Chapter 12
Damon
Pacing back and forth across my kitchen floor, I started to wonder if inviting Olivia to the event was a bad idea. I was inexplicably nervous for something that should have been a piece of cake. I had attended so many of these kinds of events in the past without issue, but there was something about this one that gave me pause.
Was I stupid for messing around with this intern? Ethics aside, was she too young and inexperienced to go as my date? I wasn’t all that much older, but I had been around this world my whole life. Would I be throwing her to the wolves before she even had the chance to cut her teeth?
Then, there was the matter of pretending we were a couple. For a moment, I wondered if we should trash the whole idea and just tell people that she was one the hospital interns who wanted to be involved in helping raise money for cancer research. But then, it would invite all sorts of rumors to spread about the two of us, and what we were to each other, other than mentor and intern, and I didn’t want the Dean to become involved. However, I didn’t exactly know what to say when it came to introducing Olivia. If someone asked how we met, I couldn’t exactly say that she was an intern I had the hots for, and we’re currently using each other to get what we want. That would look worse than not bringing anyone at all.
I checked my watch for the fifth time that evening. She would be arriving at my place any minute now. I was so eager to see her in the Calvin Klein dress I picked out for her the night we went to the bar, well before we met at the bar. For some reason, even after she threw her drink on me, I had a feeling that she would still need it, so I never canceled it.
While I was nervous for her to be my date, I was also rather excited to spend some time with her outside of the hospital. Hopefully, the setting of our second date would put the both of us on our best behavior. This time, I really did just want to be around her. I don’t know if I had suddenly matured or I was deep into the game we were playing, but I didn’t just want to take her to bed and forget about her.
Eventually, whatever spell she had over me would break. My feelings for this one woman would dissipate once I lost interest and found someone newer and sexier. That’s just how I worked. When it inevitably happened, I hoped that we could move on with our lives. But for now, I just wanted to spend some time close to Olivia.
I heard the elevator ding and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest. I tried to look casual as the doors opened and she exited in wide-eyed wonder.
“I’ve never been in an apartment without a front door,” she said.
“Ah, the effect wears off quickly,” I said dryly. “This is my apartment. I’d show you around, but we don’t have a lot of time. I hung the dress up for you in the guest room. Once you get dressed, I’ll have the car come around and get us.”
“You hired a driver?” she asked in surprise.
“I thought we might as well go all out,” I said with a wink. “It’s just a town car, not a stretch limousine or anything. Go get dressed. The guest room is the second door on the right.”
She took off down the hall, wearing a normal outfit, not like the one she wore to the bar or to retrieve her ‘phone’. She looked cute in her leggings and sweatshirt, her sneakers squeaking down the hall.
I went to the mirror and checked my bowtie, then combed my fingers through my hair. I leaned down and took a whiff, making sure I smelled good. I could tell that Olivia had the hots for me, but I still wanted to look good for her.
She emerged a few minutes later, the long red dress hugging every curve. Her long, brown hair hung down her back in smooth, loose curls, and her big, green eyes were enhanced by thick, dark eyelashes. I saw she was also wearing the diamond bracelet and earrings I had ordered to go with the dress. I knew she was going to look good in the dress, but I had no idea she would look that good.
“You— you look gorgeous,” I said, nearly lost for words.
“I better,” she laughed nervously, “I looked up how much this dress costs. I don’t even want to know how much this jewelry costs. What are you going to do with it when I’m done wearing it?”
I shrugged. “You can have it as a gift for coming with me.”
She shook her head. “Absolutely not. It’s too much. Besides, there’s nowhere I could ever wear this again.”
“You never know. I can always auction this stuff off for charity.”
“I like that idea,” she said. “By the way, you look really nice, too.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Now, I just had this dry cleaned. Will you promise me that you won’t throw any food or beverages at me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Sure. Can you promise me that you won’t give me reason to?”
“No can do,” I said with a smirk. “Come on, the car is waiting.”
We spent most of the car ride in silence. I kept trying to steal quick glances of her without her noticing. She noticed, just about every time.
“What?” she would ask, in a tone that suggested I was teasing her.
