CHAPTER 15

PRESENT

Darius

When she ran through the doors of the emergency room, I wavered for a second. Then the anger and hatred at what she had done came back in full force. She didn't look at any of us, it was as if we didn't exist and that was the Way it should be.

“Mr Cirano , you and your family can view the surgery, Follow me this way”. I forgot his name. He was the chief of the hospital. I simply nodded and followed him.

When we walked into the viewing gallery he turned the lights on. Grayson always had a soft spot for her. He refused to believe what she did, we've had many arguments over that. My grandmother, neither did anyone say anything about her being here. I stood looking at her. So she really was trying to become a doctor. I didn't take my eyes off of her. After the second hour the others left. I told them I'll update them.

It was just me,the interns and the chief. I could feel them looking at me and whispering. They were having Their own conversations.

“Dr Pierce is amazing. I heard she's only twenty seven, she's the world's youngest neurosurgeon. One of them said,

“She is,she has a nickname but nobody lets her hear it”. One of them said,

The chief was looking at them. “What nickname do you mean Cerberus?”.He said which made me cough. How fucking befitting.

They all answered “Yes“. He just smiled and looked at me.

“She was trained by world renowned neurologist Bartholomew James, she's his second. She's here in his place. She is an exceptional Young woman.Outside of the hospital she's completely different. Quiet and reserved. But in the hospital she's a demon. She doesn't make mistakes, when she makes a decision you either accept it or stay out of her way. The interns are terrified of her because she doesn't smile or laugh. She doesn't share anything personal and one of the interns made a pass at her and she shut him down. Embarrassed him in front of everyone. Told him she was here to work not to form relationships. Since then everyone stays clear”. He said.

I kept looking at the woman who was operating on my best friend. When she finished and looked up she didn't look at me. If only she didn't betray me. If she wasn't so beautiful. If only I didn't love her, I wouldn't be in this much pain.

“Mr Paul will be okay. Okay everyone, head back to your duties. Mr Cirano I'll take my leave now”. He said

I stood up and shook his hands.

”Thank you chief“. They left and I was alone in the viewing gallery. I turned off the light and stood alone in the dark looking at her. I heard everything Zara said , everything she said. Maybe just maybe I could let her speak to grandmother and the others. I was about to leave when I heard it. That first sob. I turned around and looked down into the operating room. Why was she crying when she was the one that lied. I saw her take something out of her shirt.

She still had it, the necklace I gave her. Why did she keep it? After all this time, why?. I left and headed upstairs. I found Grayson's room. When I got there they were setting him up. Jas walked in.

“Sorry the meeting took longer than necessary. What happened, is he okay?”. She asked, walking towards him.

“He was leaving work and a pickup crashed into him. He's just out of surgery. He'll be Fine“. I said. The nurses were about to leave so I followed them out.

“Where is Drs Pierce's office ” ,I asked her

“Down this hallway the last door in the middle Sir” ,She was smiling ,why I had no fucking idea. I nodded and headed in the direction of her office. I didn't bother knocking,I walked in and took a seat looking at her. God she was still beautiful, still the same. When she called me Mr Cirano It bothered me . When he came in and she hugged him it pissed me off.

I don't know why I did it but I did. I had her backed up against the door. Just being that close to her made me feel and I stopped feeling the minute she left. When she said it was the past It made me angry all over again, the last five years was fucking torture for me,she ripped my fucking heart open then left and it had never healed. What I didn't expect was her to push me away and accuse me of betraying her.

I didn't need her fucking with my head. I didn't need anymore lies ,I walked out Leaving her there. When I got to the elevator Jas was waiting there.

“There you are,I was waiting for you“ , I never touched anyone else after she left. I worked and went home. Grayson was the only one that was ever allowed in my house, not even Jas ever returned. With each passing day Jas was trying harder and harder to make herself a place in my life and I didn't want it.

We got onto the elevator. “Jasmine, we've been friends for a long time. Keep it that way. I've never been interested in you in any way other than a friend so stop. Stop trying to be more than what you are”.

“Darius, come on. It's been five years. You need someone ,I know you……”.

“Yes but it won't be you. If you don't stop then you won't be working for me ever again, now let this be the last time we have this conversation”. I said.

Just as the elevator was about to close she walked in with Ms Mitchell. They didn't look at us. Jas looked at me then at McKenzie. I kept my eyes forward and face neutral..she didn't exist to me anymore. Ms Mitchell began talking.

“I was in the cafeteria and heard something“.

“Oh boy, what did you hear? ,what kind of bet is it this time?”. She asked Ms Mitchell.

“You're nickname and among some other things”.

“Another one? The interns over at Ardwell General call me Medusa. I heard it by accident”. She said,

“This one is … sorry Kenzie. Cerebus.” Ms Mitchell said laughing.

“Oh for Pete's sake. How do they come up with these names. They should just call me the devil and end it all ” she said.

I kept looking at her reflection on the elevator doors. Seems like they were leaving the hospital.

“Anyway. There's a bet going. Timothy has ten grand riding on the possibility that you're married, majority of them said you're in a relationship. The total is at a hundred grand” ,Ms Mitchell said.

“Well you know everything so how much did you bet?” She asked her friend.

“Kenzie, I've known you for a long time. I would never take part of that ” she turned and looked at her

“Ohhhh, okay okay fine. I put a hundred grand on you being single. And I'll enjoy watching their little faces when I take they're money because they're coming to ask you and not a single one of them actually believes your single because you're always cold to them“.

The elevator doors opened and they walked out.

I didn't say anything to Jas or even looked at her ,I stepped out of the elevator and left. That night I sat in my office,She was still single,why ? Then Who was the guy she hugged?. She isn't acting the way someone that did something so heinous should be acting. She was acting like she did nothing wrong. I was beginning to be unsure now. The night she left I was angry,I saw the papers and her silence as acceptance,she didn't try to defend herself She signed the damn divorce papers without any hesitation. Why would she say I betrayed her?