“Not bad, though you probably should refrain for blaming the patient as well.” I gave Olivia a curt smile and continued throughout the class. I could just see her seething in her chair and it felt good. In fact, it was almost enough payback to allow me to forgive her for the ludicrous display at the bar. In the end, I wasn’t absolutely sure that I wouldn’t give her the internship if she deserved it. After all, I knew that she would be a hard worker. But, I wasn’t going to shortlist her, because she hadn’t done me any favors. In fact, she received a tiny demotion for being such a pain in my ass.
“You’re dismissed,” I said, with five minutes until the end of the time slot. “I’m giving you a little extra time to start thinking about your paper. Also, I’m required to tell you that I’m hosting my office hour today from three to four this afternoon here in the conference room. You are allowed to come by if you need to discuss anything in person. However, I do have a surgery scheduled for one-thirty that may run late, so you may wish to just email me your questions.”
I began to pack up as the interns flooded out of the conference room. Unsurprisingly, one intern remained, waiting to speak with me. My stomach fluttered. I wanted to know what she had to say for herself.
Chapter 8
Olivia
My faced burned bright red throughout the session as Damon kept reminding me of our date. I didn’t know why he kept bringing it up. I was terrified that he would continue to hint at the interaction until he went ahead and announced my name and my crime to all of them. I felt sick and wanted to leave, but being here was part of our residency and was based on attendance, so I couldn’t really skip. Plus, I didn’t want him to have the satisfaction of getting to me.
I hated how he stood at the front of the room, so cocky all of the time. He had a way of capturing the attention of the whole group, even though half of the stuff he was him bragging about his career. He irritated me to no end. But, I couldn’t help but be attracted to him. That infuriated me the most.
When we split up into small groups, I thought that I would be able to escape his thinly-veiled comments about me. I was wrong. I swore that he waited until I spoke within my group to pop in and tell me how I was wrong. I sat quietly for the rest of the session, worried that he was going to shoot down my ideas. For someone who frequently raised their hand, it was hard not to participate in the discussion. But, I knew that whatever I said, it would be turned against me, and the others would eat it up. I was stuck.
I couldn’t go on like this. Along with a teensy pang of guilt for reacting so harshly, I just wanted to clear the air and make all of the negativity surrounding us go away. I didn’t want Damon to be upset with me, or even have anything to hold over me until this session was over. And, even though it meant working with Damon, I still coveted that internship in the surgical wing. It would really change everything for me. I still planned on competing for the winning essay, though I knew he would probably choose someone else out of spite.
Taking a deep breath, I approached him after my classmates left the room. Everything in my body was telling me to file out after them, but I needed to be the bigger person. He couldn’t win this one.
“Can we talk?” I asked.
He gave me a smirk. “I’m leaving in about a minute. Make it quick.”
I took a deep breath and started spilling. “I’m sorry about what happened at the bar. It was immature of me to react that way. I was hurt by some of the things you said to me, and reacted childishly. It was not how anyone should act. I understand that you may not want to give me the internship now, and that’s completely warranted. However, if possible, I would still like to be considered for that spot. I think I would be a good team player and would benefit the hospital. At the very least, I ask that we just forget about last night.”
He blinked a few times. “Team player, eh? What do you think about going to that benefit dinner?”
“Tonight?” I asked blankly.
“Oh, sorry, do you have too much work tonight?”
I sighed. “What do you want from me?”
He chuckled. “Well, I wanted someone to play the role of my girlfriend for a few hours. I mean, I’m not going to force you to participate in any other girlfriend activities, other than stand by my side and pretend to like me. I can pick you up before the event and drop you off immediately afterwards. I can promise that there will be no funny business if you don’t want any. Conversely, I am supplied to provide you with plenty of funny business if you so desire.”
I gave him a blank stare.
“I’m kidding, okay?” he said. “Sheesh!”
“Why are you still hung up on me? I thought you would have found a replacement in no time. Did all of the other girls reject you already?” I asked, a spark in my voice.
He tried to hide a smile. I don’t think he was used to being challenged like this. He pulled out his phone and held the screen so I could see it. Silently, he scrolled through a long list of contacts in his phone. When he was finished, he turned if off and slipped it into his pocket.
“That was just the list of available women,” he said. “I could call any one of them and they would gladly accompany me.”
“Then why don’t you?” I asked, absolutely confused as to why we were still discussing this. “Why must you torment me when you don’t have to?”
He gave me a curious look, as if he were trying to read my mind. It was both uncomfortable and utterly sexy at the same time.
“I think you’re not as smooth as you lead on,” I said, trying to find my voice. “I think you’re close to the deadline and you’re getting desperate. You might know a lot of girls and have their phone numbers, but you’ve messed around with their heads and now they’re tired of playing your games.”
“Maybe you should have been a Psychology major,” he chuckled, “you obviously think you know what my motivations are.”
I raised my eyebrow. “Tell me where I’m wrong.”
He pursed his lips for a moment. “You’re right about me sweating this deadline. I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare.”
“And the girls?”
“I’ve pissed one off.” He grinned. “I don’t think it’s accurate to say the others would turn me down because I’ve offended them somehow.”
“What happens if you go to the event alone?” I asked. “Am I going to ruin your career when I say no? I mean, it’s not like I owe you anything, but I’m not a heartless monster.”
“I’ll still go to the event. I’ll still talk to the right people and make the right impressions. In the grand scheme of things, it probably won’t matter that much.”
“Then why bother in the first place?”
He thought for a minute. “You’ll understand these things if you ever make it out of your residency and into the real world. Let’s say you’re going to an engagement party for a friend. There will only be other couples there. You’re the only single person who shows up. How’s that going to end for you?”
I shrugged. “It might be a little awkward, I guess.”
“Yeah, and while all of the other couples are talking about couple stuff, you’re in the corner, stuffing your face with cocktai
l shrimps, getting blasted on whatever signature cocktail is being served. These things are much more enjoyable if you have a buffer. The spouses of the other doctors don’t really give a shit about our shop talk and will think I’m a hospital blowhard if there’s not a woman around to prove that I’m not a monster.”
“How does that prove you’re not a monster?”
“You have the aura of a person who can be trusted. I’m sure most people feel comfortable around you. You’re easy enough to talk to, and you know how to speak to people. Well, maybe not me, but to other people. Having you there would be of some help.”
“But it’s not absolutely necessary.”
“No, but how many things are absolutely necessary?” he said, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “So, do I need to arrange for a quick dress fitting before tonight?”
I actually thought about it for a second. It still sounded like a great opportunity, but something didn’t feel quite right. I had gone out of my way to challenge him and even ended up insulting his prowess with women, when I really meant to apologize to him for the drink debacle. I couldn’t possibly agree to go now. I felt like I had something to prove, no matter how badly I wanted to wear a designer gown and talk with some of the brightest minds in the medical field. If it were with anyone but Dr. Damon Rye, I would say yes in a heartbeat. But, this man was my foil, and I could not submit to his will.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. Thanks for the offer, though.”
“But it could be fun,” he said at a last ditch attempt at wooing me.
“But I don’t have to.”
He shrugged. “I guess you’re right.”
With my answer secured, I started walking toward the door. I stopped a few steps short of the doorway and turned around to face Damon.
“Is everything okay now? Do you accept my apology?”
He pursed his lips together, then broke out into a smirk.