Once upon a rommie

Dr Zola we have a pressing issue in the ICU, you're needed please" Rebecca barged in on Zola who was eating pringles . She had barely caught her breath when Zola rushed out of the office , she ran so fast that even the Nurse Rebecca couldn't catch up . Three hours later Zola came out looking tired , "How's my little girl doing?" A woman rushed to her Zola removed her mask and gave a faint smile . "Your girl is perfectly fine, you have nothing to worry about" she walked away while simultaneously removing her surgical gown . A little girl was soon wheeled out of the operating room to a ward . Zola checked the time and it was getting late. She closed her eyes to have a little sleep . When she opened her eyes again it was already past 8pm so she started packing. She picked up her phone and it was dead . "Now I can't even book a ride , what a lucky day "she groaned . She took her bag while she mentally prepared herself for the one hour thirty minutes journey by foot . The elevator opened, another doctor was there , a young man in his late twenties dark and tall . "You still go home late just to compete with me huh?" He asked "Good evening Sid" she said as she entered the elevator . "You need to stop working too late " He said to her "Coming from you is indeed rich" she replied "I was just worried you'd wear yourself out " "You don't have to , I had a two hour nap" "Of course you did" he a made a face in disbelief "I know you don't believe me " the elevator stopped on the ground floor and she walked out and left the building. She had walked to the bus stop but the last ride had already left . "This would have been a 52 minutes ride with the bus " she murmured . A car stopped right in front of her "Missed your bus?" Sid said as he unwind the window glass . "Just about how lucky I am" she said "You sure need to exercise after the two hour sleep" "With over an hour walk back home ? Tell me about it . " "Get in I'll drop you off" "Say please" she smirked Sid looked at her , rolled up his window glass and left. Zola ran after him but he had gone far "I'm definitely killing him tomorrow " she clenched her fist. Then she limped to the nearest streetlight and leaned on the pole . She removed her shoes and started walking barefoot. By the time she got in front of her building she was out of breath. Now she has to climb the staircase. She groaned with every step she made , soon she was in front of her door , she unlocked her apartment and sat down . She sniffed the air like she could smell something. "Who did she invite this time around" she murmured . She started hearing footsteps then the shower . She stood up and tiptoed to the kitchen , she brought a frying pan and a knife . Zola's pov: I most definitely wasn't expecting any visitor and I know Vee , she doesn't shower this late , she's probably out partying. I walked closer to my room and stood by the door . Soon the shower stopped and the person seemed to send something before coming out . I hid by the door and as soon as the figure stepped out I raised my frying pan and also threw the knife but the knife missed him and he caught my hand. The move was so swift that I barely saw it . "You walked so quietly I almost couldn't hear you coming" he said , his voice deep calm and soft. "Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?" I asked "This is my house" he said "Spare me that silly story , I literally own this building and this apartment is mine". I clapped back trying to free myself from his grip. But it's was firm and he didn't seem moved by my struggles, instead he watched me calmly. "Who sent you?, do you know me?" He asked "You aren't even a celebrity, please leave my house and I won't call the cops " I said trying to sound so polite . "I paid to be roommate to someone in this room, and I'm expecting it to be a guy" he said "Well I didn't get any form of payment" I said "Was I scammed ?" He asked with pure curiosity as he let my hand go "Who did you pay to ?" I asked "A young lady , she said she owned this place and she gave me this key " "Huh" "Brown hair, petite and very pale" he said "Green eyes?" I asked "On point" he replied I scoffed , and walked back to the living room "You really have a nice knife skill, if I was a bit slower I'd be dead" he said as he looked at the wall that stuck perfectly on the wall. "I wasn't tryna kill you , I aimed for your eyes" I said "That's worse " My phone rang and I picked it up it was Vee "I was gonna call you , what did you do?" I spoke through my teeth "I didn't do anything" she said through the loud music and noise of people chatting, she was obviously in the club again. "Who did you give my house key?" I asked "Oh the man? He's hot isn't he ?" "Vesper!" "He was urgently looking for shelter , the rooms in Ur building are all rented out and he's hot " "You couldn't show him somewhere else" "Oh he was willing to pay a tempting sum of money and he's hot so I figured you'd get along" "VESPER!" "We're about to play a game I'll call and wire you the money later bye love you" hse ended the