by R. Lorelei
The salon was located in an elite area of Toronto. It boasted of private booths, marble floors and a central chandelier. You were treated like a queen with your choice of drink. Roberto was my stylist. He looked Hispanic with olive skin and jet back hair. He had it greased back into a low ponytail that went past his shoulders in length.
He was wearing a white shirt with the top three buttons undone and tons of chest hairs for as far as your eye could see. His pants were white and skin tight. He appeared to be wearing a stripper style thong underneath. I could hardly imagine what he wore at home if he wore this in public. It wasn’t too difficult to figure out which side of the fence he played on. If I had to choose an adjective to describe him it would by lewd judging by his first impression.
Roberto ran his fingers through my hair and said, “You’re the spitting image of the famous performer Gennifer Goodwin. I have to take it super short, please don’t cry. You’re hiding your beauty any other way.”
When I saw him reach for the razor I didn’t even shudder. After everything I had been through over the past few weeks hair was the least of my problems. I encouraged him, “Go nuts, I didn’t even know who the hell Gennifer Goodwin is.” While he was working I was googling her picture. Roberto was right, I did look like her.
Next was Holt’s. I had an appointment for two o’clock. I had just enough time to grab a quick bite before I met Veronica. She was a sweet black lady with the kindest demeanor of anyone I had ever met before. She told me that she was retired; this job was a passion of hers that she chose to do in her spare time. She showed me to a private room and offered me a cup of coffee and a small sandwich while she went to fetch the rack of clothes she thought would suit me.
It took forty-nine minutes and six dresses later until she found my match. I was going in a simple ocean blue silk sleeveless dress that kissed my knees. She found matching pumps and a small handbag by Chanel, and I was ready to go. I loved my reflection and I was wondering if the fashionista Nick himself would approve. I checked my phone and saw if I hurried, I would have enough time to squeeze a visit in before the fundraiser started.
I went to room 9 and found Nick alone sleeping. I took a 10 ml syringe of normal saline to squirt in his face and wake him up. His eyes fluttered so I made a noise and when I saw his eyes open, without hesitation, I pushed the plunger fast and hard and got him square in the forehead. He yelled at me, “Coco!” and I just stood there laughing.
He wiped his face and said, “Turn around.”
His mouth drooped open and I did a full turn, “Do you approve?” His opinion really mattered to me because he knew his stuff. If he approved than that meant I looked great.
“Man, do I ever! You look fantastic!” His response made me beam with excitement.
“Thank you! I wish you were going. I hate going to functions like this alone.”
“Shelly will be there. Don’t worry. You’ll fit right in.”
“Did you propose to Aria yet?”
“No, not yet, tonight. I want a few people to be there. The people that matter.”
“That’s so sweet! I hate leaving you but I have to go now, or I’ll be late. I’ll see you later.” I went to his bedside and gave him a kiss on the forehead and then pulled away.
“Bye, Coco. See you later.”
I drove to the ballroom. When I got there cocktails had already started in a smaller room branching off the great ballroom. The first person I noticed was Shelly. She came running over to me as fast as she could in her four inch pumps hugging me and planting a kiss on my cheek, “I’m so happy you came!”
“Thanks Shelly. I’m glad you’re here too. Let’s go to the bar, I could use a drink!”
Shelly was touching my hair, “I love your hair! Did you like Roberto? Did he treat you well?”
“He did thanks. I wasn’t expecting to leave looking like this!”
“You never leave there with anything less than stunning hairstyle when you go to him.”
We arrived at the bar and I ordered a Martini. Shelly placed her empty glass down and said to the bartender, “I’ll have the same.”
While she was waiting for her drink, I began scanning the room for Bradley and moments later our eyes locked. He wasn’t alone. He had his arm around Maggie, his Bitch Ex-Wife!
My face flushed hot with a sudden feeling of emotional upset. I knew it was going to be hard to see him, but I had never imagined he would be bringing a date, especially Maggie of all people.
I excused myself to run to the bathroom thinking I was going to throw up. There was a chair in there so I sat down and held my head just above my knee’s waiting for the nausea to pass. When the feeling of nausea faded, I splashed cold water on my face and then started touching up my makeup.
I couldn’t let him see how much his presence affected me. I tried to swallow even though I felt this large ball in my throat and it was hard to hold back my tears.
I found Shelly and forced myself to focus on her and avoid eye contact with Bradley, “Sorry about that. It’s hard to see Bradley with Maggie after we were together.”
Shelly put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, “What happened between you two?”
I lowered my voice, “Stupid little arguments that turned big. It’s completely over with us and I’m predominantly the one at fault. We were only together for about a month.”
“Rumor around the hospital is that you had an affair with Nick.”
I took a deep breath in, “Wow, not too far from the truth. I can’t get over what a rumor mill the hospital is.”
Shelly smiled, “You have to keep your private life as far away from the hospital as possible if you don’t want anybody talking about it. How is Nick by the way?”
“He’s doing much better, thanks to Bradley.”
