Chapter One
A Simple Routine
Emily Grace Atwell was late
This was not new thing for her, as she had a perpetual late streak Emily just couldn't shake. So here she was, sprinting through pedestrians hoping to catch her bus. Now you all are wondering why Emily was running, as everyone knows she doesn't do physical activity, catch a pesky bus? To answer that you must go back one hour.
Now Emily's everyday schedule consisted of: her waking up thirty minutes after her alarm went off (all four of them), hauling butt to the monster sized closet and hastily choosing some clothes that may or may not match, reaching the bathroom at record speed to clean up, rushing to the kitchen to steal a piece of toast from Emily's boyfriend of five (going on six) years, then going back up the four flights of stairs to change as what she was wearing offended her fashion conscious beau. When Emily finally left the mansion it was six:fifty and her bus left at five till. So with a kiss to the cheek and shoulder bag in hand the southerner was rushing down the sidewalk and around the corner.
And there was Emily's favorite sidewalk sleeper, a Vietnam veteran by the name of Damien McFly. He, at age eighty-seven, should not be sleeping outside in the harsh cold of Seattle in August. Damien was sprawled out on a wood plank covered in old carpets remnants with a ratty pillow that the twenty three year old had donated to him and his trusty mutt of a Terrier by his side. Said mutt happily barked twice to greet the woman as she tossed her baggie of over the counter vitamins and ten dollar bill to get him through the week. He would, most likely, go and buy a pack of smokes with the brunette's money. She didn't care as long as he ate his medicine, that was the unspoken condition that came with the currency.
"Late again Doctor Atwell?" He hollered, voice was surprising, a gravel-and-gravy mix of whiskey roughness and educated brogue. Emily liked him.
He had a strange appearance, almost as if it was contrived. His hair was wizened and straw-like, nearly fossilized it was so dry. He had sad, worn grey eyes and a distinctive beard. It wasn't thick, but rather something a lunatic might have: straggly, unkempt and spittle flecked. His face was toil worn and tanned from exposure to the elements and he walked with a weary, lethargic air until he would suddenly explode in a burst of rage. His fingers were gnarled and knobbly and the clothes he wore were musty and foul judging by the reaction of the people he passed. Their noses would crinkle in disgust and they would peel away from his presence. She didn't want to sound overly critical in all this but he was a truly unpleasant character.
Well most of the time, it took four months for him to semi warm up to Emily, by that Emily means that he didn't hurl vile curses and swears in her direction anymore. Her favorite was: Doctor Sexy or Tiny Tits. She thought the latter was quite fitting. Damien grinned cheekily and scratched his beloved pooch behind the ears. Emily's late mentality was an infamous joke among the homeless in her neighborhood. She called it a 'neighborhood' when it really was just her's and Benedik's mansion covering four acres and the rest of Seattle.
"Well you know, I had some trouble with the servants." She shrugged and beamed when he tore open the plastic sack and took the pills and gummies. Damien and the other regulars knew where Emily lived so they naturally assumed that she was a ruthless dictator incapable of understanding basic human emotion. That was until they found out where she worked.
"Well you know, you have to beat them into submission." Emily smiled and began to hobble away when the man called out. "I hate to ask…. But could you get some pills for Jim?" He motioned to his pal, who was indeed looking a little down.
"Sure." Emily chirped, shifting so that she was not obliterated by a passing teen. The woman missed the man's small smile in favor to flag down her bus. Of course Emily was sure the only reason the pervy driver stopped was because in her thin dark gray tank top her breasts were free to let loose their freak flag. Nothing too immodest showed, only enough to entice the attention of a forty three year old man with a balding spot and midlife crisis. Maybe Emily shouldn't have jumped and waved her arms so violently?
Climbing on the bus was difficult in Emily's tight high waisted skirt, the light blue cotton material straining to the limit as she stepped. The doctor straightened her pale brown belt and smiled politely at the drooling driver and hustled down the narrow row to her favorite spot. The seat was made out of shiny tin and red fabric with black stripes. It was four rows down and running parallel with the window. Emily ducked under the bar and plopped down huffing. Setting her worn and ragged shoulder bag beside her legs as she crossed them like a lady, Emily took out a medical journal to take notes.
