeful. Me - the great, Julien Berthou. Hopeful for a date with Ellie Hartley. Well, shit, this was foreign-feeling! I shook my head, clearing all thoughts of my personal life and entered Room Three.
The day flew by quickly. I removed my scrubs, quickly discarding them, washed up and headed towards my office. Glancing at my watch, it was a quarter past five and although I was a few minutes late, I was hoping that Ellie would still be waiting for me. She seemed keen to talk this morning and I was curious as to what was on her mind.
I pushed open my door and she notably jumped. My eyes flew to the photo frame she held in her hand as she quickly replaced it.
“Sorry!” she muttered.
I shut the door behind me. “No problem.”
“Is this your father?”
I moved my way to the desk and pulled out my chair, glancing at the photo as I did so. “Yes,” I replied quietly. “That was taken last year at one of our corporate events - a couple of months before he passed.” Why was I explaining this to her? I never opened up about my father to anyone, except Lawrence Fowler. Damn, this woman was softening me. I changed the subject, my customary smirk taking its place on my face. “So Ellie, what can I do for you?” Maybe I should just go in for the kill and ask her out already. God knows, the question had been in the back of my mind all day. I suddenly felt nervous - what if I was imagining her receptiveness to me? What if she was here to tell me that she only wanted to be friends, to keep things professional? I couldn’t believe I was actually feeling nervous as I eyed her tentatively, sitting opposite me.
Her beautiful smile lit up her face and I immediately felt my dick jump to attention. I raised an eyebrow in anticipation.
She looked away, moistening her lips and I sat there wondering how that small action could be such a turn on. Discreetly, I adjusted my pants.
“I was thinking, that maybe you would like to have dinner with me?” She was bold in her question, and for a moment I was speechless. She was asking me out?
“Sure. Tonight?” I had waited damn long and wasn’t about to waste any more time. She laughed lightly.
“Actually I was thinking Friday evening? I’m due to finish at five thirty - maybe we could out go straight after work…that’s if you’re free…have a few drinks beforehand?”
I ran my hand through my hair, wondering how the hell I’d get through the next five days.
“Friday sounds great. Thank you for asking. I’m looking forward to this.”
“Just one date, Julien, no promises, okay?”
I held up my hands in mock surrender. “Just one date, Ellie. No promises beyond.”
She looked happy with my answer and stood up slowly. “Great…well, see you around.”
My eyes were drawn to her ass but I quickly lifted my gaze before she turned back around, as I knew she would.
“Goodnight, Julien.”
I was tempted to hit her back with a sexual response but didn’t want her to back out for any reason. I had to tread carefully, continue the dance whilst I circled my prey. So instead I flashed her one of my mega-watt grins. “Night, Ellie.”
She breezed out of my office and I sat back in my chair, feeling like I had regressed twenty years, excited about a first date. I felt like a fucking pussy - but it felt great.
“So how’s Ellie coming along with the program?” I was in the boardroom, following our Friday morning staff meeting and had asked Penny to stay behind for a few minutes.
“She’s doing great, Julien. The patients love her - she’s got a lovely bedside manner and I’m sure her accent is driving some of our older men crazy!”
She laughed as she told me about how Mr Whitten, one of our recent patients and former movie star, had asked Ellie out on a date.
“You should have seen him - he was literally swooning over her, promising to make her a star!”
I laughed along lightly but internally I wanted to punch him.
She was mine. For now.
“So how did she handle it?”
Penny waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, she handled it well - pretty much told him she had no interest in being a star and would much rather look after him here. He was totally charmed.”
“I’m sure he was.” I sat back in my chair. I was hearing good things about her from my staff and patients - everyone seemed taken with her.
I sighed. “And Nina? Still giving her a hard time?”
Penny looked away quickly before locking eyes with me. “She’s very threatened, Julien…of your, er, relationship with Ellie.”
I frowned. “Is she deliberately giving her a hard time?” Head nurse or not, I wouldn’t tolerate that type of behaviour in my practice.
“It’s not direct, that’s the problem. Just lots of hints about your… philandering ways, the women you have dated…and…”
She trailed off, looking away again.
“Speak, Penny.”
“Ok, well…she often seems to imply and drop hints about how hot the sex was between you two.” Penny looked down at her hands. “I’m sorry to be so crude, Julien, but you asked for the truth.”
“Sure, I appreciate your honesty, Penny.” I blew out a breath. Shit. This wasn’t acceptable.
“If I may speak out of turn, Julien?”
“What is it?”
“I’m aware of your interest in Ellie…she seems quite taken with you too and I know you’re going out tonight. But Julien, she’s new in town….a long way from home. Just don’t mess with her, okay?”
Whoa there, where the hell did that come from? I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
“Penny, it’s just dinner. I assure you, I have her best interests at heart, you don’t have to worry.” I picked up my patient files and tablet, signalling the end of the meeting and stood up.
“Thanks for the heads up about Nina. I’m going to have a talk with her later - she has no right to discuss or spread rumours about my personal life.”
I held open the door and Penny walked through, nodding her head in agreement. “I agree. It’s not professional in any way. Good luck with her.” She smiled at me kindly and headed back to her station.
