4. More Than A Bystander

Chapter 4: 

Rose was holding on by a thread, but her tiredness getting the better of her was not an option. She thus made sure to splash her face with water abundantly when she went to change. 

She couldn’t believe the man had had the doctor remove his veinous access. But then again, he was a supposedly generous mafia boss, whose contributions helped the clinic greatly. Ergo, she shouldn’t be so surprised really. 

Admittedly, the way he was dressed impeccably and looking so regal as he greeted her should be illegal. It did something to her that left her unsettled. She also shouldn’t be so bothered by his deep gaze, which was not amorous in nature. 

The way he exuded danger was too much not to take notice of it, and she wondered if it was fear that prompted her to act in such a coy manner at times.  

When she changed into her regular clothes, she gave herself a pep talk: Do not let him get under your skin. The man, dangerous or not, needs medical care, and that’s all you’ll be there for. You need not worry about anything but still having a job at the end of it all. 

When she emerged from the changing room, she ran into Daniel, who was still as bubbly as he had been on his dinner break – but then again, he was running on adrenaline and caffeine. 

“I heard you fell asleep yesterday, poor you,” he let out in a soft tone of voice that spoke louder than any words could of his understanding. 

“I was not allowed to rest much after yesterday’s hectic shift,” she nodded at him, a small smile stretching her lips. 

“I also heard the big news. You’re going to attend to Mr Bianchi on a one-on-one basis at his villa,” he let out excitedly, more than he probably should be, and definitely more than she herself was. 

“I just hope I will still have my job by the end of the 10 days, you know?” She told him in a worried tone of voice. 

Daniel held her hands in his, and was soon telling her in earnest, “For the love of everyone you hold dear, live a little. And if the occasion presents itself to shag the man, do not think twice and…”

“Run?” She finished for him before he could. 

He swung her hands around and let out firmly, “No. No. NO! Do not hesitate and do it already. Virgin maidens are only good in historical books.” 

“Hey, I take offense in that,” she pursed her lips, and gave him the puppy dog eyes, which usually worked like a charm on him. 

“You’re done cozying up to…” The very man, who was making her life difficult, spoke up from behind her lovely, bubbly, and sometimes troublesome colleague.   

“This man,” he soon finished, even as Daniel said his name in a murmur, his tone of voice a little bit conflicted before he turned to face the man – and a gasp escaped his lips.

Soon, Rose noticed the mafia boss’ attire in its details, and she soon let out in her strictest tone of voice, “You remove that belt right now!” 

“Why?” The man sounded like a petulant child, even as his hands were already deftly handling said belt. 

“If your wound reopens, so help me god, you won’t hear the end of this!” She threatened, her eyes glaring daggers at the man who was probably neither intimidated nor impressed.

“This, I believe,” he shot in a somewhat infuriatingly careless tone of voice. 

“Best of luck, Rose,” Daniel’s parting words told her he, too, believed she would have her hands full with this patient. 

“I’ll need all the luck I can get, thanks,” was her resigned retort. 

“I am still here. I can hear you,” Roman Bianchi seemed to be somehow amused by the friends’ exchange. 

“So, shall we?” Rose suggested nonchalantly, too tired to care about the man’s opinions at that moment. 

** ** ** 

By the time they were in the luxurious car, one of Roman Bianchi’s men gave her the list the doctor had prepared in advance for what might be needed, and which they needed to pick up from the drugstore. 

“I believe we’ll also need a suture kit,” Rose said as her eyes scanned through the items on the list. 

“I admire your dedication to your work, Rose,” Roman Bianchi was playing with her, it would seem, for how could a man who lived in utter chaos appreciate something so ethical? 

“Thank you, Mr Bianchi. I’ll need to make sure your wound doesn’t get infected or reopened, which will require some touching. I’ll appreciate your cooperation,” she said without batting an eye, despite his intent looks.  

“Naturally,” he said flippantly, almost as if he weren’t the one who didn’t like being touched. 

“I’ll also appreciate it if you didn’t make this any harder than it needs to be,” she said defiantly, knowing full well that her boldness could be fatal, and yet saying her mind nonetheless. 

“You’ll be compensated handsomely,” was his response. 

She understood at once that he was going to be a troublesome patient – the most troublesome she had ever treated as a matter of fact.  

“Oh, don’t give me that look,” he let out in a joking tone of voice, but which had chills run down her spine, “This is a fair trade, I believe. Your time and dedication to patients’ needs for some rest and some good money.”

She was tempted to tell him that a fair trade would suggest that she was willing to treat him at his villa as he demanded, and that was absolutely not the case… but she didn’t have the guts to do so. 

She thus closed her eyes as the car moved slowly to their destination, as per her request, for she didn’t want him to be in any pain. 

Rose didn’t know it then, but she was going to be more than an attending bystander… She was going to step into his world for real.