Page 62 of Temptation and Tyranny

“Name the place,” I typed back before I could change my mind.

Her response was immediate:That little café near the clinic. Two o’clock?

I’ll be there.

I tossed the phone onto the passenger seat, thinking about what Ashlynn had said. About risks and rewards, about letting fear dictate our choices. About the difference between protecting someone and denying them the right to choose.

Maybe she was right. Maybe I was letting fear control too much of my life. But as I thought about the threat Rousseau posed, about the dangers that lurked in my world, I couldn’t help but wonder if fear wasn’t the wisest choice after all.

Because if anything ever happened to Allegra because of me…

I held the steering wheel even tighter, pushing the thought away. For now, I had a business to run and a best man’s duties to fulfill. Everything else would have to wait.

But Ashlynn’s words kept coming back to me:Sometimes the biggest risks bring the greatest rewards.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Allegra

I smoothed down my shirt as I stepped out of the gym, a little out of breath after rearranging some of the equipment for my upcoming clients. The clinic was quiet this early in the morning, most of the treatment rooms still dark and empty. I made my way to my office, my sneakers squeaking on the clean floor tiles, my mind already running through the day’s patient list.

As I rounded the corner, I nearly collided with Dr. Lefèvre, our clinic director. His usually genial face was creased with concern, and my stomach dropped.

“Allegra,” he said, his voice low and serious. “Could you step into my office for a moment?”

I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral even as my heart rate picked up. Had something happened? Was there a problem with one of my patients? My thoughts went straight to one of my more frail patients, Mr. Roberts, who hadn’t been looking too well lately.

I followed Dr. Lefèvre into his office, the space neat and professional with its dark wood desk and walls lined with medical texts and certifications. He gestured for me to take a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk, and I perched on the edge, my back straight and handsfolded in my lap. My heart raced, preparing for bad news.

Dr. Lefèvre settled into his chair with a sigh, removing his glasses and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Allegra, I hope you know how much we value you here at the clinic. Your work has been exemplary, and your patients speak very highly of you.”

“Thank you,” I said, a note of wariness creeping into my voice. This wasn’t the direction I thought this conversation was going. “Is there a problem?”

He replaced his glasses, his gaze meeting mine. “I’m afraid there is. It’s come to my attention that you may have...compromised our professional standards recently.”

I felt my cheeks flush. “I’m not sure I understand.”

Dr. Lefèvre leaned forward, clasping his hands on the desk. “Several of our staff members and patients noticed you dancing rather intimately with a former patient at the hospital fundraiser gala last month. And then the same patient created quite a scene here last week. A Mr. Cooper Moreau, I believe? Another therapist witnessed it through the window in the gym.”

The memory of that night at the gala flashed through my mind—Cooper’s hand on my waist, the warmth of his breath on my neck, the electricity that had sparked between us as we moved across the dance floor. Then the scene last week, with him marching me out of the clinic like he owned me. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Dr. Lefèvre, I can assure you that Mr. Moreau had already been discharged from my care at that point. There was no breach of professional ethics.”

He nodded slowly. “I understand that, Allegra. However, the appearance of impropriety can be just as damaging as actual misconduct. We have a reputation to uphold, and our patients need to trust that we maintain strict professional boundaries.”

I felt a surge of indignation. “With all due respect, sir, what I do in my free time is my own business. I’ve never let my personal life interfere with my work here.”

Dr. Lefèvre’s expression softened slightly. “I know that, Allegra. And I’m not accusing you of anything improper. But we need to be mindful of how our actions might be perceived, especially in public settings where we’re representing the clinic.”

I hung my head, trying to calm the mix of embarrassment and anger swirling in my chest. “I understand. It won’t happen again.”

“Good,” he replied, “I’d hate to see you jeopardize your career and reputation.”

“I appreciate your concern,” I said, forcing a smile. “Is there anything else?”

He shook his head. “No, that’s all for now. But please, Allegra, if you need to talk about anything, my door is always open.”

I stood, smoothing my shirt again in a nervous gesture. “Thank you, Dr. Lefèvre. I’ll keep that in mind.”

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