Erika's POV:

"This is not what your father would have wanted!" I stopped in my tracks as I heard Dr. Marshall's voice inside Brandon's room. 

I wanted to change his bandages and explain a few more things to him, but I didn't want to intrude in on their conversation. Besides, fear spread throughout my body at my attending's stern voice; what was he talking about?

"Well my father ain't here anymore, so I guess it's just me and my demons..." Brandon sounded frustrated, I could tell; even without seeing his face.

"She asked me about you... How we know each other. Why I requested special treatment for you."

"What did you say?" His voice became softer.

"I told her the truth. That your father was my best friend, a brother to me... and I just left it at that. Figured it wasn't my place."

There was a pause for a moment before Dr. Marshall continues. "She's clever; one of the best among her piers. She will figure you out."

Brandon chuckled. "That's for me to worry. But indeed she is, old man..."

"I don't want you to ruin the chance she has in this hospital."

Those words were enough to flip the switch inside my mind. The anxiety creeping up my spine was unbearable. All the times he was holding me flushed through my mind. He knew... Was I going to get kicked out of the program?

The decision I was to make was clear as day.

I left to take sterile material and gauze bandages for his wound before heading back. I crossed paths with Dr. Marshall as he was leaving the room. His glare made me feel uneasy, confirming my thoughts.

"Angel... I've missed you. Where were you all day?" His smile and warm eyes managed to lighten up the emotional turmoil inside me.

I blushed a deep scarlet color, the heat spreading around my body, again. 

"Someone has to work around here. I figured I could change your bandages and show you how to do this by yourself when you get discharged tomorrow." My voice was soft as I neared his bed.

"Just admit that you wanted to spend time with me." He said with a smirk plastered on his pretty face. 

I rolled my eyes and he chuckled, making me smile. It was true. I wanted to spend more time with him, which made the crippling sensation inside me insufferable.

I placed the items I had in my hands on the bedside table. "Take off the covers so I can have a look, please."

"You are so demanding angel, yet always so polite... How can I resist you, when you are being so good?" 

His words were genuine, but the devilish smirk on his face revealed their double meaning and I blushed like crazy. He knew how to manipulate words. I just wondered what else he could manipulate. 

"Are you sure you're my Angel and not a petite demon?" He smirked, playing with me; I wanted to play as well.

"A petite demon?" I chuckled, watching his green eyes darkening. "Is that what you think Mr. King? Are these the things you imagine every time we meet?" My voice was just above a whisper. 

I was playing his game, for once. What I didn't know, though, was that the look he was giving me would induce the same want, the same unbearable desire in me.

"Keep tempting me like that and I won't resist the temptation to show you, Angel..." His eyes had dilated, making the green a deep moss color. 

I sighed and without any more words exchanged between us, I moved closer and started changing the bandages. He was watching me intently, as I explained how he should do this at home. I tried to be cheerful, like always, but he knew better. He wasn't that easily deceived. He could feel the growing sorrow inside of me, he knew my decision to stay away from him.

"I haven't seen anyone visiting you these past two days. Didn't you tell anyone you had an accident?" He frowned at my question, as I tried to avert his attention away from me.

"I informed the board of my firm. All necessary measures were taken care of, so it was okay for me to be away for a few days."

"You own your own firm?" He nodded, but uttered no words. "What do you do, exactly?" Although Stella told me bits and pieces, I wanted him to open up to me.

"I'm a lawyer."

"Oh? You know... The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun." I snickered at the raise of his eyebrow.

"The Godfather? Really? I must admit, I'm exceptionally surprised." He stared at me, a cheeky grin on his face. "And to answer your first question, yes, my own firm. I founded Law&Justice three years ago with my two best friends."

"Law&Justice." I pushed the glasses up the bridge of my nose, thinking; the name sounded familiar. "And what does your firm do?"

"Our firm is there for people in need of a second chance. Liam, Malcolm and myself had... lived in a way most people wouldn't call conventional. We wanted to give voice, maybe even a second chance to people like us; young screw-ups..." 

His chuckle had a pinch of sadness behind it, but he kept going. 

"...with no one to look our way. People trying to open up their own business, be it an ice-cream shop or a boutique. People with lack of experience, looking for a job in the field, or the ones that were convicted and unfairly judged... Everyone needs to start from somewhere. We try to make that feasible."

The air between us was thick with emotions. His facade hardened as he kept looking at his hands on his lap. I had the urge to lighten the mood; seeing him lost in his own thoughts, in his past, was too much.