Yes, you read right. It is, in fact, a book on medicine; to be more clear it was about Molecular Oncology, published in the Netherlands. It was very fascinating with chapters on angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. It was gifted to Emily by her boss or the attending in charge of her residency. She was a resent of one year at Northwest Hospital and Medical Center, studying under an ex-military surgeon by the name of Matthew Scott. Emily liked her employer, he was thirty and suffering from post traumatic stress disorder like her. She would like to call him her best friend at the hospital, the title remained unspoken though. He was the reason Emily was dressed in something other than old jeans and a v neck. As he needed her to assist in wooing an investor or something like that. He was the head surgeon in charge of the trauma ward.
A cleared throat startled Emily out of her musings and her pretty skull snapped up to see a curvy black haired woman in a slinky red dress looking purposely at the spare seat next to the girl. Emily glanced around to see why this bombshell would want to sit by her, the ratty southerner.
"May I sit here, please?" She asked, Emily took note of her slight Russian accent. She nodded and moved over a tad to make room. She folded herself much more graceful than Emily ever could into the horrid bus chair, crossed her legs and let loose a wild grin. "Viktoriya Veselovsky, pleasure to meet you." She held out a golden hand, red lacquer nails sharp like talons.
"Doctor Emily Atwell." The medical professional smiled politely and took her extended palm, throwing out her hard earned title around to gain some ground over the busty lady. She raised an eyebrow and smiled politely.
"I am an new investor at Northwest Hospital and Medical Center, where do you work, Doctor?" Viktoriya asked, crossing her long legs again. Lord was this woman beautiful. But by now, all have learned that looks were deceiving, especially with Viktoriya Veselovsky. Whose skin resembled marble dusted with light specs of gold. Eyes the shade of a winter sky fading into spring greens and obsidian hair like leaves in the autumn breeze. The way her long lashes framed her eyes when she captured a target turning them into stone and the way her full lips would curl into a mischievous grin every time she did so. It was inevitable and certain that once you looked at her, you couldn't look away. She kept you still and held your beating heart with one gaze, feeding off of you. She was a succubus, beautiful and dangerous.
And that turned out really gay…..
"I work at that hospital too. Doctor Scott is my mentor." Emily mumbled, glancing away. She could never compare to her. Emily had gotten better with her self confidence, the bonus of being exposed to so many people over the years. But sitting next to this sex goddess was quickly smashing it to pieces. Well, at least, Emily will go home to a rich, hot, Czech vampire completely devoted to her. Talk about confidence booster.
"Ah, well I look forward to hearing your presentation." She turned back to gazing at a handsome poet sitting in the row beside us. A few minutes later she spoke again. "Is this your stop?" Viktoriya asked. Emily gasped and slammed her novel shut and shoved it haphazardly into her abused bag. Leaping up and throwing a quick thank you over her small small shoulder Emily bustled out the door. The bus let off a block from the medical center so she hastily tore off her tan pumps and with her costly shoes in one hand Emily took off running. No way was she going to be late today.
Emily threw open the double glass doors and rushed into the lobby, sweating like a pig. Kevin, the overweight, underpaid, security guard sat manning his station. With one look at the woman's disheveled appearance he broke out laughing.
"Shove it." She growled and stomped to where Matt was waiting. He, of course, was having a conniption, hair out of place and lab coat on backwards. It was rare to see him so frazzled so the resident knew immediately he was nervous.
"Calm down Matt. I'm here now and we can get started." She smiled softly and took his hand to squeeze then let go. Doctor Matthew Scott was a strong man whose muscular definition had slightly worn off due to his lack of intense military training standards, but his white lab coat still clung tightly to his skin, showing everyone that he was still in the game. His long fingers ran through his short and wavy brown hair which shifted into peaks once his hand had gone past. The light coming from the floor to ceiling windows made it shine to a shade of melting milk chocolate and his slightly tanned skin glowed, making his stubble covered chin seem darker. The man's high cheekbones, perfectly accentuated his face, and his full pink lips were pressed firmly together in a flustered expression. His eyes, which were normally a simple sepia color, were now a golden honey hue and seemed to be screaming out his emotions. Which were now over taken by worry and panic. He was a cutie currently head over heels for one of my fellow residents. Who could care less about the idea of romance. So he was permanently single until she changed her mind.
"Em, it's a big deal. The trauma ward could get millions of dollars from this investor. We can't possibly slack off." He wined, grabbing his friend's dainty wrist and dragging her alluringly thin body away. Emily followed dutifully, he was her boss after all.
