Chapter 4

Freya arrived at the hospital the following morning, her body feeling as if it had been run over by a truck; she had not slept well and got up feeling a bit dizzy and nauseous. She couldn't even manage to have breakfast.

She knew that all these symptoms were the result of the stress from the past few days..when she started seeing her patients, she realized she was less focused and even distracted. During a coffee Break Anika approached her.

"Hey bae, are you okay? You look a bit worn out and tired. Did something happen?" Anika asked, visibly concerned for her friend.

You look very bad, did you check if you are really okay, I mean what about a pregnancy test it hasn't been long you broke up with that idiot. Anika cursed.

"Gosh.. no, if I was pregnant don't you think that I, a doctor would know. I'm fine, I think it's just the aftermath of what happened that day in the hospital. Everything was stressful."

As much as she trusted Anika, she didn't intend to tell her about what happened at her house and the whole situation with the mafia. She couldn't risk involving her too. But what bothered her more was the pregnancy suggestion Anika had made, perhaps she should atleast get tested to be sure. She thought within herself.

" Why don't you take some time off? You've been through a lot in the past months and you need to rest."

Freya knew she was referring to the breakup with Wilhelm just a month after her aunt who was her guardian passed away, and more recently, the hospital incident with the Kriegers.

" I don't need to, Anika. I know you love me and are worried about me but I promise I'm perfectly fine. I just need to get things back in order."

"You know sometimes, things getting out of hand aren't necessarily a problem, doctor. There might even be room for better things to happen," Anika tried to cheer her up.

Freya didn't see things the same way. What good had happened since she lost her aunt or control of her life? Wilhelm left her, she faced two gangster's In the early hours of the day, and her routine, concentration and mood were a juggle.

It was around eleven thirty in the morning and Freya had just finished seeing another patient. She accompanied the patient to the reception and was signing some documents when a delivery man approached her.

"I'm looking for Miss. Freya Metzger, I have a package for her."

Freya looked up and saw flowers and chocolates in the delivery man's hands.

" That's me," Freya replied, taking the package and putting in her signature.

Wilhelm observed the scene and heard the nurses whispering at the reception.

"Wow! Look at that, receiving flowers and chocolates. Are you dating someone new and didn't tell us , doctor? So who's the lucky guy? Come on, tell us, we are so eager to know," Freya blushed and tried to contain the nurses excitement.

" Hold on, I'm not dating anyone currently.it must be from a patient as a token of gratitude, that's all."

Freya smiled and looked to the side, seeing Wilhelm standing in the hallway. Wilhelm averted his gaze and hurriedly walked away. Freya returned her attention to the nurses and the things she had received. She picked up the card attached to the flowers and read it.

"An die schönste Ärztin der Stadt. ( To the most beautiful doctor in the city). Tobias Krieger."

The smile on Freya's face immediately disappeared upon seeing that name. Could it be that she was being pursued by that man? She sighed and looked at the items again.

"Girls, why don't I leave the flowers at the reception to decorate and you can eat the chocolate." She pushed the items and walked towards her office.

None of the girls understood Freya's reaction, including Anika, who was also there. She chose to leave her alone for now, but she was genuinely worried about her best friend.

A few moments later, at the reception, it was Wilhelm who was signing some things when a tall, strong, and elegant man appeared at the reception with flowers in his hands. Two men who had accompanied him stood further away, while the handsome man approached the counter, capturing the attention of the nurses and the attention of the nurses and Wilhelm who was there.

" Good morning! Could you please tell me where Dr. Freya Metzger's office is?"

Wilhelm paused his pen in the air and looked at the man. Anika, who was also arriving there, heard and immediately responded.

"Kindly follow me, please." She said smiling.

He smiled at the girls and followed Anika.

"He's handsome! Oh my goodness! Who is that man? Could he be the one that sent the flowers earlier and now he's here to surprise her in person? I'm so jealous!"

The nurses at the reception became all excited, discussing various things. Wilhelm, on the other hand was still there, clenched his teeth, looking at the back of that man heading towards Freya's office. He dropped the pen and left the reception, appearing displeased.

After Wilhelm left, the nurses continued talking, now speculating whether Wilhelm was envious or jealous of the fact that Freya had moved on.

