The ex problem
Chapter 14
The Ex Problem
Marcus Hall had chosen a terrible day to be alive.
Unfortunately...
Nobody had informed him.
The man stood in the center of Queen Medical Center's lobby smiling like he'd just accomplished something.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Around him, an entire building watched in horrified fascination.
Because everyone possessed survival instincts.
Everyone except Marcus.
Apparently.
Amara stared.
Then stared harder.
The feeling wasn't anger.
Not yet.
Mostly disappointment.
The kind usually reserved for failed experiments and people who put metal in microwaves.
"Win me back."
She repeated the words slowly.
Carefully.
Like she was trying to diagnose a medical condition.
Marcus smiled.
Immediately.
The fool.
The complete fool.
"Yeah."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Amara looked toward the ceiling.
Briefly.
As if asking a higher power for patience.
The higher power wisely declined involvement.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Marcus stepped forward.
Ignoring the security guards.
Ignoring the dozens of witnesses.
Ignoring Lorenzo.
A catastrophic mistake.
A truly spectacular mistake.
"Look, I know things ended badly."
The understatement.
The complete understatement.
Undefeated.
Amara folded her arms.
Immediately.
A dangerous sign.
Very dangerous.
"Marcus."
The man brightened.
Mistake number two.
"I'm talking now."
The brightness vanished.
Immediately.
Reasonable.
Very reasonable.
Amara adjusted her glasses.
Then sighed.
The kind of sigh doctors used before explaining complicated procedures to people who refused to listen.
"You cheated."
Silence.
The lobby froze.
Marcus froze.
Several nurses suddenly became very interested.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Amara continued.
"You stole money from me."
Another pause.
"You lied repeatedly."
Another.
"You blamed me for your failures."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Marcus looked uncomfortable.
Good.
Excellent.
Outstanding.
The man forced a laugh.
A terrible laugh.
A deeply regrettable laugh.
"We were young."
Silence.
Immediate silence.
Amara blinked.
Once.
Slowly.
Then smiled.
The wrong smile.
The terrifying smile.
The smile that made interns cry.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"We were twenty-three."
A pause.
"You were old enough to know better."
Marcus visibly wilted.
The lobby collectively approved.
Immediately.
Lorenzo remained silent.
Watching.
Observing.
Learning.
And honestly?
He was fascinated.
Because he'd never seen Amara discuss personal matters before.
The woman kept most people at arm's length.
Including him.
Especially him.
Yet here she stood dismantling an ex-boyfriend with surgical precision.
No shouting.
No insults.
No drama.
Just facts.
Relentless facts.
The realization was beautiful.
Truly beautiful.
Marcus, unfortunately, wasn't enjoying it.
"People change."
He tried again.
Amara nodded.
"They do."
Hope appeared on his face.
Immediately.
A mistake.
A terrible mistake.
Then Amara continued.
"You didn't."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The hope died.
Violently.
Several nurses looked impressed.
One security guard looked inspired.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Marcus finally noticed Lorenzo.
A development approximately ten minutes too late.
The man frowned.
Then frowned harder.
Then pointed.
Actually pointed.
The audacity.
The complete audacity.
"Who's this?"
Silence.
The entire building stopped functioning.
Immediately.
Because everyone wanted to hear the answer.
Including Lorenzo.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Amara looked toward the mafia don.
Then back at Marcus.
Then smiled.
Slowly.
Beautifully.
Dangerously.
The kind of smile that usually preceded life-altering events.
"Someone significantly smarter than you."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lorenzo looked away.
Immediately.
Because if he didn't...
He was going to laugh.
The traitor.
The complete traitor.
Marcus stared.
Then stared harder.
Because somehow...
That answer hurt more than if she'd called Lorenzo her boyfriend.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The man attempted one final effort.
One final act of desperation.
One final mistake.
"Amara, come on."
He stepped forward.
Again.
Ignoring common sense.
Again.
"We were good together."
Silence.
The surgeon stared.
Then actually laughed.
A real laugh.
Warm.
Genuine.
Completely disbelieving.
"We really weren't."
The answer hit like a truck.
A very expensive truck.
Marcus looked devastated.
Good.
Excellent.
Outstanding.
Amara pointed toward the exit.
Immediately.
"Leave."
The man hesitated.
Another mistake.
Then Lorenzo spoke for the first time.
The lobby temperature dropped instantly.
"What she said."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Marcus finally understood.
Not who Lorenzo was.
Not exactly.
But enough.
Enough to recognize danger.
Enough to recognize territory.
Enough to recognize that continuing this conversation would be hazardous to his health.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The man left.
Quickly.
Wisely.
The front doors closed behind him.
The entire lobby released a collective breath.
Immediately.
Amara turned toward the elevators.
Ready to return to work.
Because apparently public humiliation wasn't enough excitement for one day.
Then Lorenzo spoke.
Quietly.
Dangerously.
"Someone significantly smarter than him?"
The amusement in his voice was immediate.
Visible.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Amara pressed the elevator button.
"I was being generous."
Silence.
Then Lorenzo laughed.
The deep, warm laugh she was beginning to recognize.
A dangerous sound.
A very dangerous sound.
The elevator doors opened.
Amara stepped inside.
Then paused.
Briefly.
The smallest pause imaginable.
She looked toward Lorenzo.
Really looked at him.
The man was still smiling.
Still watching her.
Still entirely too handsome for his own good.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Then she said the one thing Lorenzo Vitale would think about for the rest of the week.
"You're smarter too."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The doors closed.
Immediately.
Leaving Lorenzo standing in the lobby.
Frozen.
Completely.
Because Dr. Amara Queen had just given him a compliment.
And somehow...
That felt more dangerous than any bullet he'd ever faced.
End Chapter 14