Chapter 2

"WAKE UP!" tiny hands clutched Bella's arms and shook her body vigorously. She slapped the hands away and whined "5 minutes" The night shifts were taking a toll on her body and all she ever wanted to do was dig the ground and lay beneath peacefully.

"Your 5 minutes have passed 15 minutes ago asshole. Just wake up now, will you?" Alice swore.

Alice's one hand buttoned her jeans while the other one shook Bella from her sleep induced mind. Alice was normally a morning person. She would always be the first one to be up and ready in her lab coat until recently since her world has turned upside down because of Jasper Whitlock. He was constantly making her scream and moan with ecstasy but alas only in her dreams. In reality Jasper didn't even know Alice existed. It made her upset that Jasper hung with most of the female population in FGH except her. Maybe something was wrong with her?

"Alice lets sleep…I don't wanna go" Bella moaned and pulled Alice on to the bed to cuddle which made her lie flat on top Bella's body. Alice started to tickle her sides and Bella jerked upright.

"You bitch" Bella spat as she threw pillows at Alice. Alice threw back clothes at her followed with bed sheet and blankets by Bella. Soon the entire room was messy and they both were laughing maniacally in between them.

Until Bella's pager went off.

"Oh Shit" Bella exclaimed as she read the text.

Room 243 – Urgent! Be Sharply at 8.

-Dr Caius

"Fuck! I am running late." Bella shouted as she took off for shower.

"Told you so." Alice screamed after her as she combed her spiky jet hair which looked like they have been stuck by lightning.

20 minutes later Bella and Alice were at the hospital. Alice took off to Room 410 and Bella towards Room 243. Since Bella was finally awake (as awake she can be with 4 hours sleep) she thought about the message from Dr Caius. Dr Caius had already appointed the week's schedule to the interns so it was unlikely of him to call her to their House. Room 243 was named house by the interns since it was their place. Starting from the weekly activities, to sighing volunteers to discussing medical charts all were done in this room. It was a room for all the would-be-surgeons.

Bella spotted Jessica, an intern on the elevator and asked "Hey Jess, did you get any pager from Dr Caius?"

Jessica nodded. "He said to meet at 8."

So Bella was not the only one then." Do you have any idea why?"

Jessica rolled her eyes and said "That man is never predictable." They both laughed and then made their way together to House. Once they were in the room, Bella found that all the other interns were also present. She checked her watch and found it was 8: 10 am. She was glad that she was in the room before Dr Caius. But at the same time she cursed the man for ruining her sleep and now he was running late himself.

Suddenly Bella's thoughts were interrupted by an awful singing voice. Bella turned her head and found herself looking at Jasper. His shirt was half untucked, his blond curls were disheveled and wet from morning shower and his lab coat was thrown over his right shoulder as he walked into the room singing...

Can't read my cant read my

No he can't read my poker face

She's got to love nobody

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face

Mum Mum Mum Mah

The female interns laughed and sang aloud with him while the male interns eyed him warily. Bella looked at Jasper suspiciously and thought what had gotten him this happy this early morning.

A little gambling is fun when

You're with me, I love it

Russian roulette is not the

same without a gun

And baby when its love if its

Not rough it isn't fun, fun

He continued to sing and then winked at Bella. She rolled her eyes at him in annoyance. The entire room grew quiet when Dr Caius finally approached.

"Good Morning Dr Caius." Jasper greeted in a sing song voice. Dr Caius smiled at him broadly and patted him in the shoulder.

Something is wrong. Very Wrong Bella thought.

Everyone greeted him and he nodded before continuing.

"Now I am sure all of you must be thinking what we are here for? Isn't it? Well I have some news." Dr Caius smiled. Bella had never seen Dr Caius smile this much. He was a man of few words, and whatever came out of his mouth was always related to work. He was usually strict and loved to brood most of the time.

