NICOLE

"And that's all for today."

"Okay Ana, thank you."

"Ahh, not to forget in ten minutes, your sister is coming with her boyfriend. They have confirmed the arrival, so this time it is safe."

"Good. Let me know when they come."

"Of course I'll put them in your office and invite you when they come, rest until then. You've had a busy week."

She turns to leave, but then returns.

"I almost forgot, Doctor..."

"What is it now, Anna, what have you left out?"

"Our oral surgeon..."

"What about him again?"

"I don't know how you're going to handle this, but ..."

"Tell Anna, what about Jake?"

"He's gone again today."

"How come he's gone??!"

"Well, he's gone. He only told us this morning that he was prevented from coming to work."

"So what time is this in these two months? What's the way? What does he say when he comes back?"

"Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

"What does ‘or’ mean? No ‘or’, since I asked when he's coming back ?!' I thundered at Ana and repented the same second.

"I don't know, he didn't say, and I asked."

"I know Ana, I'm sorry I'm weak on my nerves these days. Please forgive me."

"Don't worry about it, I know it makes you angry when they're irresponsible about their work, and you work a lot these days."

"Possibly, but I don't have time to rest."

"Nicole, are you sure that's all this is about?" She changed her voice to her friendly, worried voice.

"What are you aiming for?"

"To be bothered by something else." - She looked at me like she was trying to see through me.

"I don't understand you, of course I'm bothered that our oral surgeon has decided not to show up for work, and he has surgery scheduled."

"I don't think about it, I don't think about work at all."

"Then what are you talking about, I don't have a problem with Stephanie? Thank God I'm so much calmer than she is with Leo."

"But let the woman Stephanie, that little girl found the happiness of her life, and you?"

"Ana I don't have time for this, bring me the patient records for Jake's surgeries today and I'll see how I can finish it."

"Are you saying this doesn't touch you in the slightest ?!" - She looked at me with raised eyebrows, lifting a newspaper from the table.

On the cover page is a picture of Maximilian shaking hands with a tall gray man. A new deal has been made with an airline, other people are present in the picture, but no one is as striking and important as the blonde next to Max.

"No, why would that bother me? They made a new deal."

"You know what I'm talking about."

"I do not know!"

"Oh Mr. Maximilian, this blonde is holding him by the arm. Doesn't that touch you in the slightest?" She narrowed her eyes at me, trying to get something out of me, but she wouldn't make it. I'm stronger than that.

"I don't even care what he does and who that Mr. Maximilian of yours works with."

"I don't know, I've never seen you so close to anyone."

"For the thousandth time, Anna wasn't a kiss, she didn't kiss me."

"He may not have kissed you, but he definitely planned."

"I wouldn't let him."

"It didn't seem that way to me."

"Where are those cards Ana, let's get a little started we have a lot of work to do today and WE DON'T have time to spend it on nonsense?"

"I'll bring them to you, don't worry, everything will arrive, the less important ones will be canceled and the matter resolved."

"Okay, we'll see."
"And just one more thing to tell you."

"What is it again?"

"You're a lot prettier than her." - She winked at me and came out, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

It bothered me, to say the least, it drove me crazy to see him in the paper and to be held by the arm. Who is she? And why are they so close in public? I learned the text from the article by heart and nowhere in it is her name mentioned.

Maximilian hadn't called me in two weeks, he hadn't come to the appointment he had scheduled, nor had he answered my calls.

One moment everything is perfect, he takes care of me, he is courting me and there he is with me, and the second moment he disappears without a trace or voice.

As always when something bothered me I would work, so now. I worked almost three shifts and decided to expand the polyclinic. I was overwhelmed with work, but it didn’t help me. For the first time in my life, work didn’t help me divert my thoughts from him, I couldn’t forget his touches, his passionate kisses and those two beautiful brown eyes.

Why couldn't I stop thinking about him?

I stare at his picture and only then do I realize how much I actually wanted him. So I would love to see him live, feel his warmth, his scent.

I wish it was there, but it's not.

I close my eyes to compose myself, but instead my brain decides to go back to the day I last saw him and for who knows how many times to analyze everything that happened between us. The sound of the phone interrupts me from that dream.

"Hello!"

"Dr. Bennett, your sister and Mr. Leo Anders are in your office. Shall I wait?"

"No, I'll be right there. Thanks Mia." - I say and hang up.

I went down to the first floor in my office where I was greeted at the entrance by a cheerful Leo.

"Here's my favorite doctor!" He exclaimed and pulled me into a warm embrace.

He was very dear to me, but I didn't show it to him too much. I was always nice to him, but I still maintained that dose of my coldness, seriousness, and authority.

"Are you aware that your girlfriend is a doctor?"

"I did, but I prefer you."

"Listen too! And you agree with that, Stephanie?"

