Chapter Eight: Lines That Blur

The door closed behind Selena with a sharp click, sealing the office in a silence so thick Iris could feel it pressing against her skin.

Nathaniel didn’t look at Selena immediately. His back was to her, shoulders rigid, hands resting on the edge of his desk like he was grounding himself. Iris stood a few feet away, heart racing, acutely aware of how small the room suddenly felt.

“I told you,” Nathaniel said calmly, though the tension in his voice betrayed him, “this is not the place.”

Selena laughed softly. “You’ve never minded before.”

That was when Nathaniel turned. His gaze was cold, firm, unmistakably final. “Things have changed.”

Iris’s breath caught.

Selena’s eyes flicked to her, slow and deliberate, scanning her from head to toe. The smile she wore was polite, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “So this is her.”

Iris straightened her spine, refusing to look away.

“This is my trainee,” Nathaniel replied sharply. “And you will respect her.”

Something dark flashed across Selena’s face. She stepped closer, heels clicking softly. “You’re getting awfully protective over someone you barely know.”

Nathaniel didn’t hesitate. He moved, subtly but unmistakably, placing himself between them again. His arm brushed Iris’s, the contact brief but electric, sending a shiver straight down her spine.

“That’s enough,” he said.

Selena’s lips parted as if to argue, but then she smiled again. Slow. Calculated. Dangerous. “Fine. I’ll leave. For now.”

As she walked out, she paused at the door and glanced back at Iris. “Careful, sweetheart. Hospitals have a way of chewing up girls like you.”

The door shut.

Silence rushed back in.

Iris realized she was holding her breath.

Nathaniel exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair. When he turned to her, the hard edge in his expression softened, replaced by something else. Something intense. Something unsettling.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

She nodded, though her heart was still racing. “Yes.”

He studied her for a moment, as if trying to decide something. Then he stepped closer. Too close.

“You don’t deserve that kind of treatment,” he said. “From anyone.”

“I can handle myself,” she replied, though her voice came out softer than intended.

“I know,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean you should have to.”

The way he looked at her then made her chest tighten. His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before snapping back to her eyes. The air between them thickened, charged with something neither of them was acknowledging out loud.

“Let’s continue your training,” he said abruptly, turning away. “Cath lab.”

The cath lab was colder, quieter, filled with the low hum of machines and the steady beep of monitors. Iris tried to focus as Nathaniel explained the procedure, but his closeness was distracting in ways she’d never experienced before.

“Watch closely,” he said, standing behind her as they observed a procedure through the glass. “Cardiology isn’t just about knowledge. It’s about instinct. Timing. Control.”

His voice was low, close to her ear.

She nodded, swallowing hard.

When they moved to practice on the simulation equipment, Nathaniel guided her hands again. This time, his touch lingered. Not accidental. Not rushed.

“Like this,” he murmured, adjusting her grip. His fingers wrapped around hers, firm, steady. “Feel the rhythm. Trust it.”

Her breathing grew shallow.

She could feel him behind her. The warmth of his body. The controlled strength in the way he moved. The contrast between his professional tone and the intimacy of the moment made her pulse race wildly.

“Nathaniel,” she whispered without thinking.

He froze.

Slowly, he lifted his hands away from hers. For a moment, neither of them moved. The monitors beeped steadily, oblivious to the storm brewing between them.

“That’s not appropriate,” he said, though his voice was strained. “You should call me Doctor Hale.”

“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, cheeks burning.

He turned to face her. Their faces were inches apart.

“Iris,” he said quietly, deliberately, “you make this difficult.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know,” he replied. “That’s the problem.”

The words hung between them, heavy with meaning.

A nurse passed by outside the glass, glancing in, curiosity clear on her face. Nathaniel stepped back instantly, reclaiming his composure, the walls snapping back into place.

“Go home,” he said firmly. “Rest. Tomorrow will be more demanding.”

She nodded, gathering her things, her body still humming from the proximity, the almosts, the unspoken.

As she reached the door, his voice stopped her.

“Iris.”

She turned.

“Whatever happens here,” he said carefully, “I won’t let anyone make your life difficult. Not Selena. Not anyone.”

Something warm unfurled in her chest. “Thank you.”

She left the lab with her heart in chaos.

Outside, the hospital buzzed with life, but Iris barely noticed. Her thoughts were tangled with Nathaniel’s voice, his touch, the way he had stood between her and Selena without hesitation.

She didn’t see Selena watching her from the far end of the corridor, eyes narrowed, phone already in hand.