Chapter 12 First day
Everywhere was dark, the entire mansion had gone to sleep, but my eyes were opened.
Not because the bed was uncomfortable, it was in fact the most comfortable bed I'd slept in since I couldn't even remember when.
But my brain has decided that 2am was the perfect time to replay every possible way my first day could go wrong.
So I lay there in the dark, running scenarios until my alarm went off at six.
I got up, showered and stood in front of the wardrobe for longer than I'd like to admit.
Everything I owned still carried the signature of the woman I used to be; the abandoned wife, the background figure, the one who never dressed to impress or outshine anyone.
In fact the one that never dressed to be noticed by anyone. Just muted colors, safe cuts and nothing too polished that compelled people to look at me because looking at me had never been encouraged.
Not by my parents, not my own husband. Ex-husband now…
Plain colours, safe cuts and nothing really shiny.
After spending so much time staring at my wardrobe, I finally settled for the least offensive option, and left it at that.
Soon enough I'd do something about my wardrobe and general appearance as well, one step at a time, I guess.
I've been here for over a month now, and finally I was resuming work. I honestly didn't know how to feel about that, I guess it's the absolute reason why sleep deserted me.
Taking one last glance at the full length mirror, I turned around and walked out of the room, genuinely unbothered about the aura I wanted to give.
First impressions weren't really my thing.
I made my way downstairs, already dreading what returning to the medical space was going to do to me after so long.
Would Dr. Lane introduce me to everyone there and ask them to treat me nice, or is she going to let me mingle by myself?
Getting to the dining room, I noticed something weirdly unusual; the dining table was set only for one.
I just stood there for a second, looking at it and wondering why.
“Dr. Lane left early this morning ma'am,” a maid said, joining me. “She said she had a surgery scheduled for 8am.”
Oh, and she didn't mention it to me.
“She asked that you eat before you leave, and the car will be ready whenever you are.”
“Okay, thank you.” I said and sat down .
Eating alone is new to me, it's literally been a part of me the whole time. Ethan always had somewhere better to be and other important things to do, and mealtimes were alone times.
But this was different.
There was so much love living in here, and absence wasn't someone trying to make a point or put me in my place, it meant nothing much.
I ate in a hurry and stepped out into the waiting car and the drive to Deeyahtech began.
By the time the driver pulled over at the gallery, I had forgotten how to breathe, my grip against my dress tightened.
I honestly didn't know what I was expecting, but I knew it wasn't this; glass, steel and long buildings. I stepped out of the car, straightened my dress and walked in, like I knew my way around here.
Standing before the receptionist, I was about to say my name when a young man I thought I knew, walked in.
“Good Morning, Dr. Korra” the receptionist greeted with a slight bow.
My eyes widened, if this was the man Dr. Lane spoke about, then he's certainly not what I expected.
Although I don't know exactly what I was expecting, maybe someone older, someone that looked more like the men I'd been surrounded by for five years, the ones that performed authority.
But he didn't look like any of that.
He nodded at her.
“Follow him, Dr. Whitmore.” The receptionist who I now figured out was a nurse said, pointing towards him and the direction he took.
“Thank you.” I mumbled, and walked to his desk.
The moment I was standing before him, he looked at me and put his hand out. “Dr. Whitmore.”
He didn't say, oh you must be Liana, or welcome, Felicity has told me so much about you already.
Like we already skipped the part where we were strangers.
I shook his hand. “Dr. Korran.”
“Aiden.”
“Liana”
He nodded and turned around. “I'll show you your office, and later take you on a tour through the hospital.”
“I'd appreciate that, sir.”
“You know what, I'd just show you around now. Your office isn't this way.” He said and I nodded, willing to accept whatever.
He walked with the kind of aura that can control a room, pointed things out as we moved, the pediatric ward, the labs, research wings, neurology department, the adult ward.
We stopped by the neurology lab, and he collected a file, then handed it over to me.
“It contains recent admission, past medical history and just everything about the patient.” He started. “The review is in about an hour, I'd like you to read it before then.”
He walked into where I assumed was my office, and introduced me to a few doctors. “Treat her with utmost respect, she's from Dr. Lane.”
Then he left, and I sat down at my desk with the unfamiliar doctors, opened the file and started reading it.
I was maybe at page five when a conversation slipped through my mind.
“Felicity Lane’s newest thing apparently.”
Another person laughed. “Charity case you mean.”
“What else?” The first voice said, mockery dripping off. “She came out of nowhere, with no publications and nothing on record.”
I turned the next page anyway, and kept reading with the realization that I was either about to have the best time of my life in this office, or just another nightmare.
An hour later, Dr. Korran called me, and together we walked into the morning review, and while he sat on one of the chairs closest to the door, I sat at the far end of the table.
There were six doctors, all senior to me both on paper and in the age market. Aiden ran through it efficiently, and when it got to the part he'd given me, he turned.
“Dr. Whitmore, please read.”
“Of course.” I said, and looked up.
I began talking about differential diagnosis, recommended imaging, and two indicators that the whole team had missed, the indicators pointed to the fact that the current treatment plan wasn't being accounted for.
When I finished, the room went dead with silence, just like old times.
Aiden looked at me longer than he should have, as though he was trying to fully figure me out, then he nodded. “Agreed, thank you so much for that observation Dr. Whitmore.”
After the review, one of the senior doctors walked up to me. “Good catch of the blood.”
“Thank you.” I smiled and she nodded, walking out.
I guess nothing really changed, not even being away from this space for the last five years could take away what was inherently mine.
And for the first time in ages, I finally felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.