"Finally." Brooke smiles and stands. I pull her into a hug.
"Happy birthday, baby."
Nathan hugs her, too. "Happy Birthday, Brookey."
"Sorry we're late." I kiss Jolie and the two boys.
Nathan and I fall into our seats opposite each other. He smiles and greets everyone, and then they all fall into chatter between themselves. Then, his attention comes back to me, and his face drops.
"Stop it." I kick him hard in the shin and he jumps.
He winces in pain.
Oh shit, I didn't mean to kick him so hard, that really connected. "Serves you right." I whisper.
The look on his face is murderous, and I drop my head to try and hide my smile. "That wasn't me," I whisper. "It was Tiny."
He twists his lips, and I giggle.
"Stop it." I mouth as I put my hand out toward him on the table. "We'll talk later. I don't even really like him, Nathan. Can we just enjoy tonight, please?"
He looks at me flatly, and I wiggle my fingers to try and entice him. Eventually, he puts his hand in mine, and I blow him a kiss.
He's just angry that I didn't tell him about my date, and as it turns out, he's right, I should have.
Nathan isn't a controlling person, but he's strong-willed, and so far in life, apart from his parents, I'm the only one who can talk him down from his temper.
I slip off my shoe and rub my foot up his shin. He rolls his lips as he looks over at me.
"You didn't ask me how my last day at the hospital was," I say.
"How was your last day?"
"It was sad. So, can you please not make my day any crappier?"
He nods and gives my hand a squeeze. "Okay."
* * *
"Okay, good luck, honey." My mom smiles down the phone. "You won't need it though."
"Thanks, Mom."
I brush down my skirt and twirl and look at my behind in the mirror as I speak. "What are you wearing?" Mom asks.
"I'm wearing a gray pencil skirt and a pale pink blouse. My hair is twisted up into a knot. It's gotten so long, I need a trim," I mutter, distracted. "I've got my pearl earrings in that Nathan's parents bought me for Christmas, and I'm wearing sheer stockings and high heeled pumps. I'm hoping I look businesslike."
"Sounds perfect."
"I hope so." I smile. It's Monday morning-my first day at my new job-and I'm as nervous as hell.
"Okay, I'll let you go. Knock them dead, baby."
"Okay, bye. l'll call you tonight."
I glance at my watch. I need to leave soon. My phone rings, and the name Nathan lights up the screen.
"Hi," I answer.
"Hello, Eliza," his deep voice purrs down the phone.
"What do you want?" I smirk.
"I called to wish you good luck, although I know you don't need it."
I smile goofily. "I'm so nervous."
"Don't be. You're going to do great. I'll pick you up from work."
"Really?" I smile.
"Sure, we can celebrate your first day."
"Okay." I put my hand on my chest. "My heart is racing."
"Don't be nervous, and remember: there is a better job waiting for you. You can walk out any time you want."
I roll my eyes. "Yes, Dad."
He chuckles. "See you at five."
"Okay."
He stays on the line, as if not wanting to hang up.
"Nathe?"
"Yeah, baby."
"Thanks for calling." I smile. "It means a lot."
"Yeah, well, you mean a lot."
My heart swells.
"See you tonight, have a good day." He hangs up, and I close my eyes.
Let's do this.
Forty minutes later, I take the elevator to level 7.
"Hello." I smile as I walk into reception.
The young girl's face lights up, and she jumps up from her seat. "Eliza, come through. I'm Lexi."
"Nice to meet you."
"Come with me. Dr. Morgan is in his office." She leads me down the hall and knocks on an office door.
"Come in!" he calls.
Lexi opens the door. "Eliza is here, Dr. Morgan."
He stands from his seat, "Thank you, Lexi."
She nods and leaves me alone with him.
"Lovely to see you again, Eliza," he says. We shake hands, and his eyes linger on my face.
Oh shit, it's there again. I instantly feel his attraction to me, and I have to admit it, he is kind of cute. I was hoping I imagined it last time.
"I'm nervous." I smile as I clutch my bag in my hands.
He gestures toward the door. "You have nothing to worry about." I follow his lead and walk out of the office. "This way." He gestures down the corridor. "You're in very safe hands here."
I wish he hadn't told me he was attracted to me because now everything that comes out of his mouth sounds sexual.
Reason 969 why I need to get laid.
He opens a door. "This is your office."
I look around in awe. The room has dark carpet and a huge chandelier. There's also a large silver, gilded mirror, and a mahogany desk.
"It's beautiful."
"It is. I trust you'll be happy here."
"Thank you. I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity, Dr. Morgan."
"Please, call me Henry."
"Henry."
"Now you have a day to settle in and find your way around." He picks up a piece of paper from the desk and passes it to me. "This has all of your email and server details. I have emailed you our schedule for the week. Take today to familiarise yourself with the girls, your office, and our protocols."
"Okay."
"As of tomorrow, you will be working closely with me. I would like you to work out of my office at the hospital the days that I'm in surgery."
I nod, this all sounds so exciting. "Yes, of course."
"Tomorrow, we will be at the Martyr Private Hospital. We have a rhinoplasty, a breast augmentation, and a labiaplasty."
I frown in question.
"That's a vaginal reconstruction." He smiles at my inexperience.
I widen my eyes, feeling stupid. "I did not know that."
"I wouldn't expect you to." He chuckles. "It's where I reshape the labia and lips of the vagina to make them more visually appealing."
I raise my eyebrows, unsure what to say to that. "Oh, I see. Do you cut and stitch, or laser? How do you even do that?"
"You can do it one of two ways. Either an edge resection or a wedge resection. You see, no two labias have the same thickness, length, or color, and no two vulvas are the same. Most women are prompted to have this surgery by their partner or what they think their prospective partner would want in a woman."