Chapter 10: I wasn’t talking to you, Alpha

Nat's POV

Thalie crosses her legs, her voice filled with arrogance even though she is smiling. "I hope you realize now that I'm more than qualified for this position."

The supervisor gives an awkward chuckle. “Well! Natasha will be with us for one more month. Plenty of time for you to learn the ropes together.”

“She is planning to resign?” Ivan speaks, his gaze snapping to me, his voice laced with surprise.

I ignore him, instead flipping through the files in my hand.

He averts his gaze when the supervisor answers. “Yes. Unfortunately. She is one of our hardest workers. I’ll miss her dearly. But one can’t stand in the way of greatness. Wherever Natasha goes, she’ll excel. I know that."

Thalie snorts, the sound filled with ridicule.

The supervisor’s gaze moves between us, and one could almost see the question mark on her forehead.

I shake my head. “I’ll take my leave now.”

The supervisor nods, yet Thalie raises her hand. “How about I come with you? I would love to observe."

Ivan quickly grabs her hand. “Thalie, you have to consider your health. What you need most is rest. Have you forgotten what the doctor said?”

Thalie pouts. “She keeps bringing up qualifications this, qualifications that. I want to see her fabulous expertise works. And she only has a month! I have to get started, shouldn’t I?”

Ivan’s brow furrows and he nods. “Uh, yeah, that’s right. But not now, okay? There are still plenty of time left."

“Ivan…” she whined, her voice dropping to a low, intimate pitch that made our supervisor suddenly find the wall calendar fascinating.

But the two are clearly having their main character moments and are in their own worlds.

Thalie reaches up, cupping his cheeks in both hands, her tone shifting to one of childish pleading. “I know you care about me. And I appreciate that. It makes me feel wanted and loved. Thank you, Ivan. However…”

Her voice drops even lower, akin to a murmur. “Your care… I’m so used to it that I think I’m becoming spoiled. So even when my health is obviously not good enough, I know you’d be there for me. Right?” She stares into his eyes, her own shining.

“Whenever you’re with me, nothing feels impossible. I know you’d have my back as always. So Ivan… You will come with me, wouldn’t you?”

[I’m impressed.] Noelle mumbles with both disgust and admiration.

I clench my fist, watching Ivan nod and smile ear to ear with flushed cheeks. He doesn’t give an answer, but the way he clasps his hands with Thalie tells a lot.

[What a nice friendship they have.] Noelle mocks.

Meanwhile, the supervisor turns to me, and as much as I want to say no, that I don’t want these two with me, I know damn well I’d have to give a sensible reason. And at the end of the day, there is no guarantee that they would actually understand or listen.

They both are the type to do whatever they want without any consequences.

My hand clenches.

Just a few minutes.

I’d be done with them.

And also done for today.

I can do it.

Taking a deep breath, I walk out of the office, with them following.

I put on the disposable surgical mask over my nose and mouth, tie my hair into a neat bun, and slip into my long white lab coat, the sleeves rolled just above my wrists.

I turn to the two who look like doomed couples, unwilling to let go of each other’s hand. “Put on these.” I snap, holding out the surgical masks.

My gaze stays on Ivan as I ask, “Do you seriously want to come in with her to a patient's room? This is not a gallery.”

He dodges my gaze and looks elsewhere. “Of course. I’ll be worried if she is left alone. You know, her health is not good. And she’d totally exert herself in my absence.”

[What a beautiful, pure friendship.] Noelle mocked.

Thalie holds his arm, smiling sweetly. “You’re not jealous, Nat, are you?”

I don’t bother to respond. “Keep your distance once we get there. Just observe from the back. No interfering. You can do that, can’t you?”

Thalie tilts her head. “So many rules.”

“I only ask two things of you. I wonder how you survived under Dr. Mirabelle if basic clinical decorum is so elusive.”

Ivan frowns. “Nat, that’s too—”

“I wasn’t talking to you, Alpha. And if you are so concerned, perhaps you should be in your office, governing, instead of strong-arming your way into a medical assessment. Or does your title only serve to help you bend rules for her?”

Without waiting for thier replies, I turned on my heels. “Follow me.”

Pushing open the door to Room 3, my eyes collide with the patient. A young woman whose story is quite… deep.

Her hair is tousled from sleep, and her face is as pale as paper. Her blue eyes light up at the sight of me, and a small smile curls on her lips. “Good morning, Nats.”

I return the smile while asking, “How did you sleep?”

“It’s better now,” she says softly, her eyes wandering to the two behind me.

“The new intern. She is here to observe.”

“Okay.” She gives a little nod, then waves shyly. “Hi. Thanks for coming.”

There is no response from the two. I squeeze her hand gently to reassure her before finally beginning the assesment.

I begun from gently palpating her abdomen, explaining each movement. “Remember how we talked about relaxing the pelvic muscles? Try to breathe slowly for me.”

Freya nods, cheeks flushing slightly. “I… I’ll try.”

As I lean down gently to adjust the position of a pillow to make her more comfortable, there is a sudden warmth that makes me freeze.

The room turns quiet, and the sound of liquid is especially loud.

The patient is the same. Her eyes wide, and a mortified whisper escapes her lips.

Years of practice instantly kick in and I grab a towel. “It’s okay,” I say in a whisper, staring into her eyes reassuringly. “Accidents happen, especially with your recent surgery. You're good.”

Until there is a snicker, low and mocking.