Page 12 of The Potter

The guy, who has muscles for days, arches his brow, immediately perking up. “The one that made Vance cry?”

“That’s the one!”

“I did not make him cry!” I nearly shout. “You are severely exaggerating the story.” Pointing an accusing finger at Dr. Duke, I address the new guy. “He’s lying. I didn’t make Dr. Potter cry. I swear. I was just having a bad day and well, Dr. Potter was… “

“An asshole?” the new guy suggests.

“A glorified dick?” That was Dr. Duke.

Sighing, I pick up another item and scan it, just so I don’t have to look them in their eyes. “Dr. Potter disappointed me is all.”

Dr. Duke scoffs, popping the other guy in the chest again. “Told you. He wouldn’t take her on as a patient. Since when have you seen him do that?”

The man’s eyes narrow. “Why did he turn you down, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I really don’t want to rehash my conversation with Dr. Potter, but perhaps Dr. Duke and this new guy will have some pull and convince the good doctor to see me again. It’s worth a shot.

“I’m five grand short for the procedure I need, but Dr. Potter said even if I had the money, he couldn’t help me.” I point to the groceries in front of me. “I know money talks, so I figured I’d save up and see if that changes his mind.”

“He won’t change his mind.”

My hand pauses as the new guy crushes my soul once again.

“Not for money anyway,” he adds.

Burying my emotions way, way down, I keep my head low and nod, getting back to their groceries.

“I’m just saying, Vance has money. You won’t get anywhere taking that angle.”

The way he says this is almost like he’s leading into giving me some advice, and I’m all for helpful hints when it comes to my future and Dr. Potter.

“What angle are you suggesting?”

The new guy reaches into his pocket and hands over a card.

I look at it and then look again.

“Dr. Astor Potter.” You’ve got to be shitting me. “Let me guess, you’re another brother?”

He grins, and I realize the familiarity is because Dr. Duke smiles exactly the same. “The oldest. And I’ve recently found myself in need of a secretary.” Annoyance lingers in his eyes as he glares at Duke. “Someone ran my last one off with a break-up text.”

Duke shrugs, completely ignoring his brother’s hateful look. “She’s the one who wanted more. She knew the deal. One season only.”

Dr. Potter or Dr. Astor, whatever he prefers to be called, shakes his head. “Anyway, if you can answer the phone and incite rage in my brother, like you did the other day, then you’re hired.”

What? “I don’t understand.”

The eldest Potter leans in over the register, close enough I can smell his woodsy cologne. “You want on my brother’s operating schedule?”

I nod.

“Then don’t take his no for an answer.”

I don’t know if it’s the smell and the all-around vibe of the Potter brothers, but I stay frozen as he chuckles. “Tell Sammy I’m sorry for stealing you and then meet me at the office tomorrow at nine.”

Am I really considering this? A job at Potter’s Plastics?

It does get me closer to Dr. Potter and allows me the time to change his mind or spike his coffee with something that puts him in a better mood.

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