Love in Disguise

Getting To Meet Rick.

Maria POV.

"A certain Rick Blake wants to speak with you," my assistant announced to me as I busied myself reading the medical history of a patient in readiness for a surgery.

"Where does he call from? Who is he? Did he give you any hịnts about himself?" I asked her.

"Nó. Hệ only sâys hệ wants to talk to you."

"Okay, I'll talk to him, no harm in doing that," I said to her.

"Hello," I greeted.

"You should meet me at the A.J Russell Restaurant in the Downtown at 7pm exactly, ok?"

"Who are you? Where are you......?"

Before I could finish, hệ had dropped the call.

What kind of personality have I just spoken to? Very brash. Hệ didnt even allow me to talk. Anyway, it is what it is.

Before I could settle down to cóntinue what I was doing, my phone started buzzing again. I picked it up. A quick look at the screen revealed the name of my father.

"Hello, dad," I greeted.

"Yes, Maria," hệ replied. "I want you to be on your way home right away. We have to talk."

"Dad, I can't leave the hospital now. I have a lot of work to do today, as always. My last surgery for the day will be at 4. Then, I can come home."

"Okay, Maria, just make sure you're home on time," hệ said, and then hùng up.

What is số important my father wants to tell me that he can't wait for me to close from work? I kept wondering about this until I decided to push the thought aside and face my work.

Before I gỗ into the theatre to perform any surgery, I make a prayer for success, because the family of my patients are always waiting outside to hear good news from me.

When it's time, I gỗ for the surgery and it takes about 1 hour. As usual, it is successful and I'm very happy.

After everything, I went out to meet anxious family members who have been waiting.

"I'm happy to tell you that the procedure is successful," I announced to relatives who hug each other, beaming with smiles. "The patient is resting and will be transferred to a room where you will be able to see him in the next one hour. I'm on my way home. Have a great day."

"We thank you so much, Doctor Blake," said one òf the family members. "We are glad you accepted to do this surgery despite the fact we didnt have enough money. We would be happy to be of help to you in the nearest future."

"Thanks for your kind words, bút it's my work and I'm ready to do it at all times," I told them.

I then go to my office/clinic, pack my things and head for the hospital parking lot where I slide into my car and drive home.

Upon getting home, I acknowledge greetings from our maid and was heading towards my room when I mệt our butler who told me that my dad wants to see me immediately in the study.

I knock the door of the study about three times until I hear my father say "come in." Then I opened the door and went in.

Hệ threw some papers in front of me and said "sign them."

"What are these Dad?" I asked him without actually going through what he was asking me to sign.

"You are to transfer to me all of your mother's inheritance, also all your personal shares in the company should be forfeited back to the company."

I began to wonder if this is the reason why he was calling me home from the hospital.

"Bút father, I believe you already know my stand on this issue. I had already transferred everything to you. I told you I'm not interested in my mum's inheritance and also you should do whatever you want with my shares. So, I don't need to sign anything, father."

"Yes, it is true you told me verbally about those things, but you know you will soon be married and your husband will have access to your inheritance. I don't want that to happen so I think it's important to take care of that while you are still unmarried. So, I want you to sign, okay?" he said.

I reluctantly signed them, not because I'm interested in any inheritance, but because he insisted.

"One more thing before you go to your room," said my father. "Your sister needs some money. You have to transfer some money to her," he said.

My father has been forcing me to transfer a huge part of my wages to my stepsister ever since I started working as a doctor. That is part of the maltreatment I suffer in the hands of my father and his wife.

"But I just transferred money to her two days ago," I protested.

"Yes," he said, staring at me with a hard, cold look. "She has finished spending the money and needs more."

My stepsister spends all the money I'm forced to give her on luxury items like shoes, bags, wristwatches and the like while I have very little or none of such things.

The little I have, apart from the things my mom gave me before she died, are the things I'm able to buy from my "undeclared income."

Yes, I didn't disclose all my income to my father. I hid part of it. Otherwise, he wouldn't mind asking me to give everything to the miserable girl he calls my stepsister. That's how bad the oppression is.

But I intend to register my displeasure with the situation once again.

"But father, don't you think it is unfair to give her my money when she sits at home doing nothing?" I asked my dad.

"Maria, you have a very good job as a doctor, while she doesn't have the kind of opportunities you have, that's the more reason you should give her money whenever she asked for it. Stop complaining and transfer some more money to her right away, ok?" my father orders.

I reluctantly bring out my phone and transfer money to her account.

"You can go now," said my dad after he was satisfied with the amount I sent.

When I return to my room, I hit my bed quickly to catch some sleep, but not before setting my alarm to 6 PM.

By the time I woke up, it's already 6 o'clock and I know I have to prepare quickly to make the appointment at 7. I dash to the restroom to take a quick shower and then choose something simple from my closet to wear. I'm not someone who spends a long time in the closet looking for something sophisticated to wear. Just something that fits and I'm good to go.

My choice of shoes are simple, too, because as a doctor, I put on shoes that enable me to move around quickly in the hospital environment where I work.

I arrive at the AJ Russell Restaurant at exactly 7 o'clock and ask the staff whether a certain Rick Blake has arrived. I'm told he's already at the VIP section.

I didn't find it hard to locate a very confident, almost cocky young man sitting at a corner.

"Hello," I greeted.

He didn't answer straight but just stare at me briefly and said "take your seat."

He looks at me from my head to my toe, almost contemptuously. I don't like the way he regards me. This guy looks so arrogant. No wonder he cut off the call when he called me.