Chapter 54 The Doctor
EMILY
"I am sorry to interrupt your afternoon. We just received a call on the main estate line. There is someone on the phone asking to speak with you directly."
Mrs. Gable stands perfectly still in the center of the kitchen, holding a sleek silver cordless phone out to me like it is a fragile piece of glass.
I wipe my flour-covered hands on a damp towel and take the receiver. The heavy plastic feels cool against my palm.
"Hello?" I say.
"Emily. Why is your mobile phone going straight to voicemail?" Dr. Aris asks. His voice is crisp and authoritative, echoing slightly over the line.
I picture the black screen of my cell phone sitting in my bedside drawer. I turned it off last night to block the endless, screaming calls from Thomas and Lydia Vance. I had absolutely no intention of letting my family or Silas Hunt disrupt my morning. And now, even with my phone off, their very existence still seems to cause a disruption in my life.
"I turned it off yesterday," I say smoothly. "I kept getting calls from strange numbers and I thought it might be a security risk. I planned to look into it and resolve the issue."
"I see," Dr. Aris says. He clears his throat. "We need to discuss your future. The Etland University admissions board needs a final answer on your enrollment. I also have the preliminary authorization paperwork for your cardiology formula sitting on my desk right now. Have you made your decision?"
A bright wave of pure excitement washes over me. This is the moment. This is the key to my complete financial independence. Once that contract is signed, I’ll never have to rely on the Vance family or the Wolfe estate for survival ever again. I’ll achieve a long-buried dream and gain independence at the same time.
"I’ve made up my mind, Dr. Aris. I’m ready to move forward," I reply.
"Excellent. Let’s meet for lunch to go over the details. Come to Bordeaux 101 at one o’clock."
A heavy weight drops in my stomach. Bordeaux 101 is one of the most exclusive, ridiculously expensive French restaurants in the entire financial district. A simple glass of water probably costs more than a decent meal anywhere else. They routinely book tables six months in advance.
"Dr. Aris, I don’t have a reservation there. I’m not sure they’ll even let me through the front doors," I say carefully.
"Don’t worry about the door," he chuckles warmly. "I carry a platinum VIP card for the establishment. They always keep a private table ready for me. Just give my name to the host."
My heart literally dances in my chest and I resist the urge to actually break out in a dance.
"I’ll be there," I promise.
I hand the phone back to Mrs. Gable and turn to look at Lily.
"You don’t mind if I step out for a bit do you? This is really important to me."
She shakes her head and smiles. "No, Miss Emily."
I leave Lily in Mrs. Gable’s hands and up the back stairs to the master bedroom. I walk straight to my box and rummage through it. I spend a few minutes looking before I find my leather purse and pull out a hidden envelope from it. I sit on the edge of the mattress and dump the paper bills onto the silk duvet.
After the things I got for Aunt Cherry and Zoe, I have nothing left.
I count the money twice. Six hundred dollars. It’s almost every single cent I have left to my name. I stare at the small pile of green paper, a sharp pang of regret biting at me. I desperately need to hold onto this safety net.
But Dr. Aris is offering me a career, a medical license, and a future. It’s a matter of profound professional respect to treat him to this lunch. I gather the bills, fold them tightly, and shove them deep into my jacket pocket.
I walk back down to the kitchen just as the timer on the industrial oven rings. I grab a thick pair of protective mitts and pull the heavy steel tray out of the heat. The smell of melting mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and crispy bacon fills the entire room. The edges of the crust are perfectly thick and golden brown.
I slide the pizza onto a large wooden cutting board. I take a sharp steel wheel and slice it into eight large pieces.
Lily is practically vibrating on her wooden stool. She reaches out, grabbing a slice before the cheese even stops bubbling. She takes a huge bite. A long string of melted mozzarella stretches from her chin to the crust.
"This is the best pizza ever," Lily declares. She kicks her small sneakers against the cabinets.
I grab a napkin and wipe a smudge of tomato sauce from her cheek. "I’m glad you like it, Lily. You have to eat the rest with GrandmaMartha. Remember I told you I’ve got a very important meeting in the city right now."
Lily stops chewing. Her dark eyes fix on my face. "I want to go with you. Please?"
"I can’t take you this time. It’s a boring business lunch," I say gently. I lean in close, lowering my voice like a secret. "But if you stay here and finish your food, I promise I’ll take you out to play with Alistair later this evening."
The mention of her terrifying, towering uncle usually makes people run the other way. But Lily just grins. "Okay! Go to your meeting. Don’t be late."