I decided to tackle Nina right then since my first appointment wasn’t for another half hour. Swinging by her office, I knocked quickly and entered. She was on the phone and I took a moment to appraise her objectively. She was attractive enough with her blonde hair pinned up and bright red lips, but I now noticed a hard edge to her face which I hadn’t seen before, the result of one fillers too many. She immediately hung up her call and sat up straight, flashing me her big smile and perfect white teeth.
“Julien, what a surprise, I haven’t seen you all week!”
“Nina, we need to talk. Is now a good time?”
“Actually, I’m afraid not. As you know, Daddy is back on Monday and I’m trying to get everything in order for his arrival. Can it wait until later?”
“Fine.” I snapped. “I’m free after six - swing by my office.”
“Sure, Julien. Have a good day.” She raised her fingers in a small wave, throwing me a seductive smile. I nodded curtly and stepped out of her office. I’d deal with her later.
It was just after six o’clock and finally finished for the day, I was looking forward to taking a quick shower to freshen up before my date with Ellie. I smiled at the thought - we had agreed to meet at my office at a quarter to seven so I was keen to get the talk with Nina over and done with. I picked up my phone and buzzed her line.
“Hey Julien,” she seemed to purr on the other end, which irritated me. “I’ll be right over. Give me ten?”
“Sure, I’m on my way out shortly so don’t be long.” I hung up and walked across to my cupboard, which held some spare clothes. Thankfully I always left a good suit or two in there and I selected the casual grey Armani, which would be ideal for the place I had in mind to take Ellie later.
Nina appeared at my door soon after, flashing me an overly enthusiastic smile.
“Hey, Julien. Wow, busy, week, huh?”
We made small talk for a few minutes and then I decided to cut the crap and get down to business. She noticed my suit hanging up and gestured with her hand towards it.
“Did you say you’re going out tonight?”
“Yes, that’s right.” I sat back in my chair, watching her expression. “I have a date with Ellie.”
As I expected, the smile vanished from her face, replaced with a sour expression.
“You have a problem with that, Nina?”
She seemed to regain some of her composure as a smile quickly masked her face once again. “No, not at all, Julien. It’s just…” She looked away.
“What?” I was getting impatient - Ellie would be here soon.
“Well...” She looked back at me and I swear her eyes were glistening with tears. Oh crap, just what I needed. I swore under my breath.
“What’s the matter, Nina?”
She stood up and slowly walked over to me, perching herself in a bold move at the corner of my desk. “It’s just…we were so good together, Julien.” She reached out to run her hand down my face and I instantly jerked away. What the hell was she playing at?
“Nina - what are you doing? We had a brief fling years ago - that was it, nothing more.” I sighed as I watched a lone tear fall down her cheek.
“But Julien, don’t you see, we’re perfect together. We belong together.”
Before I could open my mouth to respond, she was on me in a flash, pulling her skirt up and straddling me, pushing her lips against mine, forcing her tongue into my mouth.
Ellie
My week was going really well and as it drew to a close, the butterflies began to build up in my stomach at the anticipation of an evening out with Julien.
I was up early on Wednesday morning and on impulse, decided to call my best friend, Kate, back home in London. We had only spoken a few times, as with our new nursing roles and shift work, it was hard to find a time where we were both free. I missed her terribly.
The phone kept ringing and I was almost going to hang up in disappointment when I heard her sleepy voice.
“Hello?”
“Kate? It’s me, Ellie!” I couldn’t contain the excitement in my voice.
“Ells! Oh so good to hear from you. Hang on, let me sit up properly.”
“Are you sure you can talk? You sound sleepy.”
“Nah, it’s fine. Long shift. Time for me to get up anyway - I’m starving.” I heard her stretch on the other end, picturing her messy blonde hair and sleep-flushed face. “So, how’s it going over there?”
I suddenly felt homesick. I missed my dad terribly, and hearing Kate’s voice suddenly made me feel emotional. I felt my eyes well up.
“Ells? Are you okay, hun? Is everything okay over there?” I could hear the concern in her voice and I took a deep breath, gathering myself together.
“No, I’m fine…just missing home. And you. So tell me, how’s the new job going?”
“We all miss you too, Ells. It’s not the same without you.” She paused and I heard the catch in her voice. Then she cleared her throat. “Well, it’s hard going and as you remember, we’re stretched thin, nothing new as you know with the NHS, but I love working in paediatrics. The children are amazing. So positive and brave.” She spoke softly and my heart tugged. “It’s everything we dreamed it would be, Ells.”
I sucked in a breath. I had longed to work with children as Kate was doing and I had been sure we’d be following the same path, until this job had come up. “I’m so happy to hear that. I hope I can do that one day too.”
She sensed my melancholy and changed the subject.
“So, tell me, how is life in la-la land?” She laughed as did I - we had a funny conversation last week when I told her about some of the ridiculous demands of the patients.
“Well, thankfully nothing too crazy this week! But I have news….”
“Oh? Do tell?”
“I have a date with Julien.” I grinned, my excitement spilling over.
She screeched on the other end, and I had to quickly pull the phone away from my ear.
“Oh…my…God. You have a date with Julien Berthou?!! Of course, I can’t blame him - but this is HUGE! Tell me everything! I demand it!” I laughed at her surprise.
