Page 40 of Dr. CEO (The Doctors)

We go through the hallway to the living room at the back of the house.

It’s actually nicer than I expected inside. It’s not a standard new build. There are details that give it an edge.

“Don’t know if you’ve seen the site plans, but the twenty-eight houses have been designed together to look like a large stables from the outside. That’s why you’ve got the black ironmongery everywhere and the stable doors on the kitchen and back door. It’s a quirky house, not a bog-standard box. Beck wanted thatched roofs on some of them, but the council said no. Fire hazard.”

I focus on Kate. Does she like it? Hate it? She heads straight to the window. “I definitely can’t see the estate from here,” she says. “The windows don’t face the right way. Do I get to choose which house I want?”

“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. I want to do anything I can to try and relieve some of the devastation she clearly feels about having to move out of staff accommodation.

“Is there one with views up the hill?” she asks.

I look to Ziad.

“I’d have to have a think,” he says. “Probably.” He squints. “I’m not quite sure. Do you want me to go and get the site plan?”

Kate has started pacing from one side of the living room to the other.

“Yeah, that would be great. Maybe give us a few minutes to look around as well.”

Ziad nods and heads out.

“Why don’t we take a look upstairs,” I suggest.

She nods but doesn’t speak. I let her lead us both upstairs. It doesn’t take long to look at the two bedrooms and bathroom, then Kate goes to the back bedroom and presses her hands to the glass. “There’s no view. I can’t see anything.”

I follow her gaze. It’s just farmland I can see, with trees out in the distance. There’s plenty of view, but not the view she wants. She can’t see Crompton.

“We can take a look at the site plan when Ziad brings it back.”

“It’s so far away.” Kate puts her hand on her chest. “I can’t catch my breath.” She bends over, her hands on her knees. “I can’t breathe, Vincent.”

She’s hyperventilating. I glance around to see if there’s any kind of bag she can blow into, but there’s nothing.

I stalk toward her and she straightens, panic in her eyes. “I think I’m going to faint.” Her voice is higher than normal, wobbling on each word.

“I’m here,” I say. “You’re not going to faint. Let’s sit.”

She looks horrified. Probably because the floor is filthy, but better that than fall down.

I take her hands in mine and guide her to the floor so we’re sitting opposite each other, knees touching. “Look at me,” I say.

“I can’t breathe,” she says again.

“Just stay focused on me,” I say, keeping a tight hold on her hands. I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m just trying to get her to stop thinking about whatever it is that’s causing her to spiral.

“See how our hands are joined,” I say. “I’ve got you.”

She looks at our linked hands and then back up to me, shaking her head.

“I want you to take a deep breath in.”

She sucks in a staccato breath, but it’s a start.

“Longer this time. Watch me.”

She looks up and I start to inhale. She mirrors me.

“Then out.”

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