Scandalous Desires

Chapter 19

"Hi, I'm Dr. Watson of Halo Htealth Center and Research LabsHalo Htealth Center and Research Labs. Some may call my methods out of the box, but the question is, do they work? With a 100% satisfactory rate from our patients, and an award winning research laboratory, directed by an award winning team of scientists, including myself, we are at the forefront of groundbreaking treatments that have helped many pregnant women, and will eventually heal the world. …."

"Wow," said the Uber driver as she watched the commercial on the mini flat screen attached to the console of the car, "that Dr. Watson can check me out any day. He's so smart and ridiculously handsome. That voice alone would make me drop my panties… for gyn purposes, of course!" She joked.

Micah couldn't help but laugh along despite her slowly subsiding headache and the bad day she was having. She was contemplating texting Hearte and taking the rest of the day off.

"He is a handsome guy, He comes off as very charismatic. It seems even old ladies like him," she replied, remembering similar comments made by an older lady from the Coffee Shop earlier that day.

"You know he's also a genius. He graduated from med school when he was still a teenager and has had his private practice for 10 years now. He's on the top most influential people under 30 list!"

"Wow… I was not at all aware, that's impressive." Micah chuckled inwardly on how into this doctor the Uber driver seemed to be. But she also noted that this doctor seemed to be creating a buzz that probably should be her next story… or her first story, seeing that she never got to do the first one.

****

Walking into Pepito's, Micah was hit with a wave of warm savory smells that almost made her forget that the aspirin she took hadn't kicked in yet.

"I'm here. Where are you?" she texted Elliot, as she looked around. The atmosphere was welcoming, themed in oranges, yellows, and reds. There were a few people scattered throughout the restaurant seated in their booths.

She could see him approaching, his expression jovial, as an older man followed closely behind him. No matter how she felt, seeing his face already started to lift her spirits.

He embraced her, giving her kisses on both cheeks as usual. "Hey beautiful," he said. He looked in her eyes momentarily as he pulled away, a look of concern in his face quickly changed to a grin as he introduced the man who stood waiting behind him.

"Micah, this is Arturo, the owner of this restaurant. Arturo's a good friend of mine, his daughter is one of our models," said Elliot. Micah smiled politely as the grey haired man with permanent laugh lines around his eyes reached out his hand to her. "And....Micah is our newest and most promising reporter at the Daily Times," he said. It made Micah blush a bit as she reached out to shake his hand.

"But as you can see she has brains and beauty," he added.

"Indeed," agreed Arturo, squeezing her hand warmly. "It's a pleasure my dear," he said with a slight nod, which Micah mimicked in reply.

"I'm secretly trying to woo her away from my sister and get her over to Belle," he said with a wink.

"I'm sure either way, this young woman is going to go far…."

"Thank you," she said. The compliment lifted her spirits a little.

"I must take my leave and deal with business affairs. You two are my guests. Order whatever you like, it's on the house." With that Arturo turned and waved as he made his way back towards where the two appeared at the back of the restaurant.

But as soon as Arturo was gone, the concern in Elliot's face returned, "Babe, before you say anything, let's order you a drink. I know you need it." He snapped his fingers to get the bartender's attention. Minutes later they were seated at a booth with Micah sipping a Pina Colada and Elliot drinking a beer.

"Ok, what did my sister do to you?" He asked.

"How'd you know…."

"How can I not know," he said before she could get out her question. "She's my sister," he said with a shrug as he took another sip of the beer. Indeed she is his sister, which made her hesitant to say anything.

"I think I'm ready to be a Belle Model. I'm about to quit with the Daily Times. It's too cut throat for me," she said, shaking her head.

"She sabotaged your article?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"More like, she turned a blind eye to the sabotage," replied Micah with a sigh.

"I'm so sorry babe," he said, placing his hand on hers. Noting her now empty drink he called for a refill.

"I can't believe how Rick played me," she said, rubbing her temples. "All that time I spent researching for it all to be stolen by that womanizing jerk."