"I have decided who is going to perform the surgery with Dr Masen" he announced proudly. Everyone looked at him dumbfound. The decision was to be made within the end of the month, but he was doing it earlier. Many faces fell. Most of them knew that they had not been able to gather 50 points yet and have missed several of the on-call service.

"Sir, you were supposed to announce it by next week" Bella answered.

"Yes Dr Swan but we cannot postpone the operation any further. The patient's health is becoming more critical." You should have thought it before proposing the offer. Bella thought as she greeted her teeth in anger.

"You have thought well Doctor." Jasper interrupted. "The patient's wellbeing is our first priority after all." Bella knew right then that Jasper Whitlock was behind the change of decisions. The cocky smile that was plastered on his face was further proof.

"I am glad you understand this Dr Whitlock. I always knew you were good and so don't prove me wrong. I am handing you the opportunity"

Bella's eyes widened and she choked on nothing.

"I won't disappoint you Dr Caius" Jasper replied as he shook hands with him. Jasper then turned to Bella and smirked.

"He bloody smirked at me. Can you believe it? If I had my way with him, I would just peel him slice by slice, skin from muscle and muscle from bone"

"I would just peel his clothes off" Alice sighed.

"Women which side are you in?" Bella replied exasperated. She had sent spent the entire morning shooting daggers at Jasper, calling him names and giving imaginary kicks and punches in the air.

"I am Team Switzerland" Alice propped.

"You don't get that option. I don't get it Alice, how can you still like him. He is such a ba-"

"Beep" Alice laughed. "Bella you will get a thousand chances to operate later. C'mon girl you were born to be a surgeon. Why are you this upset about it?"

Bella knew she was being dramatic. Yes she was happy that she no longer had to be on on-call duty and she could finally sleep. But then she had worked hard for it. All those sleepless nights and tiring shifts, everything was done for that opportunity. How could she let it go? Above all, the surgery was supposed to be with Dr Masen—that opportunity will never come again. Bella sighed. She knew the taste of victory, but the taste of failure was not something she had ever experienced. She was a very determined person. Once she put her finger into anything, she would have it to herself at any cost and therefore it was not long until her mind flew back to the conversation between Edward Masen and her.

"You are too pretty to be just another face in the crowd. If you want to get somewhere e here, you need someone to help you. Someone who knows the ropes."

Bella didn't understand that time what he had meant.

But now she knew.

She knew what she had to do.

"Alice I will be late today, don't wait for me"

As soon as Bella's evening shift was over, she went home to change. She spent two hours bathing and dressing and when she was finished she studied herself critically in the mirror. She wore a short dark green chiffon dress, a pair of brown slender pumps and a matching purse. She defiantly combed out her carefully coiffure hair and tied it with a green band. That's better she thought. I am a doctor, going to have dinner with another doctor.

Once she was inside the Italian restaurant, she was led into a narrow hall and then was confronted by a man.

"May I help you Ma'am?"

"I am meeting Edward Masen"

He waved Bella into a booth at the corner.

"Do you want to order now?" The man asked with a timid smile.

Bella shrugged "Later." The man nodded and then took off but not before Bella caught him removing the reserved palate from above the table.

He knew I would come Bella thought.

Right after few seconds, she caught the sound of a door closing and soon she was looking at Edward. Bella took in the tall lean figure now moving towards her and her mouth suddenly went dry. He was wearing denim jeans and navy blue shirt with top 2 buttons undone. His bronze locks were messy and sticking out in the air as if saying "you know you want to give me a hand job"

Bella realized that she had never seen him look this casual. He was always in his work clothes in the hospital and his hair was usually back brushed. Edward found her ogling him and he smiled. And what a smile it was. He walked to the table and bend forward, placing a kiss on her cheek. He took her hands in his and sat across from her.

"You look beautiful as usual."

She looked at their entwined hands and then into his green emerald eyes. She visualized his making love to her, holding her, his hard body on top of her, inside her and she felt her face becoming red.

"How did you know I will come?" Bella asked nervously. Edward looked amusingly at her.