“Well actually…I kind of asked him out.”
“WHAT?!!” More screaming ensued and I once again held the phone away, wincing.
“Er, do you think you could tone it down with the screaming? I’d appreciate having the ability to hear on my date.”
“Sorry, Sorry. I can’t believe you asked him out, Ellie. You need to back up. Tell me everything from the start.”
So I did. I told her about how he had pursued me from the start but I had rejected his advances.
“Damn girl, you rejected him? Are you serious? Are you mad??!”
“Kate, please. You and I both know he is a serial womaniser. I wasn’t looking to be just another notch on his bedpost.”
“Wait, does he know about your very limited-“
I cut her off. “No he doesn’t and he doesn’t need to know that either. Anyway, he seemed to back off but was still very kind and helpful from a distance. He even got me an amazing discount on my new flat.”
“Nice. So what else? What changed your mind?”
“Well…I’m young, right? And you only get to live once?”
“Hallelujah. My girl has finally arrived.”
“Ha, ha. Very funny. Anyway, he’s been really nice so I thought, why not, I’ll give it one date to see where it takes us - no promises.” I sighed. “You know what else, K?”
“What, Ells?”
“I’m so tired of always being…sensible. I kind of just want to go with the flow for once in my life.” I sighed, hoping I was making sense to my best friend who knew me better than anyone else.
“Ellie? Know what I think? I think it’s a great idea. All work and no play…you know the rest. Just be careful okay? He’s a seasoned player and I’d hate to see you get hurt.”
“I know, that’s why I made it clear that it’s just one date. Trust me, I have no intention of sleeping with him afterwards.”
Thank God, she couldn’t see my face as I felt a rush of heat spread throughout my body, my heart rate accelerating at the thought. My dream flashed before my eyes.
“Hmmm….okay, but seriously, if you’re feeling conflicted about it, just give him my number. I could be there in twelve hours.”
We burst out laughing. After a little more chat, I reluctantly had to hang up to get ready for work.
“Promise me, Ellie, that you will call on Saturday? I want all the details. It’s not every day that a billionaire gets to take my best friend out.” She sighed dreamily. “Maybe I can live vicariously through you.”
“I’ll call on Saturday for sure. Bye, hun, love you.”
“Love ya too, Ells. Take care of you.”
“There we go Ellie, what do you think?” Kimberly spun my chair around to face the mirror. My jaw dropped open. I couldn’t believe the person staring back at me was my own reflection.
“Wow, Kimberly, my God, you’re amazing!”
One of the perks of working at B&F MediSpa was the fantastic spa and I had taken the liberty of booking in for a blow-dry and to have my make-up applied professionally, which they had insisted was complimentary. I couldn’t believe how sophisticated I looked. I actually felt like I belonged here.
I got up from my chair, shaking out my hair, which shone in the light, the softly styled waves falling over my shoulder and down my back. My make-up was soft but she had done an amazing smoky eye which made my green eyes pop. I had never felt more beautiful in my life. I wanted to hug her.
“You look amazing, Ellie. But then again, you really don’t need much - you’re blessed with natural good looks.”
I blushed lightly at the compliment and thanking her once again, I left the spa and headed for the main building. I adjusted my fitted black dress, feeling slightly self-conscious as I walked along on my high-heeled sandals. It felt good to be able to dress up for a change and I smiled to myself when I felt a few admiring glances from a couple of people walking past.
“Hey honey, who’s your surgeon? What did you go for? Botox or fillers?”
I stopped short as I saw an older lady approach me, scrutinising my face.
“Actually - nothing. Just had my make-up applied at the Spa?” I shrugged my shoulders.
“Really?” She looked at me in disbelief. “Well, enjoy it, honey. That elasticity won’t last long.” And then she walked off. Shocked, I stood there grinning. In London, nobody would dream of saying something like that! Shaking my head, I walked into the main building and made my way across to Julien’s office.
On my way, I made a quick stop at Penny’s desk, hoping to catch her briefly as I knew she was working the night shift.
She whistled as she saw me coming and I gave her a twirl.
“Wow, look at you, Ellie! You look amazing!”
“Really? Are you sure I look okay?” I pulled on my dress, suddenly feeling nervous. I pictured the amount of models and actresses Julien had been with and suddenly wasn’t sure I measured up.
“Stop what you’re thinking!” I flicked my eyes up to her face, noting her stern expression.
“You look beautiful, Ellie. You’re glowing.”
I smiled, releasing a breath at the same time.
“Thank you, Penny. I hope you have a good evening here too.”
She shooed me away with her hands. “Off you go. Enjoy yourself!” She winked as she picked up her clipboard. I gave her a small wave and continued on my way to Julien’s office.
As I approached, I noticed his door was open and then distinctively heard the sound of Nina’s voice. My excitement dropped slightly. She was giving me a really hard time lately, but I was determined to ignore her cruel gossip. I really didn’t need to see her right now and face the prospect of another dig from her.
I reached the door and was about to knock when I overheard their conversation.
“But Julien, don’t you see, we’re perfect together. We belong together.”
I gasped silently, shocked. My hand reached for the door and I pushed it open just in time to see Nina and Julien in a passionate embrace, her hands all over him.