“Nothing,” I would reply, before looking straight ahead. “Maybe we should get our story straight. How did we meet? I don’t mind people knowing you’re in your residency, but I don’t necessarily want them to know that I’m currently your supervising doctor right now.”
“Well, we’re both from Hazelwood,” she said. “Why can’t we say we reconnected? No one needs to know that we never crossed paths in the eighteen years or so we overlapped there.”
“Sounds good,” I said, feeling relieved. “I guess that’s the major point we need to have covered. Otherwise, you can let me do all of the introductions. From there you can talk about your medical interests and what you are hoping to do in the future. Though I do suggest you don’t get into any arguments or act like a know-it-all.”
“I don’t act like a know-it-all,” she said, sounding hurt.
“Eh, sometimes you do,” I replied. “That’s neither here nor there. Let’s just have a nice night.”
“I’m kind of nervous,” she admitted, as we neared the event.
“You’ll be fine. Most of the time, you’ll be listening to speakers or eating. Those things don’t require any thought. Even when we talk to other people, you’ll mostly just stand by me and smile and nod.”
“So I’m just supposed to be there to make you look good?” She narrowed her eyes at me.
“More or less,” I said, hopping out of the car. I walked around to the other side before opening her door.
“You know that’s a bit sexist, right?” she says arching her brow.
I sigh. “Look, I’ve been at this for longer than you even know. The people in there, aren’t all your regular run of the mill doctors. Most of the people in there are high society snobs who like to feel important by donating money to those in the medical field they think deserve it. And most likely you won’t know the doctors that I’m going to be speaking to on behalf of the CEO to bring them into the CUIMC network. You haven’t been at the hospital long enough yet to know exactly what to say to get them to join us. I just don’t want you to feel out of place, okay?” I explained.
“Okay.” She smiled as she spoke.
I offered her my hand to help her out of the car. “I just want you to have a good time.”
“Thanks,” she said softly, taking my arm.
We shared a look as we stood side by side. As far as fake girlfriends go, this one felt strangely real.
Once we got inside the ballroom, I escorted Olivia to the bar. I got her a glass of champagne and got a whiskey on the rock
s for myself. I wanted her to feel loose and comfortable, and I needed something to help my uncharacteristic nerves.
Shortly after, we were seated for dinner. Olivia looked like a socialite, the way she behaved. This wasn’t a My Fair Lady situation, but I had dated girls who hadn’t grown up in society and somehow didn’t learn the rules of basic etiquette. But Olivia was a pro, sitting with perfect posture like a princess. Where did this girl come from?
“Lobster!” she said in an excited whisper when the plates came out. In fact, with every plate, her eyes grew a little wider.
“That’s the most expensive lobster you’ll ever eat,” I whispered back. “You better enjoy it.”
She smirked and tucked into her meal as our table made light conversation. We were seated with one of the hospital administrators, a doctor in private practice the CEO wanted to join our network, and an orthopedic surgeon. No one was talking shop at the moment, and I was eagerly waiting for the right moment to talk up the hospital.
Olivia hadn’t said much, but she was still engaged in the conversation. The orthopedic surgeon’s wife was a math teacher, which got Olivia talking about some camp that she used to go to. It wasn’t something I was interested in, but the wife seemed pleased with whatever they were talking about.
After dinner, the Cancer Research Organization who was holding this event had an auction. I bid on and won a yacht rental for a week in the Mediterranean. I wasn’t sure when I was going to even use it, but it was expensive and the money was for a great cause. I was pulling out all the stops to show that being a doctor with CUIMC paid well and that we were charitable.
Then, the floor was opened up for dancing and more drinks. This was my opportunity to do some work. I grabbed Olivia by the hand and followed the doctor of the private practice, Dr. Michaels to the bar.
I talked to him for a while about the advantages of being a surgeon in the CUIMC network. The guy seemed pretty interested in what I was saying, and I was doing all I could to get him to talk to our sales team. At one point, Dr. Michaels asked Olivia for her opinion. I don’t think he was expecting her to give him a very detailed answer, but she did.