Page 19 of What the Doctor Ordered

K iley

I stared at the spot where Simon had been just seconds earlier, shocked that he just left like that so abruptly.

Despair slammed into me. Things had already been going badly between us and now everything was even worse.

I met with Theo hoping to learn more about Simon and figure out how we could improve our relationship.

Now Simon thought that I was cheating on him with his best friend.

I jumped a bit when Theo stood up next to me. He set a hand on my shoulder and gave me a grim, determined look. “Let’s go,” he said.

He didn’t have to tell me where we were going. We were clearly going after Simon to explain that nothing was going on. I shook myself out of my stupor and followed Theo out the door and into the nippy night air.

Simon wasn’t able to get very far thankfully. He was just rounding the corner when we stepped out onto the sidewalk. I sprinted after him. “Simon, wait!” I called, trying to quell my panic.

I thought I saw some brief hesitation in Simon’s form, but he seemed to snap himself out of it and continued down the road, completely ignoring us once again.

Theo rushed after him. “Simon, stop being an idiot and listen to us,” he snapped at Simon’s retreating form. “You’re being a complete ass!”

That was apparently what Simon needed to hear because he froze completely, his entire body stiff with unbridled anger. He whirled, his icy eyes pinned on Theo.

“I should have known that you would be after her,” he seethed, his hands curled into fists at his sides. “I thought you were taking far too much of an interest when I started to tell you about her.”

I looked between the two, my panic rising as I sensed the tension only getting thicker by the second. My heart pounded with the fear that I was causing a fight between best friends.

Theo’s mouth thinned as he stared wordlessly at Simon. Then his eyes narrowed. “I know you can’t actually believe that,” he responded calmly. “If you really thought that you would have kicked my ass weeks ago.”

I stepped forward, intent on getting in between them before a fight broke out but Theo shot me a look that was filled with warning and held up his hand to stay my momentum.

Simon didn’t look appeased by his friend’s words. If anything, he seemed even more peeved by them.

“Then why were the two of you together,” he asked through his teeth, staring between the two of us like this whole situation was against nature’s design.

I didn’t like the way Simon looked. He was normally so cool and controlled. Something seemed off about him. He wasn’t himself and not just because he was angry.

Theo squinted at him and then shook his head. “Are you actually drunk right now?” he demanded. “What happened to you, man? You were finally figuring things out!”

I looked at Simon too, to find that what Theo said was true.

Simon might not have been completely intoxicated but it was clear from the flush on his cheeks and the way his eyes were slightly glazed over that he had been drinking.

It was not immediately obvious when we were in the cafe since he had been so angry and Theo and I were so surprised.

I felt concern flow through me, and I stepped toward Simon, reaching my hand out to him. “What happened, Simon?” I asked. “Why were you just out drinking?”

Simon looked down at me and his expression was almost one of physical pain. His jaw was clenched, and he couldn’t quite meet my gaze as I peered up into his face.

“He drinks more heavily when he’s in some kind of crisis,” Theo answered with another shake of his head. “I haven’t seen him like this since his father passed away. I had to carry him home from the bar that night.”

“Shut up,” Simon snapped.

I reached for Simon’s hand. “Simon, you’re kind of scaring me,” I told him. I attempted to slip my hand into his, but he snatched it away. I was too slow to keep the hurt from flitting across my face. Even in this state, Simon noticed and actually winced.

“I’m going home,” he announced.

“No, you’re not,” Theo declared, stepping forward. “You are in no state to drive, even if you’re not falling down drunk.”

Simon was clearly tipsy but not drunk. He was able to walk with the same sure confidence he always did. Only those who knew him well could probably tell he’d been drinking.

“I’ll take a taxi,” Simon snapped, trying to push past us. His voice was cold when he finally succeeded. “I wouldn’t want to interrupt whatever is going on between you two.”

“There is nothing going on,” I protested, my throat feeling like it was going to close up from the panic. “Simon, please! Theo recognized me on the sidewalk. We just met! We were just talking.”

“I wouldn’t waste your breath, Kiley,” Theo said coldly, giving his friend another disdainful look up and down. “Simon clearly isn’t in a listening mood.”

Simon glowered at him and looked like he wanted to start yelling at us again, but instead, he just gave me another cold look before turning to go.

It felt like my heart turned to ash in my chest as he left Theo and I standing there. The last thing I wanted to do was let him go, and not just because I couldn’t breathe thinking I’d just lost him, but because I had seen the hurt in his eyes at the last second before he turned away from us.

I looked down at the ground, willing myself not to cry. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up at Theo, who suddenly looked murderous.

“Theo?” I asked, concerned at the sudden dark demeanor he took on.

“Sorry, Kiley,” he said, his voice tight. “I’d appreciate it if you’d go wait back at the cafe for a bit.”

I felt my eyebrows rise up toward my hairline. “Where are you going?”

He stepped past me and then looked over his shoulder. “To go beat some sense into that fiancé of yours. I should have done that a long time ago.”

Before I could protest, Theo was sprinting after Simon.

I seriously considered going after them but decided I had already done more harm than good at this point.

My feet felt like they were made of lead blocks as I dragged them back in the direction of the cafe.

I tried not to think about how Simon would react when Theo intercepted him.

He was already furious and not in the state of mind to listen to reason.

