Chapter 2 #2
“What do you mean?” He frowns in confusion. “Julio just got here, and this dinner is very important.” The man is completely oblivious to the urgency and nervousness in my voice. For being a family care doctor, he’s not being very astute.
“Again, I apologize, sir. I—I’ll explain later, but I really do need to go.”
If I wait for him to respond, I might lose my nerve. Turning, I march across the restaurant. As I throw the door open, I run smack into Cam and Joey.
“Sheesh!” I gasp, nearly tottering over in my heels. “Did you two run here?”
Their heaving chests answer for them. Joey engulfs me in a hug, and my brother embraces the both of us.
With an arm slung over my shoulder, he leads me in the direction they just came from. “Let’s get out of here.”
When we return to the penthouse, Cam flips on the kettle, and I quickly change into leggings and an oversized sweatshirt.
As I wander into the living room, Joey pats the seat next to her on the sectional, then tosses a throw blanket over us.
Cam passes us each a steaming mug of herbal tea a couple of minutes later, then sits on the ottoman.
The two of them watch me with bated breath.
With a long exhale, I dish out the entire story.
Deep lines crease between Cam’s brows as I finish. “Why didn’t you tell the police? Or a professor?”
I sigh. “I wanted to, but I was consumed with studying and tests. I barely had time to breathe. It seemed easier to avoid him as best as I could and suck it up until I moved on to my residency at the hospital a couple of months later. I seriously thought I’d never see him again.”
“But—”
“Cameron.” I hold up a hand, trying not to let my irritation flare. “I love you, and you’re the best big brother. But this is something I don’t think you can understand. I mean that with respect.”
He stares at me as I sip my tea, and I concentrate on the warm sensation in my throat.
“You’re right,” he says eventually. “I couldn’t possibly know what it’s like to be a woman in this situation. It’s just that you’re my baby sister and I would kill any man who hurts you.”
Beside me, Joey beams at him in total adoration.
“I love that about you,” I say. “But it isn’t productive to dissect what I should have done back then. What’s important is determining what I’m going to do now. How am I going to work alongside him?”
Cam sets his tea down a little too aggressively, causing it to slosh over the rim and onto my coffee table. “Obviously you’re quitting.” He crosses his arms at his chest.
I bristle at his command. “Quit? I can’t quit. This is my job. And I love it.”
“Then Dr. Elliott has to fire the bastard.”
Joey looks from me to my brother, her dark eyes thoughtful. “You think he’d fire his own son?”
“No idea. But Claire needs to tell him what happened. He should know what kind of prick is working in his clinic.”
“Yeah, probably,” I agree, picking at my nails. “But…”
“But what?” Joey prods.
Trepidation runs through me as I regard my friend. “What if he doesn’t believe me?” I don’t mention how terrified I am of the potential rejection.
Cam and Joey exchange a look of uncertainty, I think, before they’re both focused on me again.
“He has no reason not to,” Cam encourages. “Would you feel better if I came with you?”
Warmth blooms in my chest at his thoughtfulness, but… “No, no. This is something I have to do on my own. Thank you, though.”
My brother has always been my protector.
In elementary school, I was too shy to make friends or try out new sports.
But Cam never let me back down. He would hold my hand so I wouldn’t have to do the hard thing alone.
Over time, I found my footing and honed my confidence, and today, I do a pretty good job facing the hard things.
Of course, I’d rather he hold my hand now, so to speak, but this is my career.
I’m a professional. It’s important that I face this myself.
My phone rings from the kitchen counter and Joey leaps up to grab it for me. “It’s Dr. Elliott,” she says as she snags it.
Cam clasps my hands, like he’s trying to physically imbue me with all his brotherly wisdom. “Answer it. Get it over with. You’ll feel better.”
On the cushion beside me once more, Joey rubs my thigh. “We’re here for you.”
They’re right. If it all falls to pieces, at least I’ll have my two favorite people by my side. But shit if this isn’t the most nerve-racking moment of my life.
Ignoring the rapid thumping against my chest, I answer and tap the speakerphone button. “Hello, Dr. Elliott.”
“Dr. Connelly. Is everything okay?” he asks, though he continues on without waiting for my response. “You left so abruptly. I’d hoped we could have a nice evening with my son and fill him in on the way we run things at the clinic.”
“I understand, sir. And I’m so sorry. It’s just…”
Joey offers an encouraging squeeze, and I look up, giving her a grateful but tremulous smile.
“There’s something I need to tell you. This is difficult for me to say but necessary for you to know.
” Ugh. This is harder than I thought. It’s often my job to give patients terrible news, but this situation has my heart beating out of my chest. I clear my throat.
“When I was in medical school, Leo—er, Julio, sexually harassed me.”
It’s silent on the line for so long that I fear the call has dropped and I’ll be forced to repeat it all. “Dr. Elliott?”
“Hmm, I see,” he finally replies. “Well, I did not expect that.” His words are measured and thoughtful. “How about you come in early tomorrow so we can discuss this? I’ll have Pauline move my schedule around.”