"Sure, sisters, I really like it when you agree, but do you really have to agree about my visits to this place of your torture?"

"And here we go!" I smiled sarcastically and winked at Leo. - "Sit on a chair." - I added addressing Stephanie.

"Wow, I'm already in pain." -Stefani has already started the drama and it was not strange for her at all. It always took me half an hour to make her sit up and stay calm.

"Stephanie, sit down so this is just a preview." Leo calmed down.

"Oh well, but wait a little longer." - She begged him.

"Wait a minute, my favorite doctor has a lot of work to do today. We're not going to take her time more than necessary, aren't we, love? And you certainly don't want us to stay here any longer and miss our lunch together."

As he talked he pushed Stefani towards the chair and somehow she sat down without much resistance.

"I don't like this chair." - Of course it could not pass without comment.

"It's yours!" Leo smiled at me.

"Impressive, I'm amazed. It always took me at least half an hour for you to perform in two movements."

Leo puffed proudly, and I laughed. They were irresistibly sweet to me together and all this scene in my office amused me for the first time. So far, whenever I have Stefani as a patient, I would take a pill or two before that appointment, just in case.

"Okay, let's see what we got there."
-I approached the chair slowly, pulling on my gloves and approaching the instrument rack. This is the part where normal Stefani would have already started screaming, she would have shed a few tears, but to my great surprise this time she remained calm.

She was looking at me with her worried look and I knew what was going on. I could have closed Lea and the others with a fake smile, but never her and Ana. They knew me too well, all the exhaustion, fatigue and worry read on my face.

"Sister, are you okay?" - She asked me.

"I did, of course." -I smiled broadly and I knew she didn't buy that smile.

"Sure, you look ..."

"Sure, I'm just a little tired."

"Okay, can we put this off?"

"NO! And Leo don't touch that, they're sterilized instruments." - I turned to Leo when I saw him touch sterile instruments with his bare hand.

"Sorry, I won't." - He apologized, and Stefani exhaled painfully.

"I'm fine Stephanie, don't worry I'm just doing a lot these days." - I assured her.

"Okay, if you say so. And isn't there really any other term for me, anytime just not now? Please Nicole." - I didn't convince her, but at least she let it go for now because she was too busy with her fear of the dentist.

"No!"

I examined my sister’s oral cavity in detail as I casually talked to Leo, Stephanie was unusually calm.

"Good." - I said when I was done and moved away from her.

"Is it over?" - She cheerfully started to get up from her chair.

"No, wait." -I showed my eyes to Leo and he formed next to her so she wouldn't run away.

"Please, we don't have to. Why would I? I like to have little black dots on my tooth, what's wrong with them."

"Stephanie, don't be silly. I'll take it off for you in two minutes and we'll prevent the caries from spreading further."

"Don't, please don't !!"

"Stephanie if we leave it there, it will widen and break a tooth. Give me two minutes, I'll lick it twice and remove it, it won't hurt. You won't even feel it."

"But I really want to have a tooth on the polka dots. I really like the little black dots."

At that, Leo and I burst out laughing.

"Those dots are going to grow, are you aware of that?"

"Let them grow, the bigger the better."

"Stephanie !!"

"Okay, I'll come get you to take them off, but some other time, we're in a hurry for lunch now."

"We're in no hurry we have more time." Leo added, and Stephanie glared at him.

After a brief persuasion as to why it was not good to have a tooth on the polka dots, she reluctantly opened her mouth while Leo held his hand the whole time. I know how much she hated the sound and feel of the turbine in her mouth so I tried to be very fast.

"Is it over?" - The second I moved away from her, Stephanie jumped to her feet.

"It's over, slowly Stefani you're going to get hurt."

"Great, I'm going."

"Where are you going?" - Leo and I asked out loud.

"So let's go to lunch."

"But I also have an appointment today, we still have time we won't be late." - Leo answered.

"Okay, then I'm going to see Ana's to see what's wrong with her." -She flew out of the office slamming the door, and Leo and I were left alone.

"All right, Mr. Leo, please." - I smiled at him, pointing to a chair.

"Very glad doctor." He smiled back and sat down happily in the place where the frightened Stefani had just sat.

While I was doing the tooth Leo tried to chat with me despite the tuffs I filled his mouth with.

"You know what surprises me?"

"What's that?" - I asked.

"You're the only dentist I know who's so quiet while he's working."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"The way you communicate with patients, you're kind, you receive them, you point them to what you're doing, and then you just shut up."

"So how else will I?" - I laughed.

"Well, you know, you dentists push the patient's mouth with that cotton wool or whatever, and then you start asking questions."

I never thought about it, and now that I really think about it, it is.

"You're right." - I answer him.

"Why aren't you like that?"

"Well I just didn't." - I shrugged.

"That's great, you're great!"

"And you're too good, it's weird to me. What do you need from me?"

