Sophie had to believe Alex had protected them from any prying eyes as they’d left like he had promised he would.
But she couldn’t let her thoughts show to the people gathered in the room.
Not again.
She summoned every ounce of the endless social skills her mother had drilled into her during her teenage years. Straighten your shoulders, Sophie. If one is bored one mustn’t look bored. Smile, you own the room and everyone in it. You are a Franklyn — social royalty.
Her mother’s words sounded so loud in her mind, transporting her back to the times her mother would tap her on the shoulder with her constant companion — the wooden ruler. Drumming those words into Sophie, over and over and over again.
She finally became aware that everyone was looking at her, expectation showing in their gazes. She looked up and locked eyes with Alex. With that one look, she knew she was in trouble.
• • •
It took all his willpower, again, to keep his face devoid of emotion. He fought against the overwhelming desire to stride through his new staff, pick Sophie up, and whisk her away so he could reacquaint himself with her sweet taste.
When Sophie had heard his name, the look of disbelief and despair that had appeared on her face was quickly replaced by one of blankness with an underlying aura of poise and serene calm.
He was surprised at her reaction, considering she’d worked alongside him in the resus room. He was still amazed at her professionalism and how she had anticipated his every move and action when dealing with their patient. If he hadn’t been watching and wanting her since the moment he’d walked into the staff room, he would’ve totally missed that look.
It was his turn to be shocked when he realized exactly what the CEO was saying and the look of anticipation on the faces of the people surrounding him in the room.
Sophie was the nursing unit manager, or NUM as it was often shortened to, which meant they would be sharing the same office. Be in constant contact with each other.
Things just got a lot more complicated.
The rest of the meeting passed without him taking in much of what was said. All he could think about was what was going to happen on their first shift together tomorrow.
A familiar scent tickled his senses. He looked to his right and was arrested by the sight next to him.
Sophie.
Even after working a full shift, with a crumpled uniform showing evidence from the last trauma, she looked more beautiful than she had when she’d been fully made up. Her natural, uncomplicated beauty shone through.
“Dr. Scavoni, we need to talk.” Her voice was as sharp as a scalpel. No preliminaries, just straight to the point. He had to admire her for the way she managed to make it sound conversational and not confrontational.
“Our office?”
She leaned close, so close his flesh prickled at the sparks shooting out of her eyes. He watched the skin around her mouth tighten as she clenched her jaw and spoke in a tone only he could hear. “Unless you’d like the whole staff to hear what I have to say then, yes, our office would be fine.”
She turned and walked out of the room, hips swaying, mesmerizing him with each step.
“You’ll need to keep an eye on her, Scavoni. I wasn’t happy with her appointment as NUM of ER, not after her last effort. But the powers that be decided to give her another go. Daddy probably promised a huge donation if she was given the promotion again.”
Alex was surprised at the bitterness with which the CEO, Neil Buchanan, spoke. Clearly he didn’t like or believe in Sophie. But as far as Alex knew, a new CEO would be taking over at the end of the week so Neil’s opinion mattered little.
“Not really your concern anymore is it, Buchanan?” He paused, taking a step that brought him closer to the other man. “After all, you’re leaving in a couple of days, aren’t you?”
Neil sniffed in disgust, as if he had just smelled rotting flesh. “True, but I know Sophie well and if I was staying on here as CEO, there is no way in hell she would’ve received the promotion. Donation or not.”
Something definitely wasn’t right between Neil and Sophie. Irrationally, a protective streak for Sophie sparked to life. Alex planned to find out what the history between Sophie and Neil was and why Neil obviously had a lack of trust in her nursing abilities. From what he’d seen, her skills were impeccable. Only he wouldn’t ask Neil for details. He’d only met the man a handful of times but each time he felt the need to wash his hands afterwards. The man exuded the slipperiness of a small intestine. If Neil had stayed on, Alex would’ve found it very difficult to take up the position and work with the man.
“Well, for Sophie’s sake I guess it’s lucky that you aren’t. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the lady in question to attend to.”
“Trust me, Scavoni, when I say don’t believe everything she says. She manipulates the situation so she comes out on top.”
Alex strode out of the room, uncaring of the vicious words Neil Buchanan spewed from his mouth. All thoughts now centered solely on Sophie and what would be waiting for him when he entered their office.
He paused briefly before entering the room, keenness simmering through him at the thought of spending more time with her. Would he receive a warm welcome from her?
He no sooner opened the door before he got his answer. He stepped into the room and fire burst forth from Sophie’s incredible eyes. If they were anywhere but at work, he would’ve gathered her up and kissed her, changing the flames of anger to flames of passion. A passion he had no doubt would consume them like it had their one night together.
He’d tried hard to resist her that night but hadn’t been able to. He’d initially thought she represented everything he’d sworn he wouldn’t touch again, a polished socialite. He’d sampled it once and once was enough. Now it seemed his initial impression had been wrong. She wasn’t a lightweight socialite but something much, much more.