“Okay, thank you. Have a good evening.”
With that, I end the call and let out a huge sigh.
“See?” Joey says when I hang up. “You’ll talk about it tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll all be fine.”
Though I nod in agreement, I’m not so convinced.
When Pauline greets me this morning, it’s sans my usual coffee.
“You’re here early.” Her voice is chipper, but she frowns as she turns to her computer screen and clicks her mouse.
Surprised by her reaction, my lips tug down too. “I have a meeting with Dr. Elliott. Didn’t he ask you to adjust his schedule?”
“There will be no need for that.” Dr. Elliott appears around the corner, straightening his striped tie.
He might be the last doctor on the planet still wearing one.
They’re nasty little germ trappers. “This won’t take long.
” He offers Pauline a practiced smile, then waves, motioning for me to join him in his office.
This won’t take long? Has he already told Leo he won’t be working here after all?
I take a seat on the leather chair, poised at the edge, nerves coursing through me, while he sits behind his desk with his hands steepled below his chin.
“I’ve talked to my son,” he says in a firm tone, “and I believe there’s been a misunderstanding.”
My pulse quickens. “What do you mean?”
He leans back, his chair creaking. “Claire. As you know, medical school is a very stressful time. I remember what I was like back then. Pulling all-nighters and walking around like a zombie. Wasn’t it the same for you?”
“Yes, but—”
“And as a physician, one who regularly sees exhausted new mothers, you know how the mind misfires. How being so tired can sometimes be a disability.”
Confusion washes over me. No, scratch that.
Dread drenches me like Niagara Falls. “You can’t possibly be comparing someone’s postpartum depression to my assault.
Both are tragic, of course, but one is a mental illness and the other is a crime committed by another person.
Are you—Are you seriously suggesting I was too exhausted to remember what happened? ”
White-hot heat floods my veins and sweat trickles down my spine as I study him, waiting for his response.
Dr. Elliott peers down at his clasped hands before returning his attention to me. “I’m saying—”
Realization hits me like ice water poured over my head and part of me reverts to the shy little girl I used to be. Suddenly, I wish my brother had come with me. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I believe my son was attracted to you and was simply trying to get to know you.”
I’m too stunned to speak. Was it really that simple for him to minimize my experience?
Leaning forward, he rests his elbows on the desk. “The truth is, I haven’t had the best relationship with Julio. He was born out of an affair I’m not proud of. And when I retire, he’ll take over the practice.”
A lead weight settles in my stomach. “So you’re giving him your clinic as a way to make amends for your affair?”
His oily jaw ticks. “This is a plan we’ve had in the works nearly his entire life. You wouldn’t want to ruin that for us, would you?”
Stomach rolling, I rise to my feet. Forget what I said about him being a handsome older man. He’s as attractive as the devil.
“Sit down, Claire,” he commands. “Julio will be in any minute so we can sort this out. You’re a good doctor, and I know you’ll do right by your patients.”
Fuck that. He will not use my patients to guilt-trip me into working with this sleazy man. Strike that. Two sleazy men.
“There will be nothing to sort out, sir,” I say through gritted teeth. “I quit.” With that, I turn on my heel.
“Claire,” he urges. “Dr. Connelly.”
As I approach the door, the Spawn of Satan appears at the threshold. Either he reads the room and ignores it, or he’s really that obtuse.
“Morning.” He rubs his hands together. “Looks like a lovely day to save lives.”
Oh, hell no. I’ll be damned if I spend another minute anywhere near this knock-off McDreamy.
More like Dr. McDickface.
This close, I can smell the nicotine gum on his breath. “Morning, Claire.”
No longer obligated to be polite to this man, I walk right past him.
He taps me on the shoulder. “I said good morning.”
I whip around so fast I’m sure I’ll be paying for it with neck pain tomorrow. “If you touch me, so help me God…”
Dr. McDickface rears back, confusion written all over his fucking flaccid peen-face.
Dr. Elliott steps around his desk, distress in his eyes. Patients will be arriving soon. If they’re not already in the waiting room, and the last thing he wants is to bring any negative attention to his business.
“Julio.” His voice is low when he addresses his son. “I’ll meet you in my office.”
The flaccid peen-face gives me one last lingering glare over his shoulder but does as his father asks.
Dr. Elliott raises his arm an inch like he’s going to extend his hand, though he lowers it again, surely thinking better of it. Instead, he juts his chin and says, “You’re a fine doctor. I wish you the best of luck.”
Quickly, Pauline and I clear my office space, sobbing the entire time. Pauline—not me.
I can’t believe I fucking quit my job. But working with the prick who sexually harassed me was not an option.
I may not have stood up for myself back in med school, but I’ll be damned if I stay in a toxic work environment now.
My eyes remain dry because I refuse to show any more emotion in the vicinity of those two despicable men.
I’ll cry at home. Preferably over a giant martini. With extra olives.