The Billionaire's Widowed Assistant

Chapter Five

*****

Vicki watched Ethan answer the door. She could smell the Chinese food from here.

Yum!

General Tao’s Chicken! Her Favorite!

She looked over to Katherine, who was still blushing. It was hard not to when he put on the charm. She knew that from experience. She had felt it when she started working for him. It had taken her a while to stamp that down. Once she had gotten used to it, she was able to ignore it or hide her fluster when he tried to lay the charm with her. She had learned how to hide it and pretend that he did not affect her in any way. She grinned at Kat, enjoying her being flustered. Kat glanced back at her embarrassed.

All four of them ate in silence, Vicki could barely stomach to eat, even though she was starving. Every bite caused her pain. She chewed slowly, painfully. She noticed that Ethan kept glancing at her, concerned, then quickly away with a different, unreadable expression. As lunch drew to a close, she also noticed that Ethan kept looking at his phone.

Ah!

Ethan needs to get to work.

He needed to leave.

A sudden shaft of fear shot through her.

Why was she afraid at the thought of him leaving?

Slowly, she shook her head. “Thank you Ethan, Margaret, for all that you have done. You both can go about your day. I will be fine.”

Ethan and Margaret’s eyes shot to her face, worriedly. “Are you sure? We would be happy to stay.” Ethan said. Margaret nodded in agreement.

Vicki smiled sadly and continued, “There is nothing either of you can do here. You have already been most generous. I could not possibly take up anymore of your time.”

Ethan hesitated, giving her a hard look for a long moment before agreeing, “Okay, but please let me know if you need ANYTHING!”

Vicki agreed, and Ethan took a step toward her, before pausing, bidding her and Katherine a farewell, and strode determinedly from the room.

Margaret made to follow, but pause and looked from the closed door back to Vicki, “I will visit you tomorrow with lunch.” She walked to the door murmuring something that sounded like, “Blind…can’t see…right in front of them.”

Vicki looked at Kat in confusion, but Kat just shook her head.

“Kat, can you go get me a new phone. I… do not…”

Kat cut in, “I understand, Vic. You do not need to explain.” And with that, she gave Vicki a quick hug and left.

Within moments, Vicki was on the phone calling the office. “Hello, Deborah. This is Vicki White…Yes, I know that I missed work today. That is why I am calling…I have been…sick. I am currently in the hospital…No, it is nothing to worry about, though I do not know how long I will be out…Yes, of course I will bring a doctor’s note in…No, you do not need alert Mr. Wright, he is already aware…The main reason that I called, is I need you to assist me in picking someone to sub for me in the office, while I convalesce…I need someone that has a great work ethic, and is always on time with their work...Yes, that relates to my next request, this person should be nondescript, not attention searching…You already have a few ideas? Great! Who?...Richard Maxwell? Yes, he does good work…Kelly Ramirez? She does have a lot of experience…Kara King? She has shown a lot of potential, but not much experience. I don’t this she is ready for this responsibility. Kelly, is wonderful, but I think that she may see it as a step down, since she has indicated that would like to become a supervisor. Feel free to ask her, but at this moment, I think Richard would do a great job…I am so glad that you agree. One last thing. Could you have Richard, or someone else, that you can spar, bring me my laptop …Ha …Ha ...Ha… Hospitals are so boring. This would ensure that I can assist Richard should he have any questions, as well as forward any emails that need immediate attention…Yes, my doctor is aware that I am going to be working while here.” Vicki saw her doctor come, she nodded at him. “Deborah, I need to go, but if you could have someone bring that by in the next couple of hours, I would really appreciate it. Thank you, here is my room number. Great! Have a great rest of your day.” Vicki looked up at her doctor. “Hello.”

“Hello, Mrs. White. We did not get to talk yesterday. How are you feeling today…well other than apparently, trying to get back to work when you should be resting.” He gently chided her.

She grinned sheepishly, “Well, I feel sore, obviously, but other than that, I feel like I should get going, I have kids to take care of and work to do. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. And promptly swayed and started to fall. The doctor swept her up in his arms before she hit the floor. Vicki grabbed her head. “Whoa, head rush. I didn’t feel that coming on.”

“That’s because you have been through the ringer, so to speak, in many different way.” The doctor continued, “Now, let’s get you settled back in bed and we can begin.”

“Begin…what?” She said nervously.

