Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 41635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
“But you can’t sleep with him,” she continues. “It’s against hospital policy, but more than that, it’s dangerous for your grandmother. If you distract Dr. Hill, or make him biased in his decisions, he could do something to hurt her by mistake. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I say, a strangled whisper.
“Please, stop seeing him. Stop sleeping with him. You can do better. Find someone your own age, for example.”
Anger flashes through me. She doesn’t fucking know me, not at all. She doesn’t know what I want or need.
I open my mouth, but stop myself.
There have been others?
“I’m glad we chatted,” she says again. “Please think about what I said. I’d keep my distance, for everyone’s sake.”
She turns and leaves, heels clacking a clipped rhythm on the tile floor.
I stare after her like a moron before slowly turning and getting into the elevator.
I don’t remember riding it down. I don’t remember getting home.
I just keep thinking one thing, over and over.
Others?
What others?
16
Aiden
I collapse onto my couch and stare at the fireplace, my mind a total blank, my body feeling heavy.
It’s like I’m never fucking home these days. I’m either sleeping at the hospital or I’m out somewhere. My townhouse has become just another place I go to sleep once in a while.
I manage to get up and make myself a drink. It’s late, after eleven. I have an early shift tomorrow but fuck it. I need a drink.
I sit back down and kick my feet up. I turn on The Great British Bake Off and lose myself in the syrupy, sappy, absurd British food show.
But it doesn’t last. My phone starts ringing after a few minutes.
I want to ignore it. It’ll probably be the fucking hospital. I mean, who else calls me this late?
I frown and sigh. I can’t ignore it and I know it. I grab my phone and look at the screen, surprised to see Ruby’s name.
“Ruby?” I say, answering it.
“I need to talk to you,” she says.
She doesn’t sound happy.
“What happened?”
“Your boss cornered me,” she says.
Shit.
“I’ll send a car for you, okay? Come to my house.”
She hesitates a second. “Okay, fine. Hurry up.”
I hang up the phone, wait a second, and call the car service I use from time to time.
I finish my first drink and pour a second. I don’t know why I feel nervous, but the thought of Liza talking with Ruby drives me fucking crazy.
I’ve had a strange relationship with Liza for a long time. She’s not exactly an ally, but she does clean up my messes with patient families sometimes. She gives me the space and the resources I need to succeed, and turns a blind eye to a lot of what I do.
But she’s also constantly watching. She’s breathing down my neck, waiting for me to really fuck up. I know she wants to get rid of me, and only enables me because it’s easier than fighting the board for my dismissal.
This, though, this can be bad. This might lead to her finally getting her way.
Or worse, depending on what sort of bullshit she told Ruby.
Liza is a hospital administrator. Lying and bullshit are her specialties.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she said something awful to Ruby just to get her to flip.
I pace around my living room until, twenty minutes after I first called the service, there’s a knock at my door.
I answer it quickly. Ruby looks tired as she steps into my house for the first time.
“Nice place,” she says, standing in the foyer. There’s a table, a mirror, a painting, and a closet to the right. Up ahead is a staircase, and beyond that are the living room and the kitchen.
I lead her toward the back. “Want some wine?” I ask her.
“Sure.”
I get her a glass and open a bottle of red. I have no clue if it’s any good or not.
She sits at my table, crossing her legs.
“Very nice,” she says. “But it doesn’t look like anyone actually lives here.”
I look around. “What do you mean?”
She frowns, accepting the glass of wine. “There’s no personality. It’s spotless.”
“I keep it neat.”
“It’s like a hotel room.”
I shrug. “It basically is. I’m not here all that much.”
“I guess I’m not surprised.”
I hesitate a second. I’m afraid to get into this, but no sense in putting it off.
“What happened?” I ask, sitting down across from her.
She sighs, looks at the floor, and sips her wine. “I shouldn’t even be here.”
I narrow my eyes. “Ruby. What happened?”
“Liza cornered me as I was leaving my grandmom’s room,” she says.
“And?”
She shakes her head and suddenly looks up at me. “Were there others?”
I frown. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Others,” she says, looking angry now. “Other girls, other… patients.”
I blink, surprised. “Is that what Liza said?”
“Yes. Is it true?”
I feel my anger flare up. I knew Liza would tell Ruby some bullshit, but I never expected her to stoop so fucking low.