Page 28

Ha-joon

My week had taken a turn when Mandy had shown up to ASH talking about applying.

She was a bit overly friendly like we were actually friends, and I didn’t like the vibe coming from her.

Something was up and her wanting to announce to the department heads we were besties when I hadn’t even talked to her in a year made that clear.

And that had been in passing.

But my Friday was looking up after an odd turn of events.

Right as I reached my car, I heard a woman cuss and a loud bang. I flinched and hurried to glance around and figure out what was going on. I realized it was the hood of a car when I saw Ellie smack hers from several spots down.

“You okay?” I called over as I immediately jogged towards her.

Her head snapped up and she did a double take, wincing like she was caught instead of giving her car a death look. “I’m fine. My car won’t start.”

“Like won’t turn over or won’t even get power?” I asked.

“Power,” she mumbled, shaking her head and extra angry for the situation. Then again, she’d been through so much lately it wasn’t even funny.

“Let me drive you home and you can call your insurance to get a jump and battery switched or whatever,” I offered.

She sighed, something simmering in her eyes. “Yeah, it should be fine tomorrow. Thanks.”

I nodded and grabbed her bag that she’d dropped to the ground. I escorted her over to my car, thanking my lucky stars for this chance even as I felt guilty for being happy over her misfortune.

She mumbled another thank-you when I opened the door for her and she got in. I was just about to close it when Dr. Fitz stepped off the elevator.

And every hair on my body stood up when he locked in on Ellie in my car and seemed annoyed.

“I wouldn’t think you’d get off on four when your car is on five, Dr. Fitz,” I said, making it clear that I thought it was fishy. “And to be here so late when your schedule has been clear lately is… Convenient.”

He slapped on as pleasant of an expression as he could.

“My vehicle is sort of between four and five at the end there.” He pointed as if I didn’t remember escorting him there already.

“I normally get off on four and take the walk up instead of being lazy to walk down from five. You understand. We take the healthy options as doctors.”

“I do,” I confirmed, meaning I tried to take healthy options… Not that I understood him at all. “Well, have a good night then.”

“What’s going on here? Why is—” he started to ask but was cut off when Ellie reached out and closed the door, making it clear she wasn’t going to engage.

I took her lead. “Drive safe.” I jogged around and got in, starting the car right up and pulling out. I noticed the steam about coming out of Ellie’s ears as we drove by Fitz. “I don’t want to sound paranoid or—”

“Yes, he messed with my car,” she grumbled, adjusting her neck. “I’m aware.” She snorted a moment later.

“What?” I asked gently.

“I think I’m more pissed he already pulled this shtick on me and forgot I knew his tricks than I am that he fucked with my car.” She sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I really need help if that’s why I’m mad.”

“I think you can be mad at both, and it doesn’t matter which one you’re more pissed about.” I mulled that over for a moment. “And the important part is what you’re going to do about it. Clearly, he’s not going to stop and—”

“He’ll turn it around and play the victim and use it to his advantage if I accuse him since it was with magic,” she grumbled. “I’m sure it’s back to normal. Asshole.”

I put it together. “He pulls the power out of the battery so it’s dead and plays the hero.”

“Yup,” she said, popping the P loudly in her annoyance. “It’s how I let anything happen. Needed a ride home in the rare snow and nothing in the fridge, so we stopped for food. I invited him to eat to be polite and…” She snorted.

“How did you find out?” I asked quietly.

“He mocked me about a year later,” she mumbled, her focus outside. “I mentioned that I heard he saved someone else in the parking garage and what were the chances. He laughed saying he really did help the guy, but mine was no accident and I really shouldn’t be so dense and trusting.

“It was the first time I skipped seeing him and thought of breaking it off.” She let out a huge sigh. “I should have listened to my instincts instead of letting him convince me it was charming and cute that he went to those lengths to get my attention. Especially after the way he mocked me.”

“That’s on him, not you,” I said firmly.

“I allowed it. I stayed.”

I thought about that for a moment but sighed. “I get that, but it’s not the same when someone is being emotionally abusive. When you’re with someone and supposed to trust them—everything gets murky, and it’s not you being a willing victim when they gaslight and manipulate you.”

She glanced over at me. “You’re speaking from experience.”

