Chapter 23 Office Encounters
Daylan's POV
The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway seemed harsher than usual as I made my way to my examination room. I felt the weight of last night’s conversation with Brie pressing down on me. The confrontation with Tabitha, my own guilt, and the uncertainty about my future with Brie, all of it swirled around my mind, making it hard to focus.
I pushed open the door to my examination room and forced a smile as I greeted my first patient of the day, a young mother with her two children. The older child, a boy of about five, sat on the examination bed, swinging his legs nervously. The baby, who couldn’t have been more than six months old, was in his mother’s arms, wailing uncontrollably.
"Good morning," I said, trying to keep my tone cheerful. "I’m Dr. Hart. How can I help you today?"
The mother, clearly exhausted, offered a tired smile. "This is Jacob," she said, gesturing to the boy on the bed. "And this little one is Emily. They have both been a bit under the weather."
I nodded, glancing at the chart. "Alright, let’s start with Jacob." I approached him, noting the anxiety in his wide eyes. "Hey, Jacob, how are you feeling today?"
Jacob mumbled something incoherent, clearly uncomfortable. I proceeded with the examination, checking his vital signs and asking routine questions. Meanwhile, Emily’s cries grew louder, grating on my already frayed nerves. I glanced at the mother, who was bouncing Emily gently in an attempt to soothe her.
"Is Emily teething?" I asked, trying to maintain my professional demeanor.
"Yes," the mother replied, her voice edged with frustration. "She has been miserable for days."
I nodded sympathetically, though I felt a flicker of irritation. "I see. Well, Jacob seems to be dealing with a mild cold. I will prescribe something to help with his symptoms." I turned my attention to the wailing baby. "And for Emily, teething gel should help ease her discomfort."
The mother looked relieved. "Thank you, Dr. Hart."
I finished the examination and handed her the prescriptions. As she left the room, I leaned against my desk, staring at the door. The sound of Emily's cries still echoed in my ears, amplifying my unease. Children. I don't think that I want the same as Brie. This had just fueled my decision further about kids. Maybe I should talk to her. I might even lose her. The reality of it all suddenly felt overwhelming.
The door to my office creaked open, and I straightened up, expecting another patient. Instead, Abby sauntered in, her presence both a comfort and a reminder of past mistakes. Although we had managed to maintain a professional relationship, the history between us was undeniable.
"Daylan," she said with a bright smile. "How’s it going? Ready for the big pitch later?"
"Abby," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "Yes, I’m ready. Just seeing patients today, and then I have to finish up a few things."
She moved closer, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied me. "You seem a bit off this morning. Everything okay?"
I forced a smile. "Just a lot on my mind. Nothing to worry about."
Abby stepped even closer. We were now inches apart. I tensed as her hand cupped my flaccid cck. "You know, you can talk to me. We have always been good at that. You know that I can make it all better like I always do." she said seductively as she began to rub my cck. I gripped her wrist, not harshly but firmly enough to make my point clear, and pulled her hand away, glaring at her.
I felt a surge of irritation and guilt. This was the woman who had been part of my biggest mistake. "I appreciate your concern, but I need some space. I’m not interested in anything beyond our work relationship."
Her eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in hurt. "I was just trying to be a friend like in old times."
"I understand," I said, releasing her wrist and stepping away. "But things have changed. I need respect from you."
She nodded slowly, her expression softening. "I get it. I’m sorry if I overstepped. But it's because of Brielle."
I moved around my desk and took a seat in my chair. "Yes, but part of that is... I don't want to be the man that I was with you. I want to be committed to a woman, even if that means I am on my own. That means we will no longer f^ck. If that is a problem with you, then you have to find a way to deal with it and move on. I need you to be professional and to respect me. We cannot f^ck in the office, in the maintenance staff closets, not my place, not your place, not the hotel and definitely not in our cars, or the rooftop of the hospital. I know you wanted more all these years, you have respected me that much. But I'm sorry that I cannot do this with you anymore, it has to remain professional." I held her gaze.
Sadness filled them, but she quickly composed herself by shaking it off and forcing a smile. "She must be some woman that you really want more with."
I shrugged, "Things change," I just didn't want this life anymore. I want Abby to get the message and back off.
"Sorry for stepping over your boundaries," she said, but I know this is a hard pill for her to swallow.
"It's okay," I said, trying to ease the tension. "Let's just focus on the project. It's important."
Abby nodded again, her professional demeanor snapping back into place. "Right. The project. I have made some updates to the proposal that I think the board will appreciate. Can we go over them now?"
