Page 152 of Morally Corrupt

"You'll need to get tested to see what specifically causes your allergies…" I already tune out. I look at my watch, and it's almost noon. I need to get everything done before they close all the shelters.

"Look. I don't have the time. I already told you. I'm allergic to cats. Now give me the pills."

"Mrs. Hastings… it doesn't work like that," he continues in that admonishing voice, but I cut him off.

"Sorry, Doctor…" I've forgotten his name. "But I really need to be able to stand next to a cat and not sneeze my lungs out. I would really appreciate it if you'd prescribe me somethingnow."

"Mrs.…" Oh, for Hell's sake. I pull out a stack of one hundred bills from my bag, which I promptly slap on his desk.

"Yes, I can certainly prescribe somecetirizine. You'll find that it won't make you drowsy and won't interact with your day-to-day activities." He immediately gets to work.

It's funny how quickly he's changed his tune when money gets involved. Now, I'm not actively promoting bribing doctors, especially as a newly recovered addict.

But this is, in fact, an emergency.

I need to pull through with my plan to make sure Adrian quits moping around. Also, because I want him to take me on that promised date… but first, I have to get him out of bed.

As soon as I have my prescription, I drive to the nearest pharmacy, also keeping track of all the shelters around. When I was researching, I had compiled a list of all of them in Manhattan.

I can't just getanycat. I need a super cat.

Armed with an entire month supply ofcetirizine, I head to the first shelter. I must have really tuned out the doctor because I'm entirely too surprised to see the allergy medicine is syrup and not pills. Well… if it works, it doesn't make a difference.

The clerk at the first shelter shows me around their feline selection, and I can't say I'm impressed. They aren't either if I go by the way they scoff their cat snouts at me.

My nose is a little itchy, but not as bad as before, and it gets progressively better as I go from shelter to shelter.

When I'm at the fourth shelter, I'm greeted by an overly friendly girl, who sings all types of praises to the animals they house. She takes me to their cat area and shows me a couple of adorable kittens.

I pet one of them when a flash of pink snatches my attention. I turn my head to get a better look, and the ugliest cat I've ever seen in my life greets me.

Hairless, her whole body is pale and wrinkly, her big eyes bulging from her bald head.

I look at her. She looks at me. We engage in a battle of spirits, and she doesn't back down. I also notice that she's in a cage of its own, unlike the other cute ones.

"What about that one?" I ask, and I go near the cage.

The girl shakes her head, "I… I probably shouldn't say this because we want all of them to end up in good homes…" Her bottom lip trembles as she continues, "She's been returned five times so far. She's too…aggressive," she says the last word in a hushed tone, and I think the cat senses because it looks at her and bares its teeth.

"See?" she says and takes a few steps back.

"Can I open the cage?"

"Fine. But I'm over there." She points to the other corner of the room where the cuties are, and I shrug. Whatever.

I take the key from her and open the cage. The moment the door swings open, the cat charges me, claws out.

As I crouch to get to her, I lose my balance and end up falling on my back. The cat is now on my chest, one clawed paw up threateningly. I arch my eyebrow at her, and she tilts her head as if she understands me. We stare at each other for a while longer until she decides to finally scratch the hell out of my neck.

That. Hurt.

My hands shoot out to grab the little troublemaker, and I lift her up while she struggles to do more damage.

"Stop!" I command. Once again, she raises her eyes and looks at me. Her pupils narrow into a slit and after an almost nod, she stops fighting. My lips curl up in response.

"I'm taking her," I yell at the girl. She frowns at my voice and tells me to deal with her colleague at the entrance desk.

After sorting all the paperwork, I get to take Miss Troublemaker home. While she's not as aggressive with me, I get why the girl is so afraid.

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