My mouth hung open as I watched them in front of me and my heart dropped to the ground. Crushed. I realised I was being totally played - they must have been having a good laugh behind my back.
My hand pushing against the door must have made a sound and the next moment, I saw Julien catch my eye with a look of horror on his face. Sure, horror for being discovered. I vaguely saw him pushing Nina away, but I was out of there by that time, tears blurring my vision as I ran off down the hall to the nearest exit. Pushing open the door, my tears openly freed themselves, running down my face as I gasped for air. I was such an idiot. How could I possibly think that Julien Berthou was really interested in me?! Thankfully there was a waiting taxi outside the building and I made a blind run for it, stumbling along the way in my high heels. I needed to get away from here.
From Julien.
Julien
I walked into my office early on Monday morning in a foul mood, flinging my jacket across my sofa, my head still pounding from my excess drinking over the weekend. What a fucked up two days. Attempting to screw Tammy in my very inebriated state was a huge mistake; thank God I came to my senses and managed to shove her away at the last minute. Boy, hell hath no fury like a woman rejected - she gave me a mouthful when I asked her to leave. I made a mental note to delete that bitch from my contacts. I sat at my desk and ran my hand over my face impatiently, the scene from Friday night still fresh in my mind.
I couldn’t believe the stunt Nina pulled. All I could picture was Ellie standing there - her face contorted with shock and pain. She had looked so beautiful in her sexy little number, her hourglass figure displayed to perfection. Before I had a chance to explain, once I managed extricate myself from Nina’s clutches, she was gone. I had chased her departing figure a couple of minutes later, but was too late as I saw the taxi speed off down the road. I managed to catch a glimpse of Ellie in the back seat, holding her head in her hands, clearly crying. Trying to call her proved futile. So I spent a shitty weekend in the company of other friends and women, trying to drown out this feeling of loss that I couldn’t seem to shake.
My phone buzzed, alerting me out of my reverie. I grabbed the handset.
“Yes?” I barked into the receiver.
“Um, Julien? It’s Nina.” Fuck. She was the last person I wanted to speak with.
“What do you want, Nina?” My voice was tight, trying to hold back my anger.
“I just thought I’d let you know that Ellie has called in sick.” She paused waiting for my reaction. I didn’t want to give her any further ammunition.
“And?”
“Well, also to remind you that daddy will be in shortly, accompanied by Dr Pieter Van Wyk.”
“Fine.” I hung up.
Shit. I had forgotten that Van Wyk was due in today. Lawrence had been searching for his successor to his half of the practice for some time now and had recently recruited Pieter from South Africa, armed with a very impressive medical career. We had spoken via video conferencing but I had yet to meet him personally.
I felt a stab of guilt as I thought about Ellie, hoping that she genuinely hadn’t come down with anything too serious. Even if so, I doubt she’d be willing to allow me to perform an exam. Either that, or I had truly fucked up and she no longer wanted anything to do with me. I suspected the latter. Picking up my cell, I sent her a quick text, wishing her well.
Sighing, I contemplated getting through the day professionally, yet at the same time, I knew I had to figure out a way to pay her a visit later. My schedule was pretty clear for most of the day - I had to get through to her - if nothing else, she needed to hear the truth.
It was still early and I felt restless so I placed a quick call to my personal trainer. I had a ton of stress and alcohol to beat out of my system before I met my new Partner.
“Pieter, good to meet you.” I reached out my hand in a welcome gesture.
“Julien. Likewise, I’m looking forward to learning the ropes around here.”
I nodded in agreement as I took a seat opposite him in the boardroom. Sitting next to him was Lawrence Fowler, grinning from ear to ear, looking extremely pleased with himself.
Both men exuded an air of superiority, which normally wouldn’t bother me but for some reason it irritated me today. I needed to focus, stay in the game and push Ellie to the back of my mind.
“So, how was your trip, Lawrence?”
He pushed back in his chair, after taking a long swig of water. “Everything went well and to plan, Julien. We’ve got a few new ideas for the practice that we’d like to discuss with you.”
“Sure, I’m all ears.”
Pieter sat forward eagerly. “We were considering that we could streamline a few procedures, Julien, maybe free you up a bit more to concentrate on your academic research?”
I considered what they were saying. Research was definitely one of my passions and discovering the next new technique in an area of cosmetic surgery always got my blood and juices flowing.
“I agree. I enjoy my patients, but with my reputation, I’m booked solid for six months in advance. It would definitely help to give me some time away to concentrate on research.”
And so we began a discussion for the next couple of hours, talking shop and new ideas, paving the way forward for improvement. I was impressed with Van Wyk. He was very thorough and extremely professional. I had to congratulate Lawrence, he had found a great candidate to help lead this practice.
Around lunchtime, Nina walked into the room, and I glanced at my phone, happy for the interruption. Ellie hadn’t texted back so I quickly sent off another message, checking once again if she was okay.
“Gentleman, the car is outside.”
I looked up to see her smiling at the three of us. She caught my eye and I scowled back at her until she quickly shifted her gaze. She cleared her throat.
“Pieter, why don’t I introduce you to some of the nurses, if you have a moment?”
He stood up, offering her a polite smile.
“Yes, of course.” He turned to us. “Lawrence, Julien, I’ll meet you out front shortly.”
