Chapter 4 – Another Encounter
1445 Words
I really hope he didn't trail me here or something. He had better mind his business, April thought, wiping the last streak of water across the freshly mopped tiles. The hospital was only a ten minute walk away, after all. But minding his business where April was concerned? That may never be Adrian's business.
He walked straight toward her with a casual arrogance, cradling a cup of latte like a trophy. “Wow, nice one, maniac. You actually work here?”
April ignored him, jaw tightening slightly, and bent to adjust the bucket beside her. Adrian deliberately stepped right onto the wet spot she had just cleaned, his heel smudging the shine.
“Welcome, psycho. You can have a table. Avoid walking on wet floors so you don’t slip or ruin your good shoes.” She gestured toward a nearby table with exaggerated politeness and a stiff sweet smile.
“What did you just call me?” he asked, leaning forward a little, eyes narrowing.
“Do you need a hearing aid?” Her smile didn’t waver. If anything, it grew wider.
“And why are you smiling like a merino? You don’t realize who I am, do you?”
“Welcome, psycho. You can have a table. Avoid walking on wet floors so you don’t slip or ruin your good shoes.” She repeated it almost mechanically.
“What are you? Siri?” He scoffed, then made a little show of “accidentally” spilling the rest of his drink so it splashed out onto the spotless floor.
April’s smile vanished this instant. “Any more dirt on this floor and I will show you what real maniacs do when you step on their toes.”
His brows lifted. “Is that a threat?”
She ignored the question and held on to the mop tightly. He watched her, eyes lingering with something unreadable. “By the way, why are you here? Oh, the best question of the year. You are actually here to make coffee, aren’t you?” He laughed lightly. “Are you closed from the hospital already?”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Were you fired? Or did you get into trouble or something?”
“Mind your business, psycho, and let me be.”
“Alright, if you insist.” His phone buzzed just then and he tossed the empty cup in the bin and walked out hurriedly. "I hope we meet again." He muttered darkly in a whisper before leaving.
Crystal, one of the workers, practically skidded across the floor to reach April. “Oh my God, April! Is he your boyfriend?!”
“No.”
“Uhm… bestie?”
“No.”
“No way! You are lying! You two were so good together, and he doesn’t ever talk to anyone, especially girls, except Mrs. Hills,” another girl chimed in, staring at the door like he might reappear.
“Oh my… he is always super hot and gorgeous and mad at everyone,” Crystal added, clasping her hands dramatically. “But look at the way you guys were playing and arguing!”
April’s irritation flared. “So what’s really special about him?”
Crystal gasped. “Don’t you know? He owns this place and...”
“Where is the coffee girl?!” an elderly man snapped from across the room, tapping his cane impatiently. The girls scattered back to their posts instantly.
Whatever Crystal was about to say, April didn't grab.
The following morning at the hospital, controlled chaos filled the air. The emergency department buzzed with tension. There had been a major, tragic road accident involving passenger buses. Naomi handled the briefing on Adrian's behalf for April’s team.
“Since you guys are still new here, it’s our rule to familiarize yourselves with our environment and mode of operations for the first week before you resume fully next week. Alright, everyone?”
“Okay,” some replied, others nodding nervously.
“Though in very urgent situations,” she continued, raising her voice as another stretcher whizzed past, “If the doctor on duty gives you permission to assist, then it’s okay. So let’s give it our best, okay?”
“Yeah!”
“And don’t ever, don’t ever,” she emphasized, pointing a stern finger, “anaesthetize a patient without knowing their present or previous medical condition. Always check vitals and communicate well with the surgeon in charge.”
April swallowed. Jorge, beside her, straightened up.
“I will allocate you to your different ERs and ORs. First thing tomorrow morning, you are to submit a full report of all the patients you attend to today, their condition, medication, and the results thereafter.”
“Would that be daily?” Larry asked, scratching his chin.
“Professor Adrian Smith will tell you more about it. You will submit your first reports to him when you are done.”
After the briefing, April and Jorge headed toward the elevator for their assigned ERs.
“Jorge, you wouldn’t believe that psycho came to harass me at the coffee shop yesterday,” April muttered, rubbing her temple.
Jorge gasped dramatically. “Wait, really, April? Is he crushing on you or something?” He nudged her with his elbow, raising a perfectly shaped brow.
“Stop saying that, Jorge!”
“Believe me, some guys are like that. They pretend to hate your guts.” He twirled a pen between his fingers.
“There is no ounce of pretense in his blood. The guy is pure reality. He hates my guts inside out.” She smirked a little. “But should have seen the way I talked him down. I’m sure he left with a bruised ego.”
“Why am I yet to see him? You said he works here, right?”
“Yep.” she replied just as they stopped in front of an elevator.
The elevator dinged open, and there stood Lu and Adrian Smith.
Lu’s face immediately lit up. “Oh my goodness! You actually work here? Come on in. What floor are you heading to?”
April hesitated for a moment before stepping in with Jorge. Adrian stood stiffly in the corner, arms crossed.
“Lu, glad to see you too. I’m a new intern here.”
“Oh… you just resumed today?” Lu asked.
“Yes and no.” She clasped her hands nervously. “I could have resumed yesterday but… some stuff happened. I left early.”
“Why? Because you left way early,” Adrian said flatly, not even glancing at her.
She gave him a sharp stare. “I wasn’t talking to you. Why do you have such a serious problem with minding your business?”
“Did you report to the professor of your department before signing out?” His tone was calm and controlled.
“Well, I didn’t, because I didn’t get to sign out. And my professor was the one who gave me the leave, not on my own accord. And why am I even explaining myself to you?” She rolled her eyes hard. Jorge winced.
He nudged her gently while Lu’s eyes widened like someone watching a bomb about to detonate.
“What? He is the psycho I’ve been telling you about,” April added bluntly.
Lu blinked. Then slowly turned to Adrian, who still wore that unreadable, emotionless mask. The elevator stopped with a soft chime, and he walked out without a word.
Lu looked torn, glancing between April and the direction Adrian had gone. His phone beeped, and he muttered something under his breath. “I swear I would love to know what that was all about. I’ll see you later. Let’s meet during break at the Rollers.”
Rollers was the coffee shop where they had met previously.
Jorge stared at April. “What the heck, April! He is your psycho?!”
“Yep. What?” April folded her arms, suddenly nervous.
“You really don’t know him?”
“I know he owns Rollers.”
“Is that all?”
“What?”
“He’s our Professor.”
Hot sweat broke out across April’s forehead. “He… really is?” Her voice wobbled.
“Yeah, and that’s not all.”
“What else now?” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer.
“He owns Northwood Hospital and the entire street it sits on. The guy is an actual billionaire.”
Both their phones beeped at the same moment.
Emergency meeting for the Anaesthetic Department.
They exchanged panicked looks.
“He… is Professor Adrian Smith?” April croaked.
Jorge gave a weak, almost pitiful nod.
- Writer