"How nobble of you." The words escaped my mouth without a filter, but fortunately he smiled. "Are Liam and Malcolm your partners?"

"More like brothers." He stated, pinching my chin, making my eyes widen. I gulped, taking a step back; his actions couldn't cloud my decision.

"You do know I originally asked about your family calling, right? Or your friends..."

"Well..." He sighed. "My mom did call. She knows what happened but she lives in New York, so she couldn't come visit. It wasn't that serious anyway... No need to worry anyone."

It was the first time he opened up to me, sharing bits and pieces about his personal life. My thoughts became spoken words, as I told him just that.

"You had to earn my trust first."

"You trust me?" My voice was soft, as I momentarily felt breathless.

"I think I do..."He stared in my eyes, before a smirk took its place on his lips. "Enough to let you cut me open with those scalpels of yours." He chuckled and I bit my lip.

He was making the walls I've spent years building around me tumble to the ground. I thought I was confident in my decision to stop whatever this was between us, but I was wrong. He's a wildfire, spreading, consuming everything in its path.

"How are you going home tomorrow?" I avoided his colored eyes, as it became too much for me.

"Liam and Malcolm are coming to pick me up. Malcolm will drive my bike from the hospital's parking lot to my house."

"I actually forgot you came here with a bike?" I shook my head thinking about his recklessness. 

He was unbelievable.

"How was I gonna come here?"

Thoughts of him on his bike, with his tattoos on display, had an impact on my fast beating heart. I've never ridden a bike before... I just couldn't stop thinking how sexy he must have looked.

"Angel, whatever you're thinking, you need to stop teasing me with that blush of yours?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling the heat coloring my cheeks and neck.

"One day..." He came near me, pushing a strand of hair away from my face, resting his wounded hand on the crook of my neck. His other hand was on my waist, pulling me towards him. His warm breath on my skin was driving me crazy. "I'm gonna show you how much your blush is affecting me." 

It was a promise.

"All the things I wanna do to you, little one-" He paused, pulling me closer.

I could feel his warm breath fanning my red face; frustration overwhelming my senses. I actually wanted him to keep all these promises! I wanted him to show me!

He averted his eyes towards the door and I froze.

"How can I help you, nurse Savi?"

My head spun towards her and I shivered at the sour look on the face of my senior; as far as I knew, I was six feet underground.

"I wanted to change your bandages, but I see Dr. Ricci has everything under control." She looked sad, making me wonder. I've never seen her like this. What's going on here? "Brandon, if you need me, I'll be at the front desk..." She said and left the room.

I turned around, staring at him.

Did they actually know each other?

Were the rumors about him, having someone, actually true?

"I see." I pushed his hands off of me, careful not to further hurt his shoulder. Heading towards the door, his voice stilled my movements.

"Angel, wait. I know the wheels in your beautiful head are actually going haywire right now, but it's nothing like that." His voice was angry, but as he looked at me his facial characteristics were soft. "This is just a misunderstanding."

It didn't matter if it was a misunderstanding.

What did matter, was that she had immense power and could use it to destroy me, if she wanted.

"Brandon she has influence in the hospital. She could end my career before it even started. Especially if you and her, or anyone for that matter... Dio mio, what am I doing?" I rubbed my face in frustration. 

"It's nothing like that. And it's not like I'll be your patient forever; I'm leaving tom-"

"Don't!" My voice was hoarse, but I tried to feign authority. "My work here is done, Mr. King. Please excuse my behavior as it was inappropriate. Our relationship is strictly that, of a patient and a doctor. I apologise if I crossed a line." 

My strict façade was a stark contrast to the feelings brewing inside, but I had to keep the tears from spilling. I didn't want to be further humiliated. I made my decision before I even walked into his room.

Savi just cleared my sight.

He was a stranger; a handsome, flirty stranger.

My patient. 

I headed out, running towards the locker rooms.

"Erika, please."

He kept calling my name, but I couldn't look back.

If only I listened to my brain from the beginning. Rules were there for a reason. And there was no we.

Just two strangers.

I run up the stairs to the ninth floor, my legs taking me to the locker rooms as tears blurred my vision. Breathing uncontrollably fast, I hugged myself as I tried to calm my anxious mind.

I was scared of loosing my position in the program and felt heart broken at the same time.

Was I so easily played?

"Who hurt you and do I need a shovel?" 

The moment I needed her the most, she was there, pulling me in a tight hug to help me slow down my breathing.

"Stellz, I-" I hiccupped, the tears running down my face. "Am I so naive?"

