Chapter Two #2
Tosh paused as the machine chugged along. “You have a point.”
“Yup. I like my savings, and I don’t ever want to spend it on fancy smoothies just because they won’t let me walk around.”
He waited and took the cup out as the machine hissed to a conclusion.
She was going to tell him where the cream and sugar were, but there was another knock at the door.
She walked to the door and opened it to see Etienne staring down at her. She looked up and cocked her head. “Yeah? What?”
“My father is pissed.”
“Why?”
“You are here instead of the hospital.”
“He forgets that not everybody is paid to be there. My insurance only covered the surgery and the basic recovery. No extra days. No fancy secure room. That arrangement would have cost me close to forty thousand dollars by the time I was out on his timeline.”
Etienne frowned. “You wouldn’t have had to pay it. The Omega Centre would have taken care of it.”
“They have sent me seven rejections confirming that there are no obvious signs of my being a useful omega. So, there wouldn’t be a chance of them footing the bill.”
He looked at her. “You knew that.”
“Duh. Want coffee?”
He stepped in and nodded to Tosh. “You made good time.”
“Yeah. Here’s your coffee.” Tosh handed him a mug. “We had better discuss this in the kitchen. It’s the only place with enough chairs.”
Etienne frowned. He was good at frowning.
She looked at him. “Etienne, why are you here? I know what you think of me. You made it quite clear. Did your dad make you come here?”
“Yes. He did.”
She sighed, sipping at her coffee. “And you made Tosh come here.”
Tosh got wary. “He called me.”
“Then, I think both of you should beat it. Neither of you needs to be here.” She followed them into her kitchen. They sat on her chairs, and Tosh gestured to the chair between them.
She nodded and focused, holding her breath as she settled on the chair. She felt sweat coursing down her hairline but kept her face composed.
Tosh stared at her and said, “What’s wrong?”
Etienne snorted. “She needs to take her pain meds.”
Dex shrugged. “Didn’t get any. The doctor discharged me without them. I asked about it, and he said it was drug-seeking behaviour. I got the hell out of dodge at that point.”
Etienne stared at her. “When was your last dose?”
“You aren’t a doctor. You are a banker or lawyer or something.”
He smirked. “You don’t know?”
“Why would I know? We don’t interact.” She looked over. “Tosh, your shoes are dyed. Do you want me to put your elastics on?”
“No, I will do that when you are back.”
“So, tomorrow.”
Etienne looked at his phone. “My dad is going to threaten the doc who discharged you.”
“Why is that a thing?”
“Dad is the hospital chief now. Has been for two years.”
“Oh. Right. I didn’t know that. I might have been a little less lippy with him.”
“He wants to know who told you about the finances?”
“Well, at first, it was my insurance portal, and then it was one of the guys from billing.”
“Did you hear that?”
Dr. Aquilar’s voice came through the phone. “Yes, I heard it. It was late, or I would have explained that it was going to be paid for by the company for the lax security that let the attack happen while you were at work.”
“Ah. That would have made a difference.” She shrugged. “I am too used to my father trying to part me from my money. I just distrust guys who are more than twenty years older than me. My well-being is rarely a concern.” She was frank.
Etienne looked at her. “So, it really was your father who did that?”
She grinned. “Wanna see the video?”
She got it up on her phone and set it down so Etienne could see it. “While Vincent tried to get me safe, my dad wanted the family represented at the contract signing. He even brought me a dress and shoes just so I would dress appropriately for once.”
Etienne watched the video and turned red.
She took it and handed it to Tosh. “Don’t want to leave you out.”
He smiled, and the smile faded when he watched the attack.
“The police have copies of it. They arrested him for that and a separate attack later in the evening. My brother’s mate Emery figured out that I had internal bleeding. Hooray for EMTs.”
Dr. Aquilar said, “Have you contacted the attorneys, Dex?”
“No. Not going to either. I know you mean well, but that’s an expense I can’t deal with either.”
