CHAPTER 6 : A SURPRISING APPOINTMENT
1190 Words
I still stood frozen, my mind a mess of panic and confusion.
How was I supposed to explain this?
The female worker was walking toward us, eyes sharp and curious, fixed on me as if she had discovered something she shouldn’t have.
Before I could react, his voice cut through the tension.
“After washing it, bring it back,” Vincent said smoothly.
I turned to him, stunned. For a second, relief washed over me. The tightness in my chest eased.
I almost forgot he was the CEO.
In that moment, he felt less like a powerful figure and more like a quiet shield standing between me and the storm.
“Yes, sir,” I replied quickly, taking the key from his hand.
Our fingers brushed briefly. The small contact sent an unexpected jolt through me—nothing dramatic, just awareness.
He drove off without looking back.
The female worker immediately stepped closer, her expression filled with disbelief.
“Did he just ask you to wash his motorcycle?” she asked.
“Wh… what?” I stammered.
She shook her head slowly, pity mixing with surprise.
“I never thought my crush would do that—give a lady his motorcycle to wash. That’s… harsh.”
I couldn’t respond.
Words wouldn’t come.
She continued, clearly enjoying the gossip forming in her mind.
“I heard that when he was abroad, he was very strict with people—especially juniors. I didn’t expect to see it myself.”
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Girl, that’s rough. But you can handle it.”
she walked away.
I stood there, the key heavy in my palm.
He had protected me, but now his image had changed.
Strict.
Cold.
Unkind.
Guilt settled deep inside me.
That night I rode home quietly.
City lights blurred past, but my thoughts refused to slow. Sleep didn’t come.
Rumors spread quickly: the CEO forced an intern to wash his motorcycle late at night. Everyone’s beloved boss was suddenly painted as heartless.
I had unintentionally damaged his reputation. The more I thought about it, the worse it felt. He didn’t hesitate to shield me, yet I stood there silently while people judged him.
I replayed the moment in the parking lot over and over again—his calm voice, the way he made it seem effortless.
He hadn’t even looked annoyed.
That somehow made it heavier.
I wondered if powerful people simply learned to carry misunderstandings quietly… or if he was just used to being misunderstood.
Morning arrived too soon. At work, the stares were impossible to ignore—sympathy from some, curiosity from others, quiet judgment from a few.
No one said anything directly, but I could feel it. I glanced toward his office.
It was empty.
A few minutes later he walked past, greeting staff with calm politeness.
His expression revealed nothing.
No anger.
No frustration.
Just professionalism.
Then he disappeared into his office.
I couldn’t let it stay like this.
Taking a deep breath, I walked to his door and knocked.
“Come in.”
I stepped inside.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning, Juliet,” he replied.
Hearing my name from him made my heart flutter in a way I didn’t expect.
I pushed the feeling aside.
“Sir…” I began, hesitating.
He looked up, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
“Have you spilled coffee on anyone today?”
I laughed softly, tension easing for a moment. “I’m sorry, sir,” I continued. “I couldn’t protect your image yesterday. People misunderstood.” He leaned back slightly, relaxed.
“I’ve heard the rumors. Apparently I’m a strict boss who makes interns work late.” He smiled faintly, unbothered.
That calmness made my chest ache.
“I’ll explain it,” I said quickly. “I don’t want you to be judged because of me.”
“No,” he replied gently.
“It’s fine.” He looked at me—really looked at me. Not as a boss, but as someone acknowledging my concern.
“It’s better if people question me for a while than for you to work under pressure. Rumors can be cruel.”
My breath caught.
Was he really protecting me? His words settled over me slowly.
No one had ever considered how gossip might affect me.
Most people would have defended themselves first. But he didn’t. For someone everyone called cold, he seemed unexpectedly gentle. And that confused me more than anything else.
“But for you,” he added, voice softer, “gossip like that can become bullying. I won’t allow it in this hospital.”
My heart flustered.
He claimed it was about the workplace, about rules. Yet the way he spoke made it feel deeper. “You can go now,” he said.
“But sir—”
He interrupted gently.
“Unless you want to create another rumor.”
I glanced toward the door.
Staff were watching through the glass, pretending to work but clearly curious.
I bowed slightly.
“Thank you, sir.” I reached for the door.
“You can make coffee as an apology,” he added.
I paused, blinking in surprise.
A coffee apology?
Would people think he was taking advantage of me?
The idea made me uneasy.
Still, I nodded and left.
I carried the coffee as requested, but guilt lingered. I didn’t want him misunderstood because of me.
I told myself this had to stop.
I needed distance.
Not long after, the rumor faded.
Life returned to normal—quiet, routine, predictable.
I focused on my duties and avoided unnecessary attention. I reminded myself why I was here: to learn, to grow, to finish my internship. Nothing more.
Then one day, everything changed.
The hospital was busy, and I was recording patient notes when another intern rushed toward me, eyes bright with excitement. “Congratulations!” she exclaimed, grabbing my hands.
I blinked, confused.
“Thank you… but for what?”
“You’ve been appointed as the assistant nurse to Surgeon Vincent!”
My heart skipped.
“Really?” She nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes! You’ll assist in surgeries.”
Excitement and nerves collided inside me. Working in the operating room had always been my dream.
We started jumping and laughing, celebrating. Other staff clapped and smiled.
Then it hit me.
Wait… who was Surgeon Vincent? I stopped mid-spin.
“Who is Surgeon Vincent?” I asked.
The intern stared at me.
“You don’t know?”
“No,” I admitted.
She laughed.
“That Vincent! The surgeon!”
I froze.
“Surgeon… Vincent?”
“Yes! He’s one of the best surgeons here. Studied abroad, top of his class. He came back to work here.”
My thoughts raced. He wasn’t just the CEO’s grandson.
He was a surgeon.
A talented one.
A respected professional.
My assistant role meant I would work closely with him. The idea filled me with mixed emotions—pride, excitement, and a hint of nervousness. Our lives were becoming more intertwined. And I couldn’t help wondering… Was this the beginning of something I wasn’t ready for?
- Writer
