STEPHANIE

My mentor forced me to take a couple of days off which was unnecessary for me. After Alex and Leo, I've had enough of my love failures, at least for a while. I came to terms with the fact that I idealized a man when I didn't know him at all and I just wanted to forget him, and my job successfully diverted my thoughts from him. Nicole and my apartment is brilliantly clean, I even did the cleaning I hated so much out of boredom. Like my sister, I became a heavy workaholic.

I ended up reading a love novel that Lacey recommended to me. It's hard to say that I was disappointed with the end result. I don't know for what reason I wished for a story with an unhappy ending. I guess it would be somehow more realistic for me then, because it would remind me of the reality that each of us lives. Thus the main characters who met by chance ended up living happily ever after with a pack of children running around them, and they loved each other unconditionally even after so many years. This was too much of a cliché for me though.

The phone vibrated on the desk of my room and I immediately got up hoping that someone needed me at work, but it was just my friend who probably wanted to tell me the new gossip circulating around the hospital. She is the most positive person I know and she is really dear to me, but unlike her, I am not really interested in stories about the new relationships of our colleagues.

"You'll never guess what happened.." She began euphorically as soon as I answered.

"Lacey, I'm not really interested in the love lives of hospital doctors ..."

"It's not about them now, did you take the newspaper in your hands at all?"

"You know that I'm not interested in the lives of celebrities and politics, and I saw for myself how many people can lie just to have their articles read, so I didn't.." I tried to explain to her again, but she interrupted me in surprise.

Why do I even have a feeling that I won't like her news?

"Have you seen those love photos of your older sister with that famous corporation owner when they haven't seen him with a girl for more than five years because he's known for keeping his personal life a top secret? Man, sparks just burst out of their eyes, and just that hug..." she enchantedly began to describe some of her fantasies to me.

"Come on, Lacey, I'm not in the mood for your jokes. Call me if anyone needs me, not even Nicole let me work a couple of shifts at her clinic..." I complained.

Nicole was persistent in her intention not to let me work, because she shared the opinion of my mentor. According to her, I became a heavy addict from work and I was chronically exhausted because of that, but if we take into account her work, she did not have the right to say anything...

"Don't tell me you really don't know," Lacey's voice brought me back to my thoughts.

"Take your laptop and look at the cover of the first magazine you see."

I obeyed her, though I was tempted to reject her, my sister is too cold and closed a person to ever be seen in the company of a man in public, but as soon as I turned on my computer I had what to see. The phone fell out of my hand in shock, I stared at the photos in front of me so much that I didn't even care about the phone. A million different thoughts and questions flew through my head, and I had no answer to any of them.

"Stephanie?" I heard Lacey's voice, but I kept flipping through the photos.

"I'll call you later," I picked up the phone and interrupted our conversation, without further explanation with her, now I definitely didn't know what to tell her.

In front of me on the screen I saw my sister in an embrace with a man, but it did not cause such a shock to me, but the fact that she stared in fascination at Leo's best friend, as if he were the only person in the world. I continued to leaf through the photos, and on each of them Nicole had a smile that simply radiated happiness. I had never seen such a smile on her face. My sister danced with Leo's friend while his arm was around her back, and he looked possessively at her as if she belonged only to him. Only a few inches separated their lips, and from their passionate looks it looked as if that gap would be destroyed at any moment by a fiery kiss.

The pictures were a big shock to me, but the texts and titles that followed were too much for me.

This is the future Mrs. Kerringen.

A handsome doctor in the arms of a famous multi-billionaire.

The famous bachelor decided to settle down.

Maximilian Kerringen chose a famous surgeon as his fiancée.

The doctor who won the heart of cold Kerringen.

According to the news, Nicole and Maximilian have been having fun for a long time and the responsibility of her job is the main reason why she wanted to be away from the public eye, but they finally decided to share it publicly because they are planning a wedding.

There were so many details and little things in these stories that at some point I also wondered if all this was true. Today's journalists seem to have a talent for writing love novels, but there wasn't even a bit of the truth.

I picked up the phone and immediately called the main topic of today's gossip around the world, but of course, she didn't answer. I kept calling her, but I kept getting in touch with her voicemail. I needed answers, and I definitely don't plan to wait until midnight and her to return home to get them. I called the polyclinic and after a few moments, one of the nurses answered me.

"You've got the Dental Bennett Polyclinic, how can I help you?"

"It's me, Stephanie. Can you tell me where Nicole is, it's urgent?" I tried to be patient, but anger was boiling inside of me. She will remember the conversation we will have, she could have had any man she wants and I would support her decision, but Maximilian was an exception...

"The doctor is still in the operating room, I can check when she's done if you want..."

"That would be wonderful, thank you," as I talked, I nervously walked down the hall looking for sneakers and car keys.

"She will be done in about twenty minutes, do you want me to let her know you've been looking for her?"

"No need for that, thank you for your help"; I thanked her and ended the call as I left the apartment.

How did she have the courage to do something like this? A doctor who leaves full confidence in the appearance itself, yeah right.

I drove as if the ground was burning under my feet and I left the car in the first free parking spot I saw. I walked furiously through Nicole's polyclinic, while I greeted all her employees with a smile. Ana approached me and tried to stop me, but I shook my head at her words and she withdrew. It was a smart decision for her because otherwise I would have vented my anger on her even though she was innocent. I kept walking towards my sister's office, which I entered without knocking, slamming the door loudly behind me.

"Stephanie, what kind of behaviour is this?" She shot me a look that was probably supposed to scare me. Fatigue due to the sleepless night and the previous operation was visible on her pale face, but it didn't touch me too much at this moment.

"Better than your behaviour yesterday, or would it be better to call you the future Mrs. Karringen?!"

