Chapter 11 Jon
JON
I don’t know why I tried to get her to stay. She made the best decision for both of us. She can’t be in my life. She isn’t a part of my life. She’s a distraction and a temptation that I don’t want, but I’m absolutely shit at resisting her.
Margeaux is a walking red flag. She’s loud. She wears her emotions on her sleeve. She’s blunt. She’s reckless. What’s the appeal in someone like that? I could never truly want a woman like her. I’m just getting nervous about taking the next step with Nicolette. That’s it. This is just nerves.
Margeaux isn’t staying in town much longer.
She has no reason to cross paths with me again.
I can easily avoid her until she leaves.
Then I can focus on building the life I’ve been working so hard for.
I need to focus on my patients. I need to focus on my education so I can help kids like Sammy.
Margeaux clouds my judgment, like a siren singing a song in the middle of the ocean. She lulls me to my doom.
My phone rings and my entire body stiffens knowing who it is. I answer the call knowing I can’t get away with avoiding her any longer.
“Hey, babe. Sorry. Busy day. I’m actually really tired and think I’m gonna crash,” I tell Nicolette in one breath before she can speak.
“I’ll come over, babe. I’ll help you relax,” she coos. Ordinarily, I would let her convince me to sleep with her and make love to her.
Maybe that’s the problem. I don’t want to make love.
I want passion, and animalistic urges. I’ve always done the right thing, even when I knew it was the wrong thing to do.
Nicolette is waving all her green flags at me, promising me a secure future, with a gorgeous wife, who knows how to fit into this elite city.
“I’m really not in the mood tonight,” I say carefully.
“Oh really? Why is that?” I can hear her defensiveness and skepticism through the phone. What woman would enjoy being turned down?
Nicolette has been acting out of character lately.
She’s always so sweet and bubbly to everyone.
But since she met Margeaux the other day, she’s been acting extremely possessive of me.
She calls and texts me more frequently. She makes more of an effort to bump into me at the hospital.
It makes her seem childish and petty. She doesn’t have anything to worry about.
I’m not going to run into Margeaux’s beautiful, tattooed arms. I’m not.
“I’m just overwhelmed by work, Nic. I don’t feel like being around anyone right now, okay?” I snap. I never get short-tempered with her. I’m wound so tightly right now.
“Jon. What is getting into you? I don’t believe this is just work. What’s wrong? Talk to me,” she says more softly.
Guilt immediately floods me for being so curt with her, for ignoring her, and not being honest about everything.
I let out a deep sigh. “I’m sorry. I truly am just tired. I want to be alone today. We’re still on for touring those condos the day after tomorrow, right?” I ask, trying to change the subject to something more upbeat, and reassuring her that things between us are fine.
“Oh yes! Everything is set. I got us private showings scheduled. I already told Meredith, the listing agent, that you’re a doctor at the hospital and she quickly made space for us.
It’s practically a done deal, babe. You sleep and take care of yourself.
I don’t like a grumpy Jonny,” she says in a patronizing tone.
I hate when she does that. I don’t say anything about it and just roll my eyes, thankful for her mood shift.
“Yea, okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I end the call and toss my phone on my coffee table. I’m not tired enough to sleep, but I can definitely get on board with being lazy for the afternoon.
After mindlessly flipping through channels for an hour, I landed on a channel showing the PEW, and the program was showcasing highlights from recent matches.
I’ve never been into sports. I watch football occasionally if I’m out with people from work.
I just don’t have much patience for watching sports.
The games take forever, I don’t know any of the athletes.
The rules for most sports seem very limiting.
I don’t understand the rivalries. If everyone is a great athlete, why do people hate some of them?
Just appreciate a good athlete showcasing their skill.
I caught a lot of flak in college and med school for not being competitive enough.
My classmates would straight up refuse to study with certain people because they scored higher on an exam.
I never understood that kind of animosity.
I surrounded myself with the best students, and we helped each other.
I was friendly with everyone, but nobody really considered me part of their circle of close friends.
I was always a bit socially awkward. I blame that on being home schooled as a kid.
My parents…Dwayne and Josephine. They envisioned a different life for me.
I focus on the television, refusing to give them any of my mental energy.
Margeaux’s face is all I see on the screen.
They’re doing a highlight about her because the bar fight she was in has now gone viral.
The PEW is painting her as a short-fused rebel who does whatever she wants.
I learn about Margeaux as an athlete for the next hour.
She signed a contract with Professional Entertainment Wrestling last year.
