Chapter Twenty
“Jamie, what’s the matter girl? You’ve been quiet all night,” Thea noted.
At the ball, Jamie and Thea had hit it off. At the end of their talk, they had exchanged contact information. As it turned out, Thea had been new to the area and didn’t know many people. They’d been hanging out ever since.
Jamie had also introduced Thea and Kat to each other and the three of them had become a trio. Kat had invited them out for a new club opening she was working. Jamie wasn’t huge on crowds but Thea had convinced her go out. Besides, Asa was working tonight, which was strange because he’d been working a lot of nights lately. Usually the doctors rotated days and nights and Asa was one of the more favored surgeons there. He could practically pick his own schedule.
Jamie pasted a smile on her face. “I’m good.”
Thea raised a brow that said she didn’t believe Jamie. “Seriously? We’re sitting in the VIP of one of the hottest clubs in the city with free drinks. The music is fire and it makes me want to shake my ass. We should be celebrating, girl! You just got your associates degree and you’ve been accepted into the college of your dreams, into the social work program no less. And, you have a sexy man who adores you at home. But, you look as if someone ran over your dog. I know something is going on. Tell me.”
Just then Kat entered the VIP section with a fresh bottle of champagne. “Whooo! The club is popping tonight.” Her hair was now lavender and shaved on the sides. When she looked at her friends, her smile fell. “What’s going on, ladies? Aren’t you having a good time?”
“Of course,” Jamie spoke first.
“She’s lying. Jamie has been sitting here looking like a sad puppy,” Thea ratted her out.
Jamie glared at her friend. “What is this fascination you have with dogs?”
Thea shrugged. “They’re adorable.”
Kat took a seat on the other side of Jamie. “If you can’t tell your friends about your problems, who can you tell?”
She had a point. “Fine…it’s just. I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it.”
“We won’t judge. Right Kat?” Thea looked at the lavender haired woman.
Kat held up two fingers. “Scouts honor.”
Jamie took a deep breath before speaking. “How do you know when your man is cheating?”
Kat and Thea exchanged surprised looks before either of them spoke. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
Kat shook her head vehemently. “I don’t believe it. That man has eyes for no one but you. I’ve seen how he is. Whenever I see you together and you move away from him, his eyes follow you.”
“Yeah,” Thea agreed. “He seems really into you. Trust me. I’ve had my share of cheating boyfriends. In fact, my last boyfriend was the reason I moved to this area in the first place. If he had looked at me the way Asa looks at you, I swear we’d be married by now. What makes you think he’s cheating?”
“He’s been working mostly nights lately, even when he has surgeries earlier during the day.”
Thea frowned. “Hmm, that is unusual but not out of the ordinary. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. It could be that he’s vying for the position of Director of Surgery. The current one in charge of that department now is retiring and I hear he’s a candidate. Look, I work at the hospital and even though he and I work in different departments, his name is bandied around quite a bit because let’s face it, your man is fucking hot. But, I’ve never heard of him acting as anything but professional to any of the other women who work there. Sweetie, I think you’re just being paranoid.”
“I guess…” Jamie said uncertain. There was something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It reminded her of the time a few months back when he was working a lot of nights but she’d called the hospital to speak with him and he wasn’t there. That time he’d brushed her off. Would he do the same if she confronted him again?
“You sound unsure,” Kat pointed out.
“Because, I am. There’s something different about him. These late nights are one thing but he gets home well after when I know his shift is supposed to be over. And then, he gives me some kind of excuse as if I’m stupid! You may not think he’s cheating but maybe he’s just really good at covering his tracks.”
“Or maybe, you’re being paranoid. Just talk to him and I’m sure everything will be cleared up,” Thea suggested.
“But, shouldn’t I trust my instincts? I may be naïve in a lot of aspects but this is something I can’t brush off.”
“If it’s bothering you so much, then maybe you should go through his phone. That’s how I found out my last boyfriend was cheating.” Thea shrugged.
“I don’t want to do that. That just seems crazy.”
“Well, you’re the one sitting in the middle of the club wondering if your man is cheating and you only feel that way because he’s worked some late nights. He’s a doctor, sweetie. They have to do that sometimes.” Kat patted her on the shoulder. “Look, I’m not trying to be dismissive of your problems. It’s just that I don’t see why you would feel this way when this man clearly is into you.”
“It’s not just the late nights. It’s just a feeling. Asa and I are connected in a way I can’t explain without sounding completely nuts. I just feel that something is off. I see it in his eyes. He gets this cold look that sends a chill down my spine. I don’t know what it means but it scares me.”
