Page 21 of The Bargain

“Wow. It looks just like the hospitals on TV,” she said as we parked by the entrance. It helped that we were meeting Jeremy before the hospital had even officially opened for the day; the car park was practically deserted.

“Based on how much it costs to be treated here? I sure hope so,” I replied, dismissing any further tentative conversation with her.

I grabbed the child and looked down at him again with a frown. “I never hear him cry. Is he defective?”

She scowled at me, pursing her lips. “No, he is notdefective. He’s just a very quiet baby and his heart condition makes him more tired, hence why he’s sleeping more.” She sighed. “Unbelievable.” She shook her head, took a deep breath, and then a step back. “Lead the way.”

I nodded, walking ahead of her. She was showing more self-control than I’d thought she would.

We took the elevator to the pediatric floor and passed the empty reception desk to the already open door of Jeremy’s office.

“Ah, Dean, right on time.” He smiled, looking up from his computer as I walked in, closely followed by Opal.

His eyes collided with Opal and his eyebrows raised slightly. Ah, he liked what he saw. I turned toward her and saw the same. She liked what she saw too and for some reason that didn’t settle well with me.

Jeremy had always been a hit with the girls, even back at school. His mixed features of a Chinese mother and American father had given him striking and exotic features -crow black hair, golden skin, and slightly slanted blue eyes.

I was not a witch doctor like my sister was, but I could read people. These two found each other attractive, but they were never going to happen. I couldn’t have Jeremy meddling in my plans - no matter how good he was.

Jeremy stood up and walked to Opal, extending his hand to her. “You must be Opal.”

She smiled brightly at him - not a smile she would give me, that was sure. Maybe because she knew she could not fool me, that I knew how rotten she was, and how she’d pulled my brother under one too many times.

Jeremy looked down at the detachable car seat that I still held. My hand was in a tight fist, my knuckles white.

“This is Timmy,” she offered gently.

“Timothy,” I corrected her coldly. “His name is Timothy, not Timmy. He is an heir.”

She sighed but didn't comment.

Jeremy nodded. “Very well. I want to discuss a few things before we send Timothy for any tests, okay?”

She nodded as I grunted. I should not let that woman get on my nerves and yet, that seemed to be an impossible task.

She sat down, opened her bag, and extended a beat-up green binder to Jeremy. “These are all of the results of Timmy’s - sorry,Timothy’s tests since he was born. There’s also some research I've made based on his condition, some potential treatments I thought we could explore, and also some of the feedback from the free pediatrician clinic we’ve been going to.”

Jeremy nodded, taking the binder from her and looking through the pages, visibly impressed.

I scowled. Didn’t he know what she was? I snorted. “No offense, but what do you know about treatment plans? Were you multitasking? Surgeon by day, low-grade prostitute by night? That sounds like a terrible plot if you want my opinion.”

Her cheeks flushed slightly under the jab, but she straightened her back and looked straight into my eyes. “If you wanted to make it clear to your friend what I did for a living before having Timmy, I think you made that clear,” she enunciated coolly, so coolly it was unnerving. She turned toward Jeremy, holding herself proudly. “In case you didn't understand, I was not a surgeon in my downtime, but a prostitute.”

I was almost impressed by her composure and calm; I could have been if I didn't hate her so much.

Jeremy nodded at her with a little teasing smile. What the flying fuck was this? She was the mother of a patient, not an easy lay - not today.

“Thanks for clarifying because based on all of this research, I was not sure. It’s very thorough and cleverly done.”

She straightened on her seat, beaming at the compliment. Pathetic.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my legs, resting my ankle on my knee. “Can we move on now? I believe you have a packed day and I have a job too.”

“Right.” Jeremy rested the file on his desk.

“Plus, bringing the file was unnecessary.” I pointed at Jeremy. “Jeremy will do all the tests. You are in front of one of the best pediatric surgeons in the country. Whatever your files have to say, is useless.”

She looked away, focusing on Timothy. “Sorry. I thought it would help.” Jeremy threw me a look that unsettled me. It was the kind of look that Lea threw my way sometimes - part disappointment, part shame. I could accept it from her, but not from him. We might be friends, but he needed to learn to keep his place in life and society. I met his look with the cold stare I used in boardrooms.

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