The Arrangement

Chapter 4

Ellie's P.O.V: 

    After dropping Ollie off at daycare, I begin my commute to my Job at Georgia Regional Hospital. I love my job, but these days I dread walking through those doors. Everyone stares at me and gossips about how my soon to be ex-husband, Dr. Steven Arthur, left me for the gorgeous Dr. Abigail Pennington. As I finally reach the elevator and press the button to call the elevator I am approached by none other then Steven his self. 

    "Good morning Ellie" he says with a smirk, while running his hands through his slicked back hair. 

    "Good morning Steven, An it's Eleanor to you. Only my friends and family get to call me Ellie" I say with a cold expression. 

    "Oh, come on Ellie. Why can't we just brush this under the rug. We are married for Christ sake" Steven pleads. 

    "Were married. Past tense, you're forgetting about that. I'm sure you have received the papers that my lawyer had sent to yours by now" I continue with an expressionless face while holding back the tears that I feel building in my eyes. 

    Steven's face falls to a frown "Of course I got the papers. I was shocked that you filed so quickly to be honest".

    I quickly forget about the tears building in my eyes as I'm consumed by anger. "Well, what did you expect?! For me to wait around for your fling with little miss perfect to fade away? Uh... I don't think so. How about for once you get your head out of your a** and think about someone other then yourself! By the way Eric is finally home from Iraq, so you can drop Ollie off to him tonight after your done pretending to be father of the year!" Just as I finish what I had to say, the elevator doors open and I quickly rush out. 

    I walk briskly to the nurses station, where I see my friend Bri waiting for me. "Good morning Ellie, rough morning?" she asks with the look as if she already knows. 

    "what gave that away?" I sarcastically joke. "You know, just another day in paradise or h**l depending on how you look at it" I say cracking a smile. "So, what do I have on my schedule today?"

    "Looks like you're scrubbing a c-hyst with Dr. Pennington today..." I can sense the hesitation and regret in her voice. 

    "Seriously? Isn't there anyone else who can scrub this case?" Just as I'm pleading my case to Bri, I am interrupted by none other then the she devil herself. 

    "Well, good morning to you too Eleanor"  her words cutting through me like a knife. "Can't wait to have the pleasure of scrubbing in with you this morning" Dr. Pennington say's with a snicker. 

    Well S**t.

Matt's P.O.V:

    After breakfast, I retreat to my room and shower to get ready for my appointment at the VA. I wasn't really looking forward to this, but if I wanted to get back to duty I have to follow through on the prerequisites. We arrive at the VA and we both check in for our appointments. As we wait in the waiting room for our day full of evaluations, I can't help but think about Ellie and how her day was going. I am so into my thoughts, I almost don't hear my name being called. 

    "Matthew Sullivan?" the medical assistant yell's out.

    "Yup, I'm sorry. That's me" I say while standing. I immediately notice the medical assistants mood perk when she see's me. 

    "Mr. Sullivan, please follow me. Dr. Emilio will be with you shortly. Can I get you anything while you wait?" she asks with a flirtatious smile. 

    "No... I think I'm ok for now" I say as I watch her eye's scan me from head to toe, never once leaving me. 

    "Don't hesitate to call out if you need anything. My names Amber" she says smiling as she exits to the room. 

    When the M.A. is finally gone, I am once again left to my own thoughts. Not too much time passes before the Dr. enters the room. 

    "Mr. Sullivan I presume? I'm Dr. Emilio and I will be your Therapist for the period of time you are here for treatment"  she say's looking at me over the brim of her glasses. "So lets begin, shall we".

    An hour passes and I feel like I've just disclosed my entire childhood to this person. Still I am no closer to her clearing me for duty as of yet. Just when I think I am done for the day, Rogers pulls me to the rehab portion of the VA  for my first physical therapy appointment. Since the accident, I've been walking with a limp. An well after restraining Ellie this morning, the pain in my shoulder was slowly returning. The therapist came out to gather me  and we begin to work right away. Another hour passes and Rogers finds me in the waiting room waiting for him to finish. 

    "You ready to get the h**l out of here?" Rogers says with a smile. 

    "You f**king know it" I reply quickly standing from my seat. "They busted my a** today in there".

    Rogers Chuckles "Well come one then. I don't need them coming out here to torture you again. Looks like we will make back in time for you to meet my douche bag of a brother in law".

    When we arrive back at the house, I quickly retreat to my room to shower. I put on a pair of basketball shorts and a white v neck before heading back down stairs. When I walk onto the front porch where Rogers is sitting, he throws me a beer. 

    "You look like you could use one of these after the day you had" he says with a smirk. 

    "Damn straight" I mumble as I crack open the beer. 

    Soon after a pair of headlights begin to pull in the drive. I can only assume it's Steven. Oh how I can't wait to see what this a*****e looks like. As the car pulls in to park. A tall man about my height steps out of the car. His hair black as night and slicked back with what I can only assume is a pound of hair gel. 

    "Steven..." Rogers shouts out in a cold firm tone. 

    "Eric... Good to see you too brother" Steven says with sarcasm echoing in his tone. 

    "It's Major Rogers to you Dr." Rogers snips back. 

    "Ellie told me you were back today when I saw her at work. How have you been? Drinking again I see" Steven says opening fire towards Eric. 

    "How I am and what I do is not any of your concern. However, what you should be concerned about is my sister and that adorable son of yours "Rogers counter fires. 

"What you do if my concern, Major. As long as my wife and son are living under your roof, what happens here is of my concern" Steven says with a challenging face. I can't help nut chuckle at this a*****e, trying to act all high and mighty after I heard what he did to Ellie. "You have a problem there son?" he says directing his words and anger towards me. 

    "No, I just find it ironic that a man who cheats and leaves his wife would care so much about her well being. Especially after only being married for 5 months" I say as I notice my words beginning to anger him even more. 

    "Why don't you come down here and say it to my face" Steven says with an angry tone. 

    As I get up to leave the porch to step closer to Steven, I hear Rogers interject. "Alright Steven you made your point. So why don't you get out of here before my sister gets home. Or do I have to kick your a** up the driveway myself".

    Steven places Ollie and his things on the porch before backing away quickly. As he gets into his car he shout back to Rogers "this isn't over Eric" before backing out of the drive way. 

    As Rogers holds Ollie tightly, I can't help but feel like I wanna protect him from his own father. The way that smug a*****e walks around acting as if he's god and indestructible just rubs me the wrong way. Not a moment later another car pulls into the drive to park. Out steps Ellie, who looks as if she had a day that chewed her up and spit her out. She looks as if she's been crying. Her eyes reflecting so much sadness. 

    "Hey guys. How was your day?" she sniffs. If only I could have been a fly on the wall to see the day she's had. 

    Rogers walks over to her, passing Ollie to her. "It was a busy one, but nothing that take out and wine can't fix. What do you say?"

    She smiles and walks back to the guest house with Ollie in tow.