"I'm sorry, babe," he said, nursing his beer. He reached out his hand and held hers. "But you know what I'm thinking?"

"What?"

"The best way to beat him is to one up him."

"How?" Micah said, still rubbing her head.

"Just write something better than him. He's clearly not able to come up with this on his own if he had to take yours, right?"

"That's true. But what else is there?"

"That's not the only scandal happening. Just get out there, use that investigative head of yours and find it," he said with a grin.

"Ok. Mr. Peptalk. Are you sure you don't do this for a living?" She said with a smile that quickly left her face as she thought about what she heard in the bathroom. That was definitely a scandal. It was a scandal she didn't care to know about but had no choice but to investigate. Maybe Elliot could help her with that…. She looked at him. He watched her with a supportive look.

"Elliot, I have a question,," she blurted out before she could lose her nerve. It would be asking a lot of him when he barely knew her, but she had to try. "Being that she is your sister you don't have to answer but it would help me…"

"What is it?"

She looked around to make sure no one could hear her and then she slid closer to him. As she inched closer, Elliot mimicked her actions looking around and also moved closer to her a bit too excited for the repositioning.

"I need to ask a personal question…" she whispered in his ear. He wrapped his arm over her shoulder, taking advantage of the closeness.

"If it means you'll stay sitting this close to me you can ask whatever you want," He said with a grin. Micah chuckled nervously, she was still apprehensive about bringing up sensitive info concerning his sister.

"Don't take this the wrong way," she began. He laughed at that statement.

"Mmm…" he said, engulfed by her lavender-vanilla scent. "If you had any idea of what the 'wrong way' is in my mind, you might want me to take it the wrong way," he mused.

"Elliot..., stop looking at me like you want to devour me and listen," she pleaded.

"Can I though?"

"Can you what?"

"Devour you," he took a deep breath of her.

"Elliot!"

"I'm listening," he assured with a grin.

"Is your sister…" she looked around again, as she leaned in closer, "having an affair with Dickson?" she whispered.

"Mmm… Senior or junior?"

Micah thought for a moment… "does it matter!?" she whisper-shouted.

"Well...kind of. Both of them are hot but the senior is taken and the junior is… volatile at best."

"Elliot!" she said exasperated, touching her still aching head. " Please, just answer the question".

"Honestly, I don't know," he said.

"You don't?"

"No."

"No beehive buzz about it?"

"Don't you believe me?" He said.

"I heard something in the bathroom just before I got here about her and Dickson senior. You sure you know nothing?"

"Nada, babe. This is news to me," he said as he rubbed his fingers against the soft smooth skin on her neck. It was so kissable to him.

She looked pensive and drew a breath. Elliot looked sympathetic. "I'll find out," he said.

"Really?" she brightened a bit.

"Sure. Only for you, love," he said with a wink. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed, almost choking him.

"If this is what it takes to get you wrapped around me then I need my sister involved in more scandals," he croaked.

She laughed and kissed his cheek. "Elliot you are the best, you know that?" she said scooting back over as the waitress brought their food. "I owe you big time, just name it."

"Mmmm… just name it...? You sure, because I can name - "

"...Within reason," she said before he could finish his sentence.

"Fine. Within reason. If I do this, then you owe me a date. A real one," he said. "With drinks after…."

"Sure."

"... at my house," he added.

"Of course," she said as she breathed in the aroma of the food on her plate. It looked delicious. "Only for you babe," she said with a wink, mimicking him.

"Mmm… the food is amazing!" she said as she put the first fork full in her mouth. "Arturo is awesome!"

"I'll be sure to let him know," said Elliot

A ping went off from her phone. She picked it up to check. It was a message and video from Alex. She was about to put down her phone but something told her to read the message, which said:

"Remember I told you that I recognized that guy you were researching, but I didn't remember where? Now I remember…"

Then she pressed play.

"Omg!" she said, dropping her fork after watching the video.

"What's up?" said Elliot, looking concerned.

"I just found a lead for my next article!"