Page 9 of Secret Baby for Dr. Grump

If only she knew.

Thankfully, the topic shifts and I no longer have to think about Dr. Grump.

They weren’t kidding with what they said about him. I always thought reputations were built on a smidgen of truth and a lot of exaggeration, but apparently, I was wrong.

“Miss Davis, when I ask you to bring me a file, you’re supposed to bring all the files connected to it. Otherwise, what’s the point of me reading an incomplete one?”

I freeze, glancing at the folder in his hand before I note the frown on his lips. Grump, like they said. Then my body snaps into motion as I hurry to get the other files, frantically looking in the still-not-sorted pile until I find them.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Jennings. Here they are.”

He frowns at me, then takes the files. It feels like passing over a hurdle, but it’s not the only hurdle.

“The files should be by order of date and how they’re dealt with, not alphabetical.”

“Right away, Dr. Jennings. I’ll reorganize them.”

“I need everything on the table thirty minutes before the patient comes in. If not, it’s wasting my time and wasting their time.”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Dr. Jennings.”

“You have to be faster than this. You can’t do this at the same pace you did it in whatever workplace you came from.”

I grit my teeth through the last one, but I can’t say that I haven’t had worse comments. I remember my old boss—the one I had when I was still very young—calling me names and hitting on me simultaneously, while Luke is just commenting on work-related stuff.

“Of course, Dr. Jennings.”

He scowls at my extra polite tone like I’ve personally offended him. Then his expression shifts to a more pleasant one as a middle-aged male patient comes in, who he greets before they get to talking. I can tell this is a new patient from the way the man seems so nervous.

“I was told you’re the best at this, Dr. Jennings, so I want to ask you directly if I have a chance of making it through surgery.”

“Everyone has a chance, Mr. Thompson, but there’s always a risk with any surgery. It also depends on your body’s response. Can you let me know what your daily activities are and how your reactions to them have been this week?”

Luke listens intently, jotting down now and then without breaking eye contact with the patient. I realize he’s noting the symptoms without being obvious about it, which goes a long way to relaxing the patient until he’s no longer nervous. By the time Luke is done, the man is eager for a scheduled surgery, after some planned tests, and walks out of the clinic with a smile on his face.

I smile and open my mouth, wanting to remark how smooth that was. Then my smile drops when I find Luke’s gaze on me and remember who I’m working with now.

Dr. Grump. Right.

“Have you organized the files yet?”

The pleasant expression and tone are gone. I shiver at the coolness in his voice.

“I’ve arranged the ones this week?—”

“I already arranged that.”

I nod. “I also got started on the ones next week.”

“That’s it?”

I blink, recalling the stack I had to go through in the last three days—and that stack was only for two to three patients.

“It’s a lot of files, Dr. Jennings.”

“And it’s your job. Make sure you do your job.”

My back goes up. “I am doing my job.”

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