Page 19 of Pierre
“I’m so sorry, Elliott. There must be something we can do,” said Ambry.
“I don’t know. If she can’t trust me, how do I fix that?”
“You show her that you can be trusted,” said Ambry. “What’s her name?”
“Helena. Helena Vox.”
“Okay,” nodded Ambry with a smile. “Meet me on the deck by the lifeboats in twenty minutes.” She scurried away so quickly Elliott didn’t have a chance to respond. He went back to his cabin, changed out of his scrubs, and waited for the impending chime of the clock.
Up on deck, Ambry waited for Helena Vox. She’d called in a favor and had the captain request to meet with her.
“Hi, are you the nurse I’m supposed to meet?” asked the pretty young woman.
“Yes. I’m Ambry McDonald,” she said, reaching out to shake her hand.
“I’m confused. What’s this about?”
“I think you know,” said Ambry.
“Look, just keep your nose out of my business. Elliott likes them slutty. I get it.”
“No, you don’t. Elliott likes you. More than likes you. Judy is slutty, no doubt about that. She doesn’t like to see anyone with something she believes she can have or should have. You have to watch her, but you don’t have to watch Elliott. He had no feelings for her at all, and they have never, ever been intimate with one another.”
The woman stared at her, then looked out across the city, and then in the other direction, the sea. She was nibbling on the inside of her cheek and then turned to Ambry.
“I really fell for him. He was so sweet, and he said all the right things.”
“I’ve worked with Elliott for a while now. He’s a good man and an amazing nurse. I respect him as a colleague and a man. And I have dozens of men in my family to compare him to,” she laughed. “He’s a good one, Helena. Don’t let Judy ruin this for the two of you.”
She stared at Ambry for a moment, then seemed to see something behind her. Elliott.
“Hi,” he said calmly. “Can we please talk?” Ambry gave her a pleading look, and the woman nodded.
“Yes. Out here if that’s okay?”
“Anywhere,” said Elliott with a sigh of relief. He gave a nod at Ambry, who started to walk away.
“Ambry? What should I do about Judy? What happens if she does this again?” asked the woman.
“Let me worry about her,” she said, smiling. When Ambry returned to her quarters, she passed Judy’s room and knocked.
“Enter!” Ambry could only roll her eyes. She had no idea who was standing out here, although that was probably the point. When she opened the door, she was leaning back on her bunk, wrapped in a silk robe with one knee bent, showing the world what she possessed.
“Cover up, Judy.” The woman laughed.
“Why? Does my body make you nervous?”
“No. Your attitude makes me angry.”
“What the fuck?” she said, wrapping the robe tightly around her body. Why was everyone against a woman acting on her urges?
“The fuck is, you stick your nose in people’s business where it doesn’t belong. If you continue, I will stick my nose in your business, and you will be removed from this hospital ship and any others. I will ensure that you receive an assignment in a hospital or clinic.” The woman laughed, shaking her head.
“And you believe you have the power to do that? I have seniority on you, Ambry.”
“No. You don’t. I’m Navy, you’re a civilian. You seem to have trouble keeping seniority, and I’m going to guess that’s because of your extra-curricular activities. I do have that kind of power and a whole lot of friends who do as well. Stay away from my fiancé’s team and stay away from Elliott and Helena.”
That made her ears perk up. She stood, allowing her robe to open and reveal her nakedness. Ambry was grateful she’d left the door cracked open just in case this got physical.