"Everything is gonna be okay, I promise you." Her voice was soothing, as she kept me close; like a mama her child. "I don't know what happened, but let's not rush to conclusions."

Through sobs and hiccups, I told her the best I could about today. Starting from the chief, the feeling I had that he knew, Brandon holding me close to him and Savi. The look on the nurse's face, making me feel like the third woman as well as the fear of being kicked out of the hospital for unprofessional behavior. 

"Dr. Marshall would never do that, he respects you too much. Moreover, he's pushing you to do better. I know that, Markus knows that." She took a breath, her features morphing from soft to furious, preparing me for her next words. "As for Savi..." She took another deep breath. "She's a thirty two year old bitch with no boundaries. She had her eye on him from the start; trust me, the nurses talk a lot behind her back. You can't tell me you trust her."

I shook my head, because I didn't. Still, she could make my life a living hell; I was a mere intern, the bottom of the food chain, and she was influential. More than I wanted to admit.

"Erika, Brandon is the CEO and Founder of his own Law Firm for young entrepreneurs; those in desperate need for a job without experience and the ones with criminal records that wish to change their lives for the better." 

I was shocked by how much she knew about him; the power of the world wide web was vast. 

"He's like Oprah, but younger. And a male, so you see my point." She chuckled at her own comment, making me smile. "I don't know what Savi was playing at, but trust me when I tell you, that the media love him and not just for his assets or good looks. He's a gentleman, Chicago's sweetheart." 

I had no idea the extent of Brandon's power in the state. I thought he was just... normal. A quiet bad boy with a flirty exterior to hide secrets beneath.

"I was reckless and foolish. I'm his doctor; nothing else matters at this point, other than my career. I can't be kicked out of the program for something so irresponsible." I said, my voice stern as I tried to be confident.

She was quiet for a moment. "I know I won't be able to change your mind. At least not right now... Just know I'll be here for you!" She sighed but her smile never faltered.

She stayed with me a while longer; she didn't want to leave me alone but it was past her shift and she really had to go home and rest for the day.

Thinking about never seeing him again didn't make me feel better. I wasn't confident whatsoever... the same uneasy feeling creeping once again up my spine.

~~~

As it was getting late, most of the stuff, interns, nurses and residents left the building. It was the best time to finish all the paperwork I had to do. I was working in the nurses' office since it was more quite after hours, when Linn walked in with a large cup -decorated with Disney princesses- of freshly brewed coffee in her hands.

I was making notes on new cases administered this week, as it would help with my research. I didn't know in which surgical field I wanted to work, but accumulating information always helped me make a better decision. 

One case stuck out to me; a patient with asymptomatic abdominal pain. It could be anything; liver cirrhosis, gallbladder stones, pancreas infection? Or even constipation.

The young nurse came to sit beside me, and I turned to look at her, observing how tired she really looked. Her dark chocolate skin created such a beautiful contrast with her hazel eyes, that unfortunately seemed drained of energy tonight. 

"You have no idea how happy I am it's the two of us tonight." She said, taking a sip of her warm coffee.

"Is everything alright?"

She faced me, taking a deep breath.

"It's Savi..." She said and I gulped. "She's becoming obnoxious. And a pain in the back." I laughed, releasing the breath I was holding.

"She kept attacking this new nurse, April, calling her useless, incompetent and stuff like that. I couldn't handle it, so I stepped in. Now she's on my back."

"Don't mind her. I know she's a difficult person to work with, but she has so much knowledge. She always manages to make her patients smile, especially the elderly. I know sometimes our personal problems can impact our attitude at work, but her patients and this hospital are her priority... that's what we should focus on." 

It was a real autodidactic moment of my day, as I realized I was here for the same reasons.

Linn sighed, as she thought about my words. I liked working with Linn. I respected her for all her hard work and positive personality. Besides, her red velvet muffins were to die for.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Fixing myself a warm cup of earl grey tea, we continued working 'til I couldn't keep my eyes open. It was around eleven at night, when I headed towards the on-call rooms with my warm cup of tea to take a quick nap, only to stray away from my route and towards Brandon's room.

I knocked softly and waited for a minute. No answer. I opened his door, but decided to leave since the lights were turned off. 

Turning around to leave, my feet were stilled and I remained in my spot.

Frozen.

________________

Dun dun duuuun. I'm cruel, I'm so sorry.

Don't forget to vote if you liked the chapter and comment, you ghost readers.

Things are getting complicated and I don't know how the two will get together. (I mean I know, but you don't, so I- You get my drift. I should stop mumbling.)

Take care of yourselves, lovelies.

xo J