call . "I'm sorry but you need to find another place , I'll refund you" I said to him. "It's past 10pm I don't know anywhere around here" he said "You're new to this place?" I asked "Very new, literally unwrapped" he said "I'll book you a hotel room" "I like it here" "It's not a good idea" "I'll pay three times the rent" "You seem to have money to burn" "When I entered here I liked it and I don't wanna leave " "Just for tonight we'll talk about your accommodation tomorrow, I'm tired and that room you came out of is mine , you can pick any other room or the couch , don't come close to this door " "I liked the Interior " "You do have a good taste " "I want that room" "You can't just say you want something and have it" I warned but he stepped closer and closer to me , it felt real uncomfortable and I tried moving back , he didn't stop either , he kept closing the distance untill I hit a walk and he stopped in front of me , so close that the water from his hair was literally dropping on my clothes. "Whatever I want I get it " he whispered. I couldn't help but notice how tall he was. His body was chilled but he had scars and this scar meant he was no good . His hands were veiny and smooth, too smooth for someone who had rough palms . I looked into his eyes and he smiled at me. "Well landlady I would appreciate if you let me stay here" he said with his hands blocking every exist and trapping me in between. My chest tightened , I was too tired for these. "Just avoid my room please" I said "And go out some clothes on" I added "You can't tell me that you aren't pleased with all these " "Don't be a pervert" I said and pushed him with the remaining strength in me , he moved back with a smile on his face while I headed for my room . "Weird" I mumbled as I shut the door. ​I leaned my back against the heavy wooden door, letting out a long, shuddering breath. My chest still felt tight, a strange mixture of exhaustion, annoyance, and lingering adrenaline. ​"Vesper is going to pay for this," I muttered to myself, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor. ​I peeled off my scrubs, washed up in the bathroom, and slipped into an oversized cotton t-shirt and shorts. My legs felt like lead from the combination of a high-stress surgery, a missed ride, an agonizing barefoot trek down asphalt, and a full flight of stairs. All I wanted was sleep—uninterrupted, dreamless sleep. ​Yet, despite my utter exhaustion, my mind refused to shut down.Every time I closed my eyes, I kept replaying the moment he cornered me in the living room. The sheer height of him, the cold drop of water falling from his dark hair onto my collarbone, the impossible speed with which he had caught my knife, and those pale, intense eyes. There was something entirely unregulated about him—dangerous, even. People who flash casual bundles of cash and move like trained fighters don't just wander into places they don't know looking for random apartments with desperation. He could have just found a hotel or something, he has so much to burn anyways . Clunk. ​A muffled sound drifted through the wall from the living room. ​I sat straight up in bed, straining my ears. Heavy, unhurried footsteps paced across the floorboards. He wasn't sleeping on the couch. ​"If he breaks my TV, Vesper's getting evicted too," I grumbled, burying my face in the pillow. ​Somehow, sleep eventually claimed me. Sunlight was streaming harshly through my bedroom window when my alarm blared at 6:00 AM. I groaned, slapped the snooze button, and dragged myself out of bed. Stepping out into the living room, the space was empty. The kitchen island was clean, except for a neatly folded sticky note left on the counter. I picked it up. “Thanks for the hospitality, Landlady. Left early to explore the neighborhood. We’ll finish our chat tonight. — C.” "C?" I stared at the paper. "Not even a full name. Unbelievable." I didn't have time to dwell on it. I rushed through a quick shower, grabbed a cup of black coffee, and practically flew out the door. If I was going to survive an eight-hour shift at the hospital after sleeping for barely five hours, caffeine was my only salvation. When I stepped into the staff elevator at the hospital, the digital numbers ticked upward in silence. Just as the doors were about to close, a familiar hand wedged between them. Sid stepped in, looking impeccably sharp in his white coat, dark hair falling just slightly over his brow. He glanced sideways at me, taking in my half-open eyes and the faint dark circles I hadn't quite managed to conceal with makeup. "Rough morning?" Sid asked, a smug little smile playing at the corner of his lips. "Don't start with me, Sid," I warned, pressing my temples with my fingertips. "I am in no mood." "I told you yesterday you needed to go home early," he said smoothly, leaning against the elevator wall. "If you had accepted my ride instead of playing hard to get, you wouldn't look like a walking zombie right now." I snapped my head toward him, my sleep-deprived temper finally boiling over. "First of all, I did not play hard