"It's not till five and it's seven fifty, so we still have time. Hop on by my place after work and we can rant about their stupidity over beers and whatever the old hag made for dinner." She soothed, gently tearing her arm from his grasp and readjusting her shoulder bag. As it had slipped off her muscular bicep. Emily had started a steady workout regimen as soon as she got to the states so that she would never be taken advantage of again. It took a little over six months training with Damek and Benedik before Emily began to see results. And a full year after that before she could defend herself in the ring. Benedik had a fully operational gym in the basement of his american home, and Emily was allowed to use it as she pleased.
"You hate beer." He smiled softly.
"You don't, so I'll deal."
Emily was the only resident working on this as she was Matt's favorite, much to his dismay that the gifted surgeon apprentice was moving to the peds floor not trauma. Two other attendings along with the Chief of Staff were working on the presentation, John Hendrix, (Nero) Samantha Tappan, (Ortho) and Richard Pelletier, a dark skinned French man who sadly does not speak French. As he was raised in New York. As we turned the corner to get to the conference room Emily saw one of her favorite patients walking with his mother.
"Doctor Emmie!" He bellowed, releasing his poor mother's hand. Emily grinned and opened her lean arms to receive the wild ten year old. His mother followed at a more leisurely pace.
"Hey, little man. Whatcha doin' outside your room?" She asked happily, he was suffering from Acrocapitofemoral dysplasia, an autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia with cone shaped epiphyses in the hands and hips.
"The head doctor said it would be good for Ayaan to get out." She said, pushing back the fabric of her hijab, as it had slipped forward when her son took off.
"Ah, so little man you thought you could run me down, huh?" Emily pushed back some of his thick black hair and grinned. It was rare to see Aayan to be out of bed, it wasn't that the boy was not active just that it hurt him to move too much.
"Yep, are you doing your pre.. Presen?" He looked to his mother for help. He was still learning English.
"Presentation, I wish you luck Doctor Atwell." She said, pulling back her only child into her arms. Aazeen was a beautiful woman. She had a kind of understated beauty, perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness. Her mocha skin was completely flawless. I doubted that she used face masks or expensive products, most of her money went to Ayaan's care anyways. She was all about simplicity, making things easy, helping those around her to relax and be happy with what they have. She was a favorite among the hospital, going around to visit the little ones when their parents worked. Aazeen even took the time to stop and explain what was happening to the new parents children if they were born premature. As Ayaan had been. It was more comforting to hear it from someone going through the same thing as you.
Perhaps that was why her skin glowed so, it was her inner beauty that lit her dark eyes and softened her features. When she smiled and laughed you couldn't help but smile along too, even if it was just on the inside. To be in her company was to feel that you too were someone, that you had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season. It was so sad that someone like her and her son had to go through this, and alone too. As her husband could not acquire a visa to come and live in the United States.
"Thank you Aazeen, but it is not till five. But rumors are goin' around about the investor's team showin' up early." Emily looked to Matt who was smiling and joking with Ayaan, he was so good with children. Aazeen's eyes widened and she hugged her American friend. She was big on affection.
"Oh no, are you not ready? I will pray for you." Emily smiled reassuringly and patted her arm.
"We only have a few things to edit, we are goin' to do that now." And with that the two doctors said their goodbyes and headed to the conference room.
The conference room wasn't very impressive at all. With a long pale brown table with a dozen black rollie chairs facing a large projector screen. Emily stepped into the chamber behind Matt, scrambling to hold all of the files he dumped on her. Their footsteps were muffled by the tan carpets and soundproof walls. She placed the papers on the corner of the table and set off to turn on the projector for it to warm up. Doctor Hendrix, Tappan, and Pelletier all sat in their respective seats, only Doctor Pelletier was dressed as nice as Emily was.
"Emily, why are you dressed up? The thing's not till five." Sam asked, brushing back her thick brown hair. Emily was jealous of Sam, she was a latina bombshell with curves you could only dream of and a bust to match. That and she was as nice as could be.
"Because someone, not namin' names, woke not only me, but also my boyfriend who like us has a conference today. So after ignorin' his many Czech curses to finally answer the phone only to discover a crazed Matt wailin' about how he thinks the money person will be visiting early so I need to be presentable." She droned, flopping in the chair between the two doctors. John and Sam laughed loudly and Richard grinned, while Matt blushed. The little butt.
"It was six o'one, not that early." He blurted, it was humorous to see the ex- military surgeon get flustered. He was usually so calm.
"Don't you start with me boy, I'll cut ya." She teased, flicking his arm. The group of people stayed in that room until it was time, only Emily left. She was the assigned runner, fetching papers, snacks, and charts of patients. The more experienced professionals went over the minute details and ran through the presentation over a hundred times. Mostly by Matt's orders. A mild headache was blooming in the youngest doctor's temples. She would have to pop some pills if she was going to get through this meeting in one piece.
