CHAPTER 6
There are more people at the Gala than Sam expected there to be but she is glad at the outcome. Gigi, Mazzey and Sam all step out of Sam's white Audi. Sam smooths out her dress.
Thankfully Gigi and Sam were able to find last minute gala dresses because if she hadn't found this elegant yet simple crème silk dress then she wouldn't have showed up at all.
Dr. Russell would've taken it as Sam blowing him off which would've led to her trying to explain to him it was not her intention. Then maybe things would've been weird at work.
'It's not a date I remind myself so no reason for that happening' Sam thought
"Do you think Amanda and Tyler are inside already?" Mazzey asks. She pulls out a small mirror from her purse and toucher up her makeup. Sam admires the dark shade on Mazzey lips. Most females can't pull off a black lipstick but Mazzey sure as hell can any day of the week. Sam envy her for that.
"Only one way to find out" Sam answer. Plans changed when Amanda said Tyler would be picking her up from her apartment. Mazzey said she'd love to ride with them so they picked her up on the way.
Sam takes a good look at all of them and admire how amazing they look. Gigi in her hot pink dress, it's a one shoulder with a slit up her thigh revealing some skin. Mazzey is in her favorite color; black her dress has ruffles towards the end and her sleeves hang off her arms. They all smile at each other as they walk arm in arm making it inside the hospital.
A few heads turn as they make their entrance. Immediately Sam spot Dr. Russell by a table talking to the chief of surgery, Dr. Harrison. Russell looks extremely handsome tonight.
Sam's always loved a man in a nice suit and he can definitely rock one. Sam tells herself she shouldn't be saying these things but at the same time it's not a bad thing to compliment someone you work with.
Sam's glad Dr. Russell doesn't notice her first. Sam plan on having a drink or two with her girls before she goes off to Russell.
Amanda spots them and waves her arms to grab their attention.
"Wow! Ladies you look stunning!" Amanda has her arms open for hugs. Mazzey gets the first hug then Sam and Gigi last.
"Girl your curves in this dress! Tyler must be drooling" Gigi compliments Amanda's dress. The dress does show her hourglass body and she looks phenomenal. Red is her color. It's sexy and playful. Amanda comes off as the innocent one of the groups but Sam knows she hast that wild side to her.
"Thankyou!" Amanda blushes.
"Tyler and I have been hitting it off so well guys. I think I'm really falling for him" she gushes. Mazzey lets out a soft aww.
"Tyler needs to hurry up and make you, his lady!" Gigi commented
"Hopefully Savannah doesn't try ruining that. She want's every girls man" Sam said.
Amanda gives us her best smile. Sam hates how low her confidence is sometimes because of Savannah. Tyler would be an idiot to ever chose Savannah over Amanda. She is the right girl for him.
"I love you girls" her voice is soft and for a moment I'm scared she's going to tear up.
"Ms. Rodriguez" that husky voice sends chills all over her body.
"Dr. Russell" Sam look up to find him, smiling. Gigi is trying to hide her smirk.
"You look dashing tonight" he blurts out. He immediately seems like he wishes he hadn't said that in front of Sam's friends.
"Thankyou! You look nice too" Sam's answer as she tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. They stare at each other for a moment before he snaps out of his small trance and acknowledges the fact that Sam's accompanied by her friends.
"Hello Ladies" He greets the girls. All at the same time they quietly say "Dr. Russell".
"Is it okay if I can steal Ms. Rodriguez for a bit?" He politely asks. The girls nod their head in unison before leaving them alone with their attending.
Dr. Russell slowly starts turning away. He glances back at Sam and nods for her to follow and Sam do just that without a word.
"Ms. Rodriguez" he begins.
"Please. You can call me Sam" Sam tells him. He takes a sip out of his glass. She didn't even realize he had a drink in his hand.
"Okay. And you can call me Victor" another sip from his glass, those warm chocolate brown eyes set on Sam. Sam quickly steal a glance at his left hand. No ring. He's not married. Sam thought.
"I hope it doesn't make you feel uncomfortable that I've asked you to be my plus one" Sam shake her head when he asks
"It doesn't "Sam's answered it's a semi lie.
"Good. I've asked you to accompany me over everyone here because I see something in you" He said as he sets the empty glass on the table.
"And what might that be?" she raises a brow. A grin splits into Victor's lips. He looks even more attractive when he's actually smiling.
"Talent. Extraordinary talent. You don't seem like a normal girl" he's eyes are burning into Sam's.
"And I don't think you're meant to be normal. You exceed the other interns and don't get me wrong they are great too but you stand out." He continues.
Sam's left speechless. To hear her attending tell her he sees potential in me is something else. Sam can't help but give him the biggest smile.
"Do you know what you want to specialize in?" He asks after a moment of her not saying anything. Sam's was still trying to register his compliment.
"Neonatal surgery has my interest but so does Cardio. I'm a bit stuck between the two" Sam respond.
"Whichever one you'll choose I'm sure you'll be great in" his eyes are soft and Sam's can't help but notice the way he's looking at her.
"Thank you, that means a great deal to hear from you. You're one of the best surgeons. It's an honor to be able to have your guidance." Sam beam.
"I will do my best to teach you all I know and hopefully it'll help you make your choice. Although Cardio is the best" he winks,
"and yes, I am a bit biased." A laugh escapes Sam's mouth.
'I've never imagined myself in this situation. When I first got here, I had the impression Victor didn't like me but tonight I am seeing a whole new side of him. I'm enjoying it. A bit too much.' Sam's thought
Their conversations go smoothly and Sam's no longer feeling worked up. She asked Victor what made him want to go into Cardio and why he chose this hospital. She even asked him if he's married to get confirmation. Might be too personal and none of her business but Sam wanted to know.
