"Why? You were.. Were you not thinking about someone when you were looking at me? Who else could it be if not a woman."
Alric’s heart skipped a beat. He was indeed looking at her to see if he felt the same thing as he had felt when he was standing with Nora.
But to his dismay he felt nothing. Not at all. She looked like the nurses in the hospital. She complained like them too. Nora never complained.
One time she had burst on him, he had felt killing intent coming from that young girl not an aggrieved tone. She did not need a knight in shining armor.
She needed nothing. She had her plan ready. This was something new to him when he met a seventeen year old kid. Even adults never looked so sure when they were asked to deal with his brother.
"What! Are you thinking about her again and still claim that you do not have a girlfriend?" she pouted again when he rolled his eyes.
"You think too much. I was thinking about my brother." his tone went cold as he looked back at her. There was no way in the world that he saw Nora as his girlfriend. He was just surprised that a young girl could be so mature. That was it.
She stared at him for a second as if waiting for him to add something. When he did not, she lowered her head and bit her lips.
"Alric, do you not remember that we have... dated in the past too." her face went red and her voice was soft. It felt like the girl was embarrassed to confess it but at the same time, her eyes were filled with love and tenderness as she looked at him.
"For years, I kept thinking about that time. I just could not forget it, could not forget you. But you have changed. You do not care about me anymore at all." She leaned on the table further and touched his fingers.
A sense of giddiness started to fill her when he did not move his fingers away.
"Show me around, I promise I will be helpful in your work too." Alric wanted to push her hands away but he knew everything that happened here would be known to the world. So he only forced a smile on his face.
"I am really busy these days. Mother thought that owners did not need to work. But I am sure you understand." He slowly moved his hand away and took out his phone from his pocket.
"See, there are already five missed calls when it had only been a few minutes." he softly sighed as he showed it to her, making her frown.
All of them were from the hospital. She could see it from the Doctor in their names.
"I can not show you the city but I will ask my assistant to assist you for two weeks until you settle down and then we will sit and discuss what kind of work you can do in the hospital. Is that alright?" His soft words and his fake but gentle smile made her blush again.
She nodded, looking happy again.
"I knew you still cared about me. But you are already settling into your work. I am so proud of you, Alric. When I see you thriving higher and working so hard for it. I wish to be like you too." she whispered when his phone rang again.
"I need to leave now. There must be some emergency in the hospital" he stood up before she could reply. So she could only force a nod.
He turned and attended the call.
"Oh! You picked up. Does that mean we do not need to continue?" a dark voice came from the other side. Alric’s face went pale at once and he waved hurriedly to Amaya and sprinted out of the room.
"No, keep doing that a few more times and then we will see what the result is. Do not give hipes this easily." he spoke in a tensed voice.
The girl who had followed him, stopped when she heard him. The call went off and she picked up her speed again. But the moment she reached him, the phone started to ring again.
"What in the world are you trying to achieve by getting fake calls?" the other side mumbled with a hint of frustration this time.
"Do not ask questions when I am in command. If I say you are not to give up, you are not. There is life on the line." Alric cut the call again and Amaya sighed.
"Why are they calling you when you are not even a doctor? What could you do for them." but she regretted the words instantly.
When he paused and looked at her, she did not have the courage to meet his eyes.
"I mean you look so worn out and exhausted. I was only worried for you. I am sorry." her face looked so helpless as if she would break apart and cry any moment.
"This is my work. I do not mind getting tired because of it. But if you think that work would be tiring, perhaps, you should think about joining the hospital again."
"...." before she could find a proper reply, the man had increased his speed and had already left her alone in the lobby.
No one was looking at her but she knew many eyes were on her. She sniffled and muffled a sob as she left with hurried steps too. Her back quivers as if she would fall breaking apart any moment.
The moment she entered her car Her expressions changed. Her face went cold and calculative.
"Even though you are busy at work, I will find a way, Alric. I will."
"...."