"Why are they not here already? Emily check the traffic report." Matt fretted. Emily signed and did as she was told. The investors were thirty minutes late and Matt was losing his sanity every second those rich folks didn't walk through the conference room doors.
Emily pressed the home button on her phone and smiled softly at her screen saver, it was her, Emily's parents, Wrenne and Rob, and the eldest Lexi at the youngest Atwell's graduation. Benedik was taking the picture and Damek was trying to get Emily to smile by pulling weird faces. The next screen was Emily having her cheek kissed mid laugh by her boyfriend on the same day.
She swiped left and pulled up the traffic app, and once again checked it.
"Matt, honey it still hasn't changed. Calm down they'll get here soon." She cooed, rotating to catch his hand to hold. Matt was pacing the room and it was kinda making Emily dizzy. She heard the distinct clacking of high heels in the distance. She tapped Matt's shaking hand and stood to head to her assigned place manning the projector.
"Emily, Wait! There isn't enough packets!" Sam proclaimed. Emily's whiskey eyes widened and hustled over to the hispanic.
"Alright, calm down. I have another one in my bag." She soothed, reaching to get her bag off the snack table. She pulled out a twenty page booklet and handed it to John.
"Um.. I like your drawings but I don't think the investor sitting at this spot will." John announced. Emily made a small squeaking sound and dove for the papers. She hastily went through it, all the pages were covered in abstract but beautiful doodles.
"Oh, I'm soo sorry." She glanced at Richard, dreading his next sentence. He was most definitely going to kick her off the project now.
"Just set it down and let's hope this guy has a sense of humor." He smiled at the terrified girl. It's not like he could kick her off the presentation. Her boyfriend donates too much money to upset him. But that's not the only reason why Richard approved Matt's choice in a resident, Emily was friendly and had a way about her that made people like her. God knows Richard adored the girl, she was sweet, smart and a d*mn good doctor. He could see her breath of relief and shook his head. She was truly something. Richard stood near the newest packet while the others bustled about fixing last minute things. He had done enough of this *ss kissing to know they will donate money if they want to feel powerful, not that they care about where their currency goes or who it helps.
The door opened with a small creak and the front desk man, Kevin, walked in, followed by seven big wigs. Most of which were reaching prehistoric. Well at least to the twenty three year old they seemed old. Five men with wrinkled faces and snow white hair filled in first, taking the chairs towards the front. Bless the lord none of them sat in the spot home to Emily's old notes. Emily pulled up the beginning slide of the PowerPoint and looked up just in time to see a very handsome man and woman walk through the doors. Emily stood gaping at his beauty, completely ignoring the familiar female next to him.
Emily gaped openly as she observed his sharp jaw, chin, and cheekbones. On either side of his straight nose were two blazing hazel eyes. Spiked, warm brown fringed with smooth green. His dark brows were actually graceful, but currently furrowed in a frown. All of it was framed by thick, warm dark chocolate curls. He pulled that grey suit off like he was the model that it was designed for, well he was rich so maybe it was tailored to him.
She couldn't see his chest. Part of her wished she could. The other very small part said she should get a hold of herself. She let out a shaky sigh. Emily shook her head and shyly glanced away, he caught her anyways. He let loose a wicked grin and went to go sit down next to his companion. At the spot where Emily's notes were.
Greeeeeeat. She groaned softly and face palmed. She could do this because no one cared about the help here.
"Doctor Atwell, how good it is to see you again." The Russian bombshell called. Emily's head snapped up from its bent position over the lap top, eyes as wide as saucers.
"Ms Veselovsky, hello." She stuttered, blushing under the quizzical looks of her coworkers. Viktoriya grinned in recognition.
"Well gentlemen let's get started." She purred, already capturing the hearts and libidos of John and Matt. Emily rolled her whiskey eyes, unbeknownst to her that she was being watched.
"You didn't tell me you knew that lovely lady, Toya." ( Toy-Ah) Adrian whispered to his wife.
"Calm, husband. She is very pretty but I plan to befriend her." Toya replied, red lips still pulled in a flattering grin. Adrian Verdinelli and Viktoriya Veselovsky had been married for thirteen years, both the age of thirty. It was a happy marriage, full of familiarity and friendship. But it soon became boring for both parties. So the Open Marriage Clause was born, the couple could see whoever they liked without jealousy or resentment. It was a lovely system that worked for them.
