A love worth fighting for

Chapter Eight

I sat on the chair beside Anna when I entered the office. Dr. Starr sat across us at the other side of the table, leaning her back on the executive office chair, with a script in her hand.

My face furrowed in a frown, I placed clenched fists on my thighs while my foot quietly tapped the floor like a music beat.

“Mr. Sullivan, Anna was telling me how you contributed to the ER simulation I tasked you both to carry out. Did you do this work?” Her voice was soft, calm; but it came at me like a bullet shot from a pistol.

I stayed quiet, took my gaze away from Dr. Starr's face which had lost all the intensity in her enticing grey eyes to the window pane behind her.

“Richmond, I'm asking you a question and you dare not answer.” Her tone rose, I could feel her anger, but mine was higher.

“Dr. Starr, I and Rich…” Anna confidently began a lie but I interrupted her.

“Shut the fuck up you idiot.” I yelled, “all of this wouldn't happen if there was no scholarship, how would else would you afford the fees? If you were not in this damn school, I’d ha…”

“RICHMOND.” Dr Starr cut in, yelling. She rested her arm on the table leaning her body close to it. “You're crossing the line. I'd watch my words if I were you. Answer what I asked you.”

I peered at her, then spared Anna a glance before returning my eyes back into Dr. Starr's face. “I told you I can't work with her.” My jaw was clenched, my eyes narrowed.

“You told me? What was I supposed to do? Change her? You think you'd be able to do that in real life, choose your colleagues or your patients or your superiors?” She took a deep breath, and leaned back into the chair. “Do you really want to become a doctor?” her soft tone returned.

I took in a deep breath, placed my elbow on my thighs and supported my bent head with my hands, letting her question digest. She had me. She won.

If there was anything I wanted, it was to become a doctor, and each passing day the chances of becoming a doctor was threatened by Anna; right from the day she arrived at this school the day of my expulsion drew closer.

“Anna, next time you try this, I won't let you go. And this,” Dr Starr rumbled the script she had dropped on the table, “never happened. You can go.”

I stood up to leave with Anna, on the other side across Dr, Starr's office door, I prepared the lesson I'd teach her so she doesn't meddle with things that concerns me ever again.

“Not you Mr. Sullivan.” 

I sat back, arranged my tie, brushed my fingers through my hair. The frown on my face didn't flush. I gave Dr. Starr a smirk.

“You know I like you Richmond.” She dropped her arms on the table, leaning towards me. “I don't like when you're jumping in and out of trouble. I want you to become a better doctor.”

Her soft tone returned, her eyes radiated the intensity, the type that I couldn't resist. 

“I showed you how emotionally hurting working with Anna is, yet you did nothing, is that how you treat people you like?” 

“We resolved it, and moreover, your colleague in practice could be your ex, or your enemy.” She stood up, walked towards me. She leaned her butt on the table, standing beside me.

Her bare thigh brushed against my hand, I could feel my anger flush as sparks ignited from my fingers and my heart beat increased. ‘Why can't I resist her?’ I took my hands off of her immediately.

“Was it resolved?” I raised a brow and stood from the chair, fixed my eyes on hers. “The only thing we resolved that day was the kiss.” 

Her eyes were fixed on me, peering deep like they were searching for a tiny particle on my lips. She dragged me closer to her.

Our lips locked, our eyes were closed. I lowered my hand a little below her waist, I went for her butt but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

We pushed out immediately and tried to adjust, but the person came in already. Dr Starr had leaned back on the table, her lower lip was packed inside her mouth. I was still struggling to tuck in my shirt. 

We stood beside each other, so close, our bodies were still in contact, shaking. I could feel my lips shiver and my heart making a fast beat.

“Sorry…” Bradley finally mumbled, holding the door knob and ready to jolt it open.

“Hey Brad.” I rushed to hold him back. “C'mon in, it's not what you think.” The guilt that I felt didn't let my heartbeat settle. Dr. Starr just stood there.

“I'm not thinking anything, I didn't see anything.” His eyes was over my shoulder, he was staring at Dr. Starr. 

‘What if this was part of the plan?’ I dropped my hands from Brad's shoulder. I turned to stare at Dr Starr, she hadn't moved from where she stood.

“Did you come to find anything?” I had nearly touched every part of my body before I reached for the door knob.

“No. I came to remind you of the party. You're coming huh?”

“Yeah, I am.” I nodded, I could feel lumps of sweat rolling beneath my shirt. I loosened the tie to let air gosh in through the collar opening of the white shirt. “Brad you should have called.” I said, keeping my gaze off him.

“Oh! That.” He brushed his hand through his recently cut hair backwards. “I forgot that, since I knew where you'd be.”

I had left my phone at Dr. Starr's office by the time I checked my pocket. “Brad, I dropped my phone back there.”

He halted immediately, turned to face me. Gave out his hand for our bond shake. “Go get it man, I'll head home to prepare.” We shook before he bounced out.

I expected him to want to follow me. Maybe he had gotten what he wanted. 

Returning to Dr. Starr's office wasn't the best choice, especially when I couldn't resist her. My heart fell when I got to the door. I knocked and opened.

Dr. Starr dragged me in when I had opened the door. She placed her lips on mine. There was nothing to resist, no time to think twice.

Our lips locked. More intensely. Felt like we had missed each other's lips for a long time.