“Do you fear that he’d hurt you?”
Jamie shook her head. “I don’t think so. You know, maybe you’re right and I’m making a big deal out of nothing.” Though she wasn’t a big drinker, she held out her empty glass to Kat. “Pour me some of that champagne and let’s have a good time.”
“Whooo! That’s the spirit!” Kat threw her hands in the air.
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Thea danced to the music pumping from the DJ booth.
Jamie did the best she could at putting on the pretense of having a good time. But for the rest of the night, all she could think about was what was going on with Asa. And why she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going on with him.
* * *
Asa had been working nights, lately. Mostly so he could complete his extra-curricular activities. He was just finishing up his charting so he could head out to his cabin when he heard a knock on his office door.
“Come in,” he called out.
When the door opened, Maria poked her head through. Though she was the last person he wanted to see at the moment, it was time to put forth his plan.
“Hello, Asa. You’re about to head out soon?”
“Yes. Maria, I’m glad you stopped by my office. Would you mind closing the door? I think it’s time for us to have a little chat.”
She gave him a coy smile. “Oh? We haven’t had one of our little chats in a while. I’m sure you don’t want to talk because you need my opinion on a patient considering how brilliant you are.” She closed the door and walked over to his desk, but instead of taking the seat, she walked around his desk until she was only inches away from him. She then perched her bottom on the desk in an intimate display that overstepped the boundaries he’d set for her.
“You’re right, I didn’t ask you in here for professional reasons.”
Her grin widened. “Oh no?” She scooted closer. “Then what did you call me in here for?”
“I just wanted to tell you that you’re a brilliant doctor and any other hospital would be lucky to have your expertise.”
She beamed. “Why thank you, Asa. I’m just absorbing what you’ve taught me. I don’t think I could be as successful without your lead.”
“I’m flattered,” he said without emotion. He wanted to give her enough rope to hang herself.
“I’m not just saying that to suck up to you. Word around the hospital is that you’re being considered for the director position. You’ll probably get it, considering your family has been attached to this hospital for years. That’s nothing short of amazing considering that you’re not even 40 yet. But as your friend, I think it’s my duty to point out that a man in such a prestigious position needs to have the right people surrounding him, particularly his partner. You need someone who is cultured and can understand what it takes for someone like you to uphold such a revered position.”
Asa smirked. “I suppose you have someone in mind?”
Maria boldly ran a finger down the front of his chest. He nearly flinched away but barely managed not to. “Well, I can think of someone. I mean, when you come home you want to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation with your partner. You do want to feel like the person you’re communicating with is on your level. I’m sure a man like you doesn’t have time to decipher the latest slang or talk about cleaning products,” she added with a giggle.
Asa clenched his fists, not missing that swipe she’d taken at Jamie. Not that he felt any remorse for what he was about to do. But if he had any, all of it would be gone by now because of the way she could casually dismiss the woman he loved and vowed to protect.
“So, what you’re saying is, the partner that I’m currently with isn’t good enough?”
She raised a brow. “Oh, are you still with that former janitor? How cute. I’m sure she’s a nice girl but she didn’t have much in the way of social skills.”
“And, I supposed you do?”
She laughed. “Well, you could do so much worse than me. If you haven’t figured it out yet, we’d be perfect together. I’m the total package.”
“And, you don’t lack modesty.”
“What do I have to be modest about? Just because I’m a woman, I should humble myself to make other people comfortable? No, I’m not modest. I’m a confident, intelligent and attractive woman and I’d be an asset to any man I’m with. You’re the one I want because the two of us make sense. You’re brilliant and you’re going places. Haven’t you heard the saying, behind every strong man—”
Asa held his hand up. “I’m going to stop you right there, doctor.”
“I need you to know the kind of woman Jamie is. She’s someone who’s dealt with a lot of adversity in her life but she has somehow managed to persevere despite all the people who try to shit on her. I’m talking about the ones who walk around with their noses in the air like they’re better than everyone else. She doesn’t talk down to people to make herself seem superior. She doesn’t put on airs and pretend to be smarter than everyone else. She’s never pretended to be anyone she’s not.”
Maria stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. She raised her chin defiantly. “Well that’s nice and all, but I don’t know what that has to do with me. If you want to lower yourself to be with someone like, then that’s on you. Although, when the rest of your peers start talking about how unsuitable you are for the position you’re trying to obtain based on your life choices, then I can only say, I told you so.”
