Chapter 5: Crossing the line
1082 Words
After completing her rounds and checking the vitals of the patients, Fiona glanced at the time on her wristwatch.
3:24 p.m.
She let out a slow breath.
He should be done with the conference by now, right? she wondered.
The thought had barely crossed her mind before she found herself heading toward the elevator. She pressed the button for the first floor and waited, tapping her fingers lightly against the clipboard in her hand.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
She stepped inside, leaning against the wall as the numbers slowly counted down. For reasons she couldn't explain, she felt slightly uneasy. William had only been out of surgery for a day. He should have been resting, not attending meetings or thinking about work.
When the elevator finally reached the first floor, the doors opened again.
Her eyes immediately landed on the two guards standing outside William's private room.
Unlike yesterday, neither of them blocked her path.
Without saying a word, they simply stepped aside, creating enough space for her to enter.
A small smile tugged at the corner of Fiona's lips.
"That's more like it," she muttered under her breath before walking past them.
The familiar scent of expensive air freshener mixed with freshly brewed coffee greeted her the moment she stepped into the room.
She paused.
Her gaze quickly found him.
William stood by the window with his back partly turned to her, the afternoon sunlight pouring through the glass and settling over his broad shoulders. The light outlined his tall frame, making him appear even more imposing than usual.
One hand held a cup of coffee.
The other rested on the IV stand.
He looked completely relaxed, as though he wasn't supposed to be lying in a hospital bed recovering from surgery.
Fiona frowned immediately.
"What do you think you're doing?" she asked, walking toward him.
William slowly turned his head, his calm eyes meeting hers.
"I was standing."
"You shouldn't be."
She took the IV stand from him before he could protest.
"Come on."
Without waiting for a response, she gently guided him back toward the bed.
William followed without resistance.
It surprised even him.
People usually spoke to him with caution. They measured every word before saying it, afraid of offending him.
Fiona didn't.
She ordered him around as though he were just another patient.
And strangely...
He didn't hate it.
He watched her quietly as she helped him sit on the edge of the bed before placing the IV stand beside him.
His lips curved ever so slightly.
It wasn't enough to be called a smile.
But it was close.
No one had fussed over him like this in years.
Not since his grandmother.
After she passed away, concern had become nothing more than another form of obligation. His employees cared because they were paid to. His business partners cared because he was useful to them.
But Fiona...
She wasn't pretending.
He could see it in the way her brows knitted together every time she looked at him.
She genuinely wanted him to recover.
He placed the coffee cup carefully on the bedside table before lifting his eyes to meet hers.
"Is this how all doctors treat their patients?" he asked.
Fiona didn't even look up.
She reached for the blood pressure monitor and wrapped it around his arm.
"Stop talking."
William raised an eyebrow.
"That's not an answer."
"It doesn't need to be."
She pressed the button, waiting patiently as the machine did its work.
The room fell into silence.
Only the faint beeping of the monitor could be heard.
A few seconds later, Fiona removed the cuff and nodded to herself.
"So far, so good."
She picked up her stethoscope and slipped it around her neck.
"Take a deep breath."
William did as instructed.
She leaned closer, placing the diaphragm gently against his chest.
The rhythmic beating of his heart echoed through the stethoscope.
Normal.
She moved it slightly.
"Again."
He inhaled deeply.
Satisfied, Fiona removed the stethoscope.
"Good."
She was about to step back when William suddenly caught her wrist.
Her eyes widened.
Before she could react, he gave her a quick tug.
"Ah—"
She lost her balance instantly.
The next thing she knew, she had fallen straight onto his lap.
Her palms instinctively pressed against his chest to steady herself.
For a brief moment...
Neither of them moved.
Fiona could hear his heartbeat beneath her hands.
Steady.
Strong.
She quickly looked up, only to find his face much closer than she expected.
Close enough to notice the tiny scar near his jaw.
Close enough to feel his warm breath brushing against her face.
"What are you doing?" she snapped, trying to push herself away.
Instead of letting go, William's hand remained firmly around her wrist.
A teasing smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"You look nervous."
"I'm not."
"No?"
His dark eyes studied her face carefully.
"Then why is your heart racing?"
Fiona froze.
"You're imagining things."
"I don't think I am."
His voice dropped lower, almost a whisper.
"Why are you so tense, Doctor Fiona?"
She frowned.
"You've crossed the line, Mr. Sterling."
"Have I?"
"Yes."
She tried pulling her hand away again.
His grip wasn't painful.
It was simply impossible to escape.
"You should let go."
"And if I don't?"
Fiona glared at him.
"Then I'll remind you that you're still a patient."
A faint chuckle escaped his lips.
"I thought doctors were supposed to be gentle."
"I am gentle."
"Really?"
She shot him another look.
"Don't test my patience."
"I already am."
"You—"
A sudden knock interrupted her.
Both of them turned toward the door.
"Dr. Fiona?"
The voice came again, louder this time.
"Are you in there?"
Fiona's eyes widened.
She immediately tried to get off William's lap, but his hand was still around her wrist.
She lowered her voice.
"Mr. Sterling."
"Hm?"
"Let go."
His amused gaze remained fixed on her face.
"I don't know..."
Her glare sharpened.
"I'm serious."
Another knock echoed through the room.
"Dr. Fiona? Is everything okay in there?"
Fiona swallowed hard.
If anyone walked in and saw them like this, she wouldn't be able to explain herself.
She glared at William one last time.
"Count to three," she whispered through gritted teeth.
"And if I don't?"
"I'll make sure your next injection hurts."
For the first time, William laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Soft.
Brief.
And surprisingly warm.
Only then did he finally loosen his grip.
- Writer
