STEPHANIE

"Stephanie!" I hear my sister's voice and realize that I overslept once again.

"I'm in the room!"

I get up immediately because she will start criticizing me again if she finds me in pyjamas, I take my tracksuit from the closet and pull it on as fast as I can. I feel like a teenager who will be criticized by her parents for sleeping through the day. Nicole is completely irrelevant that I am twenty-four years old because she will always treat me like a child.

I somehow tied my hair in something that should be a ponytail and went out to greet my sister.

"If I hadn't come, you would probably have slept through the beginning of your own shift," she said as soon as she saw me.

"That's not true, I woke up about half an hour ago," I protested.

"Sure, and your hair is tousled because you just dried it ..."- she sighed. "You know that I absolutely can't stand two things, and that is violence and lies."

"Why didn't you set the table?" You are so lazy and irresponsible that it transcends all boundaries.

"Says the person who got us a maid." I defended myself.

"Don't you dare to criticize me, you know very well that my twelve-hour job gives you the luxury of living in the centre of Manhattan. Magda only occasionally cleans and cooks for us. "

I wouldn't admit it to her, but none of us could dedicate ourselves to maintaining the apartment because of her career as a maxillofacial surgeon and my residency. We barely managed to see each other. One would come home from work, and the other would always be ready to go. It has become something we are used to.

I knew she was exaggerating, like she always does, but I was somehow trying to justify it by her sudden growing up and accepting the role of my guardian. I can't even imagine how much strength it takes to study, work and take care of a teenage girl. She was for me and still is a father, a mother, a professor and an older sister.

"Are you even listening to what I am saying?"

Her annoyed voice brought me back from my thoughts, I could see the anger on her face. Why could she be all nice and kind at work but become an unbearable person at home?

"I was just thinking about what it takes to become as grumpy as you..."

"I'm going to take a shower and change my clothes, I'm too tired to argue with you," she shrugged.

She headed to her room and this really surprised me. She must have had a really tough day because she is always in the mood for criticizing her younger sister. She and I are general opposites, in fact, I think that our love for medicine is the only thing we have in common. I was a more relaxed sister; eager for fun, life, fun, and travel. The one that could only be serious in the workplace.

I set up the dining table and brought out a bowl with lunch that Magda had prepared. The kitchen smelled great so I believe my sister forgot to give her a menu this time. Without our maid, I think my sister would have turned me into a vegetarian in no time.

Nicole replaced her dark blue scrubs with comfortable black leggings and a classic white T-shirt. She liked to give the impression of a respectable and independent woman, which she achieved by wearing sophisticated business dresses and high heels, although I have to admit that she succeeded because she had a long waiting list at her clinic.

"Does the lady like everything now?" I joked when she sat down, and she looked at me grimly.

"We need to talk."

I wondered what I had done wrong this time because this never ends well, but nothing came to my mind. I paid all the parking tickets, and skillfully hid the one for unsafe speed so that could not be a problem. I really don't know how I'm always so lucky that they write me one ticket for fifteen minutes of shopping. It's not my fault that the malls have too few parking spaces, and I usually have to rush the hospital ...

"I want to talk about your taste for men," she said calmly as if that was the most normal topic of conversation.

"Nicole, I really don't plan to talk to you about that, that's my personal thing that shouldn't have anything to do with you ..."

"It must concern me, because, as I have already said, the last one was an alcoholic, and this one is a criminal. What's about you and bad boy type of men? "

"Alex is not an alcoholic, he just likes to have a few drinks when he goes out, that's what most young people do today for your information ..."

"And this one was shot, is that even what most young people do today?" I sighed in disbelief, she definitely knows how to hit where it hurts the most.

"One day you will be so stubborn and reckless that you will return to my apartment and cry because you are pregnant with a man of questionable occupation!"

Now she has definitely exaggerated, even I had my limits of patience for her interfering in my life.

"At least my child will have a grumpy aunt who will grow old on her own because instead of taking care of your own non-existent love life, you have decided to meddle in mine! My emotions are mine, not yours!"

"Stephanie, don't you dare!"

"I am done with this argument!"I abruptly got up from the table and headed to my room.

I understood her concern, but she has no right to ask me about deep down personal feelings She gave herself too much freedom when it comes to my love life.

I heard her calling me, but I ignored her. I need time to get ready for another shift in the hospital and to calm down after that conversation. I took a shower and pulled on turquoise blue scrubs, then tied my hair in a high ponytail. Looks like I'm going to have to eat some fast food again instead of a cooked meal.

I heard a knock on the door, but I didn't want to talk to my sister right now, it both took us a while to cool down. Nicole kept knocking, and I kept ignoring her.

"Stephanie, please open up, I'm sorry I exaggerated it. I had a really tough day at work and you didn't deserve it. You know I'm just worried about you ..."She quietly apologized to me.

I was now in doubt, thinking whether I should open it or not, but I gave in because she is the most important person to me, and will always be, and I didn't want to go to work angry with her.

"I don't want you to ever criticize my choice of men again." I said, and she just stayed quiet.

I believe she wanted to say something but still decided to keep quiet and pulled me into a tight embrace. I was surprised by her action but hugged her back.

"Come on, you must be hungry."

"You have no idea how much." We both laughed at this.

She was lucky that I usually forget about all our disagreements because of the food. We continued to talk about my residency and she listened to me with interest, giving me advice, because she went through it all herself.

I don't remember the last time we talked like this, but I really appreciate this, because at the moment she was just my friend and sister.