The doctor gently laid her back on the bed. “Well, to begin with, “I am Dr. Rosenburg. I am your attending physician here. I was here when you were admitted. I spoke with Mr. Wright early this morning. Now, we are going to check to see how your injuries are doing. While we do that, we can discuss what happened to you.” She stiffened. “I can call a nurse in if you are uncomfortable, a phycologist, or we can even switch you to a female doctor.”

A tear trickled down from the corner of her eye. “That’s okay. I just don’t like dwelling. I like to just move forward. For my kids.”

The doctor sat in the chair next to her, “I can understand that, but as you may know. If you receive a wound, and do not clean it properly, it can and will become infected. If that happens, you have to have that wound opened up, aired out and must begin the healing process again. That included the wounds that you cannot see.” She looked into his eyes. “I just want to make sure that ALL of your wounds heal the first time.” She nodded to him, as another tear escapes. “Okay, let’s begin with assessing your injuries.”

Carefully, not wanting to spook her, checking under the bandages up and down her legs. She remained stiff, and her breath hitched as he checked bandages higher up on her legs. When he completed, he had her lean forward to allow him to check the injuries to her back. She moaned with pain when he began checking her stab wounds, and the bullet hole. Then he handed her a second hospital gown and asked that she put it on with the opening in the front, and take the other one off. She stared at him in momentary horror, before nodding. He pulled the curtain around her bed to afford her some privacy.

“Ready,” she whispered.

Slowly, he pulled the curtain back. To distract herself, she began stared at the doctor. He was clean shaven. His chin was strong. While his coat was a little big, she could see that he was lean, he was muscular. Even with the darkness that surrounded her, she could appreciate how attractive this man that stood before was. Then he parted the gown and touched her stomach. His gloved hand was gentle and warm. Vicki fought to keep her panic down as he examined the wounds on her shoulders. He removed his hands from her and went to stand at the end of her bed. “Mrs. White,” She looked at him surprised. “I need to check the…the remaining area. Don’t worry, I will stay here and won’t touch you. Please part your gown, when you are ready, and I will just give it a quick look see.

She hesitated, and then finally parted one side of the gown and then the other. She kept her eyes on his face, fearful, seemingly waiting for him to pounce. She watched as he viewed her torso stoically. When he nodded and turned away, she swiftly closed the gown and put the other gown on overtop of it. He returned the chair by the bed.

“Please begin when you are ready.” He spoke softly.

Vicki shook her head, trembling. He reached his hand to cover hers at it lay next to her leg. “Mrs. White, You are such a strong woman. Not many people men or women could endure what you have and still come out swinging on the other side.”

“Dr. Rosenburg…”

“I would like for you to be able to confide in me, so please, call me Blake, please.”

“Vicki,” she whispered.

“Vicki. Now we sound like we are old friends. So tell me, friend, about how you got in this condition.” He released her hand.

Vicki trembled uncontrollably as she envisioned what had she was about to say.

He sat still and quiet, almost like a statue, his face blank.

Taking another deep breath, she began. Starting with the interview again. He cut in only once, inquiring why she was job hunting. Uncaring in the face of what happened since, she briefly told him of her financial difficulties with her house and having five children. His face remained without a trace of emotion as he nodded. She continued, going through the abduction, waking up, handcuffed in the car. Trying to escape, the beating, the knife wounds. She started sobbing uncontrollably, as she choked out the details of her r**e. When she looked up, she saw that while his face was still, his eyes betrayed him, showing the sorrow and the anger that he felt. She completed her rendition with her escape and long walk to Ethan’s house.

“Vicki, do you even know how incredibly brave and strong you are?”

She looked at him, wide-eyed. “Me, I’m not strong. Did you not hear what I said?” She inquired,

“Yes, but let me tell you what I heard.” Her head tilted as she looked at him, listening. “I heard that you are a strong woman with kids, fighting to save her home. I also heard that even when you were restrained, you tried to and eventually succeeded in not only escaping, but injuring your attacker and finding help for yourself. And when I walked into the room, I saw a woman that would not give up. Your drive is so strong, you are completely unstoppable when you are set on a path. Try to see that in yourself. Everyone has weaknesses. Everyone has hard times, it is what you do when you are down that defines us.”

Vicki sat there thoughtfully as the Doctor excused himself from the room.

Was that true?

Was she really that strong?

She fought back, sure, but what choice did she have. Stay there and die? What would happen to her kids if that happened? She didn’t have any family anymore, and she was not on speaking terms with Jake’s family. They had not even communicated with the kids since his funeral.