I walk out the side exit of the mansion. The bright midday sun beats down on the hot gravel driveway. Three identical, heavily armored black SUVs sit idling in a perfect row. The exhaust pipes spit pale vapor into the air. Seven guards stand in strict perimeter formation around the vehicles.
I don’t argue about the ridiculous show of force today. Silas Hunt knows my face now. He knows I humiliated him and his entire gang. Accepting Alistair’s security protocol is the only logical choice right now.
Leo stands by the rear passenger door of the center vehicle. He opens it for me. I climb into the cool, air-conditioned cabin and settle into the plush leather seat. Leo slides into the front passenger side. He reaches over the center console and hands me a soft, black protective case.
I unzip the fabric. The matte black Nightblade pistol rests inside.
"Keep the magazine out," Leo instructs, looking at me through the rearview mirror. "But familiarize yourself with the weight. We start live fire shooting drills tomorrow morning in the cellar."
I nod, running my raw thumbs over the cold steel slide. I agree completely. I slide the weapon into the deep inner pocket of my jacket. The heavy weight against my ribs is a comforting anchor.
The drive takes exactly forty minutes. The armored convoy glides smoothly through the dense city traffic, finally turning onto the broad, tree-lined avenue leading to the Etland Building. The massive glass skyscraper reflects the bright blue sky like a giant mirror. It’s the architectural crown jewel of the medical district.
The lead SUV slows to a halt near the grand entrance. I look out the tinted window. My muscles tense instantly.
Standing near the polished revolving doors is Dr. Aris. He wears a sharp, tailored gray suit, carrying a heavy leather briefcase. But he isn’t alone. Seven large, rough-looking men surround him in a tight circle. Standing directly in front of the doctor is Silas Hunt.
My heart stops beating completely in my chest. Then it starts beating again but this time at a hundred beats per second.
What is he doing here? What’s going on?
Silas is wearing the same grease-stained leather jacket from yesterday. The jagged scar on his chin twitches as he speaks aggressively to the older man.
My grip tightens on the leather seat. Silas tracked me down. He somehow knows about my connection to the Etland admissions board. He’s going to hurt Dr. Aris.
Or has he managed to get Dr. Aris on his side?
I can’t think or function properly. There are so many possibilities as to why these two men would be together and none of them seem good.
I drop my shaking hand to my jacket pocket, my fingers finding the textured grip of the Nightblade. I want to ask Leo to pull away and take me home. I want to run from this confrontation because I don’t know if I’m ready to face Silas now.
But I told Alistair yesterday that I’m no coward. He has faith in me. I don’t want to let him or myself down.
I look at Leo and he seems to read my mind.
He immediately barks a sharp command into his radio. The guards in the front and rear vehicles open their doors instantly. I grab the door handle, ready to rush the pavement and pull Silas away from the doctor.
Then, the impossible happens.
Silas Hunt drops straight down to his knees on the concrete sidewalk.
I stop pushing the door open. My hand hovers in the air. I stare through the tinted glass in absolute shock.
The notorious gang leader, the man who threatened to burn down Aunt Cherry’s pizza shop and destroy the Vance family, is kneeling on the dirty pavement. He bows his head, looking up at Dr. Aris with a pathetic, desperate expression. He holds his hands together in a begging motion.
Dr. Aris doesn’t look frightened. He looks furiously annoyed.
The older doctor points a stern finger down at Silas. "I’ve got a very important meeting with a brilliant young associate, Silas. I won’t let a street rat like you delay my schedule. Get out of my way."
Silas fawns shamelessly. He nods his head rapidly, groveling at the doctor’s polished shoes. "Of course, Dr. Aris. I’m so sorry to interrupt. I’ll just wait right here. I’ll wait outside all day. We can talk about the clinic supplies after you finish your lunch."
Dr. Aris lets out a loud, disdainful snort. He steps entirely around the kneeling gang leader, adjusting his briefcase. He walks through the spinning glass doors of the Etland Building without looking back once.
Silas stays on his knees for a few seconds. He watches the older man disappear into the lobby. The fawning, desperate look vanishes from his face instantly. A dark, ugly scowl twists his features.
He spits a thick glob of saliva onto the clean concrete pavement. He mutters a string of harsh, bitter curses toward the glass doors.
Silas pushes himself off the ground, dusting the dirt from his denim jeans. He turns around to face the street. His dark, angry eyes scan the row of parked cars.
His gaze stops perfectly on the center armored SUV. He locks eyes with me through the tinted glass.