She is a villain, or heel, and is now gaining a lot of popularity.
A part of me wonders if she pulled that stunt on purpose.
Was she just trying to make herself more well-known?
Boost her ratings and likeability? No. She’s not like that.
And I was at the bar that night. I saw how Brice Strickland was behaving.
Margeaux shouldn’t have hurt him, but that guy isn’t exactly known for his classy behavior.
Just as I am starting to feel better, a new set of images pop up on the screen, and the hosts of the show start talking.
“Looks like Margeaux Wild has been busy in Paramount,” one male host says. “Here are several images with her and this kid—whose face is blurred out in the photos. Apparently, this kid is terminally ill and is a huge fan of Margeaux Wild’s.”
Sammy. Those are pictures of Sammy. Did Margeaux do this?
“Yea, Mike. She has mentioned in a few short interviews that she loves her fans. How great of her to take the time out of her schedule to visit a fan who is unable to watch her on the big stage,” the female host says.
“Absolutely. Maybe there’s a softer side to Margeaux Wild that the world hasn’t witnessed yet,” the male host, Mike, adds in.
They talk about Margeaux for a couple of more minutes, and then the program moves on to promoting the upcoming match ups. My phone rings with Dr. Nash’s name lighting up the screen.
“Dr. Nash, hi. Good evening,” I say, wondering why she’s calling.
“Dr. Jacob,” she begins, and I can tell from her tone that she’s displeased about something.
“I just got a very angry call from Wendy saying there are pictures of Sammy all over the internet. It’s saying he had a visit earlier this week from an athlete, and now people are trying to track him down with questions.
Wendy also says this is an athlete that’s currently in jail for assault.
Did you allow him to be visited by her?” Dr. Nash is speaking in a very composed manner, but I can tell she is pissed. She has every right to be.
“Well, that athlete isn’t in jail. She got into an altercation, and charges are being filed, but she’s not violent,” I state, trying to quell her worries. “Wendy was in the room when Margeaux was visiting Sammy. They were having a great time.”
“Not violent? Dr. Jacob, this woman competes in a brutal sport, and Wendy just sent me a video Sammy was watching where this Margeaux woman struck another woman with a chair. You think this is someone that should be around your patients? Wendy never gave permission for this woman to post photos of Sammy. Luckily, Sammy’s face was blurred out of the images, but it won’t be long until his identity is figured out.
And it looks like this athlete just visited him to make herself look good.
You know how many times I’ve seen people try to visit the pediatric ICU and cardiac floors just to have a few snap shots with sick kids?
It makes them look like saints, and in the end, the kids are still sick.
They are just used as a photo op,” Dr. Nash goes on and on.
Margeaux isn’t like that. She wouldn’t use Sammy as a prop. There has to be an explanation for all of this.
“I-I’m sorry, Dr. Nash. I didn’t think Margeaux had any nefarious intent. Sammy was genuinely excited to meet her. He had a great couple of days when she visited,” I explain, trying to diffuse the situation.
“I bet he did. But now what happens? Wendy doesn’t want the entire country to know about Sammy’s condition.
She doesn’t want their pity, or their fake support.
Watch, tomorrow, the hospital will be flooded with reporters and tv crews to talk to Sammy and his mom.
And instead of being able to go home and live his life quietly, and safely, he will be followed and bombarded by people looking for a quick story. ”
My guts twist and I smack my head realizing how stupid I’ve been.
Once again, I’ve allowed myself to be hypnotized by Margeaux.
I couldn’t see what she was trying to do.
She knew I was a doctor when she found my ID badge.
Lance was dancing and making out with her friend at the bar.
I’m sure he told Margeaux’s bachelorette party that we were both doctors.
Could she have been using me this entire time?
“I’ll be sure to go into the hospital early tomorrow and make sure nobody gets in and bothers Sammy. He’s going home tomorrow, and I don’t want him and Wendy to feel overwhelmed by cameras and questions. I’m so sorry I let this happen, Dr. Nash,” I say remorsefully.
Dr. Nash’s tone is oozing with disappointment. I’ve been her star resident, and now, who knows? I need her recommendations and support to progress in my fellowship next year. Otherwise, I can get kicked out of this program.
We talk for a few more minutes, and I hang up feeling like such a loser. I let this woman worm her way into my life to the point that she’s compromised my relationship with Nicolette, my job, and now Sammy’s safety.
I should have listened to my instincts when they told me Margeaux Wild is bad news.