to get. You rolled up your window and abandoned me , I'm pretty sure you just asked to make sure you honoured some sort of courtesy. Do you have any idea how far I had to walk barefoot because your ego couldn't handle a simple please?" Sid blinked, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst, before a low chuckle escaped his throat. "Barefoot? Really?" "I am going to murder you," I hissed, crossing my arms as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open to the third-floor ward. "I am literally going to find a scalpel and write my name across your forehead." "Looking forward to it, Doc," he laughed, stepping out ahead of me and holding the door open with a mocking bow. "See you at the 9:00 AM briefing." "I don't like you, not one bit " I said "It's mutual Zee" I stormed past him, muttering curses under my breath. The morning shift was a blur of charts, patient rounds, and endless standing. It wasn't until around 1:00 PM during a brief lull in the doctors' lounge that I finally had a moment to breathe. Nurse Rebecca popped her head through the door, holding a thick manila folder. "Dr. Zola? There's a file drop-off at the front desk for you. Brought in by private courier." "For me? I didn't order anything," I said, frowning. "Well, it's marked urgent and confidential." Ten minutes later, I was tearing open the brown envelope at my desk. Inside wasn't medical equipment or insurance paperwork. It was a crisp, official-looking document—a property title verification form for my own building, alongside a cashier's check with a staggering number of zeros written out in clear, bold ink. Attached to it was another handwritten note, scrawled in the same clean, sharp handwriting: “For the three months' rent. Consider it a down payment on my stay. P.S. Tell your friend Vesper her taste in roommates is exceptional. See you tonight, Landlady.” My breath hitched. I flipped the check over, my eyes widening. The name printed at the bottom of the issuer bank account wasn't just ordinary. It belonged to a name that was barely known but with what I've seen so far there's more to him than meets the eye . And the initials at the bottom of the note hit me like a bucket of cold water. C. Corbin. I closed my eyes and let out a heavy breath. "Is everything alright?" Nurse Rebecca asked "Yeah, you can go" I said and she left . The man who had supposedly just "wandered" into an unknown city looking for a room wasn't some random stranded traveler. He was some money wasting being . My phone buzzed on the desk. It was a text from an unknown number: “Hope you like the check. Don't throw any more knives tonight, Zola. It ruins the decor.” I slowly lowered my head onto the wooden desk, staring blankly at the wall. "I am officially surrounded by lunatics," I groaned into my hands. I walked out hoping to receive some fresh air when I saw Sid coming out of the operating room , as soon as he saw me a weird grin appeared on his face . "Dr Zola" he called out "Dear lord I didn't sign up for this " Buzz buzz. My phone vibrated I took out of my pocket and answered the call while ignoring Sid who kept walking towards me . "Dr Zola on the line who is this " "That quite a very formal way to talk to your roommate" that familiar voice said on the other side orhe phone . "How did you get my number" "Who knew Vesper lived next door , she's such a darling" My jaw clenched I ended the call without saying another word and I made a turn to go back to office and there he was . "Who was that ?" Sid asked "Just someone who gets on my nerves as much as you do" I said "Who dares to take my spot " he said "Siddharth please " I groaned "I'm tired" "Tell me how much you don't like that person" I gnored him but he kept following me , I had to leave the hospital building entirely but he wouldn't budge . "Siddharth Gupta I'm tired please " I said , more of screaming than talking anyway. His expression softened. It went from devious to concerned. "Have you eaten today?" He asked "No" I replied "Wanna have lunch together?" He asked again "You're such a nuisance, I would never...." I was still talking when he patted my shoulder "I'm going to eat , hang in there buddy" he said and left . Like he just left , he left me . I scratched and messed up my hair in frustration. I was hungry , he could even try to persuade me , he won't even.... Oh my goodness. "I really hate you Sid " I mumbled and ordered food online . The delivery arrived forty-five minutes later—a lukewarm box of noodles that tasted roughly like salted cardboard. I forced down half of it at my desk while reviewing patient charts, my eyes burning from a combination of chronic sleep deprivation and pure, unadulterated irritation. By the time my shift finally dragged to a close at 5:00 PM, I felt like a ghost haunting my own body. I gathered my bag, locked my office door, and trudged out toward the hospital parking lot. The evening air was warm and breezy, carrying the faint scent of dust and distant rain. I caught the bus and entered . Normally this short ride home would have given me