PROMISE

CHAPTER TWO

AMANDA

THINGS WERE NOT looking up. Everything was a hot mess. I was late. Late. On my first day at work. I stood unmoving gazing up at the tall hospital building looming over me towards the sky. It stood in its magnificent splendor while l procrastinated going inside.

Seconds and more seconds passed as l took several deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. A welcome sense if nostalgia overwhelmed when l stepped inside. It was strange how a new environment could somehow feel an awful lot like home.

That monumental sense of belonging had diminished over the years to near numbness. I smiled heading further into the hospital. There wasn't any time to reminisce past memories.

After settling my thoughts, l walked over to the receptionist furiously typing away on her computer with a phone over one shoulder. She seemed to be on an important call so l simply leaned over the counter and waited for her to finish her call.

She raised her head like she was seeing me for the first time and returned my smiled.

"Okay Mr Ndlovu. I understand. I'll be sure to take your requests and concerns to the Head of the hospital....yes. I'll be sure to pass her the message. Thank you for calling Pretoria Hospital." She hung up and gave me her undevided attention.

"Hi my name is Amanda Dube..." I started to say.

"Oh you must be the new assistant surgeon. I have been waiting for you." My pulse picked up.

"You have?" I asked.

"Yes. Mrs Smith informed me of your arrival. She instructed me to direct you to her office as soon as you arrived." The cheery smile never left her face even as a few nurses dropped different tons of files over to her. It seemed like she was swamped with too much work for only one person.

"Okay thank you. Let me not take up any more of your time. You seem rather busy."

"You have no idea. We've been inundated with complaints from investors and past patients. It's too much work for one person."

"I'm Lilly by the way."

"Amand...oh you already know that." The phone rang.

"Its okay. You're just nervous. Don't be. You'll fit right in." That made me feel significantly better.

"Thank you." The phone continued to ring and she snorted grabbing it.

"Sorry I have to take this." I smiled.

"Its okay. Can you direct me to her office please?"

She nodded then called over a nurse passing by.

"Thando please show Miss Dube to Mrs Smith's office. She's expecting her." I thanked her and swiftly followed after nurse Thando, my mind thousands of metres away. It was an effort to hide my excitement as we rode the elevator to the third floor. The hospital layout was ao stunning it increased my eagerness to start working there.

We got out of the elevator and then suddenly stopped at a closed door at the end of the hallway.

"Just knock twice then go in." Thando's voice seeped through my subconsciousness.

" I heard you will be joining the hospital as a new assistant surgeon. Best of luck and welcome to the family." Her encouraging smile coerced my own then she turned and went about her rounds.

A few seconds passed by with me just standing there at the door. I stood there trying to calm my racing heart. On the other side of the door stood someone with the power to take away my dream and give it to someone else. It was up to me to make sure that never happened.

I knocked three times and a faint come in reached my ears before l stepped into the room. A tall older woman sat at an nicely decorated desk, her posture so straight like she had trained to sit like that all her life. The same warm smile l had been receiving graced her lips when she made eye contact with me.

"Mrs Smith..."

"You must be Amanda Dube. Our new intern. It's nice to finally meet you." She stepped around the desk a nicely trimmed hand outstretched to take mine. Her handshake was firm and warm at the same time. It was a combination that radiated from her very being. I easily summarised that it was also her personality as she managed such a prestigious and ernomous hospital.

"Its a pleasure to meet you Mrs Smith." I breathed out. She waved the name away.

"Please just call me Samantha. Mrs Smith makes me feel old." I fought hard not to correct her. It wouldn't be a good idea to tell my boss she was old on my very first day. She was also so stunning that her age didn't matter.

With her pale blue two piece suit, sophistication didn't even come close to describing the grace about her.

"Okay um... Samantha. I am very excited to start working and join the hospital."

"Think of us as more of a big happy family. Everybody knows everybody here." Hopefully that was the truth and it made me feel at ease.

"Okay please take a seat while we complete all the necessary paperwork and everything else that you might need to know." It took a little over twenty minutes until we were done.

"Okay that's about it. I have a board meeting that l need to attend in about....five minutes. First l have to introduce you to your supervisor. You will be working under him with several other doctors too. I'm sure there's a schedule to rotate between them with the other interns. Doctor G will explain everything. He's the perfect person for you." Samantha grabbed her phone and dialed a number.

"Candice? Can you get Dr G in my office please? Tell him it's urgent...Yes thank you Candice."

Dr G, it sounded like Samantha knew this particular Doctor very well. It made me wonder if everyone was that familiar with each other. Probably. Or probably not. Either way it made my curious nature pique up.

The day had started rather unpleasantly with me in a panic but the atmosphere and the people instantly put me at ease. There was nothing more l wanted that to put on my scrubs and help people.

It was one fulfilling role that aspired me. I had found out long ago that the more people l helped the more that void in my heart slowly closed up each time.

My dream was to one day open my own free clinic for those that couldn't easily afford the expensive and proper medical care. That was the goal. Hopefully one day wasn't too far. In the meantime I was prepared to climb over any milestones l had to.

"Does everyone call each other with nicknames or its just Doctor G?" She laughed while collecting a few files from the table as well as her tablet.

"Not really. You could say that I know him on a more personal level but during business hours, we treat each other like colleagues. Or rather boss and employee"

Just then there was a knock on the door announcing the arrival of the infamous Doctor. The doctor in question. Also my superior. The person who was going to be my mentor. I debated on whether to stand up or remain seated.

"Oh that must be him. Come in." I was still in my seat when the office door opened and the hairs at the back of my neck stood on end. The atmosphere of the room instantly changed and that earlier nostalgic feeling l had, returned full force. It felt like coming home. Like l was finally at home.

It didn't escape my notice that my heart had suddenly picked up speed. There was something about the energy that was so familiar it nearly brought tears to my eyes. It had been so long since my heart felt whole. That had only been with Kyle. Since he wasn't here it had to be something else. Or rather someone else.

"You wanted to see me Samantha. I hope its important, because I have a lot of work waiting for me." That voice. That deep throaty voice that sent shivers down my body could only belong to one person. I shook my head willing this to be my imagination.

Denying the electricity that crackled on my skin at the feel of his eyes at the back of my head. It wasn't him. It couldn't be. I grabbed the arms of the chair and closed my eyes. Willing it to not be him.

"Yes l did. Remember l told you our newest member was joining us today? I wanted to introduce her to you before l went to my meeting. Then you can show her the ropes."

I didn't catch his response but curiosity and anxiety was killing me. Unable to resist any longer, l stood up from my seat at the table and slowly turned to face him.

"Amanda Dube I would like for you to meet Doctor Kyle Griffin AKA Doctor G your supervisor. And he's also the acting Head of department."