"You take all the good prey away, my love." He kissed her earlobe and ran his soft hand up her dress.
Doctor Pelletier cleared his throat and walked regally to the middle of the room facing the wealthy investors. The doctor had the posture of a soldier. Every action he took was precise and purposeful. Richard smiled in the cold and distant way professionals do. Emily could never relax around such expressions. She need a genuine face, preferably a smile, but if not Emily really rathered they didn't fake it.
"Doctors, we are here today to invest in the future." His voice commanded attention and everyone naturally gave it to him. All except Adrian, he was too busy sneaking glances at the southern girl in the back. Who sadly didn't return his gaze. Not to worry Adrian always got his prey. The man hissed when a sharp kick to the shin startled him out of his thoughts. He glared at the sultry woman to his right, she remained impassive.
"What was that for?" He hissed out of the corner of his lips. He plastered on a fake grin when the droning man moved on to the text slide.
"Pay attention." She chastised, her sexy Russian accent became more prominent. Adrian sighed and absently looked down at his boring packet. Investing was his wife's thing, she enjoyed having money and power over people. Adrain only owned the company she abused to do it.
A doodle of a nose startled Adrian, why was that there? He quickly skimmed through the pages, amused at all that was there. Tons of tiny doodles marred the page. He flipped back to the front and smiled at the name.
Emily Atwell
Wasn't that the name Toya called the pretty woman in the back? Aw she was an artist. Adrian glanced up and made eye contact with the frightened girl. He smiled kindly and nondescriptly motioned to the packet. She made a face, her small nose scrunching up adorably in annoyance.
The rest of the meeting went off without a hitch and Emily breathed a sigh of relief when Matt reached the last slide. What bothered her the most was that man who kept looking at her, who was he? He had a gold band on his finger and look personal with Viktoriya. Maybe they were married? She shut off the laptop and pressed the power button of the projector. She stayed towards the back, knowing it was not her place to speak with such influential people. Emily checked the time on her phone, it read seven o' nine. Almost quitting time. Emily squeaked when Viktoriya spoke to her out of the blue.
"I look forward to seeing you some more Doctor." She said, smiling in a friendly way. Emily breathed a sigh of relief. So she wasn't saying no to the grant.
"So you a donatin' the money?" Emily asked excitedly. Completely missing the new person walking into the two women's conversation.
"If she won't then I will. Adrian Verdinelli, pleased to make your acquaintance." Adrian gently took Emily's hand and kissed the back of it like a gentleman. She blushed and looked at her new friend for help.
"Now, Adrian dear leave the poor doctor alone. I'm sorry Emily, my husband is a hound." Adrian's hazel eyes harden and he glared at his… wife.
"I am doing nothing to cause her harm, dear." He ground out, they would be having words later. "I haven't meet a woman with eyes quite like yours." Adrian seductively purred, actively ignoring the glare of his wife. Emily narrowed her eyes. How dare this man flirt with in front of his wife! Viktoriya grinned, finally a woman who didn't fall under her husband's charm.
"What, large and Gollum like? Or brown? 'Cause sir that is the most common color." Emily deadpanned, mentally smirking at the surprise etched across Adrian's face.
"Uh.. um." He stuttered. Matt mercifully interrupted the man before he could make an even bigger fool of himself.
"Em you still up for those beers you hate?" He asked, hustling his bulk into the fray. Emily's kind coworkers noticed when Adrian's attention waned toward their friend.
"Yeah sure. Nice to meet you both." Emily chirped politely. She grabbed her bag and shuffled after Matt. She turned around when Viktoriya called out to her.
"Emily, would you mind if I took you out to lunch tomorrow? I could really use a friend." Viktoriya pleaded, the Russian had been living in America for quite some time, but lately her demanding schedule didn't allow her time for any friends. Emily's eyes brightened and she grinned.
"Sure, my break is at one: fifteen. There's a cafe down the road that I have been dyin' to try." The two professional women exchanged numbers and Emily left to go home.
Time for some beers.
A/N: HIIIII welcome to the 2nd book in the Elemental series. Thank you for reading it. If you are just joining us please read Stay With Me first, it will help. And my writing gets better I promise. And If you read my works before, welcome back bishes. Hope you like my new story so far.
This whole story will be in 3rd person. I meant to do my last one in 3rd but just messed up.
ANNNNNNNd As always tell me about any grammar or spelling mistakes and I'll fix them then go jump in my pool that looks like it has an std.- Love Maybird1