"Of course," I said, gesturing to the chair opposite my desk. "Let’s review everything."
As we went over the details of the project, my mind kept drifting back to Brie. I needed to talk to her about my doubts, about my fears regarding starting a family. It was a conversation I dreaded, but it was necessary. I couldn’t lie to her, not about something this important.
After a while, of going over the project with Abby, and she left, I remained seated at my desk, staring at the stack of papers in front of me without really seeing them. I needed to clear my head, to figure out how to approach Brie with my concerns. Just as I was about to stand up and leave the office for a coffee, my phone buzzed, I reached for it on my desk. It was a text from Brie.
Brie: Hey, how’s your day going?
I sighed, running a hand through my hair before typing a response.
Me: It's been a bit hectic. Can we talk tonight? There is something I need to discuss with you.
Her reply was almost immediate.
Brie: Of course. I will make dinner. See you tonight.
I placed my phone on my desk again, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. Tonight would be difficult, but it had to be done. Brie deserved honesty, even if it meant facing some hard truths.
The door creaked open again, sighing with relief that it was not Abby again, but it was Amanda Clark, one of the hospital board members, who stepped inside. She was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, her hair perfectly styled. She was attractive, no doubt, but she was nothing like Brie. There was an air of nervousness about her as she approached my desk, clutching a folder tightly in her hands.
“Good morning, Dr. Hart,” she greeted, her voice slightly wavering.
“Hi, Amanda,” I replied, offering a polite smile. “Please, have a seat. What can I do for you?”
She settled into the chair across from me, crossing her legs and smoothing down her skirt. “I wanted to discuss the medical project you have been working on. The board has some questions, and I thought it might be best to address them directly with you.”
“Of course,” I said, leaning forward. “What questions do you have?”
Amanda hesitated, glancing down at her folder before looking back up at me. “Well, first of all, we are very interested in the potential impact of your research. Could you give me a brief overview of the key points?”
“Absolutely,” I replied, launching into my well-rehearsed explanation. “The project focuses on developing a comprehensive protocol for managing chronic pain in pediatric patients. We’re looking at a multidisciplinary approach that includes physical therapy, psychological support, and innovative medical treatments to improve quality of life and reduce reliance on opioid medications.”
As I spoke, Amanda nodded, taking notes. However, I couldn’t help but notice her eyes lingering on me a little too long. She leaned forward slightly, her blouse gaping just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage. I ignored it, keeping my focus on the project.
“That sounds very promising,” she said, her voice softening. “You have always been so passionate about your work, Daylan. It’s one of the things I have always admired about you from a distance.”
“Thank you, Amanda,” I said, maintaining a professional tone. “I believe this project has the potential to make a significant difference.”
She bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the papers on my desk. “You know, it must be difficult balancing such demanding work with your personal life. Do you find it challenging?”
I leaned back in my chair, choosing my words carefully. “It can be a challenge, but I believe in the importance of this work. Finding a balance is crucial, but it’s not always easy.”
Amanda leaned even closer, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. “I understand. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to talk to, someone who understands the pressures of this job.”
I met her gaze, my expression neutral. “It is. Fortunately, I have people in my life who support me and understand the demands of my career.”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she shifted in her seat. “That’s good to hear. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m always here.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” I said, steering the conversation back to the project. “Now, about the budget allocation for the next phase…”
She blinked, clearly caught off guard by the abrupt shift back to business. “Oh, yes. The budget. The board has some concerns about the projected costs.”
I spent the next several minutes addressing her questions, providing detailed explanations and assurances about the financial viability of the project. Throughout the conversation, Amanda’s attempts to steer the discussion towards a more personal nature became increasingly apparent, but I kept redirecting her back to the matter at hand.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we wrapped up the discussion. I stood, signaling the end of the meeting. “Thank you for coming in. I hope I was able to address all your concerns.”
She rose from her chair, a hint of disappointment in her eyes. “Yes, you did. Thank you, Daylan. I will relay everything to the board. However, the meeting has been shifted until further notice based on the information that I have received from you.” As she moved towards the door, she paused, turning back to face me. “And remember, if you ever need to talk…”
I nodded, keeping my expression professional. “I will keep that in mind. Have a good day, Amanda.”
After she left, I sank back into my chair, exhaling a long breath. The encounter left me feeling drained, not just because of Amanda’s advances, but because it reminded me of the delicate balance I needed to maintain between my professional and personal lives. My thoughts drifted back to my text with Brie, and the conversation we are yet to have later.