“Where the hell does your money go?”
“My stepfather forced power of attorney when I was nineteen, and he is the legal owner of this house if he forces it. He keeps my account balances low, so I can’t hire legal representation. I have yet to find one that didn’t want a hefty retainer that I don’t have.”
Dr. Aquilar said, “You could have asked for help.”
“From whom? My one friend outside of work has her own stuff going on.”
“You could have asked me.”
“Doc, you haven’t been to the shop in six years.”
He sighed. “You could have asked Etienne.”
“He told me to fuck off so he could find a willing blonde.”
Etienne covered his eyes.
“Joke’s on him. I am blonde. I just dye it.” She felt pain wrap tightly around her torso.
Tosh put her phone down and said, “Okay, breathe through the pain, Dex.”
She nodded and stayed still.
She heard Dr. Aquilar barking orders, and then Etienne lifted her and carried her outside. She came to and looked at Tosh. “Would you...”
“Get your groceries and put them away? Yes.”
“Thank you.” She returned to a state of white-hot pain as Etienne buckled her in with roaring filling her ears. She whispered, “I can’t hear much, but thanks for the lift, Etienne.”
He said something she didn’t catch, and then they were driving through the city. She focused on breathing, and she could feel the stabbing in every entry point for her previous day’s surgery.
They stopped, and she was unbuckled and eased out of the car, hearing it close as Etienne carried her toward the building.
The door opened automatically, and Dr. Aquilar’s voice started clearing a path for them straight to the fifth floor, and an IV line was started in her left forearm instead of her hand.
She was panting in pain, and Dr. Aquilar smoothed her hair. “It’s okay, Dex. We will get you fixed up, and you can be back in your shoe room in no time.”
She opened her eyes, and light danced across her vision. “Yay.”
He paused. “Is your hair lighter?”
“Yes. I dye it just so no one will think I am chasing your son. It costs a bit, but I am worth it. Does make me itchy, though.” She looked at him. “Why?”
“How long until it washes out?”
“A week or so. It isn’t blonde though. It’s white.”
Dr. Aquilar smiled. “Close enough.”
“Still not chasing your son. I can take ‘fuck off’ for an answer.”
“I do not think that is how he phrased it.”
“He said that I was unsuitable. He needed an omega, and he preferred blondes. That sounds like fuck off to me. Imagine how bad it would have been if we actually knew each other.”
“You didn’t go out with him?”
“Nope.” She heard the pump and felt the pain fading. “He didn’t ask. I didn’t offer.”
She slowly slumped into the pillows and breathed evenly. She looked at the doctor, who was making a note of her pulse, and then looked around and saw Etienne at a desk in the corner, working on his phone.
Dr. Aquilor snorted. “Don’t worry about him. He has confirmed your depiction of the situation was correct.”
“So, why is he here?”
“Because I asked him. His mother identified you as his likely partner, and she is never wrong. She was devastated when he didn’t make an effort with you.”
“It worked out. Dad would have put his foot down and shoved Vincent at him.”
“My son strictly chases women.” The doctor smiled.
“Yeah, maybe if he ups his cardio, he will catch one.”
Etienne murmured, “I catch plenty.”
“Oh, catch and release. Very eco-friendly of you.”
He grinned. “You could say that.”
Dr. Aquilar muttered, “I have gotten your report from Dr. Oriel. It explains a lot.”
Etienne asked, “What does it explain?”
Dr. Aquilar met her gaze. “May I tell him?”
“Sure. It isn’t a secret; it’s just that no one asks.” She smiled. “I am gonna take a nap. Go nuts.”
Tosh came in and smiled. “Hey, do they have you on the good stuff?”
“Yup. I am taking a nap now. Dr. Aquilar is engaging in storytime. Pay attention, and you may get a juice box when he’s done.”
Tosh walked over and kissed her forehead. “I brought your phone.”
She smiled and let her relaxed self float in silence with low murmurs in the distance. They could discuss her without her making jokes.