"Stephanie, look what time it is, you'll be late again" She interrupted our conversation by looking at her watch.

"You always have to ruin the moment..." I laughed, "Come on, one ticket more or less."

"Get your shoes on, I'm going to get your bag. " She began ordering again.

"The keys are on the dresser," I said to her as I put on my comfortable white sneakers.

"Here you go," she said, handing me the keys and the bag, I don't even know how she managed to be so fast.

She gave me a short lesson related to respecting older colleagues and nurses, but I didn't listen to her because I've heard this story a thousand times so far.

"You have to admit that scrubs look awesome on me," I interrupted her, changing the subject.

"Get out, until I lose my temper."

She seemed to realize that I was trying to annoy her and laughed out loud. She usually couldn't stand my work-related jokes because she took everything too seriously.

"See you then in the morning," I kissed her on the cheek and left the apartment.

"Drive carefully!"

As soon as I arrived at work, I notified the nurse on duty about my arrival and asked her to inform my mentor about it, and I took the patient chart and headed to the office. I flipped through the papers to see what awaited me. The evening would begin with a seemingly harmless hand injury.

The moment I was supposed to enter the office, I heard the nurse on duty calling me, I just hoped it wasn't some serious car accident... I don't like to start the shift with the resuscitation of someone, because after that the whole night goes somehow wrong.

"Dr Bennett..." she paused to catch her breath before she continued.

"Your mentor told you that the chief of surgery is expecting you in his office." She smiled at me.

"Me?" I looked at her in disbelief: "I'm sure you confused me with someone, I heard that there is also a doctor in the dermatology department with the same surname as mine..."

"I was told to let you know."

"Thank you, anyway, and where is his office?"

I had never been to the part of the surgery where the offices are located before. I was in the operating room, but that was all. However, no one invited the trainees to the offices, they would usually call us or send us a message through the nurses.

"I'll take you there," she smiled sweetly at me.

"Thank you," I thanked her sincerely, and she led me to the surgery department.

Neither of us started a further conversation, and that gave me time to think about what one head of department would want from me. If I had done something wrong, my mentor would have criticized me, but this way I didn't know what I was up to. I rewound memories of previous shifts, but nothing but that Leo seemed tied to the chief.

The nurse knocked on the door, smiled at the doctor informing him that I had arrived, and he thanked her. He stood up and extended his hand in greeting, and it took me a few moments to realize that I needed to shake his hand.

It seems to me that he is in his early sixties. He was wearing a business suit that seemed more expensive to me than my car. I knew the chiefs were rich, but I didn't know how much until this moment. His job did consist only of smiling and visiting rich patients, although I did not expect something like this. There was something in his appearance and attitude that made me instantly dislike him.

"Dr Bennett, I've heard a lot about you," he smiled falsely at me.

What did I do when I agreed to remove that bullet from that man?

"I want you to know that you will always be welcome in the surgery department. You know we have one of the best residencies in the country."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm interested in anesthesiology, no offence." I replied, confused.

"No problem, if you have any problems, feel free to contact me..."

"Excuse me?" I looked at him in astonishment, not believing what I had just heard.

"Your relationship with Mr Anders will be just between us. I'm sure you know how influential he is, and he's one of the greatest benefactors of our hospital..."

"What ?!" Now I was definitely amazed.

"I met Mr Anders last night and my attitude towards him was exclusively professional. I accepted to heal his wound and that's it." I was honest.

I can only imagine the stories circulating in the hospital about me, so I didn't even know who that man was. Why did everyone seem to know everything about him except me?

After a long persuasion with the chief, I somehow managed to explain the situation to him, and after that he nicely kicked me out of the office, saying that there was an emergency. I returned to the emergency room where I was informed that an unknown man with roses was waiting for me in the on-call room.

Could this evening be any more awkward?

The only thing that came to my mind was Alex because he had been begging me to make up to me for some time, but my decision was clear. I was ready to yell at him because I warned him not to make scenes for me at work.

"Dr Bennett..." I recognized that dominant voice before I even saw it.

"I can't believe it...", I said more to myself, but he gave me a puzzled look.

"Mr Anders, what brings you here?" I asked him, "I hope the wound doesn't cause you any problems."

"Call me Leo," he smiled broadly at me.

"I wanted to thank you for your help, but since you refused the check..."

"You decided to bring me flowers and get me into even bigger trouble." I continued instead.

"Did someone create problems for you?" He didn't look angrily: "I can fix that..."

"Don't fix anything, just go," I rubbed my temples, my head starting to hurt from all of this.

"Stephanie..." he handed me the roses.

Why did his voice have to be masculine? The mere sound of his voice was enough to make me feel chills pass through my body.

I accepted the bouquet because I knew I wouldn't just get rid of it, and then I headed for the door.

"You thanked me, you're welcome, and now I have patients who are waiting for me."

"Would you like to go out to dinner with me?" I stopped and turned to face him.

Did he just ask me to go on a date with him? I was tempted to accept, but I remembered my sister's strict lessons.

"I'm sorry, but I don't date patients," I said briefly.

I saw the astonishment on his face; he looked at me silently, blinking a couple of times. He was so irresistible, he looked like a lost child.

"Excuse me?" He spoke dominantly.

"You don't seem to be used to rejection, but my answer is no," I left the room, slamming the door more than necessary to atop the temptation, and then I continued running because I was tempted to return and accept.

Well, he looked like the most perfect man I've ever met, and I just turned him down.

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