Chapter 9
1604 Words
Aria
It had only been few hours since I started working at the clinic, and already I felt like I'd lived through a week.
The place itself? Busy, sometimes chaotic, but oddly comforting. There was a sense of purpose in helping people, and that alone made the long hours bearable.
Most of the staff were kind. A few had even gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, tossing me smiles and warm greetings. I appreciated it. I really did.
I stood in the pantry stirring sugar into my coffee when I felt Mona’s eyes on me. I took a breath and glanced over my shoulder. Sure enough, she was watching me,
"You okay?" I asked, trying not to sound defensive.
Her eyes darted slowly, like I'd surprised her by speaking first. "I was just wondering... how did you and Ethan meet?"
I hesitated a beat, then said, "At a bar."
Her brow rose. "A bar?"
I caught her expression—the silent judgment. "I was bartending," I clarified. "Not drinking."
"Ah." She gave a small nod, the kind people give when they've already decided what to think. "I see."
There was a pause.
"What about you?" I asked, deciding to throw the ball back in her court. "How did you two meet?"
Her face softened. "We grew up together. Same orphanage.."
That explained the familiarity in the way she looked at him.
"Ethan and I... we used to get into a lot of trouble together," she said, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Her gaze drifted, like she was seeing something I couldn't.
"We'd sneak out past curfew just to watch the stars. We'd sit on the roof of the orphanage with a stolen blanket and a flashlight."
She let out a quiet laugh, almost fond. "He once broke into the kitchen to get me a chocolate bar after I had a bad day. Got caught, of course. He always got caught. But he took the blame for both of us."
She titled her head, the smile not fading from her face. "I've seen Ethan at his worst. And his best. And through all of it, we've stuck by each other. People come and go, but... he's always been my constant."
Then her gaze returned to me. "And I've always been his."
"The orphanage must've been a really good one," I said lightly, trying not to sound too curious. But something about the way she spoke, so sure, so proud nudged a memory in the back of my mind.
Mona beamed. "Of course it was. St. Augustine's Orphanage," she said, sitting up a little straighter.
That name rang a bell. My brows lifted slightly. I knew it. I'd volunteered a few times there during my part time job, and occasionally, some of the kids from St. Augustine's had passed through for meals or outreach programs.
"I think I've heard of it," I murmured, tilting my head. "Some of the kids I work with came from there."
Something shifted in Mona's expression. The warmth in her eyes cooled just a notch.
"I was just wondering..." I continued, a little hesitant now, "What was Ethan like back then?"
Mona's gaze tightened.
"He was... Ethan, same as he is now. Trouble, charm, and way too stubborn." she said, the softness in her voice from earlier now guarded. "But not someone you can just get close to."
Then she stood, smoothing her scrubs as she walked past me.
"Anyway, I have patients to check on," she added. And just like that, the conversation was over.
**
The supply room smelled like cardboard and cleaning solution. Shelves lined with syringes, gauze packs, and a dozen different medications greeted me as I stepped inside. The new shipment was dumped in no particular order—boxes stacked on top of one another like someone had been in a rush or just didn't care.
I shut the door behind me and got to work, tearing tape, scanning labels, and shifting things into place. I was eager to finish off the task Mona assigned me to. To show I could handle the pace.
I was halfway through sorting bandages when the door creaked open behind me. Mona peeped in glancing briefly at the shelves before her eyes landed on me.
"Get me some gauze, antiseptic, and those blue sterile pads. Then follow me to the ward. And try not to take all day."
Her tone was clipped, impersonal—like I was an errand girl, not a fellow healthcare worker. That was when it hit me. She wasn't taking this seriously. Or me, for that matter.
I grabbed the items quickly, cradling them on a tray as I trailed after her down the hallway.
When I reached the patient's ward, Mona was already standing by an elderly man propped up in bed, his leg bandaged and a warm smile on his face. I tried not to let my nerves show as I hurried over to join her.
But in my haste, one of the sterile pads slipped from my grasp and fluttered to the floor.
Mona turned sharply. "Really, Aria?" she said loudly, eyebrows raised. "Try to have a little coordination. We're in front of patients."
Heat crept up my neck and into my cheeks. The old man's smile faded as he glanced between us, confused. A few other patients nearby turned to look, their eyes settling on me.
"I'm sorry," I muttered quickly, bending to retrieve the pad.
Mona let out an exaggerated sigh. "It's not that hard to carry a few items."
I didn't answer. I kept my head down and focused on laying out the supplies exactly how she liked them.
But inside, I felt it—that familiar sting of humiliation, the prick of being called out over something small. I wasn't perfect, but I sure as hell wasn't careless either.
I finished the task in silence, forcing a polite smile toward the patient as I stepped aside to let Mona work.
I took a quiet breath, pulled my phone and, right on cue, a message from Ethan popped up.
Ethan:
Hope your day's not killing you.
I stared at it, then looked at Mona. He'd hit the nail on the head, and I could probably blame him for that. Still, I didn't say anything, just a smiley face in response.
ETHAN
"Got something you'll want to hear, Sir ," Came Jax voice. "Some guys have been sniffing around the east lot."
"Sniffing around? For what?"
"Said they're interested in renting it," Jax replied. "Didn't give much detail. Just that they wanted to use it for 'storage.'"
"Storage for what exactly?"
"They wouldn't say. They promised to pay three times."
"Which already tells me everything I need to know," I muttered eyes going to Kaden that was looking at me with a furrowed brow. "That lot belongs to the club. We don't rent it out to ghosts."
"Didn't think you would," Jax replied. "But I figured you'd want to know. These weren't just curious real estate types."
"Keep an eye on the lot. I don't want any fake people sniffing around."
"Yes, sir," he replied without hesitation. "I'll keep someone posted. You'll be updated."
I ended the call, dropped the phone onto the desk, and leaned back in my chair. My fingers intertwined as I looked at Kaden.
"What's with the look?" I asked flatly.
He gave a slow grin. "Because I missed you."
"Cut the bullshit." I snapped rolling my eyes.
The grin didn't leave his face, but his tone shifted when I spoke again.
"I need you to follow up on something."
"Yeah? What's that?"
"Aria," I said, watching his expression closely. "I want a full run-through on what happened that night—who drugged her, who was involved, who covered it up. Everything."
"That serious, huh?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Just get it done," I said, not in the mood to explain myself.
He tilted his head, still staring at me like I'd started speaking in tongues. "You sure you're Ethan? The guy who used to say 'don't get attached' like it was a commandment?"
I didn't answer. Not like I don't want to tell Kaden all about it but I am not ready to yet. My mind wandered to her reply earlier when I asked her about the work so far.
Even though she doesn't remember me, I would make sure I protect her. And I'm sure she'd be a professional in no time.
Kaden whistled snapping me out of my trance. "Alright, alright. No judgment. But if this thing's tangled up with Damien—"
"It won't matter," I cut in. "If it leads back to him, then so be it. But I'm not letting her get hurt. Not again."
Kaden nodded slowly, the teasing finally gone from his face. "Alright. I'll dig. But when did you turn a savior now?"
I raised a brow. "Meaning?"
He shurgged. "I mean getting her into the clinic like you're her damn guardian angel or something."
"You don't have to worry yourself about that."
Kaden scoffed. "Right. I can see how you owe her a clinic job for it. You even use your reputation to get her rent reduction by 30%. That is not something I’ve seen you do to other women.”
"I owe her my respect. And she needed help. That's all."
He eyed me for a beat, then leaned back against the stool, arms crossed. "You sure that's all it is?"
"Kaden," I warned. He lifted his arms in surrender. "Alright, I will get to work then,"
- Writer
