The following days went by without a lot of hazard, but the inner strength Mindy had mustered up to talk to Danny came in no use. Dr. Castellano went from delivery to delivery, always in a rush and ill-tempered. A few times he passed by Mindy's (and now Paul's) door, but even though she yelled at him he flew by and never even took a glance in her direction. She started to feel like Harry Potter when Dumbledore avoided him at Hogwarts. Except she was sure she was no horrocrux and Danny was anything but a kind bearded old magician.
The only conclusion she could come to was that he was angry at her. Maybe he had thought he had finally gotten rid of her, and Mindy had ruined his plans by coming back. Well, fuck him she thought. I'm sorry I didn't live up to people's expectation. Big fucking deal. She decided that, if he was ever to talk to her again, she would freeze him out and strut away in a manner of Naomi Campbell.
However, by Friday Danny hadn't even uttered a word to her, and now she was starting to feel kind of depressed. She kept on having these flashbacks of their steamy dream and the look of disappointment in his eyes. She felt rather abandoned and didn't even know why. To top it all, Mindy knew she was too proud to approach him and finish the situation, so she remained in her office all day finishing catching up on all the cases they had attended to while she was away.
By the end of the day she was so tired she only dedicated herself to watching Dr. Leotard work on his laptop (he was truly annoying but remarkably fascinating to watch).
- Okay Dr. L, other Dr. L. I'm leaving! Do either of you need anything else? – said Betsy as she waltzed in their office at noon.
- Oh, I'm actually on my way out too – said Paul – Do you want me to walk you home? – He said seductively.
- Oh that's okay, I… - she began to say but was interrupted.
- She's already got company. – declared an angry, posh voice. It was Jeremy popping up behind Betsy.
- Shall we? – He asked Betsy with a little bow. Betsy giggled and nodded. – Okay, bye now! – Jeremy said as he shot Dr. Leotard a snidely look.
- Bye! – Mindy waved at them. She really liked where things were going with those two. – So, you are leaving too, Paul?
- Not if you don't want me to, sugar. If I recall correctly, we are the last ones in the office. – He said tracing circles with his index finger on the desk they shared. Mindy felt a little disgusted and attracted at the same time. She understood now why everyone wanted to fire him yet couldn't seem to do it.
- Uhm, I'm okay thanks. I think I'll finish with these and head home later – she said pointing at some charts.
- Okay then. Have a good night, bella. Call me if anything comes up.
Paul approached Mindy and cupped her face with both hands. She was stunned and a little worried about what might come next, but he just squeezed her cheeks and sighed.
- Ah, such a dazzler. – He whispered.
Paul walked away and left Mindy with a mix of confusion and breathlessness. Soon after he was gone she put on her headphones with some chill music and was able to focus on her paperwork again. To her surprise, she ended up working until 9pm.
Afterwards she packed up all her belongings and headed out the door. When she was walking to the elevator she stepped on her headphones' chord accidentally and they dropped from her ears. Now that she could hear her surroundings, something got her attention: the office was dead quiet, but she was almost sure she could hear a high pitched sound in the back of the reception. Thinking it may be some kind of alarm, she followed the sound until it became a little clearer. The noises she was hearing were actually notes, and they came from within Danny's office. She pressed her ear to the frosted glass door. Mindy could tell Danny was trying to play "My Funny Valentine". She had a reduced music taste, true, but this song she new. His dad used to play the Frank Sinatra version over and over when she was a kid, and she had always remembered the song because of its particular lyrics. As a child, and even growing up, she couldn't quite grasp why this man thought it would be a good idea to serenade his lover by pointing out all her flaws. Still, each time she heard it she thought it was one of the most romantic songs that ever existed.
Without even realizing it she opened the door and saw Danny jump, scared to his bones.
- WHAT THE… - he gasped.
- Sorry! – Mindy said apologetically.
- What are still doing here Mindy?! – Danny let out in a rage.
- I was working!
- Well, it's late! And you don't knock? Oh my god, you nearly gave me a heart attack… - he said putting a hand to his chest. He sat down again and Mindy sat in front of him.
- Aw, come on, don't be such a wooz. At least I got you to talk to me.
- What are you talking about? – he said looking down.
- I'm talking about you being rude, mister. You've been avoiding me all week! Now, I know you are disappointed in me but…
- Disappointed? – he said snapping his head back up.
- Yeah, there's no need to hide it Danny. I know I'm a big flop. I know everyone was just waiting for me to fail and…
- Wait, I'm not disappointed at you. – He said with furrowed brows
- Angry?
- No
- Frustrated?
- Occasionally. But not now, nah – he teased her.
- Well then what the heck is it? What was that look you threw me the other day?
- I… I don't know what you are talking about. I mean sure, it was a bit of a shock to see you here but… I mean, I didn't even expect you to go so, I just assumed you would stay in Haiti.
- Oh… so you are not disappointed because I left? – Danny shook his head. Mindy continued - Or because I didn't stay in Haiti? – He shook his head again - Or…
- No, not at all. – Danny assured her placing a hand on her knee.
- But I never heard from you since I left.
- Well – he shifted uncomfortably, backing away – I've been busy. Plus, you know I don't do that whole internet thing. I barely know how to use my cellphone.
- That's all? That is all you got? – Mindy grilled him. Then he looked at her with that intense stare of his, and she felt uncomfortable enough to change the subject (which is probably what he wanted in the first place) – Was that "My funny valentine"?
- How did you know? – Danny asked her.
- I love that song. – She said smiling
- Welcome back – he grinned. Then he got up and offered her a hand – Shall we?
