Dr Anderson
In no time, I arrived at the entrance of Dr Sofia's office, panting due to the pace with which I walked down.
The nurse who had stood in for Sonia was long gone as it was already late. From outside the office where I stood, I could hear Dr. Sofia's voice interacting with the ever-gently-speaking Mr. Crawford.
Just as I stretched my hand to knock on the door, a particular statement caught my attention - it was from Dr Sofia.
"Will you pay William the money he demanded?"
"I already did, Sofia. Just let it go." Mr Crawford replied.
"But why did you oblige?" Dr. Sofia pressed on.
"Come on, Sofia, you know what we stand to gain if this experiment is successful." Crawford said in his usual polite manner.
"I know all about that, Crawford.""Sofia's voice came on.
"This is five hundred thousand dollars. It is the balance for the young doctor. Ensure you give him the complete payment this time." Mr. Crawford warned, and my eyes widened in shock. Does it mean I was cheated the last time?
"Crawford!" Dr Sofia protested weakly.
"We have to keep them happy all the time, it is the only guarantee for a continued partnership," Mr Crawford replied.
"Anderson will do my bidding, happy or not."
At that comment, I made a U-turn, towards my office, feeling used. Whether or not Sofia authorized Stuart's transfer, is none of my business.
I was angry with myself for allowing Sofia to use me as though I was some puppet. I knew I had to do something, but the fact that she had something on me made me powerless against her.
I was too infuriated to be surprised to see Sonia still in my office.
As I sat down on the same sofa I sat on before, I made myself promise to not take out my anger on her. Instead, I thought of ways to send her out of the office without hurting her feelings. For unknown reasons, I hate hurting her.
"Dr Anderson," She called and I fixed her a hard stare, hoping she would take that as a hint. But she was too worried to notice. She is Sonia.
Without flinching, she continued, "Did the surgery go well?" She asked.
"Now is not the time, Sonia," I replied, suppressing my anger.
"But I…" She started to say.
"Don't you know when to shut it?" I screamed at her and watched as her face fell in embarrassment.
"Just go" I said, ever softly, after some time - to calm the tension.
She rose from her seat timidly and walked straight to the door. Her face crestfallen, still.
Sonia's shrill cry prompted me to look up just as she hurriedly stepped out of the way, giving room for Dr Sofia who stepped into the office with an air of indifference.
"Leave us, Sonia." Dr Sofia ordered without sparing her a glance.
With a fearful expression, Sonia scurried out of the office, leaving Dr Sofia and me alone in the office.
"Anderson dear." Dr. Sofia called seductively, once the door was shut. The air of indifference had now given way to sensual desires.
She dropped the paper bag I didn't realize she was holding on my desk and walked straight to me. Her shadow cast darkness over me as she came and stood above me.
Sexily, she reached for my arms and wrapped them around her slender waist. When I didn't tighten my arms around her waist as expected, she pulled my head to rest on her waist. My arms which hung loosely around her waist came off. I made no move or attempted to match her vibe.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, shoving me aside. She was pissed and I liked it.
"Are you seeing Sonia now?" She asked suddenly, and I glared at her.
"Forget about it." She said apologetically, walking back to the table where she picked up the paper bag that she dropped there a few minutes ago.
"This will cheer you up." Dr Sofia said, walking towards me with the paper bag in her hand.
"You have yet another payment from Mr Crawford." She said, smiling.
"Oh." I could not think of anything to say.
"You wanna guess how much it is?" She pressed further, in a bid to cheer me up, but I was in no mood for that.
"How much is it?" I asked, hoarsely. I hadn't intended to sound hoarse but my voice had come out so. I saw Dr. Sofia's surprised expression but I wasn't bothered.
"Here, see for yourself." I heard her cold reply just as I felt the paper bag drop on my thighs.
"I guess I will be heading home now," I said, standing up from the chair where I sat.
When I walked past her towards the door, I heard the sound of footsteps as she walked behind me.
"Anderson." She called, and I stopped in my tracks.
"Is something wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing is wrong, I'm just exhausted," I said, turning to face her. I realized my mistake just then as she took two steps to cover the distance between us.
"Let me help you relax." She said in the same seductive tone she had used earlier. Her hands pulled me along farther into the office where she made me sit down on a rocking chair after which she proceeded to massage my shoulders.
The contact she made on my shoulders got me irritated. All I wanted was to go away from her presence. I have always considered Dr. Sofia as hot, but not tonight. The thought that she might be cheating me left a bitter taste in my mouth. Speaking of cheating, something hit me just then.
"How much is the payment?" I asked again, this time my voice was gentle and much more convincing.
"It's two hundred grand, I convinced Crawford to make it so." She replied.
How convincing?
If I hadn't known better, I would have been fooled. I didn't realize I held her hands to stop the massage until I felt her struggling to pull away. I got up suddenly to protest but on second thought I changed my mind.
"You are very kind. Thank you so much, Dr Sofia." I replied with feigned excitement.
"It's Sofia, remember?" She corrected, grinning.
"I need to get something done, now that I have this," I replied, biting down the protest I felt welling up in me.
"Don't tell me you are leaving me." She said with a pout.
"Sofia dear, I need to get something done. It is really important." I said, taking her hands in mine. When she didn't bulge, I lifted her hand and kissed the back of her palm. She smiled just then, and, God! How I hated that smile.
I left soon after, relieved to have finally gotten away from her.
Dr Sofia's POV
As I bid Crawford goodbye, I contemplated within myself how to split Anderson's money. There was no way in hell he was getting the complete payment. Crawford can go to hell for all I care.
"Don't forget what we discussed. In full." He said tactically, to keep the people around clueless.
"Of course," I replied just as he stepped into his car. I watched him start the car and drive out of the hospital's garage after which I headed back to my office.
By the time I got to my office, the decision had been reached to split the money in two equal parts but after sharing the money in two paper bags, I counted fifty thousand dollars from the paper bag which was marked Anderson, and then, added it to the other.
When I saw Sonia scurrying out of Anderson's office, I felt a pang of jealousy surge through me. It is a good thing I had his money reduced, I thought.
At first, I was alarmed by his apathetic behavior towards me. I feared he knew about his payment but when I asked myself how, I pushed the thought out of my mind. Crawford wouldn't know about it, for sure; and if he did, he wouldn't dare tell Anderson.
"How much is it?" He asked again in a mild tone and I was certain he had no inkling of it, and I relaxed somewhat.
He had stood up so suddenly from his seat that for a moment, I imagined him striking me.
But it turned out he had something important to attend to.
I watched him kiss my hand in the same lovely ways he usually does and took his leave right after.
Within me, I hoped nothing was going on between himself and Sonia.