Chapter 45
XANDER
When the automatic doors separated, Xander buttoned his suit jacket and entered the hospital.
It was well past eight o’clock, and Niyah was supposed to have been off by four.
She’d called twice to say she’d be working late.
Xander was known to be a workaholic, but Niyah was making him look like a slacker.
Memory led him down a hall and around a few corners until he reached Niyah’s office.
She’d texted saying that she was going to change and grab some things from her office.
Xander looked around and frowned when he didn’t see the guard that had been assigned to her.
A twist of the knob revealed that the door was not locked.
So, he knocked twice and opened the door.
To Xander’s surprise, a woman was rummaging through some files on Niyah’s desk.
His first thought was maybe she was her assistant.
If she was, the crop top and short jean shorts were inappropriate for work.
The woman was so preoccupied she hadn’t heard him knock or enter the office.
Xander cleared his throat. “Hello.”
The woman whipped around, startled by his presence. The guilty look in her eye made it obvious that she wasn’t supposed to be there.
After pushing her hair out of her face, the woman straightened up and forced a smile. “Hi,” she greeted with too much enthusiasm. “I-I’m just waiting for Dr. Reed.”
Xander stepped further inside. “And, where is Dr. Reed?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m waiting. She’s my sister. I’m Naomi.”
Xander’s brows rose with revelation. “Oh, wow. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Xander Creed.”
Naomi smiled. Xander noted how pretty she was. But, other than their complexion, she and Niyah didn’t resemble much.
“All of the Creed men really do look alike,” she marveled.
Xander nodded with a grin. “So, I’ve heard.”
“Hey!” Niyah greeted from the doorway.
She entered wearing jeans and a pink blouse. Her long African locs were wrapped in a bun, showing off big silver hoops. Her casual look was alluring.
“So, you’ve met. Good.” Niyah walked over to her desk and dropped a batch of files on top. She turned to her sister with a smile. “This is a pleasant surprise. Whatcha doing here?”
Naomi smiled in return, but Xander could see the lie building in her eyes. “I was just in the neighborhood. I wanted to stop by and say hi.”
“And go through your shit,” Xander tattled with a chuckle.
Naomi turned to him with a grimace. Xander offered a shrug. So much for winning over the sister.
“I was just being nosy. Some of your cases garner a creepy fascination,” she explained.
Niyah raised a brow at her sister. “My cases are not for your amusement. Stay out of my shit.”
Naomi threw her hands up in feigned surrender. “Okay, okay, sis. No more snooping.”
She had made her deeds sound so innocent, but Xander knew that she was a recovering addict. He hoped to be wrong, but he definitely sensed more nefarious motives.
“Okay, you two, how about dinner at Maple & Ash?” he offered.
Noami grinned. “Well, it’s the least you could do for ratting me out.”
Xander turned to Niyah. “Dinner?”
“I could eat,” she admitted with a smile.