I watched as Nina linked arms with him, flashing him one of her most seductive smiles. That woman was a piece of work.
“So, Julien? How have you been?”
I looked at Lawrence, who sat back in his chair, pressing his fingertips together.
“I’m good, Lawrence. I see you have bought a fine replacement to take your place - I think we’ll work very well together.”
He didn’t respond, just continued to watch me. After a brief silence, where I wondered what the hell he was thinking, he spoke softly.
“Your father would have been very proud of you, Julien.”
I inhaled sharply. “Thanks.” Shaking my head, I continued. “But, I’m not so sure. No matter what I did, I never measured up, Lawrence.”
“That’s where your wrong, son. He was very proud of you - but I know, God rest his soul, that he could be a stubborn, hard-ass, bastard at times. Just know that he was proud.”
I nodded slowly. I had worked so hard to prove myself to him but he had never acknowledged my achievements or success. Except for when he was on his death bed - and that was to Lawrence. But it was too late for me - I was skiing and screwing a Scandinavian model in Colorado at the time of his unexpected heart attack.
“Anyway, shall we?” Lawrence stood up to head to the car. “I’ve made sure to clear our schedules this afternoon. We have a long catch-up lunch to look forward to.”
Great, that was all I needed. An extended getting-to-know-you lunch when all I really wanted was some time to figure out what the hell was going on with Ellie.
“Sure, let’s go.” I gritted my teeth and followed him out.
As I expected, lunch proved to be a long and drawn-out affair. Had it been another day, another time, another place or so the freaking saying goes, I’d be more than happy to talk business. My head just wasn’t present although I did a damn fine job of proving otherwise.
Around three o’clock I felt my phone vibrate with yet another incoming message. I retrieved my phone from my pocket, expecting it to be one of the nurses, enquiring when I was due back. Surprised, it was a message from Ellie. Just two words:
I’m fine.
My immediate reaction was to call her right there and then but with my colleagues to consider, I had to drum up a plausible excuse for my departure. The need to leave, to hear her voice was intense; I wasn’t interested in a text message exchange.
“Lawrence, Pieter.” I glanced at my phone. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but I need to take care of something urgently.” I pushed my chair back as I placed my napkin on the table.
Two sets of confused eyes landed on me.
“Is everything okay, Julien?” Lawrence looked at me with concern.
“It’s fine, Lawrence. I apologise again, but I need to go now.”
“Sure, Julien. No problem at all. Please, go ahead and take care of your urgent matter - we’ll speak more over the next few days.” Both men pushed their chairs back and stood politely as we exchanged brief handshakes. I smiled, grateful for the quick departure and hightailed it out of the restaurant onto the busy road.
I couldn’t lose her - not as an employee for sure. The remainder of my feelings - I wasn’t yet so sure.
Quickly retrieving her number from my contacts, I hit dial, hoping against hope that she would pick up my call. It rang a few times whilst I paced the sidewalk. It seemed like forever before I heard her voice. I took a deep breath.
“Julien.”
“Ellie, how are you feeling?”
I heard her sharp intake of breath before she considered her answer. All around me, the noise of traffic, people chatting around me as they walked past, annoyed the hell out of me. I just wanted to be somewhere quiet where I didn’t have to strain to listen to her faint voice.
“I’m fine, Julien.”
“Ellie, about Friday night-“
“There is nothing to explain. Please, I don’t want to talk about it.”
Fuck, I could detect the hurt in her voice. Naturally, not an expressive man, I was somewhat taken aback by my reaction. I hadn’t really cared about anyone, any dates, in about a dozen years. What was she doing to me? I had to make her understand, I had to regain her trust.
“Okay, but please, don’t quit okay? Heck, I’ll even offer you a pay-rise, please just don’t quit on the clinic.”
“What?! You can’t offer me professional incentives to stay, just to keep me around personally! Those can’t be the same thing - I can’t have my career be part and parcel of my relationships!”
Fuck. This was coming out all wrong and now I had her riled up even further.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just….I don’t know what to do here. I don’t want to lose you.”
Shit. Where did that come from? I held the phone away from my ear, wondering if I had accidentally cut her off, from the silence on her end.
“Ellie, are you still there?”
“I’m here, Julien.” I heard her sigh. Was I getting through to her? Would she be willing to hear me out? Just then, a few cars broke into a series of a car horn exchange. I had enough.
“Ellie, I’m coming over.”
“NO! Not today, Julien.” Her voice had an edge of hysteria and I backed off, not wanting to push her further away.
“Will I at least see you at work tomorrow?”
“Um, I’m not sure, Julien. I just need another day to think things over.”
I felt my body deflate. I was a man that rarely prayed, but I quickly sent up a silent plea, hoping I hadn’t lost her.
“Okay, that’s fine. We’ll make arrangements for your cover. Take your time. You should also know that Lawrence and Dr Pieter Van Wyk, Lawrence’s replacement, have arrived from South Africa. I’m sure they’re looking forward to meeting you, soon.”
“Great. Okay, I’ve got to go, Julien. Hopefully, I’ll see you on Wednesday.”
We hung up and I stopped pacing the sidewalk. I hadn’t felt this way about someone in a long time and whilst unsure where these new feelings were taking me, one thing I was sure of, was that I wanted a chance to explore this. I just hoped it wasn’t too late.