I could no longer contain my anger, only a few months ago she told me that I should be ashamed of my diploma and the title of doctor I have; and now she was the one who hugged the conceited gentleman in front of the audience, who held her around his waist possessively, not caring about her surroundings.

"What are you talking about?!" She looked at me confused, "And lower your voice when you talk to me, I'm currently at work and you have no right to address me like that, what will my employees think? I run a clinic and I can't even control my sister!"

"They have the best to think, because by now everyone has seen you hug Maximillian at that charity dinner, while the moments separate you from the passionate kiss of longtime lovers!"

"What?!"

I walked past her and turned on her computer, and then I showed her the news that the whole internet was buzzing about. She stared at the screen in astonishment, occasionally looking at me, probably hoping that I would tell her that all this was one big joke.

"Of all the men in that crowd, you, no less, clung to Leo's best friend! You're a doctor and older sister everyone can wish for!"

"This is nonsense, we just met and he asked me to dance with him, because everyone except us had partners. There is nothing between us and there won't be..." She started to justify herself to me, but to me that wasn't enough.

"You can lie to yourself and your employees, but you can't lie to me. Nicole, your smile and the gleam in your eyes betray you too much. I'm just asking you why it had to be Maximilian?"

"Stop with that nonsense and your wild imagination, what should I do now? Do you know what this is for my career?!"

She got up and started walking nervously around the office, she only did this when she didn't know what to do or when she would feel cornered. I should have given in, but after her words to me and the fact that she was with Max, I couldn't do it. I allowed my pride and anger to take control of me.

"This is great for your career, because the popularity of your clinic is about to double in the blink of an eye... I'm sure Max has a lot of friends who need your services."

I used to be revengeful, but today I have surpassed myself. Nicole won't just get out of the mess she made herself, and I don't plan on helping her. I have had enough of newspapers and my name in various headlines.

"Wait, when it is rumored that you treated Leo, you will become the main topic of gossip, prepare for a hell of a few months. Journalists really know how to be cruel..."

My criticism of Nicole's account was interrupted by Ella's knocking and her quiet voice, she had recently started working and was still terrified with her new boss. I have no doubt that she is a good girl, but she could definitely work on her self-confidence.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Dr. Nicole, the patient is expecting you in office 3."

"I'll be there in a few minutes, do the scans until I come," my sister addressed her, and I realized from her look that she was so shaken by this that she forgot she had a patient.

"Of course, Doctor," she said, and with another apology, she went out and closed the door.

"I have to go..." She looked at me lost, and I realized that I shouldn't have been so harsh to her.

"We'll continue this conversation as soon as you get home and make sure you're not late this time," I picked up my things and demonstratively slammed the door behind me again. I was furious, but I would never interfere with her performing her medical duties because that would be too much even for me.

I walked the long corridors of her polyclinic, greeting all the employees. It was hard to have Nicole for a sister, and I can only imagine what it looks like to work for her...

"Miss Stephanie, are you leaving already?" The free nurse from the reception asked me with a smile.

"I have some work to do, Tanja, I have to hurry," I lied to her with a smile.

"You are as diligent as ever, Dr. Nicole must be proud of you..."

"Mr. Anders, do you need any help?" I heard another nurse, and at the very mention of this surname, I turned at once, and I had what to see.

Even though he had his back to me I knew it was him, I would recognize that build and blonde hair anywhere. I felt anger accumulating in me again. He disappeared without a word for three months, and then he had the courage to appear in my sister's polyclinic.

"No, thank you for your help," he kindly told the nurse, handing her back some completed forms, and when he turned our eyes met.

"Stephanie..." he said softly as he swallowed my gaze, but I just crossed my arms over my chest, because I have no intention of letting him toy with me again. I felt sparks between us, yet I missed him more than I could admit to myself.

Why did he have to be so damn perfect? That untamed hair of his lured me to run my hand through it, and only those lips...

"Mr. Andrers, what are you doing here?" My daydreaming about this insensitive man in a suit was interrupted by Nicole's voice.

Although she tried to be completely professional, I could recognize the surprise in her voice. Her gaze shifted from Leo to me, but she didn't comment.

"I paid the bills for my security chief, how is he?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm not sure who you're talking about..." Nicole looked at him confused.

"Aiden Taylor, you finished the operation about an hour ago..." He talked to my sister, but his gaze was fixed on me.

"I didn't know Mr. Taylor was working for you, but he's fine. As soon as he wakes up you'll be free to go," she looked at the watch she always had on her hand, "That should be in about twenty minutes."

The look in his deep eyes faded and I couldn't help but notice my sister's medical skills. There was not the slightest scar on his perfect face, as soon as we overcame this situation, I planned to ask her for a couple of lessons... I remembered her words that he would not have noticeable scars, but I thought she was exaggerating, her work is really admirable.

I wanted to stay and talk to him, but I forced myself to move. I don't want to be one of his many toys again. I kept walking towards the exit as I held back my tears. I just thought all this was behind us, and he reappeared to destroy everything.

"Stephanie!" I heard his voice behind me, but I ignored him and ran towards my car, because I had nothing more to say to him. He wasted his chance and my patience greatly.

When I stopped to unlock the car, I felt him grab my wrist and turn to face me, and I gave him a deadly look. I wanted to hate him from the bottom of my soul.

"Let me go!" I screamed angrily at him, but he didn't.

"Stephanie, I'd like to talk to you..."

"I've wanted that for months, too, but you were a conceited bastard who couldn't even answer a message. I have nothing more to say to you," I told him venomously, shaking his hand off mine.

"Let me explain to you..." he addressed me pleadingly, and I saw sincere hurt in his eyes.

"You have nothing to explain to me. Go lie to someone else, you can't lie to me anymore."

"Stephanie..."

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Chapter edited by @sweetfirecarmelle