“You know Chanel, I would never take sides, but I think it was great that Bradley saved Nick. He gave Nick a lot of attention ensuring he pulled through.
“Believe me Shelly, I noticed.”
“So you can’t fix things with Bradley, say sorry?”
“His pride was hurt, plus check out his date. He doesn’t look like he’s hurting now.”
She looked at Bradley and my eyes followed hers. His arm was around Maggie. Maggie looked bitchstakingly beautiful in a red dress with red pumps that showed a large part of her chest without completely revealing her breasts. She dressed provocatively, sacrificing class. It was obvious that she was doing anything in her power to get her ex-husband back. I could hardly stand seeing it.
Bradley had shaved and his hair was cut razor short except for the top that was shaggy but on the short side even for him. He could have easily been mistaken for his brother dressed in black tie formal wear. He cleaned up really well, but I liked the burly Bradley a little more than the cleaned up version. It suited his personality.
It was nearing seven, and upon entry into the ballroom there was a guest list with an assigned table number. I found my name on the list and turned to Shelly, 9.”
She smiled back at me, “Me too.” I was glad we could sit together. I wondered who else would be at our table and thought how ironic it was to have Nick’s ICU number.
Each table seated eight. There were beautiful floral centerpieces at each of them. The chairs had elegant white covers with bows wrapped around each one. Each dish had a place card on it with a person’s name. Shelly was seated on one side of me and Chase on the other.
Shelly and I sat down and people gazed while others were still looking for their seats. I noticed Bradley and Maggie holding hands and heading towards our table but suddenly there was a God because they stopped and sat down at table eight. I took a deep breath in, knowing that I was holding it bracing myself for the very real possibility that I would have had to endure an entire evening facing them together.
A firm hand touched my shoulder which distracted me from my idle jealousy fest that seemed to be consuming me. I looked up to see black eyes smiling down at me, it was the brother with the gold
en shoes.
Tonight the twins looked identical. Their hair was cut exactly the same. They were both clean shaved. They both wore black tuxes. It was even hard for me to tell them apart. It was just the common sense of Chase’s place card and his disposition that helped me to know.
His contact with me gave me goose bumps. Chase greeted everyone at the table before pulling his chair out so he could sit next to me. He turned to me and said quite loudly, “You are absolutely ravishing!” I squirmed in my chair as his flattery caused a stir in me. I had to sigh with relief that whatever happened between Bradley and I didn’t seem to change the way Chase was treating me.
Chase glanced at his brother and whispered to me, “Tell me he didn’t bring her to make you jealous?”
“He didn’t bring her here to make me jealous.” I smiled at him knowing that joke was very dry. “What Bradley does is none of my business, he ended it with me.”
We kept the rest of the conversation light while we enjoyed the food. My comfort level began to increase as long as I didn’t focus my attention on the next table.
We sat together and consumed six or seven courses before Shelly asked Chase if she could see him alone for a minute. Meanwhile the caterers were clearing the tables, and the lighting was being dimmed and slow music was starting to play. I sat alone with the vacant chairs on either side of me for quite some time before Shelly and Chase returned.
Shelly sat down next to me and Chase walked past our table and went straight to the podium. The lights were focused on Chase and the music stopped, capturing the attention of all who attended.
“For those of you, who don’t know me, my name is Dr. Chase Hart and I am CEO of the General. I have invited a guest speaker to talk about the plans we have for the Cardiac floor and where the money that we have raised will be spent. Please help me in welcoming Resident Nick Hart.”
There was applause and to my surprise I saw Aria dressed in an elegant antique white lace dress wheeling Nick who was dressed in a tuxedo to the podium. Nick had his hair cut and his face shaved and he didn’t look like the bushman I had seen in room 9 only hours ago. This explained Chase and Shelly’s sudden disappearance.
Chase returned to the table quickly and suddenly I felt his hand on mine. “I couldn’t have the fundraiser without your best friend here,” he squeezed my hand. Tears of happiness filled my eyes as I looked into Chase’s. Losing my composure, I threw my arms around his neck, “You don’t know what this means to me having him here thank you so much.”
Nick’s confident voice came on over the microphone, “Coco please pay attention!” A spotlight landed on me and Chase. I quickly moved away from him and looked up. If I could kill him, it would have been immediately. The spotlight went back to him, “I would like to thank you all briefly for your very generous donations and I am happy to announce that they will be going towards the much needed improvements to the EPS lab at the General.
I have been chosen today to announce this new venture as I have recently been the recipient of an AICD when my heart went into sustained ventricular tachycardia while I was driving on a busy highway. Dr. Bradley Hart and the amazing doctors at the General saved my life and I couldn’t imagine the funds going towards a worthier cause.
Nick locked his wheelchair in place and started moving the foot rests up so he could stand up holding onto the podium for support. He slowly lowered himself to one knee. The guests hushed, and Nick continued, “Next to me is Aria who stayed at my bedside the entire time while I was being cared for by some of the best cardiologists known to medicine. I am madly in love with you Aria, would do me the immense honor of marrying me?”