Ellie
I stood in front of my full-length mirror, critically assessing my appearance in my white scrubs. At least they were stylish, compared to the standard ones I was used to. Nina had insisted the nurses get designer-labelled scrubs, which were especially created for B&F MediSpa - I scoffed at the thought - as if the designer scrubs could make you a better nurse.
Picking up my bag, I slowly dragged my feet out of the apartment, setting off for work, a feeling of dread pooling in my stomach. I felt like such an idiot. I surely must be the subject of much amusement to Nina and her colleagues after what went down on Friday evening. I mean, Jesus, why was I so blinded in thinking someone like Julien Berthou would be interested in me? For goodness sake! I sighed deeply as I stepped onto the bus, taking a vacant seat near the window. Once again, to my annoyance, I felt the sting of tears prick at the back of my eyelids and I quickly blinked them away. No more tears. God knows I had shed enough tears over the weekend. It wasn’t so much that I was in love with Julien or anything; it was the fact that I trusted him. For all I knew, he could have been wooing numerous other women on the side and I let my stupid naivety actually believe that he was into me. I shook my head as I continued to gaze out the window, lost in my thoughts and oblivious to the passengers around me. Sure, he tried to call me yesterday, even appearing sincere but I was still very wary. From now on, I wanted to steer well clear of him and Nina - I came here to learn and to hone in on my nursing skills - not looking for a relationship. I thought about my conversation with Kate on Saturday morning. I was woken up from my deep slumber, having only fallen asleep a few hours earlier. My head was pounding from the copious glasses of wine I had consumed and I groaned as I reached for my phone.
“Hello?”
“Ells? It me! I tried on the off-chance, didn’t expect you to be home…I thought you might be staying over at a certain doctor’s house?” She giggled on the other end. “Spill, tell me everything!”
“Nothing happened, Kate. I was back home just after seven.” I spoke in a low voice, trying hard to keep the pain from pounding on my temples.
“What? But I thought you had a date with Julien? I mean, I got your text photo - you looked stunning last night. What happened? Emergency?”
I laughed bitterly. “Something like that. He had an emergency meeting with Nina beforehand and I walked in on them in a passionate embrace.”
Kate was silent on the other end. When she spoke, her voice was rife with confusion. “What? I don’t understand, Ellie. What are you talking about?”
I felt the tears seep out of my eyes as I replayed the scene I walked into. Kate didn’t interrupt as she heard me out, apart from a few sympathetic noises.
“I got totally played, Kate! I am such a stupid, bloody idiot for thinking that someone like Julien Berthou would be interested in me.” I reached for a tissue and blew my nose loudly.
“Oh, Ellie, I’m so sorry, honey. Did he explain what happened?”
“No, I ran out of there and luckily there was a cab outside the building. Thankfully I didn’t have to wait.”
“Do you think you should call him to find out what’s going on? Has he called you?”
“Yes, he’s tried quite a few times but I’ve just ignored him. I have no intention of giving him the time of day again, Kate. He and Nina deserve each other!”
“Maybe you should hear him out, Ells? Perhaps there is a plausible explanation?” Her voice sounded unsure but I appreciated her efforts.
“It’s okay, Kate. I’ve been really naive. Stupid, really. I just don’t get it…I really thought he seemed to care about me. I’m so dumb.” My voice cracked and I took a deep breath, not wanting to upset Kate too.
“Come home, Ellie. We are so short staffed at the hospital - you’d get a job as soon as you step off the plane.”
“I wish I could, Kate. But, I don’t know…quitting is not my nature, you know? Let me think on it, see how I feel over the next few days.”
“Good plan. I hate to do this, but I have to run - my night shift is starting soon and I need to leave now or I’ll be late for the handover meeting.”
“Of course, Kate, please go. Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ll call you in a few days.”
We hung up and I tried to go back to sleep, which ended up being a completely futile exercise.
I got off the bus and walked the remaining five minutes to the clinic. My heart started to pound as I approached the entrance but I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I had done nothing wrong. I was a damn good nurse, a hard worker.
I smiled as I walked past the receptionist who was on the phone but still looked up to give me a friendly wave.
As I made my way to my station, I wearily looked around, hoping that I wouldn’t bump into either Julien or Nina. My heart sank as I approached and spotted Penny, deep in conversation with the witch, herself. I had no choice but to continue, I couldn’t hide from the head nurse forever.
I looked into Penny’s eyes, which were filled with concern the moment she caught sight of me behind Nina. Nina spun around and her smug face transformed into a false look of sympathy.
“Ellie. How nice to see you again. We weren’t sure if you’d be back. I mean, back today.”
Nice faux pas, bitch. I cleared my throat. “I’m feeling much better.” Thankfully my voice sounded clear and professional.
“Good. Well, Penny will get you up to speed with the patients.”
Penny nodded as she watched Nina pick up her folders. “Oh and Penny - will you introduce Ellie to daddy and Pieter at some stage today?”
“Sure, they’re just finishing up a meeting - we’ll stop by shortly.”
Nina flashed us both an overly bright smile and walked off in the direction of her office. I exhaled the breath I had been holding.
