015

POV: Sophie

I turned with the intention to yell but it wasn’t Hayes. My furrowed eyebrows relaxed and my lips curved into a smile. 

“Dominic?” his name rolled off my tongue to cover the embarrassment that washed over me. 

I turned to my side, my eyes searching for what to say next. Anything but staring at him directly. My left hand pressed at the top of the door and my fingers tapped on it to fill the silence between us. 

This was the first time he and I were meeting one on one after the car accident. I hadn’t even thanked him for saving my life so I was sure it was going to happen. I had a whole rehearsed speech in my head but now he was standing right in front of me. I couldn't find the words.  

It took a minute before I mustered the courage to speak. 

He waited. 

I took in a breath.

Here goes nothing. 

“It’s nice to meet you,” the words came out croaky. I groaned to clear my throat, hoping he hadn’t noticed how awkward everything was. I went on. “I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life that day—”

“Why haven’t you sent over your medical records as I previously requested,” he cut me off.

I drew my head back and squinted my eyes, bewildered.

Medical records?

The word ran through my mind a couple times before I recalled that I had suggested to Hayes that he take a look at my medical records to prove myself.

I scoffed. 

“You and the entire Laurent family don’t need to care about my health,” my lips spread into a fake smile. “I decide whether or not to show my medical records to anyone”.

He just stared at me, completely still. His eyebrows remained perfectly flat, with no hint of reaction in them. His lips pressed into a straight, relaxed line.

He’s always been like this. 

He was a man of little words and one of no expression too. It was almost intimidating.

“Ma’am, please call another taxi, I’m in a hurry,” the taxi driver demanded. 

“No, I’ll—”

“She won’t be joining you,” Dominic chimed in. He reached forward and I almost cursed myself for stepping aside and letting him. He grabbed the door and shut it. The driver murmured words I couldn’t understand before speeding away. 

I rolled my eyes, my anger shifting from Dominic to the uber driver who couldn’t wait a few minutes to save me from this awkward situation. 

I refused to turn to face him so I wouldn’t have to give another response. I took a few steps till I was inches away from the edge of the sidewalk, giving a gap between me and Dominic. I leaned forward and held up a hand. 

I quietly prayed I would see another taxi in a few minutes. 

Dominic, on the other hand, didn't understand how I was desperate to avoid this conversation. He stepped forward till he was by my side. He faced the street a well. 

I spotted a cab and began waving, hoping to get the driver’s attention.

It slowed for a minute or two then quickened its pace and sped past. 

I huffed and dropped my hand. 

Could Dominic be the reason the driver avoided me?

He wouldn’t let me be if I didn’t have this conversation, huh?

“My request has nothing to do with the Laurent’s,” he suddenly said. 

Then why was he asking?

He could see the curiosity on my face so he parted his lips and added. “If you could call out to me when you were dying, I should at least be allowed to see your medical reports”.

I parted my lips to speak but no words slipped out. I was officially speechless. I didn’t know how to respond to him. 

How the hell did I even have his number in the first place? If I hadn’t called him, we wouldn’t have met and even better, we won’t be having this conversation right now. 

I let my lips spread into a fake smile. I couldn’t show him that I was actively trying to avoid this. 

“Thank you for saving my life,” I changed the topic. 

He doesn’t respond. Instead, he stepped back and gestured towards a car not too far from where we stood. 

Was that his?

“Get in,” he ordered. 

I blinked. 

It was. 

His words didn’t give room for questions or refusal. 

I couldn’t even get a taxi if I wanted to so I gave in.

He began walking towards his car and I followed. 

He pulled the door open when we arrived. I nodded before climbing in. I watched him turn and get into the driver’s seat. 

He revved the engine and in minutes he reversed onto the road and sped down it. 

I looked out the window and watched the trees, cars and passersby to avoid glancing at him. Soon the trees turned into concrete. I sat up. I was so invested in avoiding his gaze that I hadn’t realized we weren’t heading towards my apartment. 

“Where are we going?” I questioned.

No response. 

My heart rate quickened but I waited. I looked out the window again and made a mental trace of the street, hoping I could recognize where the streets lead to. It seemed familiar but it was too fast to determine the location. 

We turned up at a hospital a few minutes later and my eyebrows shot up in surprise. 

I turned to him. 

Before I could ask a question, he answered it for me. “I need to check you myself to determine the nature of your treatment”.

I didn’t say anything. 

I couldn’t.

I didn’t know what to say. 

Everything about this seemed inappropriate. 

He’s my ex-husband’s brother.

“You don’t have to—”

“Your medical case file has been transferred to me,” he revealed. “I’m in charge of your case now”.

He exited the car, leaving me stunned.