Bella's eyes widened as she realized what she had just said. "I mean…I never said I will meet you here."

"I just knew you would come." Edward replied and then winked at her. Bella fidgeted in her seat uncomfortably.

"You looked like you needed my help."

At this Bella met his eyes again. "Why were you watching me?" she asked the question that was lingering in her head since the time he had confessed.

"I like watching you" Edward answered in a smooth velvet voice. "You are very fascinating to me" Bella took in a sharp intake of breathe. That was definitely not an answer she was expecting. She was trying to be responsible and in control of her behavior but his words were making it difficult for her. It was as though he had her in some kind of spell and she was mesmerized and helpless to break.

"You gave me blank calls while I was on on-call duty and not to forget the Store room fiasco" Bella accused.

Edward laughed at her accusing tone and then waved his hand to a waiter nearby. They both ordered their meal, and as soon as the waiter was out of sight, Bella started to interrogate.

"Was that funny for you?" Bella snapped at him as she poked her index finger in his chest. Edward immediately clutched on her finger and then leaned to place a soft kiss on the tip. Bella gasped.

"Don't be angry beautiful" he smiled. "Of course my intensions were not to hurt your feelings. I thought you would know it was a prank. But I was proved wrong when I saw your angry face after you found out it was the Storeroom."

"You were there all the while?" Bella shouted as several eyes looked into their direction. Bella had forgotten that they were in the restaurant surrounded by people.

"I know I should be sorry but I am not. The image of your disheveled hair and sweat running down your neck is something that I cannot forget. It was too sexy." Edward grinned. Bella looked at him speechless.

"Do you even know why I was on on-call duty?" Bella asked him and she was surprised when he replied with a No. "You are performing a surgery on Monday morning." Bella said it as a statement not a question. Edward gulped his drink and nodded. Bella continued to speak "And…an intern is going to assist you for the operation."

Edward nodded again. "Yes I know. But what does it have to do with you being on-call?"

"Dr Caius proposed us that if we could win 50 points and be on on-call duty for 36 hours, the best intern will get the opportunity to assist you."

Edward processed the information and then put two and two together. "You were doing all of these just to be with me?" Edward replied amusingly. "I am so overwhelmed. So you are going to be in OR then."

"No" Bella replied solemnly. "And that's the reason I am here now"

"What do you mean?" Edward asked confused.

"Another intern is going to assist you instead of me...And...I don't want him to be there since I want to be there myself."

"Wait wait. How can I help you here?" Edward propped.

"If I want to be there I need someone to help me. Someone who knows the ropes" Bella replied the same words Edward had said to her in his room. She smiled mischievously at him. "You asked me if I wanted your help. Remember?"

There was several minutes of silence. Now is the time when he will snap at me and fire me from the hospital Bella thought. She couldn't even manage to look into his eyes, but she knew he was staring at her. She could feel his eyes on her face but she pretended to be nonchalant.

Just when she was about to look back at him, Edward started to laugh. Bella knew she had hit the jackpot when Edward flashed the most dazzling smile to her.

"Who is this intern?" Edward asked in a business like tone.

"Whitlock…Jasper Whitlock"

"Jasper...hmm...your work will be done."

Bella beamed at him. Now you will know Jasper what its like to be bitten in the ass Bella thought smugly.

"But…" Edward continued as his index finger circled the rim of the wine glass. "I have a condition"

"Condition? What condition?" Bella asked as her brows furrowed with concern.

"You can't honestly think that I will do your work and not get anything in return."

"How much money do you want?" Bella asked him warily.

Edward threw his head back and laughed at her words. "There is something you can give me which is far better than money" he suggested.

"And what is it?" Bella had no clue what he was talking about. She could not think of anything she owned that he could possibly want.

"Your Body" Edward replied in a deep, hoarse voice. Bella's eyes snapped back to him but there was nothing about his posture that said he was joking.

His eyes were hooded with lust as he spoke "Sleep with me"