time to decompress, but tonight, my brain felt like a live wire ready to snap. I had two problems waiting for me: Sid’s infuriating smugness tomorrow morning, and Corbin—apex investor, knife-dodger, and unauthorized squatter—sitting in my apartment. When I finally reached my building, I didn't even bother trying to walk quietly up the stairs. I dragged my feet step by step, each one protesting loudly, until I reached my door. I shoved the key into the lock, twisted it, and pushed the door open. The apartment was dead silent. The warm, amber glow of the living room lamps cast soft shadows across the floor. From the kitchen came the rich, savory aroma of garlic and herbs—a scent that definitely did not belong to anything Vesper or I typically cooked. I dropped my bag by the door with a loud thud. "I know you're here," I called out, kicking off my flats. "And before you say a single word about rent or room keys, I want you to know that I am one inconvenience away from committing a felony." A low, deep chuckle echoed from the direction of the kitchen. Corbin stepped around the kitchen island. He had changed into a casual black t-shirt and dark joggers. The soft fabric clung to his broad shoulders, and the faint, jagged scars along his neck and collarbone were stark against his skin. He was holding a glass of water, watching me with an expression that was far too amused for my liking. "Welcome home, Landlady," he said smoothly. "Rough day at the hospital?" "Don't start," I warned, marching past him and dropping onto the sofa, rubbing my temples. "Just... don't. Hand over the check, tell me what game you're playing, and explain why you're terrorizing my peace of mind." Corbin walked over, setting his glass down on the coffee table before leaning against the back of the sofa, looking down at me. His pale eyes caught the light, sharp and calculating, yet entirely unthreatening in this quiet space. "I'm not playing a game, Zola," he said, using my first name with a casual ease that sent an odd shiver down my spine. " I just wanted to stay away from home for a while and somehow got to have company" He gestured vaguely around the room. "Your friend Vesper is an exceptional salesperson when offered a sufficiently large incentive." "She sold my guest room to a total stranger without my permission," I muttered, glaring up at him. "You could be a serial killer for all she knew." A slow, crooked smile touched the corner of his lips. "And yet, you threw a frying pan and a kitchen knife at me within thirty seconds of meeting me. I think the neighborhood serial killer would have been much safer hiding from you." I let out a sharp exhale that was half-sigh, half-laugh. "I missed your eyes. Next time, I won't." "I'll look forward to the practice," he replied smoothly, pushing off the sofa. "Dinner is almost ready. Sit down, eat, and stop glaring at me before you give yourself an aneurysm." "I didn't invite you to cook—" "You didn't have to. Vesper mentioned you live on coffee and hospital Pringles. Consider it part of my rent." "Pringles is my go to snack" I said "Quite unhealthy even for a doctor" Before I could argue further, he turned back toward the kitchen, leaving me sitting there in a daze of exhaustion and begrudging curiosity. The following morning arrived with the subtlety of a freight train. My alarm went off at 6:00 AM sharp. This time, I didn't groan; I rolled out of bed with a cold, focused determination. I showered, dressed in a sharp navy blue pantsuit, and stepped out into the living room. Corbin was already up, sitting at the counter with a steaming mug of black coffee and a tablet he turned over at the sight of me . He looked up as I walked by. "Morning, Doc. Need a ride?" he asked, his tone impossibly casual. "I'd rather walk barefoot through glass," I shot back without breaking stride. "Keep away from my room." "Have a lovely day at work," he called out cheerfully as I slammed the apartment door behind me. By 8:45 AM, I was pacing the length of the third-floor corridor at the hospital, clutching a clipboard like a shield. The 9:00 AM executive research briefing was about to begin, and I knew Sid was going to be insufferable. Sure enough, just as I approached the conference room doors, Sid stepped out from the adjacent hallway, looking entirely too refreshed in his pristine white coat. "Good morning, Dr. Zola," Sid purred, leaning against the doorframe with a wide grin. "Did you survive your roommate's first night?" I stopped dead in my tracks, narrowing my eyes. "How do you know about that?" Sid’s grin widened. "Word travels fast , especially if vesper is in a good mood ." My jaw dropped. "Vesper again?!" "Subtle, right?" Sid laughed softly, patting my shoulder. "Relax, Zee. She was asking for my help , she spent the rent and had to turn to her favourite cousin, me ." "Stay out of my business Sid" "So which girl is staying with you?, vesper won't tell me anything about the person so I guess it's a very pretty girl " I rolled my eyes at him and entered the Director's office and he followed. It was