“I am,” I mumbled. “I got lost in that too and using everything against me. She picked apart everything I hated about my life and made me feel so validated about my family, but in reality, she was secluding me from anyone who would have helped. It’s not—the victim is the victim.

It’s not black and white on what parts are our fault when it’s like that. ”

“No, I suppose not,” she accepted. She cleared her throat. “I’m sorry you went through that.”

“I’m sorry for both of us,” I whispered. I cleared my throat this time and tried to think of how to change the mood. This wasn’t how I wanted to spend my chance to have time with her.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of anything else besides work and that was a bad move too.

“I’m glad I got a chance to talk to you outside and off the record,” I muttered.

“What’s going on?” she worried.

“No, nothing, it’s just—Mandy is—”

“Ah yes, the first love,” she said, her tone ice cold.

I glanced at her a moment and wondered if she was kidding. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say, but my phone got a call and it was attached to my car… And it was Mandy.

Like what were the odds?

No, seriously, what were the odds, and did the gods hate me?

She snorted. “Don’t mind me. Go ahead and answer your first love’s call. I heard you’re getting back together and—”

“I would think you of all people know there are liars out there who have their own agenda and see things as they want,” I cut in, my tone harsh as I tapped the display to reject the call.

“I was going to tell you that I don’t know her now well enough to be her referral or recommend her for a position.

She’s probably calling to make sure I’ve done as she wanted. ”

I might have said more, but the jealousy I scented on her actually made me happy. If it had been about anyone other than Mandy, I might have let her believe something was going on just so she was jealous and paid attention to me.

No, no, I wouldn’t have. I knew how much that could hurt, and after she’d just ended things with someone emotionally manipulative, I couldn’t be the same.

“Sorry,” she whispered as I pulled up to our condo’s parking. “I figured there was some truth if you didn’t—I heard she said it right in front of you.”

“No, she didn’t, and I don’t know why she’s here or what she’s up to,” I grumbled as I rolled down the window and swiped the fob to be let in. “But thank you for letting me know that’s what she’s been saying. I haven’t had much time to figure it out because—”

“Because of all the fawning over you at your dumpling afternoon parties?” she drawled. She winced at whatever was coming off of me. “Sorry. Wow, okay, I’m in a worse mood than I realized. I truly apologize, and I’m sorry I’m taking it out on you when you’re doing me a favor.”

“I tried to do something nice and bring some community into the hospital. I didn’t know it was going to turn into a fucking fangirl gathering or things were at that childish level,” I bit out, not trying to hurt her but also not taking the blame for this.

I had no idea that every single straight female on the medical staff in the fucking hospital would show up daily to try and chat me up.

That really wasn’t the idea or purpose of what I’d tried to do, and I wasn’t happy they were shitting all over it. My staff was now upset and annoyed, but I risked pissing people off if I shut it down or—I didn’t know what to do.

“If you have anything helpful to add, I’d love that instead of just riding me,” I grumbled as I pulled into my spot and threw the vehicle in park harder than needed. “Have a good night, Ms. Reed.” I got out and slammed the door, heading to the elevator.

The car auto-locked after a few moments so whatever, she could stay in there all night or not.

I rode the elevator up alone, so… That said a lot and left me unhappy.

Given how we left things, the last thing I expected was to find her at my door Sunday about lunchtime. I was stepping off the elevator and she was turning away from my door like she was giving up knocking.

She jumped like she’d been caught and cleared her throat. “You weren’t home.”

I was still in shock at her being at my door. “I was at the gym and pool swimming.”

She was already focused on my naked chest and slowly nodded. The scent of her desire hit me and annoyed me for some reason.

“What did you need, Ms. Reed?” I asked as I went over to my door and punched in the code.

“Oh um, sorry, I was—I wanted to apologize for the other night and ask you for something.”

I snorted as I scented exactly what she wanted but still let her in. “Yeah, I bet.”

Shock flashed in her eyes and she cleared her throat. “Sorry, you’re shirtless and wet from the pool—you obviously scent—I didn’t come here for that.”

I slammed the door closed and then cornered her against it. “You didn’t? You didn’t come here for that? ”

She shivered. “I did, but I wasn’t starting there.”