“Just what the hell are you playing at?” The question was fired at him with all the precision of a sniper rifle. “Did you know exactly who I was from the very beginning? Did you have this planned from the moment you walked into the ballroom and saw whose table you were on? Did you think it would be fun to humiliate me? Is this all just a game to you?”
“How about I ask you a couple of questions? Did you know who I was from the very beginning? Was it your plan to sleep with the boss? Did you think it would be fun to humiliate me in front of my staff?”
“Excuse me?”
“No need to act so surprised, Sophie. If you start flinging accusations, I can, too.”
“That’s not fair, I have so much more to lose than you.”
“Is that right? It’s not exactly the end of the world.”
The conversation was getting out of control and Alex didn’t like it. He hadn’t come into the office for a confrontation. What he wanted was to have a reasonable conversation. Come up with a way they could work together. Develop a professional relationship between themselves. They had to share an office, they had to get along.
Before he had a chance to get the conversation back on track Sophie continued on.
“Not the end of the world? Are you serious? I had a one-night stand with my new boss.”
“Well, I had a one night stand with my nursing unit manager. What does that say about me to my staff? I’m new at this hospital.”
“Doesn’t matter if it gets out, your colleagues will give you a slap on the back and say, ‘Way to go.’ For me it’s career suicide.” She dropped her face into her hands. “It’s just like that television show. Next thing I’ll know your wife is going to turn up out of the blue and slap my face.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous, I don’t subscribe to the old boys club and Amanda’s not going to do that. She doesn’t do confrontations.”
&nb
sp; • • •
Sophie fumbled behind her, looking for her chair. Sinking into it when her fingers connected with the soft leather, her heart stopped beating and a cold sweat broke out all over her. A hollowness filling her, like she’d been kicked in the stomach. Her nightmare had just reached catastrophic.
This time she was the other woman.
“Y-y-you’re married?” The words whispered out of her.
“No.” The word burst out like a firecracker shot from its canister. He sank down in front of her. “No, I’m divorced. I’m not a cheater.”
Alex took her hands in his, the touch shocking her out of her dazed state. His flesh warmed her numb fingers as he continued speaking, the words seeming to come from afar. Her ears buzzed but she made out what he was saying. “I abhor people who cheat.”
At least they had that in common. She pulled her hands out of his hold and wrapped them around herself. She couldn’t think when he touched her. She gave a short push on the ground and her chair coasted gently back, away from his strong presence.
How could this day have gotten any worse? She’d been so optimistic when she’d started her shift. She’d felt more confident in her role and she’d managed her staff well when the call for the multi-accident trauma came in. But then Alex had walked in, and everything had gone pear shaped.
He had been married. How long since the divorce? Was she a rebound girl?
Everything started crowding in around her. She couldn’t do this. She had to get out. Get out of Alex’s presence so she could think. Get her jumbled, scrambled thoughts into a straight and sensible line.
“I’ve got to go.” She pulled the bottom drawer of her desk open, grabbed her handbag from its depths, and headed toward the door.
“You can’t leave it like this, Sophie. Don’t run away again. We have to work together.”
She whirled round to face him. “You think I don’t know that? Right now, I just can’t deal with all of this. None of the last hour has gone according to the way I imagined the last part of my shift would go.”
With her hand hovering above the doorknob, she sighed, “Yes, maybe I am running away. Maybe I should stay here and discuss this rationally with you. But I really can’t do this now. I just need my own space.”
Not waiting for a reply, she turned the handle and walked out the door. She made her way to the elevator in a daze, trying not to remember the time she had taken an elevator ride with Alex.
The doors opened and it was blissfully empty. She pressed the button for the lower car park. As she looked through the closing doors, she saw Alex standing and watching and brooding.
By first sleeping with him and now walking out, had she blown her promotion once again?
Chapter 4
Sophie threw her bag on the hallway table and wandered over to her couch, sinking into the butter-soft leather cushions. The view of the sparkling river and city skyline lay in front of her. It did nothing to soothe her nerves like it normally did after a tense workday. All she saw was Alex’s handsome, muscular body kneeling at her feet, his capable hands holding hers.
She was in so much trouble.
How could she have let herself get involved with a work colleague again? Hadn’t she learned her lesson last time? If she was truthful, the situation wasn’t the same. When she’d slept with Alex, she’d had no idea he would end up being her boss. With Neil, she’d known exactly what his job was, and how it tied in with hers. What she hadn’t known was his I’ll-sleep-with-whoever-I-can-to-climb-the-social-ladder attitude. What a fool she’d been.
She clenched her fists against the rage building inside of her. She had dealt with those feelings, push them aside as they no longer mattered. She wasn’t going to let them consume her like an evil poison. Her situation with Alex was completely different. She knew who he was now. He was a professional colleague and that’s how she’d deal with him. Just like she’d dealt with the previous ED director before he’d retired. She would tell him so when she saw him next. Let him know in no uncertain terms that what happened New Year’s Eve was in the past and would not affect the way she worked with him. They would create a professional, working relationship and nothing more. Together they would ensure the emergency department ran without any hitches and without any tension between them.
