The Billionaire Doctor's Distraction

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Two Weeks Ago...

Asher was scrolling through her f*******: feed when the notification dropped. She stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the email icon, afraid that opening it might make it disappear. When she finally tapped it, the words blurred together at first. She had to read each sentence three times before her brain could accept what her eyes were seeing.

Then she screamed.

Jesse came running from his room, his PS game controller still in hand. "What happened to make you want to give me a heart attack?"

"Guess!" Asher was beaming, her eyes still glued to the screen, reading the email for a fourth time just to be sure. "Just guess!"

"Out with it." Jesse lunged for the phone, but Asher raised it above her head, laughing. The joy she felt made her giddy.

Jesse turned to leave, muttering about girls being drama queens, but Asher caught him from behind, dragging him back to the living room.

"My research project won an award, Jesse. I'm finally going to study in Switzerland!" She shoved the phone in his face. "It says the award dinner is Friday after our convocation ceremony. And I'm supposed to leave for Switzerland by month end."

Jesse spun around so fast he nearly knocked Asher over. "Oh my God! You did it!" They grabbed each other's hands and spun in a clumsy circle, laughing like children. His game controller fell to the floor and lay forgotten.

"This calls for celebration." Jesse looked around for his car keys.

"What are you doing?"

"What else? We need to go shopping." Jesse grabbed his wallet from the counter. "Or do you intend to attend an award dinner in those baggy joggers and oversized tee?"

Asher glanced down at her current outfit. Grey sweatpants and her Stanford hoodie. The fabric was soft and comfortable, even though Jesse often complained that it made her look too masculine.

"No, I think I'd look stunning in an Armani suit." Asher grinned.

Jesse wagged his index finger, a mock-serious expression on his face. "Not under my watch, babe."

"Okay, I agree, but we should at least get something to eat first." Asher's stomach rumbled as if on cue. "I'm starving."

"Then we'll stop by a restaurant and grab a bite."

"You seem to be forgetting that I'm crashing at your place because I've just been recently disinherited and don't have money to throw around." Her father had sent her packing after he discovered that she'd deceived him, studying medical engineering instead of law.

"Chillax, baby." Jesse pulled a black card from his wallet and waved it like a trophy. "I've got you covered."

Asher's eyes widened. "Where'd you get that?"

He shrugged. "Unlike someone I know, I'm not bullheaded enough to fight my old man, so the money keeps coming."

"Are you trying to say I'm bullheaded?" Asher arched an eyebrow.

"I dare not. A bull is more pliable than you." Jesse grinned, grabbing his car keys from the hook by the door.

* * *

The mall was packed for a Wednesday afternoon. The fluorescent lights were too bright, and the mixture of scents from perfume counters and food courts made Asher's head swim.

Before they left the house, she'd sent a screenshot of the email to Casper with a text: Shopping with Jesse at Westfield Mall. Can you come over?

His response had been immediate: Congrats babe. Be there in 20.

But now, standing in the third boutique they'd entered, watching Casper scroll through his phone while she held a midnight blue dress against her body, Asher wasn't sure why she'd bothered to invite him.

"What do you think?" She turned to face him, the silk fabric cool against her palms.

"Hmm?" Casper glanced up, his eyes unfocused. "Yeah, looks good."

He hadn't even really looked at it. Asher's fingers tightened on the hanger. "You didn't even see it."

"I saw it." He was already looking back at his phone, his thumb moving across the screen. "It's nice. Blue suits you."

Jesse appeared from behind a rack of evening gowns, his arms full of dresses in different shades. "Okay, that blue is gorgeous, but you need to try this one." He held up a red dress against Asher's body. It was sleeveless, with a fitted bodice and a skirt that would probably hit just above the knee.

Asher took it reluctantly. "It's so... red."

"Exactly." Jesse was already pushing her toward the fitting rooms. "You're always wearing dull colours. This is your moment, Ash. Own it. Remember, half of the school will be there."

In the fitting room, Asher pulled off her hoodie and jeans. She stepped into the blue dress first. It fit well, hugging her waist before flowing out slightly at the hips. It was classic, safe. She tried to imagine her father's expression if he saw her in this. Would he approve?

The thought made her pause. Why did she still care? He'd made it clear what he thought of her choices.

She tried the red dress next. The color was bold, demanding attention in a way that made her uncomfortable. The bodice was tight, and the skirt showed more of her legs than she was used to. She tugged at the hem, trying to make it longer, but the fabric refused to cooperate.

"Come out, let me see!" Jesse called from outside.

Asher stepped out of the fitting room, her arms wrapped around herself. The store's air conditioning raised goosebumps on her exposed skin.

Jesse's face lit up. "Holy s**t, Asher. You look hot. I think I might just take back my words about never falling for you."

"It's too much." Asher turned to the three-way mirror, seeing herself from multiple angles. "I look like I'm trying too hard."

"You look like someone who just won a prestigious award and deserves to celebrate." Jesse adjusted the straps, smoothing the fabric across Asher's shoulders. "What do you think, Casper?"

Casper looked up from his phone. His eyes widened slightly in surprise before his expression smoothed into something unreadable. He gave Asher a quick once-over and shrugged. "The blue one was better. Less... I don't know, attention-seeking?"

Something sharp twisted in Asher's chest. She'd expected him to say something sweet since it was his first time seeing her in a gown. She turned back to the mirror, studying her reflection.

The dress was beautiful—she could admit that. But standing here in it, she felt exposed and vulnerable, like everyone would be able to see through the fabric to all the ways she didn't measure up.

What will people think when I show up in this?

And her father. God, her father. If he somehow saw photos from the event, wouldn't he think she was being frivolous? Wouldn't he use it as more evidence that she wasn't serious about her career? She could almost hear his voice telling her mother about how the daughter she raised had put half her body on display.

"I need to think about it." Asher went back to the fitting room, her hands shaking as she unzipped the dress.

"Ash, come on." Jesse's voice came through the door. "You love it, I can tell."

She did love it, but the problem was what impression it would give others.

Hungry, they ended up at a café in the mall's food court. Casper had left minutes ago, making an excuse about an appointment he had to keep. Asher was pretty sure she'd seen him texting someone named "Bri" repeatedly, but she didn't have the energy to ask about it.

"You're doing that thing again," Jesse said, studying Asher's furrowed brow as she stirred her iced latte with unnecessary vigor.

"What thing?"

"That thing where you overthink until you've talked yourself out of something good." Jesse leaned forward, his expression serious. "This is a huge deal, Ash. Your research is being recognized internationally. You should be over the moon."

"I am excited." Asher smiled in an attempt to conceal her doubts.

"Then why do you look like you're going to a funeral instead of an awards ceremony?"

Asher wrapped her hands around her coffee cup and took a sip. "I'm just wondering if it's even worth going." The thought of having so many eyes on her raised goosebumps on her arms.

"You're scared," Jesse said, looking her straight in the eyes.

"I'm not scared."

"I can tell from your face, Ash. I'm not one of the guys you can fool with your tomboyishness." Jesse reached across the table and grabbed Asher's hand. Asher pulled her hand back, wrapping both arms around herself. She didn't want Jesse to notice the slight tremor in her fingers.

"Maybe I could just call in sick. They could ship the award to me, and I'll just prepare for the Switzerland trip."

"Asher Bennett, you try that and I will personally drag you to the ETH board myself. I don't care if you hate me afterwards." Jesse's eyes flashed. "You've worked your ass off for this. You deserve to be there, in person, accepting your award in a gorgeous dress that makes you feel like the badass scientist you are."

Asher sighed and took a deep breath.

"Okay," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll go. But I'm wearing the blue dress."

Jesse opened his mouth to argue, then seemed to think better of it. "Fine. But I'll ask them to pack the red one too. Just in case you change your mind."

Asher managed a weak smile. "Deal."