She brushed all thoughts away from her, as she lean back and decided to try to rest some more.

She felt like she had just fallen asleep, when the door to her room Swung open and banged into the wall. She jerked upright in bed, startled. The person she saw stroll into her room was the very last person that she expected.

Confident, and carrying her laptop bag, was Suzanne, wearing a red, tight miniskirt with 6 inch stiletto heels and a black lacy halter top, that barely covered her bosom, and left her midriff completely exposed. Vicki sat silently, just shaking her head. Work appropriate attire was something that Suzanne did not understand at all.

Suzanne sat Vicki’s computer bag down against the far wall. Blunt as ever, she said, “What the hell happened to you?”

Vicki just shook her head and said, “Thank you for bringing my bag.”

Suzanne walked over and stood over her bed. “This is priceless.” She wiped out her phone and took a picture of Vicki before she could block herself. Suzanne studied the injuries of Vicki’s that she could see. “Somebody worked you over good. Your boyfriend?” Vicki just glared at her. Suzanne grabbed her wrist, forcefully squeezing and twisting where the handcuffs had bruised them. Vicki bit her lip, holding in the pain. “Well, at least you are out of my way.” She release Vicki and strutted over toward the door. “Don’t worry, I’ll give Ethan your regards.” She smirked and slammed the door behind her.

Vicki held her wrist limply, trying to control her breathing. She waited a quarter of an hour before calling the nurse. She told the nurse that she twisted her wrist trying to get out of bed. The nurse looked at her skeptically, then called the doctor.

Dr. Rosenberg walked into the room a few minutes later. The nurse explained what Vicki had said happened. The Doctor walked over to Vicki, and silently held his hand out for her arm. Vicki looked down as she held her arm out to him. Efficiently, he probed her wrist. When he rotated it, she cried out in pain. “Vicki,” he paused until she looked him in the eye. “Your wrist wasn’t strained from your …incident…last night. When you ‘twisted’ it” he raised one eyebrow at her. Vicki lowered her gaze, “I believe that you your wrist is now sprained. We will need to take X-rays to confirm. He asked the nurse for a wheelchair.

While she was gone, he assisted her in sitting up. “Vicki,” he said soft and low. “You didn’t just twist your wrist, someone did that for you, right,” Vicki just looked down and did not reply. “Vicki, look at me.” She responded to the firmness in his voice. When his eyes met hers, he insisted, “You have the RIGHT to not be assaulted, especially in your hospital room.” She nodded. “What happened?” he questioned.

“A subordinate, from work. She dropped off my laptop, but she… well, she doesn’t like me…” her voice trailed off.

“I’ll call the police, so we can make a report.”

“No.” Vicki insisted. “I will handle it, but in my own way.”

Blake, confused, just shrugged and nodded, “That is your decision to make.” She heard him mumble, “even when it is the wrong one.”

Vicki glared at him. The nurse returned with the wheelchair to see Vicki glaring at the doctor. The nurse’s eyebrows raised when the doctor tenderly handed her into the chair. The nurse began to push Vicki out of the room, when Blake walked over, and assured the nurse that he had the time, so he would be escorting Vicki to radiology, and took the handles from her and began pushing Vicki. From the corner of her eye, she saw the nurse standing there with her mouth hanging open, in shock.

What was so shocking.?

That was weird.

To her astonishment, Blake stayed with her while she was waiting to get x-rayed. Even more surprising, was that he seemed to be waiting there for her when she returned.

Was that normal?

Certainly, the smile that he sent her way when he saw was not normal.

Or was it?

Maybe he was just a player or natural flirt.

There was no way that it was anything else.

Was there?

Who was she kidding, any other thing that might have crossed her mind was completely impossible.

Wasn’t it?

Besides, the thought of any type of relationship, physical relationship, filled her entire being with so much fear, that she almost had a panic attack.

Brooding and confused, Vicki rode quietly back to her room. Kat was waiting inside for her holding a new phone.

Upon seeing her visitor, Blake, while still courteous and kind, was more professional as he assisted Vicki in transitioning from the wheelchair back to the bed. “Mrs. White, I put a rush on your x-rays and I should know within a few minutes. I will wait in the hall for the page from the radiologist.” He nodded to both women and left without another word,

“Who’s the stud muffin?” Kat whispered.

“That is my Doctor, Dr. Rosenburg.”