And keep dreaming, sweetheart, an annoying voice in her head stated. If Alex offered you another night, you’d definitely consider it.
She pushed that voice aside. She would not succumb no matter how much she wanted to. It would be career suicide and she didn’t think she could possibly handle another failed attempt as NUM. She could kiss her career goodbye if that happened. She would make it work, she had to.
Her mobile ringing was a welcome distraction from her thoughts. She pressed the answer button.
“Hello?”
“So tell me everything.” Phoebe’s excited voice sounded down the line. Truly the last thing she needed was an inquisition from her best friend, but if she handled it now, then hopefully she wouldn’t have to deal with it again.
“There’s nothing to tell, Phoebs. I sat next to Alex at the New Year’s Eve gala, he came over to the table and you met him.”
“You mean he never mentioned that he was working at the hospital?”
“No, Phoebe he didn’t. We didn’t really talk much that night.” Sophie was hoping that Phoebe would stop asking questions, unfortunately her friend wasn’t like that at all.
“So you didn’t hook up with him, at all?”
It was the one question Sophie hadn’t wanted asked. She felt bad keeping her night with Alex from her best friend, but Alex was now in her working life. She wanted to keep the memory of their special night together completely to herself.
“Why would I? He was a complete stranger that night. As I said, we sat together and that was it.”
“Nice try, Soph, but I’m not buying it. I almost got burned from the looks he was sending your way.”
Sophie gave a dry laugh, “It was probably annoyance, thinking he was stuck with an airhead as a NUM.”
“But you are no airhead, Sophie Franklyn, so stop thinking that way,” Phoebe paused before barreling on. “You know Alex could be a nice little distraction for you. You know, help you get back into the game after your split with Mr. Sleaze Bag.”
Sophie’s heart rate galloped into overdrive. She hadn’t given anything away had she? She hadn’t exuded “Alex and I slept together” with any of her looks toward Alex? She knew she had to brush these thoughts out of Phoebe’s mind.
“Definitely not, Phoebe. Been there, lived the gossip headlines. Don’t plan on doing it again.”
“I guess,” a beeping sounded down the line. “Oh that’s me, it’s probably sexy Dr. John calling.”
Sophie felt it only right to warn Phoebe about getting involved with a work colleague. After all she’d done it twice, once intentionally, and the other unintentionally. “Be careful, Phoebs. You know John is only doing his residency here, he has plans to move on.”
Phoebe’s laugh tinkled down the line. “It’s okay, it’s a bit of harmless flirting. You know me, I’m all about having fun. I’m not going to settle down for a very long time.”
“Famous last words,” muttered Sophie.
“I promise I’ll be careful, will that make you feel better?” Phoebe said. “Look I need to go, think about what I said, a fling could be harmless. Bye!”
Sophie ended her call to Phoebe and made her way to the sliding door to step out onto her balcony. The sun had lost some of its bite. Closing her eyes, she lifted her head, savoring the heat from the soft beams of light. The warm rays reached out like tentacles, winding around and permeating her until her whole body glowed with radiant energy. The tension of the day flowed out of her and calmness filled her soul.
She savored the feeling fo
r a few more minutes before returning inside to get a glass of wine and put on some music. She reached for the remote control when the jangle of the house phone had the device slipping out of her hand and clattering loudly on the coffee table.
She wasn’t expecting anybody but she knew that didn’t mean anything. She had an open-door policy for her colleagues, they could come over any time of the day.
She picked up the phone. “Hi, Cliff.”
“Good evening, Miss Franklyn, I have a Dr. Alex Scavoni here to see you. Do you want me to send him up?”
Alex? What the heck was he doing here and how did he know where she lived? It wasn’t too hard to answer, he would’ve just looked her address up in the staff contact book, but why was he here?
“Miss Franklyn, can I send him up?” Cliff’s voice penetrated her train of thought.
“Ummm, sure.” She sounded so weak. Straightening her back, she injected confidence into her voice. “Yes, Cliff, that’s fine, please send him up.”
“Very good, Miss.”
“Oh, Cliff, before you go, Dr. Scavoni is a new staff member at the hospital. Please add him to my list of people you can automatically send up.”
“Will do, Miss Franklyn. Have a good evening.”
She murmured her thanks as she hung up the phone. She refrained from the desire to rush over to the mirror and make sure her hair was neat and her clothes were straight. This was her home, she could be whomever she wanted to be and Alex would just have to accept her as she was.
She had no more time to think when her doorbell pealed loudly. Taking a deep breath, she went to answer its call.
She was once again taken aback by his good looks. His hair was slightly damp and he was in different clothes from the ones he’d worn at the hospital. Either he lived close by or he’d changed at the hospital.
She felt like a limp rag that had been wrung out time and time again. Her clothes were creased and she wished she’d told Cliff to give her fifteen minutes before sending him up.
“Dr. Scavoni, this is ahh, umm a surprise.” She leaned against the door trying to act casual when her heart was racing ten to the dozen and her legs were starting to lose their ability to stand.
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