Anika knocked on Freya's door and opened it, only putting half of her body inside.

"Mein Schatz( my darling) more flowers," Anika said, smiling.

Freya furrowed her eyebrows, got up annoyed, and went to the door.

" I don't want any more flowers," she said, finally opening the door and was surprised to see who was there with the flowers in his hands.

" Hendrik?!" Freya said, surprised.

She didn't expect to see that man again, let alone with flowers in his hand looking for her at the hospital.

" I'm sorry, I thought you liked flowers," Hendrik said, apologizing.

" Of course I do, it's just that..."

Freya didn't finish speaking and looked at Anika, who was still there with a silly smile on her face, looking from one person to the other. Freya cleared her throat and gestured for Hendrik to enter her office. Hendrik obeyed, and Freya made a motion with her eyes and mouth to Anika, indicating that she should leave.

Freya closed the door and approached Hendrik.

" Are these for me?" Freya asked, staring at Hendrik.

" Yes, but it seems like you don't like receiving flowers," Hendrik said with a disappointed smile on his face.

" It depends on the sender," Freya replied, reaching out to take the flowers. She turned around and walked to the other side of the desk.

" Have you received flowers of recent, to say that you didn't want them anymore?" Hendrik asked, trying to figure something out.

Freya looked at him, sighing, and extended her hand, inviting him to sit down. She considered whether she should tell him, but knew that Hendrik could find out if he wanted to. However, given that Hendrik was asking directly, Freya bit her lip while she thought, and Hendrik narrowed his eyes upon noticing this movement.

Freya stared at Hendrik again, responding to his question.

"Yeah, I thought those gifts were from the same person who sent me some flowers earlier. Tobias Krieger."

Freya observed Hendrik's reaction as she answered and noticed that the other man looked tensed at the mention of Tobias name.

" So you're friends with Tobias Krieger?" Hendrik asked as if he didn't know they had met before.

Freya shook her head and stood up replying " I'm not friends with that man. I removed a bullet from his shoulder on the same night I met and removed yours, and I suspect you two must have clashed, am I right?"

Hendrik leaned on the chair to stand up, still feeling pain where he had been shot. He approached Freya and looked at her seriously.

"Yes, I was ambushed that day, and I was the one who shot him. But I advice you should stay away from Tobias, he's just a damn sadist who doesn't care about hurting people who have done absolutely nothing wrong to him."

Freya seemed to have detected a trace of concern in Hendrik's eyes.

" I have no intention of being close to him, but from what I see, he doesn't think the same way.", Freya said, sighing.

Hendrik took another step, getting closer.

" If he finds out that you saved my life that night, he may want to hurt you," Hendrik said, extending his hand to touch Freya's face but pulled back his hand.

" I won't allow him to do that. Give me your phone."

Freya handed her phone over, a little hesitant. Hendrik saved his number and gave an order.

"Call me if anything happens, or if Tobias bothers you again."

Hendrik handed Freya her phone back. She took it, looked at the saved name, looked into his eyes again, and asked.

"So, will you protect me if anything happens?"

" Even if you don't want me to, I will gladly do that."

The two of them stared at each other for a while, and Freya blushed a bit, averting her gaze from Hendrik, thanking him.

" Thank you so much Hendrik." Freya bit her lip, and Hendrik approached closer, once again placing his hand on Freya's face, this time not pulling back.

" Don't bite your lips like that. You don't know how it makes you look." Freya let go of her lips and felt her heart racing. With all the blood rushing to her face.

Freya stumbled, her face turning red, as Hendrik continued to gaze into her eyes. The man leaned in, as if about to kiss Freya, but they were interrupted by a few knocks on the door. Hendrik pulled away, and Anika opened the door.

" Sorry for Interrupting your sweet moment, but the director asked for you in his office," Anika said, looking at Freya apologetically before closing the door again.

Hendrik smiled and said he was already on his way out, reminding Freya not to forget to call him. He bade Freya farewell and left the room.

Freya remained by the door, watching as Hendrik walked away, Tobias and Hendrik both belong with the mafia, but for some reason, Freya felt more at ease with Hendrik than with Tobias. There was something sinister about Tobias that emanated from him.

As Freya continued to watch Hendrik's departure, her vision started to blur, and she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness.