A Game With The Billionaire

Chapter 17:

Andrew:

I had a strange dream last night and weirdly, Samantha was there. She was walking towards me with a smile that she had never given me in real life before and the worst part was that I was anticipating her. I woke up with sweat clinging in my forehead; I tried to push it away as I got ready for work.

There’s nothing to read into, we shared a suite for the weekend, so our forced proximity must have led to the strange dream.

“Good morning, Doctor Andrew.” The nurse at the counter greets me with a bright smile. I am not dumb, and I overheard her telling some nurses that she had a crush on me, but like always, I don’t read much into it and give her a small nod.

As I walk on my floor of the hospital, I almost stumble into a figure.

“Watch it.” I say, annoyed as I steady the person’s shoulders. Sam’s eyes widen in surprise as she eyes me curiously, she has a phone tucked in her ear. She’s already dressed in her scrubs.

A flare of annoyance rumbles through me as the dream pops right into my memory and also, why does she smell so damn good? Also, why am I affected that she smells so damn good?

“Mom, I’ll call you back, okay?” She says into the phone before pocketing it into her scrubs. “Oh, if it isn’t doctor grump.”

“Good morning, Doctor sunshine.” I retort back. Samantha came up with the nickname when she joined the hospital. Unable to accept defeat, I came up with my nickname for her. “You were talking to your mom?”

“Yeah.” All traces of being furious at me are gone from her face. “She wants to set me up on numerous blind dates because apparently, I don’t have a huge crush on you like everyone does.”

“People have crushes on me?” I place a hand on my chest, feigning pure horror. A few doctors passes by us, casting us suspicious glances but Sam ignores them and continues glaring at me. We have always been like this for as long as I can remember, it’s like we were destined to snark at each other since the moment we were born.

Same year, same week, same day, same hospital. You would think we were destined to be lovers, but nope.

“Don’t act coy, doctor grump. Why am I even talking to you right now?” There’s that fiery look in her eye that’s daring me to say something but I won’t. I have always thought what Samantha and I would have become assuming we weren’t bickering at each other all the time, would we be friends? Lovers?

The dream from earlier today rushes in my memory again and I am sure Sam notices something is wrong because her brows knit together in a confusing manner.

“Anything wrong?” she asks, still looking at me.

“Since when do you care?” I didn’t mean to snap but the moment the words leave my mouth, I instantly regret it and I suddenly wish I can take it back.

A flash of something I can’t decipher passes through her eyes but it’s hurriedly replaced by a mask of a straight expression. “Forgive me if I care. I forgot we were sworn enemies.” She pushes past me, leaving the floor. I want to call her back and apologize for acting like that, but I can’t possibly tell her that I was thinking about her. About the dream that was all about her.

When I reach my office, my mood has officially downgraded. I start to look through files for my patients of the day, I see a few patients and when it’s my lunch break, my phone rings.

“Hello?” I approach, seeing that the caller ID displays ‘Jeremy’. I have no idea why my sister’s boyfriend is calling me, but I guess I am about to find out. “Did something happen to Emma?” There’s a surge of protectiveness that follows, being the first child, I have always been protective when it comes to my siblings, I won’t allow speak ill of them in public

I love my siblings with an intensity that can’t be described.

‘The same way Samantha loves her siblings,’ a voice says in the back of my head. Why am I suddenly thinking about her?

“Nothing is wrong with Emma.” Jeremy says a bit awkwardly. “I am in the cafe opposite the hospital; I was wondering whether you’re free. I want to talk.”

“It’s my lunch break anyways, I will meet you there.” I end the call and make my way out of the hospital. Thankfully, the atmosphere is chill this afternoon. I immediately spot Jeremy seated under the cafe parasol, sunlight flickering across his face as he waves.

“Hello.” Jeremy says simply as I sit down, there are three cups of coffee which makes me raise my eyebrows but I don’t comment on it. I have known Jeremy since he was a little kid, considering the fact that he, Emma and Ethan were born around the same time. It’s not my place questioning why he and Emma broke up but it makes me glad to know that they are back together.

“Sorry I am late.” A familiar voice says behind me as I snap my head back, the shock reflecting on Samantha’s face is the same one mirrored on mine. “What’s he doing here?” The question is directed to Jeremy, not me.

Jeremy casts an apologetic face, he out of everyone knows that Sam and I have never been on good terms and we don’t exactly thrive well under the same space. “I am sorry but I need to talk to two physicians to get your different views.”

“Couldn’t you have talked to us separately?” Sam seems mildly offended but she doesn’t leave, instead she slides into the seat, thanking Jeremy for picking up coffee and drinks from the cup (no wonder there were three cups). “What do you want to talk to us about anyways?”

Jeremy coughs, and judging by the look on his face, he looks really uncomfortable. The moment he opens his mouth, Sam launches. “Do you have nutrient deficiency? Or chronic stress? Considering the fact that you have been working hard, I wouldn’t be surprised. Do you have gut issues? Quick, give me a list of symptoms you’re experiencing. Why do you look so pale?”

“I am not pale.” Jeremy looks uncomfortable, poor guy. That’s what he gets for inviting two doctors for coffee. “It’s about my strawberry reaction.”

“Strawberry reaction?” Sam furrows her brows, looking at me for an answer. I guess she didn’t know.

“Jeremy has a strawberry reaction, the smell alone triggers his system, so he can’t eat it, he even reacts strongly to strawberries induced perfume. I have been conducting research, broadening on the psychological aspect.”

“You think this isn’t a normal body allergy?” Jeremy turns to me.

“Yes.” I sigh. “Your system reacts so strongly to it, the other day, you passed out when Emma called me over.” Sam is looking at with shock and it’s hard to tell what’s going through her mind, I continue: “I am thinking this is linked to an experience you had in your early childhood.”

“About strawberries?” Jeremy furrows his head. “No, I don’t think I have ever. It’s weird because if I try to think about anything like that, it’s blurry.”

“Well, have you always liked strawberries?” Sam asks. “Maybe you consumed it too much when you were little; the idea of being near to it repulses you.”

“Maybe.” Jeremy lowly says.

“I will continue my research.” I say, this seems to lighten Jeremy’s mood because he nods.

Sam clasps her hand, and leans in. “I want to work on this with you.” Her gaze flickers towards Jeremy. “Is that okay?”

I look at Jeremy, already knowing what his answer will be. “Yes, that’s okay.”

Jeremy leaves immediately, saying he has a meeting he can’t miss. The minute he’s out of sight, she turns towards me. “I know we don’t like each other but let’s try to work together for Jeremy’s case, okay?”

The only thing I can do is nod.

“Good.” She says, standing up.

“I am sorry about earlier this morning, I was crappy to you.” The words come out rushed and she seems surprised because her eyes widen but then she shakes her head.

“Why are you apologizing? You’ve always been crappy to me,” those words punch straight into me. “But on the other hand, I have always been crappy to you so basically, we have both been crappy to each other.”

Still, it makes me feel....strange.

“I am sorry.” I say, which makes her stunned again. “For being crappy to you.”

“I am sorry too.” She says slowly.

And somehow, it feels as though a weight has been lifted up my shoulders. “But this doesn’t mean we are friends.” She jabs a finger in my direction.

“I didn’t think that for a second, Morris.” I smile.

“Good, because we’re still sworn enemies, Roberts.” She flips me off and leaves and somehow, I am still smiling.