RESTART

Determination

His p.o.v

I cannot, no, I will NOT marry some woman I never even met, because her father is a crazy psychopath, that would use his own daughter to seal a business deal. I need to think of a way out, as I refuse to participate in this weird human transaction, with a complete stranger.

When the word stranger comes to my mind, it reminds me of that woman. Maybe I was too harsh on her, as she seemed completely lost and you could see pain in her enigmatic blue eyes. Why on earth am I still thinking about her? She is the reason why I am in this mess and she doesn't deserve another minute of my time. Should have I called the hospital just to check up on her. I now wish I would have followed that damn doctor to her office to learn about her test results.

Urrrrrrg! Why am I overthinking about this?

I pick up the phone to call the hospital, not really knowing why my hands don't follow my mind. I find myself pressing all the requested numbers, following the hospital's automatic vocal instructions and just before I lose my temper, I am finally being connected to the doctor's office.

"She left earlier today Mr. Alexander" is the only thing she says before hanging up the phone.

"Wait a damn minute!" I shout to my phone.

I only wanted to know how she was. Why did that annoying doctor shut the phone to my face? She made it quite clear that she didn't like me, but wasn't this very unprofessional of her or something?

Minutes later I am driving on my way to the hospital, wanting to confront that doctor, face to face. I am so annoyed by her behavior and I just won't take it. Who the f**k does she think he is? Does she know who was she talking to?

I reach the hospital and park my car in the parking space designated for the handicapped, not giving a s**t if I get a ticket. I storm in her office and she greets me without even looking at me. They must have informed her of my arrival.

"What can I do for you Mr. Anderson?"

"I was only wondering, if in the so many years that you study to be a doctor, you also take lessons of how to be so very unprofessional towards people that are kind enough to bring in your injured patients?"

"Yes. As a matter of a fact we are taught how to restrain our disappointment towards insensitive selfish humans, that only help someone because they want to feel like heroes. I think there is more behind what you are telling me and that poor woman is your victim. Tell me the truth Mr. Alexander, did she really fell on her own?"

"If you were a man, this would have taken a different direction" I say balling up my fists on the side. "but since you are a woman, I will only ignore your provocative behavior and be on my way. All I wanted to ask before you were rude enough to hung up the phone, was to know if that woman has recovered."

"Claire. Her name is Claire and yes, she is doing much better."

My eyebrows frown closer as I hear the name of that woman. Claire, comes as a crystal clear image in my mind.

"Do you have her phone number? I would like to speak to her." My voice softens.

"Even if  I was allowed to give you that information, I wouldn't, now excuse me but I have a lot to attend to."

I leave the tiny office area and approach the reception desk. I will try to manipulate this old classmate of mine that I saw working here as a nurse. I know it's been thirteen years since we finished high school, but if I recognized her, she surely recognized me, but I hope she doesn't remember everything about me.

I must be out of my mind to think I would get any sort of information from her as she practically hates my guts, but it doesn't hurt to try. I wouldn't blame her by the way, as she was one of the many I slept with during my senior year, while disappearing right after. We had this bet going on about who will sleep with the most girls until the graduation ceremony. Virgins would count as double and this one wasn't even worth to be added to the total as one. She had braces on and I remember her pathetic attempt to blow me, that ended up scratching my d**k with all that iron she had in her mouth. We skipped that part and went straight to the chase. My friends would pick up on her during the rest of the school year and would call her names, like iron mouth and d**k killer. She never spoke to me again.

"Hey Charlotte. It's been too long!"

"Not long enough" she hisses.

"Oh come on, I am sure you don't hold my teen stupid self, against me!"

"Oh, but I surely am!"

"Look, I know I was an asshole. That's what I am here for. I only came to apologise to you for all the s**t I put you through. When I saw you a few days ago, I chickened out and after being tormented with guilt for so long, I finally decided to man up and do the right thing. So here I am, telling you how very sorry I feel for telling everyone about our intimate moment together. I didn't think those jerks would tell the whole school."

"I thought you were just avoiding me."

I see her blushing while forming up a smile on her face and by this point, I really do feel sorry for her. How do women always fall for this s**t and why is she staring at me, mouth-watering and all?

"Uhm.. also I was wondering if you could find my fiancés file. We 'll be seeing another doctor outside of this hospital just to get a second opinion."

I can see her face turning green at the sound of the word fiancé and I know this can't end up well.

"I thought you only came to apologize" she said with sarcasm obvious in her voice.

"Oh I did, I just thought of it now. Don't you think it would be good for the other doctor to have all the results and what kind of tests she already had?"

"Even so, the file can only be shared with the doctor and after a written consent from the patient. Tell them to contact us to explain the procedure."

I walk away only feeling more determined. I have to get in touch with that woman again. Claire... that's what the doctor said her name was. I can't say if all I want is to see if she is ok, because the doctor has already confirmed that. I have other things in mind that make me feel like I may look more alike my father, than I thought. She could actually help me, to get out of this situation I was trapped in. She kind of owes me, considering the fact it was because of her mostly, that I was now in such a big mess.

"Ronan, hey it's Alex. I 'd like to ask you a favour".