"Please, what are you talking about? I'm always like this, you know I love you."

"Leo !!"

"Good, good. How cold you are is exactly you and Max the perfect couple."

I winced at the mention of Max's name, luckily Leo didn't notice.

"It's over."

"So fast, I didn't feel anything."

"And that's it for now there's no need to come. Of course until the next checkup, in a couple of months."

"Great, how much I owe."

"Nothing, this is free for you."

"Come on, I know you're expanding the clinic now, you need the money, and I don't mind paying for a double appointment or anything like that to help you."

"No need Leo, thank you."

"I mean it, Nicole, if you need help, just tell me, why take out a loan when I can lend you that money and pay it back to me when you can ..."

"Thanks for the offer, but no thanks."

"Okay boss, you know it's mine to offer."

"You know what, you're too suspicious of me. What's the matter, Leo, tell me?"

At that moment, Ana appeared at the door.

"Dr. Nicole, you have a patient in threes."

"I'm coming Ana." She nodded and left.

"I'm doing well, too."

"No no, you wait."

"What?"

"What did you want to tell me Leo?"

"Nothing, you're in a hurry. I don't want to keep you."

"I'm in no hurry to say."

"Nicole, I ..."

"Is there something wrong with Stephanie?"

"It is."

"What's the matter, are you worried about me now?"

"It's nothing terrible."

"So what is Leo then?"

"I wanted to propose to Stephanie!" - He banged, and I was shocked.

"Please, are you kidding? Leo these are serious things, if you're kidding me then ..."

"No no, I'm not kidding. I'm serious, Nicole!"

"But you've only been in a relationship for a few months, where is it from now? Oh God, she's not worth getting pregnant?"

"No no, none of that."

"Sure Leo?"

"Sure, I just want to ..." He paused.

"What? Say it?"

"Nicole I love Stephanie, I love her with all my being and I know you think we're in a hurry with this, but it doesn't seem that way to me. I want to be with her all the time and I want her to be mine. Forever."

I looked into his blue eyes as he talked and I knew he loved her. Love shone in his eyes, and when they were together that love was felt in the air.

"Look Nicole, I know you love your sister and protect her, trust me I respect that. I know you only want the best for Stephanie, but know that I want the same for you. I want to make Stephanie the happiest and most willing woman in the world, and I know I can do it with your help and your support. "

"I don't know what to tell you, you caught me."

"Please help me Nicole, my intentions are pure and sincere. I know you want this for us too, think about it and answer me."

Whether or not he was right, I wanted them to succeed. I wanted my sister to be happy, and deep down I knew that happiness was him. Stephanie loved him like no one before and he loved her, that was for sure now.

"Good!"

"Good? What's good, Nicole, do you agree?"

"I don't agree, you're not asking me, but we can ask Stephanie so maybe then she agrees."

"Really ?! Really Nicole, thank you !!" - He hugged me all happy.

"Good, good Leo, take it easy. It's not yet certain if Stephanie will agree."

"What do you mean?"

"Did you talk to her about it?"

"I did and I didn't, why?" - He was confused.
"Leo I know Stephanie, right now is not the best time for marriage in her life."

"What do you mean?"

"You forgot about Stefan's ambitions, her specialization ..."

"She can go to specialization and get married."

"Well, yes, but ..."

"But ?!"

"I don't know, talk to her about it and you'll see."

"I'm planning soon."

"When is that coming soon ?!"

"You know we have a company anniversary next week?"

"I didn't know, but now I know."

"Well you and Stephanie are guests of honor."

"And what does that have to do with your engagement?"

"You're going to help me propose to her tonight."

"Isn't that ..."

"If you say fast I'll really experience a brainstorm."

At that moment, Ana reappeared at the door.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Doctor, it's really urgent."

"I'm coming Ana."

"Now!"

"I'm going, we'll talk about this Leo."

"Okay, how about dinner tonight?"

"I can't, I'm working tonight. We'll arrange another day."

"Okay, thank you very much."

"If you let me down, you'll regret it, you know?"

"I know, I know; I wouldn't play with you."

"Okay, watch out. And now I know why you're flattering me all day."

Leo laughed at that, and I walked out of the office with Ana and hurried down the hall to another office. I saw Stefani in the hallway, she was quite calm, that adrenaline from visiting my office had already subsided.

"Nicole, are you done?"

"That your boyfriend is waiting for you in the office."

"Yeah, we're going to lunch at last. I haven't seen him right all week."

She was excited and happy like a little girl waiting for a treat. At that point, I was sure I wasn’t wrong to support Leo when he asked me to. I hugged her tightly and a tear escaped my eye as Ana watched it all in wonder.

"What happened Nicole, are you okay? Are you crying?"

"No, it seems to you."

"Nicole?!"

"I love you, Stephanie."

"I love you sisters, too."

I hope you will always be so happy.