"I am not married" Victor replies.
"Why?" Sam's surprise herself. The question came out before Sam could catch herself. Victor shrugs.
"There isn't a woman who has made me want to be in love. I've dated but with the life I live I always told myself I can't be married. Or the woman I've dated never made me think of marrying them." Victor replies.
"I felt like they didn't understand me or my life. They weren't the right one for me...I'm not even sure if I'm looking but lately something has been making me want to look for something special that will make me feel alive..." He added. his eyes wander off to his empty glass. He wants another drink.
'Something special that makes you feel alive... I haven't found myself thinking of such a thing. Medicine is that something that makes me feel alive but I've never imagined finding that in a person.' Sam thought
"That's nonsense, why don't you just marry a doctor? That way you'll have someone who understands." Sam replied.
He stares at me for a moment. "It isn't that easy. What about you? Are you married?" He wiggles his index finger at Sam. She quickly shakes her head.
"God no!" The way Sam's respond makes him laugh.
"Well why not?" Victor stands a bit closer to me. Sam fix her posture.
"Because I'm now just starting this new journey and can't afford to have relationships. I want to focus on my career first. Plus, most guys are just dumb and don't get it" Sam replied
Truth is Sam don't know how to let someone love her and love them back.
"Every guy I've met doesn't get me so I've decided to put relationships on hold until I find the one. Medicine is my greatest love right now and no guy can understand that..." She continues.
"Why don't you just marry a doctor? They'll understand" he's mocking her. Pretending to be insulted Sam put her hands on her waist.
"Heyyyy" Sam do her best Savannah impression. Russell laughs. It's a nice sound. Deep but sweet at the same time. Sam wants to hear it again.
They are interrupted in the middle of their conversation when she lightly tapped on the shoulder.
Sam freeze when she turns her head to see who it is.
'You have got to be kidding me.' Sam thought
Savannah with Buck by her side. He has a mischievous grin on his face. This isn't good.
"Sam" she greets her first then slightly parts her mouth as if she can't believe her eyes when she sees I'm accompanied by Dr. Russell.
"Oh, what a surprise to see you here Dr. Russell. I wasn't expecting you to come" she eyes me up and down.
"Especially with her." Sam can't help but laugh softly. She is looking for a fight and she might just give her one.
"And I wasn't expecting to see you here," Sam eye her down with distaste as she speaks to Buck, "especially with her." Since she wants to play that game.
Victor clears his throat. Sam watch as he shifts uncomfortably. He didn't notice Buck's presence until he looks behind Savannah and Sam see his jaw clench. Here we go.
"Aren't you the idiot who wouldn't get off my burn patient?" His brows furrowed remembering his face. Buck chuckles, his head shaking as he does so.
"The idiot who was trying to save her life you mean?" His voice sounds different.
Sam stands there speechless only able to glare at Savannah. She smirks. Everything was going fine until she showed up. With him. No matter how hard Sam try she just can't avoid him. He's everywhere.
'But I wonder how the hell was Savannah able to get in contact with him?' Sam thought
"No. You were putting my patient in even more danger by refusing to follow orders!" Russell's volume makes Sam jump. This is the Russell Sam normally see but the way he's looking at Buck has her on edge. He looks ready to slam him against the table and Sam don't think It'll be able to stop him from doing so.
"I'm not a very good listener. And I don't take orders from you!" Buck steps up challenging Victor.
'Oh no! This is not happening.' Sam thought
"I think that's enough" Sam step in between Victor and Buck placing a hand on both of their chest. Sam can feel their muscles through their jackets. They both are shooting daggers at each other with their eyes.
'What the hell was Savannah thinking bringing Buck to the gala? And then to come up to me as if we're friends. She has some game plan and I intend to figure out what it is.' Sam thought
"He didn't have to be a dick for no reason" Buck pushes his luck.
"Plus, I trusted him to save her and he failed." Sam gawk at Buck, not believing he would say that knowing damn well our doctors did their best including Victor.
"Careful." Victor taps his fingers on the table.
"Or what!?" Buck takes another step; Sam pushes her hand against his chest. Her eyes blaze into his blue ones warning him to step down.
"Buck please. Don't come here looking for a fight" Sam's ask of him. His eyes remained on Victor but when she placed both of her hands on his chest, they found her and they softened. They stood there staring at each other, her eyes begging him not to do anything reckless. Sam could see Savannah from the corner of her eyes crossing her arms.
"Feel free to take this table. Me and Sam will go elsewhere" Victor gently takes her arm in his and without taking another glance at Buck or Savannah takes her away from the two.
Sam can't stop herself from glancing over her shoulder. Savannah's face is red. She looks disappointed that her plan failed. Whatever it was. Maybe she wanted them to get into a fight. Maybe she wanted to show her she can have what Sam had thinking it'll bother her. Buck on the other hand was hard to read, his eyes locked on her the entire time as she stayed clinging onto Victor. It's as if his eyes were begging her to be on his side.
The rest of the night is spent sipping champagne with Dr. Russell, talking about what they believe should change in the medicine world, his first year as an intern, they exchanged a little bit of personal details and surprisingly Sam had a very good time tonight. It didn't go as terrible as she had imagined in her head.
They ignored being near Savannah and Buck the entire night. There were a few times Sam caught the two staring at them It was obvious Buck isn't fond of Victor. Sam knows the feeling is mutual on his end.
The night finally started to come to an end around midnight. The gala was successful. They raised over $1million which Sam thinks is phenomenal. Being able to help out people has always been something she enjoy doing.
Despite having a good time tonight, Sam couldn't stop her mind from wandering off to Buck. The way he looked at her while she walked off with Victor. Not that she cares if he's mad or jealous even. It was just curiosity.