Chapter 8

( breakfast in bed )

Callie woke with a satisfied stretch...she hadn't had that much uninterrupted sleep since before deciding to become a doctor. No pager, No nightmares, No crying baby...South Beach was like an alternate reality where she was an heiress or something. This suite was easily a thousand dollars a night and with that thought came a soft knock .

"Ms. Torres...room service madam"

She swept out of bed, grabbed a robe to throw over her nearly naked form and reached the door to peek through the hole. Julian stood outside with a serving cart. She slung open the door, surprised given all the previous kindness.

"Are you sure, because I didn't order anything" , she hedged.

"Its just a sampler the Chef sent up to give you a good start today for your conference. All suite holders receive it, don't worry it comes with the room." Julian informed her as he began removing the silver embellished lids. A virtual breakfast bonanza was presented before her. French toast with fresh seasonal fruit, eggs Benedict, hot biscuits with homemade jam, and fresh squeezed orange juice.

"Oh, wow, at this rate I may never go back to Seattle", Callie said as she popped a strawberry into her mouth.

"Well, you wouldn't be the first...", he said with a smile... "I'll be back around to pick up the cart in thirty minutes or you can leave it for the maid later at noon, Good luck today.." He threw one last smile in her direction and shut the door behind him.

Callie fretted over her outfit, then chose the charcoal women's suit with a white blouse. Her hair twisted up in a bun with light makeup and her signature red lipstick. She made sure she grabbed her phone, purse, hotel room key and headed toward the elevator.

As she entered the lobby, she saw Alex at the front desk. She must have found something funny that the clerk had said as Callie saw a wide smile cross her face with an expanse of white teeth at every laugh which was often and pleasant to her ears.

Alex turned at the sound of heels clicking on the lobby floor. Her face lit into a charming smile immediately at the sight of Callie.

"So good to see you again, Ms. Torres, I trust you had a pleasant time last night."

"Not as good as yours"...Callie said slyly as the image of Alex and the model pressed heatedly together against her office door unwillingly came to her mind...

"But the restaurant was divine and thanks so much for picking up the tab, you really didn't have to do that.."

Alex gave a quizzical look at the first comment but didn't question her guest, "Please don't worry about it, we have plenty enough to go around here...its South Beach..we like to share" .

She reached Callie and walked by her side to the revolving glass door, casually placing her hand at the small of Callie's back, guiding her through the carousel. Callie's back stiffened at the intimate gesture, but she didn't pull away. Turning now to stare into hazel eyes.. standing so close together she could see Alex had a dusting of freckles on her nose and impossibly long brown eyelashes. She watched as Alex's eyes drifted down her face.. to her lips..Callie unconsciously licks them and then she swears that she feels Alex move just an inch closer ..but she could be imagining things...then suddenly the deep warmth of her hand was gone, as if just noticing their closeness.

Alex immediately waves over a driver as they are released from their tight quarters and into the spacious fountain area. "Drive Ms. Torres anywhere she needs to go today." Alex winks boyishly, "Good luck today, you're going to wow them with your cutting edge medical prowess, I know it"

Still smiling, "Thanks, I didn't even know you knew what I was here for.." Callie said embarrassed at the compliment.

"It's my job to know everything that goes on here at the Delano, and all my guests are my first priority."

"Oh my...so professional..that was like a tagline from your commercial or something.." Callie teased as she lowered herself into a company car.

Alex feigned hurt and surprise..."Well, I do aim to please every guest.."

"Of that I have no doubt...Callie's tone was suggestive...Mt. Sinai Hospital, 41 Alton Rd...

"What are you referring to exactly?" Alex finally questioned , getting the feeling she was left out of something.

Callie only smiled leaving that question unanswered as the car door clicked and began to pull away.

She arrived at the hospital shortly and asked the driver to stay close , but she'd call when she was ready to be picked back up. She arrived twenty minutes early, so that would give her time to navigate the hospital, find a bathroom, and call Arizona to check up on her and Sofia.

It was weird in a way that hospital floors were arranged fairly similar she found out. After carefully checking her appearance in the mirror, she brushed off her nervousness, and called Arizona.