I came back to myself suddenly and looked around, searching the area and realizing we had run further than I realized.

I wasn’t sure where the cafe was. I blinked, feeling disoriented as I turned down a street.

The quiet road didn’t feel familiar. It looked a bit sketchier than the ones closer to the cafe. In my daze, I’d gotten myself lost.

Just as I was pulling my phone out of my pocket to use the navigation app, I felt someone approaching me. I turned, expecting it to be Simon or Theo. It was neither of them.

“Hello, Kiley,” Kramer’s voice was oily as he stepped out from against a building and beneath the nearby streetlight.

Uneasiness flooded me immediately and I stepped back. “Hi,” I said.

“What are you doing out here alone at this time of night?” Kramer asked, his golden eyebrows furrowing. He started to approach me, his expression light and casual.

I knew better though. He might have seemed harmless, but I knew better than to underestimate him now, especially after our little encounter back at the charity gala.

“I wasn’t alone,” I said. “I’m actually meeting a friend, so I’d better get going.”

Kramer stepped into my path, one arm outstretched to block my way. “Are you meeting Simon?” he asked, his voice dropping dangerously.

I straightened my spine. “Does it matter if I am?” I asked, stiffly.

Kramer’s face tightened, his blue eyes glinting. “It wouldn’t if I didn’t have feelings for you.”

For a long moment, I couldn’t respond. I swallowed over the tightness in my throat and looked away. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice a little shaky with nerves. “But you know that I couldn’t possibly return your feelings.”

“I don’t, actually,” Kramer said. He stepped even closer to me. “I know that we would be good together, Kiley. I made a mistake when we first met, but I want to be the kind of man you deserve. I will treasure you. You have my word.”

“I’m sure you would treat me well,” I replied as calmly as I could, lying through my teeth. “But you’re missing a key point.”

“I’m not missing any point that can’t be easily remedied,” he rumbled, and his voice dropped lower, taking on a tone of warning.

“I think you’re forgetting the fact that I am engaged to Simon,” I retorted.

Kramer scoffed, shaking his head so some of his golden blonde hair brushed his forehead.

“If only I could forget such a distasteful detail.” His eyes narrowed and his mouth tightened.

“I never did hear how the two of you managed to get so close, so quickly. It all seems quite suspicious to me, I must admit.”

“Oh,” I said with a light laugh, cursing the fact that Simon and I hadn’t come up with any suitable story.

I was going to have to make something up, and quick.

“Well, that night at the club, Simon followed me out to make sure I was alright. We talked for a long time. He asked me out and things just kind of escalated quickly from there. We hit it off right away. It really feels like I’ve known him forever. It truly was love at first sight.”

The words flowed easily once I got going and I realized that it was likely because that last part was actually true. I blinked back some unexpected tears, shaking my head hard as it hit me just how much I cared about Simon.

“Bullshit!” Kramer spat so suddenly that I jumped a bit.

I stared at him in disbelief, growing more nervous as I realized his intensity had risen alarmingly.

Something struck me then and I felt myself reflecting his suspicious expression. “Why did you suddenly take an interest in me, Kramer?” I asked, quietly. “We went on one date together and it ended horribly. Surely, there are other women more closely suited to your tastes that you could be with.”

Kramer blinked once as he processed my words and then he grinned wickedly.

“You clearly don’t see your appeal,” he said. “And that means that Simon isn’t doing his job. If you come to my bed, sweetheart, I can show you just how appealing you are.”

He sauntered closer and I took a few quick steps back, my panic rising back up. “I am not interested in you, Kramer,” I said firmly. “So don’t even think about touching me.”

Kramer completely disregarded my warning and snatched my wrist in a painful grip. “If you would stop fighting me, then everyone could be happy,” he seethed, clearly growing impatient. “Perhaps Alcott was right about you…”

I froze, looking up at him with widening eyes. “Alcott as in Sicily Alcott?” I demanded.

Kramer’s eyebrows rose, his eyes lighting up with amusement. “Yes,” he confirmed. “She noticed that I was attracted to you and pulled me aside to work out a deal. She wants Simon, and I want you, so we decided to work together so we could both get what we want.”

Fury seemed to set a flame inside of me and I shoved Kramer hard in the chest, successfully forcing him to release his hold on my wrist. “I care about Simon and no one else!” I yelled. “You and Sicily are sick for trying to break us up for your own gains!”

Kramer stumbled backward, his eyes wide with shock before they hardened with rage. He was quicker this time when he reached out to grab me, this time with a bruising grip around my upper arm. I cried out when his fingers dug painfully into my muscle.

“Maybe I need to show you just how well I can love you,” he snarled, his voice deep and chilling.

I sucked in a breath as he started to drag me down the road.

Before I could even think about screaming, his hand came up and clamped over my mouth as he hauled me against his chest. I tried to fight but I was suddenly stunned with fear as the situation I had placed myself in became clear.

I looked frantically around but there was no one in sight.

Sheer terror turned my blood to water and my muscles to putty.

Kramer’s hands were punishing as they gripped me tightly. He glanced around as well before pulling me down the road and toward the opening of a dark alley. I started to get dizzy as fear gripped me. I pulled feebly but Kramer was much larger and stronger than I was.

I was trapped.