“He is so dreamy,” Kat sighed.

Weirdly, Vicki seemed irritated by Kat’s observation.

Wait.

Why was she irritated?

There was no way she would ever have a relationship, especially with her doctor.

He could see whoever he wanted.

For that matter, He could be married.

Oh God! What if he was married?

Worse! What if he was trying to cheat on his wife?

Whoa! She needed to rein herself in. She was jumping to conclusions. He could just be caring.

That was it. He was just trying to be nice to her.

To console her after what had happened. Maybe to make her feel like she was attached to someone else, to ground her emotions.

She and Kat visited for a few minutes before Blake entered the room with a knock. “Well, Mrs. White, I have some news regarding your x-rays. Your wrist is badly sprained. I have the brace right here for you to wear. You will need to wear this for 4-6 weeks, before we can take another x-ray to see how the healing is.”

Kat looked alarmed, “Sprained wrist? What are you talking about? Vic didn’t have a sprained wrist this morning!” Her voice became accusatory, “Are you people sleeping on the job? You should have seen this earlier!”

Vicki cut in, “Kat, it is not his fault! I twisted my wrist an hour ago.” The doctor cut his gaze to her sharply. Vicki slightly shook his head.

Kat swung around to her, “You did? What happened?”

Vicki just shook her head, “It was stupid. It doesn’t matter.” Kat looked at her suspiciously. She always knew when Vicki was lying. Vicki watched Kat glare at her. Then Vicki silently pleaded with Kat to just let it be.

Kat, her face angry, mouth set. “Fine,” she gritted out.

Blake looked back and forth between the two women, before shaking his head, ruefully. “Well, I’ll come check on you later, Vicki, I mean Mrs. Westfield.” Kat’s gaze flicked to Blake, astounded, and continued to stare until he had left.

“You are on a first name basis with you doctor?” She questioned.

“Yes,” Vicki shrugged, matter-of-factly.

“Your hot enough to burn a woman with just a look, Doctor?”

Vicki shrugged again, “I guess so.”

Kat laughed, “Only you.”

Vicki looked up at her, confused, “Only me, what?”

“Only you would have two of the hottest men that I have ever seen hovering over you!” She laughed.

“What are you talking about? No one is hovering over me,” Vicki insisted.

“Are you serious? You have had the ear of Mr. Wright for almost a year now. And don’t think that I didn’t see how he was looking at you earlier. Now, you have this lick-worthy doctor wanting to take care of you every need.”

Vicki snorted, “I do not know what you are talking about!” she insisted hotly. “Mr. Wright is just concerned, since I showed up at his door, in a…a ghastly condition. And as for Dr. Rosenberg, He is just a nice man, trying to make me feel more comfortable.”

Kat just shook his head, “You are so blind.” She laughed. Then she continued, “I got you a new phone, had your phone number transferred. It is ready for you.”

Vicki nodded her thanks, “How are my kiddos doing? With…with everything that has been going on, I… I…”

Kat cut in, “You don’t need to worry about them. They are fine with me. The nanny that Mr. Wright sent, is a god-send. She helps me with everything, allowing me to spend time with each on their own. You should call them before bed. They are really worried about you. I just told them that you were sick. I didn’t know what else to say.” She shrugged.

Vicki nodded and said, “I’ll call in a hour about 6 pm.”

Kat, “Do you need anything else Vic?”

Vicki, shook her head, “ I just want to not think about it and go home.”

“Well, as much as I want that too, If your kids saw you right now, they would really freak out.”

Vicki looked at her, “I haven’t had the courage to look in the mirror yet, but if I look as bad as I feel, I must look like death warmed over,” she tried to chuckle darkly.

Kat just looked at her, “Vic, stop. You do not need to pretend with me. I see the pain in your eyes just as well as I see the bruises and wounds on your body.”

Vicki sighed, “I know. I just can’t help it, you know.”

“I know. Just try to remember, that you do not always have to do everything alone. It is okay to ask for help, or let someone in.” You will end up pretty lonely, otherwise.”

Vicki nodded, not really listening.

Kat, knowing that look, just shook her head, “Well, I’m going to head out. I promised to make dinner tonight.”

“Sure, I’ll call you around 6.”

“Okay”

And with that, Vicki was alone again.

Why did Kat think those two men could have an interest in her? Both of them could have any woman that they wanted. There was absolutely no reason on the face of this earth why either, let alone BOTH would be interested in her.