Page 9 of What the Doctor Ordered
Kramer shifted his glower onto her. “You’re really going to trust this guy over me?” he demanded, very obviously dodging the question. “I should have guessed that you were just a distrustful little slut. I should have known with all the prying questions you asked me.”
My temper flared and red started to tinge my peripheral vision. “Don’t talk about her that way,” I commanded, stepping forward threateningly.
“This has nothing to do with you, Vale,” Kramer snarled, glaring daggers at me.
“You made it my business,” I countered, getting right in his face. “I won’t stand by and do nothing while you disrespect women.”
Kramer sneered. “Well, aren’t you righteous,” he said sarcastically. “Just mind your own business, Vale. Although, I suppose soon enough, I’ll be the one managing it.”
The red overtook my vision altogether and, before I knew what was happening, my fist flew through the air and connected with Kramer’s jaw, causing his head to snap back. He snarled at me and lunged but I was able to duck away from him. That was when security showed up.
“What the hell is going on here?” Carl, one of the bouncer’s demanded, getting between us and shoving us both in the chest and away from each other.
Kramer’s whole countenance screamed rage, but even he knew better than to lash out while authorities were present. We were both VIP members and it was unlikely that we would get in any real trouble, but we still had reputations to uphold.
Kramer glared at me one more time before tearing his eyes away and stalking out of the club.
“Should I send someone after him, sir?” Carl asked me.
I shook my head. “That’s alright, Carl,” I said, waving a dismissive hand. “Kramer was just being his normal, disagreeable self. I believe we have things under control now.”
Carl nodded and worked on getting the crowd that had formed around us to disperse.
“Did you really have to go and punch the guy?” Theo asked, coming up to stand beside me. “Bennett already hates you and is after your father’s company. Is it really wise to anger him further?”
“This had nothing to do with the company,” I retorted.
Well, it didn’t at first. Kramer was the one who brought it up. Before then, I had just been concerned about the girl he had been clearly stringing along. My head shot up when I remembered the girl.
“Where did she go?” I demanded, looking around, my eyes scanning the dance floor.
“That poor girl looked scared out of her mind,” Theo said, gesturing far ahead of us. “She’s almost out the door already.”
I followed Theo’s gaze to the small figure who was hurrying toward the front of the club. She was easy to spot with her flaming red hair. Something about her struck me and before I knew what I was doing, I was hurrying after her.
“Remind me to refuse to be your wingman next time,” Theo called after me as I pushed through the crowd.
CHAPTER 5
Kiley
My breaths were coming out in harsh pants as I pushed through the doors of the club and out into the cool night air. The soothing breeze did little to calm my nerves however and I had to focus hard not to break into a sprint. I wanted to get as far away from this place as possible but also didn’t want to raise any more alarms by looking like I was running.
Even though that’s exactly what I was doing.
My heels clicked against the pavement as I hurried away from the building. I tried to think of anything else, but the last few minutes just kept replaying over and over again in my head.
Tears sprang to my eyes, but I willed them back, feeling like such a fool. I couldn’t believe my rotten luck. I couldn’t believe that the second I decide to give dating another chance, I end up with a princely man, get very close to falling for him on the spot, and then find out that he’s actually a cheating scumbag who was married!
This kind of thing could only happen to a bad luck magnet like me. Not only did I end up getting my heart stomped on during the first date, but I caused a scene as well. I squeezed my eyes shut as I replayed the moment that Dr. Vale appeared. At first, I had just been curious about him. He obviously knew Kramer. Why else would he have come up to approach?
My first thought was that Dr. Vale was extremely handsome. He had dark brown hair and hazel eyes with flecks of fiery embers in them. I didn’t have long to admire him though before he gave me news that caused my heart to stutter. I thought that Kramer and I were having such a pleasant evening, and we had been before I learned he was married. And while I had just met him that day, the betrayal was just a reminder of how many times I’d gotten burned after trusting someone. The words ‘better off alone’ bounce around in my brain.
The next thing I knew, a fist was flying right into Kramer’s face. I was so shocked that I couldn’t even scream when the two started to fight. By the time I shook myself out of it and was about to rush in to stop them, security arrived, and Kramer was stalking out of there angrily. Just like that, I was alone again. Alone, embarrassed, disappointed, and more than a little angry.
Depression slammed into me, tightening my chest and bringing tears to my eyes. I sniffled and clenched my fists at my sides. I was stronger than this. I had just started talking to Kramer. I couldn’t let this brief date affect me like this. It was more than just the betrayal of finding out Kramer was married, a voice whispered in my mind. I had been lonely and just didn’t want to admit it.
Well, that was just too bad because this whole night pretty much confirmed that I shouldn’t be dating anyway. Bad things happenwhen I let myself be vulnerable. Sometimes, it felt like I was never going to learn.