a long meeting and somehow Sid and I nailed the presentation. We didn't argue and we were in sync. And it felt peaceful . After that I went straight to my office and began snacking on pringles "Vesper mentioned you lived on coffee and hospital pringles " his words came back at me . "Hospital pringles ? " I scoffed , "like the director will be generous enough to hand out free Pringles , I bought it myself ". I caught myself mumbling angrily again, I thought I had peace . "I'm never getting used to this " Ting. My phone notification, it was a credit alert from vesper , she paid what she took from Corbin and sent a message "I'm coming over tonight , it's Friday let's have fun" "That's chill" I texted back . ​I leaned my head back against the leather headrest, closing my eyes. Friday night was supposed to be my sacred time to catch up on sleep, eat leftover takeaway, and maybe read a chapter of a book without someone bargaining for my apartment or dropping subtle threats disguised as polite conversation. When 5:30 PM finally arrived, I practically sprinted out of the hospital building before Sid or Rebecca could drag me into another conversation. The bus ride home was quiet, giving me forty minutes to mentally prepare myself for whatever chaos was awaiting me at home. I climbed the staircase to my apartment building, unlocked the door, and stepped inside. The space smelled faintly of citrus, roasted garlic, and clean linen. Corbin was sitting at the kitchen island, dressed down in a simple black fitted t-shirt that made his broad frame look impossibly large in my modest kitchen. His laptop was open in front of him, the screen reflecting dense lines of code or financial data, but the moment the front door clicked shut, he snapped it closed. "Welcome back, Landlady," Corbin said, his deep voice carrying that calm, smooth undertone that immediately put me on edge. "Don't start," I said, dropping my bag onto the couch and kicking off my shoes. "Where is she?" "Who?" Corbin asked, tilting his head with a faint smile. "Vesper. She texted me she was coming over to 'have fun,' which usually means she's bringing half a nightclub into my living room." As if on cue, the front door rattled violently before swinging wide open. "Landlady's home!" Vesper shouted, bursting through the doorway carrying two large tote bags clinking with glass bottles and a portable Bluetooth speaker already humming with a low-bass beat. She looked like a whirlwind—petite, pale, green eyes sparkling under heavily applied eyeliner, her dark hair falling in messy curls around her shoulders. She froze the second her eyes landed on Corbin sitting at the island. "Oh," Vesper breathed, her jaw dropping slightly as she took him in. She slowly set the bags down on the floor. "Okay... Zee, you said he was hot on the phone, but you didn't say he looked like he stepped out of an action movie." I closed my eyes, running a hand over my face. "Vesper, please. I am exhausted you literally rented this house to him ." "Hi," Corbin said smoothly, standing up from his stool and extending a hand with effortless charm. "I'm Corbin. The intruder." "Vesper," she replied, shaking his hand with an overly bright grin. "And honestly? Consider rent permanently waived if you're going to be hanging around here looking like that." "VESPER!" I snapped, marching into the kitchen and snatching one of the wine bottles out of her tote bag. "Stop flirting with the man who barged into my home!" "He paid, didn't he?" Vesper laughed, kicking off her heels and dropping onto my sofa like she owned the place. "Relax, Zola! It's Friday night! We've both had a hell of a week, and your apartment has never had this much high-grade energy." Before I could form a proper sentence to kick them both out, three sharp knocks sounded against the front door. I frowned, glancing between Vesper and Corbin. "Did you invite someone else?" "Not me," Vesper said, popping open a bag of crisps. "I thought this was an exclusive inner-circle gathering." I walked over to the door, pulled it open, and immediately froze. Standing in the doorway, wearing a dark leather jacket over a grey t-shirt and holding a box of upscale artisan pizza, was Sid. He took one look at me in my rumpled work clothes, looked past my shoulder at Vesper lounging on the couch, and then locked eyes with Corbin standing by the kitchen counter. A slow, wicked grin spread across Sid's face. "Good evening, Dr. Zola," Sid said smoothly, leaning against the doorframe. "I heard a rumor there was a Friday party happening, and since you didn't invite me, I decided to crash." "How do you even know where I live?!" I demanded, holding onto the edge of the door like a shield. "Vesper dropped the pin when she texted me about the pizza," Sid replied easily, stepping right past me into the living room as if he had been invited. "Nice place, Zee. Very cozy." "I am going to change my locks," I mumbled, slamming the door shut and leaning my forehead against the cool wood. "I am changing my locks tomorrow morning, and none of you are getting copies."