“Be that as it may, let’s talk about choice. Your choice to walk around the hospital with the arrogance of someone who has nothing to hide. One would think that someone in your position would keep a low profile, after all, it can bring a lot of unwanted attention not only to the hospital but to yourself.”
She pursed her lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about and obviously you’re not in the mood to listen to reason so I’m going to end this distasteful conversation.”
“It’s a conversation you started.”
“I was only trying to be a good friend and you made it into something that it isn’t. I don’t know what’s gotten into you but ever since you’ve taken up with that woman, you’ve changed.”
“I’m still the same. I’m just a lot less tolerant of your bullshit.”
“Goodnight, Asa.” She turned to leave but Asa hopped out of his seat and beat her to the door. He placed his palm against it when she turned the knob, slamming it shut.
“Let me out.”
“I’m not finished yet.”
She glared at him. “If you don’t let me out this instant, I will report you to the disciplinary committee.”
Asa had had enough of this vile woman. He slammed his fist into the door, right by her head, to send a message. “Shut the fuck up and listen, Doctor. The only thing you’re going to do is leave this hospital. You have two weeks to tender your resignation or there will be consequences of the likes you didn’t see coming.”
She snorted indignantly. “I will do no such thing. Who do you think you are to order me around like this? You aren’t head of surgery, yet. I have a mind to apply for the position myself, just so I can fire you.”
“You won’t. And we both know why, don’t we, Doctor?”
“Why do you keep saying it like that? Is it because I’m a woman? I never pegged you for a sexist.”
“Cut the act, Maria. Do you wanna know why you’ll never apply for the position of director? Because it would require more forged recommendations and finagling on your part.”
All the color drained from her face. “I…I don’t know what you’re talking about?”
“Oh? You don’t?”
“You see, I overlooked your rude and intolerant behavior because I believed you were a brilliant surgeon and we needed someone like you on our team. You were good with the patients and that’s all that mattered. For all that, you crossed the line when you fucked with me and mine. You see, when you laid a hand on Jamie at the ball that was your biggest mistake. She’s a gracious woman who wanted to put the incident behind her, but I’m neither gracious nor forgiving. My first instinct was to break your fucking neck but then I thought of something better. I decided, I was going ruin you because what do you value more than anything else? Your reputation, of course. So, I had you investigated. And, you know what I found out?”
Her eyes widened to the size of saucers and the arrogant mask she wore like a badge slipped, and in its place was the face of a scared little girl. “Look, you said yourself that I’m a brilliant surgeon. Is it really necessary to go this far over a little misunderstanding? And I swear, it was an accident. I never meant to push her.”
Asa smirked. “It’s funny that you should mention that because Jamie never said exactly what happened but thanks for admitting it. Now, I’m going to enjoy seeing your downfall. I wonder what people will say when they discover a doctor who has performed countless surgeries in this hospital actually has a fraudulent social security number and altered immigration documents. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that there’s nothing real about you, from the fake diploma and medical transcripts and those letters of recommendations I mentioned earlier. In fact, you’re not really a doctor, are you?”
“Please don’t say anything. I really did go to school and I worked really hard. It just wasn’t accredited. I deserve to be here just like anyone else. Besides, if you were to expose me, it would open this hospital up to millions in lawsuits. It wouldn’t be worth the president’s time to investigate. And who do you think would go down with me? The man who exposed it all.” A smug grin split her lips.
“You think so, Maria…if that is your real name. Here’s the thing, this hospital may take a hit but you’d be in jail. What do you think happens to supercilious bitches like you in prison? They’d chew you up and spit you out. When you finish serving your term, you’d be deported because your paperwork is phony. Trust me, in this political climate, they can’t wait to send you home. So believe me when I tell say, you have way more to lose than this hospital does. You see, I was going to give you two weeks to get the hell out of here but you’ve pissed me off. I want you to disappear after tonight and don’t come back or I swear I will see to it personally that your life is made a living hell.”
Her eyes gleamed with tears but Asa felt no remorse for this bitch. Not only had she terrorized the hospital staff with her superiority complex, she’d put patients in danger by operating on them unlicensed. It was a wonder that they hadn’t been hit by a huge malpractice lawsuit already. She was quite lucky she hadn’t killed anyone. Because then, he would have to be more lethal in his method of making her go away.
But, only after he took care of another monster. The monster he had locked away and planned on eliminating very soon.