As soon as she was out of sight, Penny stood up, immediately wrapping me up into a hug.
“We can’t talk now, but let’s catch up over lunch, okay? I just need to tell you that it’s not what you think…I’ve scheduled our lunch break at the same time.”
I hugged her back, grateful for her support.
“Sounds, good, Penny. Thank you. And I’m sorry for not being particularly receptive on the phone over the past couple of days. I just had some things to work out by myself.” I looked into her warm brown eyes, silently thankful for her friendship.
“I understand completely, sweetie. I thought it would be better to talk face-to-face anyway.”
Penny debriefed me with the patients for the next half an hour and then she glanced at her watch.
“I think both Dr Fowler and Dr Van Wyk should have finished their meeting by now. Are you ready to meet them?”
I smiled. “Sure, let’s go.”
I followed Penny down the hall and into the meeting room. She tapped lightly and then entered, smiling at me over her shoulder.
“Lawrence, Pieter, I thought you might like to meet, Ellie, our intern from London.”
She motioned for me to enter the room and I nodded, sliding past her. The first thing I saw were two well-dressed doctors sitting at the conference table, files splayed all around them. The older of the two, who I presumed to be Lawrence Fowler, took off his glasses and smiled at me. The younger doctor, deeply tanned with warm brown eyes, stood up. He was tall, with sandy blond hair and slim. To most women, I’m sure he would be considered very handsome, but I couldn’t help but think that he didn’t have the heart-stopping looks or presence that Julien commanded.
I stepped forward, holding out my hand.
“Dr Fowler and Dr Van Wyk, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dr Van Wyk gripped my hand in a firm handshake. For some reason he immediately made me feel safe and relaxed.
“Ellie, good to meet you. Please, call me, Pieter.” He smiled as he released my hand. I turned to Dr Fowler who also scraped back his chair, holding out his hand to shake mine.
“Ellie, I’ve heard so much about you from the team. Good to have you here.” His smile was genuine as he shook my hand. I took in his appearance from his tailor-made suit to his manicured nails. This man clearly enjoyed the finer things in life.
“Thank you, Dr Fowler - “
“Lawrence, please.”
“Thank you, Lawrence. I’m really enjoying working in a reconstructive setting.”
“It must be very different to the NHS back home?”
I laughed lightly. It was a world apart. “Yes, Pieter, very much so. I’m used to working under very different conditions.”
“Yes, I’m sure it’s been quite a transition but I hear you’ve picked things up very well. Perhaps at some stage this week we can get together and talk further? I believe you are here for a year?”
“Yes, that’s correct, I’m contracted for a year. And perfect, I’ll look forward to having time with you both.”
I turned to Penny, waiting for her to exit the room. Our introductions were over for now and I was anxious to check in on a couple of my patients.
Penny spoke for a couple more minutes and then we left them to it, shutting the door gently behind me. I exhaled, hoping I had made a good enough impression.
“Do you think they liked me?” I stopped walking and Penny froze in her tracks.
“Like you? Of course they do, Ellie! They’ve heard nothing but fantastic things about you. Why do you think they wanted to meet you first thing this morning?” She smiled at me, giving me the confidence boost I so needed. I prided myself on my job and would hate for my personal life to shadow my career.
“Thanks, Penny. They seem lovely.” We continued to her desk and I collected my paperwork.
“See you at one o’clock for lunch.”
I sat across from Penny, picking at my chicken salad. My appetite was still not fully recovered, so I replaced my fork and picked up my sparkling mineral water. Up until now, we had made small talk, but I could see that Penny was dying to address the real issue we were here - Julien.
“Talk, Penny. I can see you’ve got questions to ask.”
Penny slowly put down her fork and looked at me with deep concern.
“I’m worried about you, sweetie. Clearly, you’re not yourself.”
“Has it affected my work?” I knew I wasn’t quite with it but I seriously hoped it hadn’t rubbed off on my patients.
“No, no, no. Not at all.” Penny gave me a reassuring smile and I let out a breath in relief. “I’m just saying that I can see you’re upset and obviously you’re probably wishing you were anywhere else but here.”
I smiled at my friend. She already knew me so well. “I’ll be okay, Penny. I guess I just feel so freaking stupid right now and I can’t help but think that everyone is whispering behind my back.”
Penny reached over to pat my hand gently. The act of kindness brought a tear to my eye and I quickly brushed it away with my free hand.
“It’s not what you think, honey. I spoke to Julien after I caught a glimpse of you running out of the side exit. I wanted to come after you but couldn’t leave my station so the first chance I saw him, I cornered him.”
I snapped my head up. “You spoke to him? On Friday night?”
“Well, it was more like, What the hell have you done?”
I smiled at the thought of my friend sticking up for me like that. I’m not sure any other nurse would have the guts to speak to Julien like that.
“What did he say?”
“Nina jumped him, Ellie. Just as you were about to walk in, she must have heard you coming down the hall in those fancy heels you were wearing.”
I snorted looking away. “Yeah, right. I’m not sure I believe that, Penny. I mean, why was I thinking that he could really be interested in me? I mean come on, I’m just a lowly intern!”
“Ellie, if you were my daughter, I’d put you across my knee. Don’t you dare speak about yourself like that - you are a credit to B&F - we’re thrilled to have you here.”
