Unknown Number: [I should have said that first. Forgive me. This is Tony Martinez. I got your number from your employee file]
Lily’s breath seized as she read the text. She stared at the text continuously to be sure she wasn’t seeing things.
“Why is he texting?” She asked herself and stood up to lock the door so that she could be sure that Louis wouldn’t barge in. Even though he was out, she knew how easy it was for him to run back home and sneak in on her when she least expected it.
Lily saved the number and sent a reply.
Lily: [Hello, Dr Martinez. Yes, everything is alright.]
She stared at her text for a whole minute before she made up her mind and sent the text. A few seconds after her text, he read it and typed again.
Dr Martinez: [You left the hospital in haste yesterday. I just wanted to be sure that everything was alright with you.]
His reply came in, and Lily’s mouth parted in shock. She remembered bumping into him while running out of the hospital, but she didn’t expect him to have noticed or even cared.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Lily. He’s probably like this with all his staff.” She scolded herself and bit her lips nervously.
She didn’t know what reply to give him. How was she going to tell her new boss, who happened to be a man she met at a club, that she was running home to avoid being beaten by her boyfriend?
What would he think of her if she did that?
Lily shook her head and decided to lie. He wouldn’t find out, so there was no harm in lying.
Lily: [A friend was waiting for me.]
She sent the text and stared at it again, wondering if it was too short.
“Should I have added more information?” She thought. The phone dinged once again, and she opened the text hastily.
Dr Martinez: [Alright, Miss Arnold. I’ll see you at the hospital.]
A sigh left Lily’s lips as the conversation finally ended. She hated the feeling of guilt that followed as soon as she was done with the text. She couldn’t help but feel like she was cheating on Louis.
Even though there was no romantic attachment between her and Tony, she knew she saw him as more than her boss, and she knew the feeling was mutual. The way Tony looked at her was how a man looked at a love interest, and his checking up on her last night was a confirmation.
After the call, Lily had another nap, woke up for lunch, and prepared dinner for Louis when he returned. She also packed herself some food and snacks for the night since she would be at the hospital all night.
At six, she started getting ready to leave for the hospital while praying that Louis wouldn’t return until she left. A few minutes to seven, she finished getting ready and texted Louis, telling him she was going for her night shift and had also prepared dinner.
There was a smile on Lily’s face as she left the house. Maybe it was because of her conversation with Tony earlier, but she was looking forward to her night shift.
Then, a thought hit her.
What if Tony wasn’t working through the night? She had heard some of the nurses talking about how he hated night shifts and did his best to only work during the day unless there was an emergency.
“Focus, Lily. Focus! You’re there to work, not stare at a ridiculously handsome man.” She told herself as she sat in the taxi.
Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the hospital. The building was busy as usual, with some patients taking evening walks and the nurses assisting them.
Lily headed to her office, which she shared with fifteen other nurses. It was an ample space that had work tables for each of them. She worked in the pediatric department and made her rounds with Dr. Aurelie Lorey, a senior doctor in the department.
Lily put on her uniform, which was a green matching top and pants. She packed her hair in a high ponytail, put on her glasses, and headed to her table.
“You’re pretty early, Lily. You know your shift doesn’t start until twelve, right?” One of the nurses came up to her and handed her a cupcake.
“It’s my son’s birthday today, so I gave everyone a cupcake. I had to keep yours until you arrived. I’m Marie, by the way. ” The nurse said with a bright smile, her face filled with excitement as she talked about her son.
“Awww! How nice of you, Marie. Happy birthday to him.” Lily said, and the nurse nodded happily.
“So, tell me. Why are you here so early? Most nurses don’t arrive until a few minutes before their shift, especially at night. You still have four hours until your shift, my dear.” Marie pointed out in a calm voice.
Lily bit her lips, feeling uncomfortable by Marie’s question. She didn’t want to tell someone she had just met details about her life.
“No reason. I just decided to come early. This way, I won’t have to be in a hurry.” Lily explained with a polite smile.
Marie stared at her for a few seconds. She didn’t believe her, but there was no need to pry into her life, especially when they had just met, so she smiled and walked away.
One hour later, a nurse walked into the office and called Lily.
“Lily! Dr Martinez would like to see you at his office.” She said, and all eyes immediately turned to Lily.
“Me?” Lily asked, her face filled with shock.
“Yes, Lily. His office is on the last floor. You’ll be able to find it once you get there.” The burse said and went her way, leaving Lily completely baffled.
All eyes were glued to Lily as she stood up to leave, but no one said anything. They watched her walk to the door, and as soon as she left, they all started whispering.
“I think there’s something between them. How did he know she was at the hospital when she was three hours early for her shift?” One of the nurses said, and they all nodded in agreement.
“I think she informed him. Don’t you think she came so early so that she’d get to spend some time with him? She has some balls.” Another said and shook her head in disbelief.
Lily didn’t need anyone to tell her she would be the subject of discussion among the nurses in her office. She would be surprised if no one said anything. If there was one thing nurses were known for, it was gossip.
She still had no idea how he knew she was at the hospital since she was supposed to arrive at 11:30 and prepare for her shift.
That was a question she would ask once she was seated before him.
Lily followed the nurse’s instructions and rode the elevator to the last floor. As the door opened, she walked a few steps and saw a door that had his name boldly written on it. She placed a light knock on it and opened the door.
Tony’s hands paused on his computer as soon as the door opened. He somehow already knew who was behind the door.
“Hello, Dr Tony. You asked to see me.” Lily’s voice was soft, and her eyes avoided his like her life depended on it.
“Yes, Miss Arnold. Please, sit.” He said and closed his computer so he could focus on her.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you know I was at the hospital? My shift starts by 12.” Lily asked, finally raising her eyes to meet him.
“I saw you when you arrived.” He replied immediately without hesitation. Lily’s lips parted, and she nodded.
Tony knew that she was surprised. He was also shocked by his actions. He couldn’t believe that he was staying the night because of her.
When he came to the hospital that morning, he found out that Lily was on a night shift, and since he wanted to see her desperately, he went home and told his assistant to take over for the day. For someone who hated night shifts more than anything, he couldn’t believe that he was doing it because of a woman.
“So, Miss Arnold. Why did you run home yesterday? I want the real reason, not that lie you made up earlier.”