Page 66 of Seduced By a Billionaire

He pulled a tee-shirt over his head, “You’re unbelievable. You know I finally figured you out. You really are the one with the problem. You have a poverty complex.”

Ella glared, “You’re practicing without a license there Freud.”

Striding toward the door he said, “I’ll take Finn to school this morning. I’m heading into the office anyway. Lindsey starts tomorrow. I guess that means your nanny obligation is fulfilled.”

Ella fought back tears as she said, “How dare you twist this around. Finn has never been just an obligation to me. I love him. I have loved every single second of my time spent with him.” Ella stood up with her chin in the air; with the sheet wrapped around her she gracefully strode to retrieve her robe from the bathroom.

Frustrated, Kyle watched her walk away and felt powerless to stop the train wreck he saw happening in slow motion. He wanted to snatch her up and throw her onto the bed and never let her go, but he was frozen to the spot.

“I guess since I’m out of a job here, I’ll pack up today and be on my way.”

“Ella…”

She raised her eyebrows, hands on her hips, waiting to see what he was going to say.

His nostrils flared as he glared at her. “Nothing,” he said and walked out the door.

She threw herself on top of the bed and sobbed like her heart was broken, because it was. Was that really the best he had?

24

It was a typical Monday morning and Ella’s first day back at the hospital. It had been almost a week since she had moved out of Kyle’s place. When she arrived at work this morning, she had been welcomed enthusiastically by her colleagues but had yet to run into the head nurse. She dreaded it. Deb had filled Ella in on the latest gossip and brought her up to date about the patients Ella would be covering that day.

Before Deb had clocked out, she had looked Ella up and down, forehead creased with concern, and commented about her appearance. Ella had been surprised it was so obvious. She knew she hadn’t been sleeping but she thought her makeup would conceal it. Deb’s empathy touched her and was almost her undoing. She would rather stay numb. Ella shut her out and felt bad at the look of hurt on her friend’s face. She just couldn’t. Not here, not at work…maybe not anywhere.

Kyle had tried calling the first several days after she had left, and Ella had let it go straight to voice mail. Then he had stopped. She stayed busy and exhausted herself with work and exercise. That had worked in the past. It would work again damn it.Damn him!

She had just finished sponge bathing her patient when the head nurse, Deloris Henry popped her head in. Rattled, she missed a step as she was carrying the tub of water and spilled half of it on the floor.

“That will be a slipping hazard. Clean that up immediately! You should be more careful.” Ella’s cheeks reddened and she secretly fumed but said nothing.

“Come to my office when you finish up here.”

Ella nodded her head yes and continued cleaning up. Deloris leaned against the doorway, arms crossed watching her, wearing her permanent scowl. Exasperated Ella said, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No. Carry on.”

Ella’s eyes flashed with anger and Deloris smiled, her lips twisting in a satisfied smirk as she exited the room.

Her patient, a charming senior on the other side of eighty, patted her hand as she took his blood pressure, “She’s a real piece of work that one is.”

Ella smiled warmly and winked, “Ya think?”

“I know. What a dour and unpleasant woman. I take it she’s your boss?”

“Yes, but don’t worry about me, I can handle it.”

“I’m here if you want to talk about it. I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere in the near future,” he said, looking hopelessly tiny and frail.

“I might just take you up on that Mr. Fogarty.”

His smile lit up his weathered face, “Good. I hope you mean it.”

“You’re all set for now. I’ll be back soon to check on you. Try to get some rest.”

“Don’t let the witch push you around.”

“I won’t.” She plumped his pillow and adjusted his covers before heading into the viper’s den.

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