Page 33 of Undeniably Corrupt
“Dr. Kincaid?”
His blue eyes cast away from his computer and take me in for a moment, studying me, and then a smile blooms across his face in recognition. “Hi. It’s Liora, right?”
He glances down at my badge, but I nod to save him the trip.
“Yes. Your patient in room ten is ready for you.”
“Great. Thanks.” He logs out of the computer and comes in beside me. “How are you liking it here?”
I’m a little taken aback by how personable—almost familiar—he’s being with me, but then I remember he’s the chief of the department and likely wants to make sure all the staff are happy. “It’s good, thanks.”
He chuckles. “You can relax, Liora. My girlfriend is Wren Fritz, and I’m friends with Vander.”
Of course he is. Because why should this week start any better than last week? For three years in this city, I never ran into Vander or any of his people, and now it’s like I can’t escape them.
“Oh. Okay, then.” Clearly Vander is telling his friends about me working for him.
He chuckles. “That’s not a selling point for you, I see.”
I shrug. I’m not sure what to say. I don’t want to say anything negative about Vander. Not only is he my boss, and I don’t know Jack from anyone, but they’re friends.
“Well, forgetting Vander, I’m glad you’re here.”
I smile. “Me too. Thank you for that. I hope I wasn’t rude just now.”
“Not at all. I have to imagine your situation with him is tricky enough without other people jumping in on it. Now catch me up on where we are with the patient.”
I finish reviewing what I know of the patient, and Jack goes in and examines him before GI is consulted.
By the time I leave the hospital, I’m practically skipping. I started that IV on my own, I checked my grades and saw I got an A on my last pharmacology exam, and the daycare called to say that Hazel made a little friend in her group and used the potty all on her own.
It’s Monday, and I don’t have to be back at the club until Thursday night, and to ice this cake, I should get my first paycheck from Monroe Securities next Wednesday. Just in time for my final tuition payment of the semester. I don’t know yet how the reimbursement works, but that’s the next thing I’ll look into.
I’m hoping I can scrape together enough to move us out of our building in the next month or so, but we’ll see. Everything in Boston is crazy expensive and requires first month, last month, and security before they’ll even let you look at a place. My credit is fine, but I have a lot of debt I’m struggling to pay off from Mattia, so that doesn’t look good.
Whatever. One thing at a time. And so far, today’s a good day.
And shockingly, it doesn’t stop when I get to the office and find Vander’s door shut with a note that says, “In case of emergency, knock on someone else’s door.”
It makes me laugh, and I gleefully head to my office to startin on his emails. Champagne spent a good amount of time last week training me on everything, and I feel somewhat confident doing this.
An hour later, I’m finished with his emails and have scheduled meetings and other things for Vander for next week. I stand to stretch and scream at the top of my lungs, so startled I stumble back against my chair that goes shooting out from behind me straight into the wall while I fall on my ass.
Ow. Not to mention my skirt is up around my waist. Awesome.
Hopefully the desk is blocking enough that he can’t see. Awkwardly, I roll to my knees and use the desk to help me up.
Vander is casually leaning against the frame of the door, arms folded, one foot arched over the other, expression stoic and unreadable. “You startle easily. Where did that come from?”
My hand covers my chest over my pounding heart, though I can feel a healthy blush staining my cheeks. “Warn a girl before you sneak up on her. You’re lucky I didn’t have a weapon.”
“I think that’s likely lucky for both of us since you fell on your ass.”
Jerk. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Do you ever not wear color?”
I glance down at my yellow blouse and royal blue skirt and glance back up at him with a shrug. “Only when I’m stripping.”