I shook my head, not in the mood for any more compliments about my skills at work. For just this once, I had wanted my personal life to be on par. Clearly, I had failed miserably.
“I can see the hurt and anger on your face, Ellie. But you’ve got to believe me. I think I’m a good judge of character - don’t get me wrong, I’ve never approved of Julien’s personal life, but let me tell you something - he was a broken man on Friday night.”
Could I really believe what I was hearing? “Really, Penny? I don’t think I’ve ever seen any form of weakness in Julien for the two months I’ve known him.”
Penny picked up her water glass and took a long sip whilst I patiently waited for her to continue.
“Trust, me, he was broken. He kept saying that Nina did this on purpose, that she was literally on him for less than twenty seconds, before he pushed her off and ran to chase after you. But apparently it was too late as he saw you in the back of the taxi as you sped by him.”
“Well that part is true. I couldn’t wait to get away.”
Penny nodded, sympathetically. “Understandably.” She speared a piece of her chicken. “So, what are you going to do?”
I sat back in my chair. “Honestly, Penny? I don’t know. I’ve even considered going back home - “
“What! No, you can’t go, Ellie!”
“Relax. I’m not a quitter - at least with my work, anyway. I just don’t know how to get around this, you know? I don’t want to be the girl that everyone talks about as Julien’s bit on the side. My career is so important to me, I’ve worked my arse off to get to where I am today.”
I thought about my dad back home and suddenly felt very homesick. What I wouldn’t do to have his arms wrapped around me.
“I know it’s hard, sweetie. You’re in a foreign country, miles away from home. I guess you feel very betrayed right now too. But I find the best way to deal with situations like this is to face it head on. You need to talk to him to clear the air.”
“I know, I know, Penny. I’m just not sure that I could face dealing with it right now. I mean, both Lawrence and Pieter are also in the clinic too and I really want to concentrate on my work - I’d hate for them to think I’m just some floozy after Julien’s money. Or just someone to warm his bed at night.”
I felt a flush of heat spread across my face at the last sentence. Damn my body for betraying me like that. But God, the thought of being in his strong arms again, the way he made me feel as I had pressed up against his rock hard chest, which I no doubt would be as chiselled as my vivid imagination. I pictured his lips, his steely blue eyes which had darkened as we kissed…the bulge I felt against my stomach and the smirk that followed, telling me in no uncertain words how he desired me. Shit, I shook my head slightly, clearing my mind of my wondering thoughts.
“Okay, honey, it’s your call, but sooner or later, this conversation is going to come up and you’d better be prepared. Julien’s a determined guy, he won’t take no for an answer.”
“Fine, I’ll speak with him, Penny. But not yet - maybe in a couple of days or so, when the gossip dies down.”
“Good girl. Now eat up, you’re looking scrawny!”
Somehow, I managed to avoid both Julien and Nina for the next few days. Sure, I saw them around, felt Julien’s eyes bearing into me, but I refused to give him any time, making my excuses to leave at any opportunity that there was a chance we would be together. Thankfully with my patient list, I didn’t need to consult either of them. I knew that I couldn’t continue like this forever but at the same time, I wasn’t ready to deal with him at work. I needed to get over this Julien hang-up and move forward with my career. Or at least try.
I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Pieter, on Wednesday. He had some amazing experience under his belt and listening to some of his patient stories, made me realise that more than anything, that I wanted to concentrate on my professional demeanour. Without any personal baggage looming over me.
I really tried not to think about Julien and Nina together but every time I saw them, all I could picture was catching them together on Friday night. It was a tough week trying to balance my job with my personal turmoil.
On Thursday, I was cleaning up one of the procedure rooms, lost in thought and enjoying the classical music, which was softly playing through the hidden speakers. In the middle of sterilising the bed, I heard the door open. Looking up, thinking it was one of the nurses, my heart started to pound. Julien was staring at me with determined eyes as he came towards me. Consciously, I stepped back, eyeing the open door as I quickly planned my escape.
“I was just, er, cleaning up, but I can come back.” I made to walk past him, but he gripped my arm. I looked down at his grasp and then back at the door.
“Ellie.” His voice was strained. “Please, we need to talk.”
I tried to make my voice sound as indifferent as possible. “There is nothing to say, Julien. Please let go of me.”
I shrugged my arm out of his grasp.
“Please, Ellie. It’s not what you think! Just give me a chance to explain?”
“Explain? How do you explain walking in on you and Nina with your tongues down each other’s throat?!”
I spat the words out at him and glanced at the door, aware that my voice had risen. To my dismay, I noticed Pieter watching us, a disapproving look in his eyes as he quickly walked away. Great. That was all I needed.
“Julien, please. This is work. I don’t want to talk about it here, okay?”
I shoved past him, embarrassed to be caught out by Pieter.
“Ellie, you will have to talk to me soon. Besides anything else, we need to have a professional working relationship.” His voice was low and smooth, but I could detect an edge to it.
“Fine, Julien! As this is personal, we’ll talk outside work.” I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. “Is there anything else for now?”
“No, that’s all for now. Please, continue in here - I’ll leave.”
I watched him walk away, unable to control my heart, which tugged at his departure.