The ballroom remained silent in anticipation for Aria’s response; she dropped to her knees in joy repeating the word yes several times over as the guests broke out into applause.
I was overjoyed for them and went running to the podium to be the first to congratulate them. Aria got up first and then she helped Nick. When he was safely back in the wheelchair I gave him a hug and then Aria. Aria said in my ear, “Will you be my Maiden of Honor?”
I grinned, “I would be honored!”
Aria put her arm around my shoulders and looked at Nick, “My Maid of Honor!”
Nick looked up from his chair, “That’s great Coco, I could never imagine getting married without you being there. I’m so grateful for the support you gave Aria while I was in hospital, speaking of which we better get back before Bridgette skin’s my hide! I can’t tell if she’s into that!”
His comment brought back memories of Vegas, “You so deserve to have your hide skinned, Dickwad!” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before Aria took to wheeling him out of the ballroom. I was floating ecstatic with happiness for them. The lights dimmed and the music restarted.
I returned to my table and saw Shelly and Chase chatting away until I got close. Suddenly, their conversation stopped. It was too obvious to ignore, “Did I interrupt something?”
“In fact you did,” Chase said. “Shelly here was telling me how much of an amazing student you were. She was asking me if I was going to make you an offer.”
“Oh,” I smiled at them. “There’s no need.”
Chase became very serious in a flash, “There’s every need.”
I took my chair in between them, “I have been hired at Grimsby General. I’ve already secured employment.”
Chase had the same habit as his brother and ran his fingers through his hair when he was displeased, “You didn’t give me a chance to make an offer. We took you under our wing. You should have at least given us the courtesy of considering our offer before you made a choice. Whatever Grimsby’s offered you we’ll match it and give you more. Just say what you want from us to keep you.”
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes, “All I want is your brother, and I can’t have him. Now I need a fresh start, and you can’t give me that here.”
Chase very authoritatively said, “Shelly if you’ll excuse us, I’m going to talk to her alone, on the dance floor.” He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor where there were only two other couples dancing at the time. I could feel Bradley’s eyes on us as we walked past his table. He turned his head away.
Chase started dancing close to me, very close. He whispered in my ear, “I’m sorry that my brother hurt you. You chose the wrong one. I wanted you from the first day you set foot in my hospital.” A chill went up my spine.
He was admitting that he liked me! He was gambling and decided to go all in, knowing I was leaving.
“I’m sorry but I can’t say that I felt the same way about you when we first met. My first impression of you was that you were cold and callous. I thought you didn’t care about the patients as much as you did about the bottom line of your balance sheet. That made you unappealing in my book.”
His body stiffened, “Do you still feel that way?” His grip on my tightened and his voiced hardened, “That’s not fair. I’ve always been forced to be ahead of the game. It takes money to run this hospital and provide good care for the patients and I’m good at getting that money. That’s why they put me in my position of CEO. With me at the helm, this hospital has grown and prospered. Now that you know me better, do you still see me as cold, callous, and unappealing?”
“No, it’s the opposite. I quite like you,” I admitted, “I like you the way one likes a brother-in-law. I feel the same electricity between us as you do. I don’t deny it. I could only just imagine how hot you would be between the sheets or anywhere else for that matter. I am a woman with needs. I’m sure you would set my body on fire, but I already hurt your brother once and whether I’m with him or not, the last thing I would ever do is hurt him again by going to you. I hope you understand and respect that.”
“I respect you Chanel more than you know. I also want you to know, that if you ever want to come back to the General, there will always be a spot for you.”
“Thanks Chase, I appreciate that. On that note, I’m going to say good-bye to
you and Shelly. I need to go home. I will give you my notice for the loft after Aria finds me a new place to live closer to Grimsby General.”
“Stay as long as you like.”
I hugged him.
I walked back to the table and told Shelly, “I’m going to leave now and call it an early night.” Chase sat down in my seat next to her. I leaned down and gave her a kiss on both cheeks before leaving the ballroom.
I headed for the bathroom on my way out. I was shaking at the thought that Chase was into me. I never would have known. He was so hot, and it was his looks AND his personality that made him that way. He was just not in my league. He could get anyone.
I left the bathroom to go to my loft and there Bradley was, standing alone, staring at me. I froze when I saw him. I felt winded. I cursed myself for not leaving more quickly. He said, “I need to talk to you.” He took my arm the same way he always did and pulled me into a dark and quiet room that looked like a closet without any coats.
My heart was pounding through my chest; funny thing was the voltage of electricity cursing through my veins was amplified. His effect on me was increasing. So we were in this dark closet together and I couldn’t see his face and we couldn’t talk loud because neither of us wanted to be found. He started grilling me. I wasn’t expecting this. He had ignored me since I got there.
“Are you happy for Nick?”
“Very.”
“Is it true you’re leaving the General?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because of you.” He felt really close to me now.
“Are you back together with Bitch Ex-Wife?” I hear him move, I don’t see him but I can feel heat coming from his body, his breathing has changed too. It sounds of want. I’m aroused and we’ve done nothing. How does he do that to me?