Chapter 4
I got dressed quickly, removing the hospital gown and throwing on the outfit from the night before. My feet didn't agree with putting on my towering heels again, but they were all I had. Grabbing my handbag I exited the room and took an immediate left down the bustling hallway, finally arriving at a reception desk. Quint was busy talking with the doctor when I arrived.
"Ah Miss Newgate everything is sorted, we just need to confirm a date for you, when is best?" The doctor asked, manoeuvring around the desk.
"I'm not sure, I'll have to ask work for-" I began to mumble before being rudely cut off, again. He just would not let me get a word in about anything.
"The earliest convenience please," Quint said monotonously, my finger tips slightly tingling from his take-charge attitude.
"Alrighty, we have a slot exactly two weeks from now, 11am?" Dr Edwards offered, obviously sensing the tension in the air.
"That's fine," Quint half smiled, he was growing impatient.
"Brilliant, we'll see you in two weeks then Victoria," Dr Edwards smiled, shaking my hand over the desk, and then Quint's.
"Thank you," I smiled meekly, turning towards the elevator. I pushed the button, awkwardly waiting for the lifts arrival. I could feel Quint's presence next to me. As soon as it arrived we stepped on simultaneously, pressing the ground floor button, the doors slid shut.
"Why did you do that?" I asked angrily, turning to Quint and balling my fists. "I am not a charity case; I was going to handle it myself," I hissed. Quint smirked, rubbing his eyes with thumb and forefinger.
"You think I did it because I care? Because I pity you?" He chuckled. Suddenly his face dropped all emotion and he turned to me, his eyes piercing. "Think of it as incentive, you keep your mouth shut, you get your surgery, you speak to anyone, and a brain tumour will be the least of your worries," I wanted to kick him, slap him, and thank him all at once.
"Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to make me disappear?" I asked, half joking.
"Probably. But then my father would have to find a new assistant wouldn't he?" I hoped he was trying to be funny, but his voice didn't sound like he was joking.
The lift came to a slow stop and I stepped off like a bullet out of a gun, and whisked down the hallway towards the hospital entrance. I could feel his eyes on me the whole time, like a predator stalking its prey. Grabbing the nearest taxi, I jumped in slamming the door.
Once finally home I staggered up to my apartment, actually managing avoiding Bobby the whole way. When I finally got there a scruffy hand written note had been taped to my door, 'Pay up bitch' it read. He really did have a way with words.
"Hey buddy," I cooed as I stepped inside the shoebox sized apartment, Monty greeted me with a disapproving meow, and rubbed his body up against me. "I know, mummy was gone a long time, I bet your starving," I picked up the furry little creature and cuddled him close, planting an unwanted kiss on the top of his head. A couple of tears streamed down my face landing on his well groomed fur. I don't know why I was crying, I should've been over the moon, my debts were erased, my job was secure, and Quint turned out to not be one hundred percent an asshole. Yet a sickening feeling lurked in the pit of my stomach, and a large lump had found its way into the back of my throat.
"How're you feeling Miss Newgate?" Oliver enquired as I waited patiently for the elevator in the Antigen lobby.
"Much better thanks Oliver," I smiled, stepping onto the lift as it arrived and selecting my floor. The doors began to shut closed when a leather clad arm thrusted itself through the gap. The doors slid open again to reveal the owner of the vigilante arm. Quint stepped onto the elevator, completely blanking me. I didn't speak a word, or even glance at him as he hovered next to me. If it's a game he wants it's a game he'll get. Finally the silence came to an end when the lift finally stopped on my floor, I stepped off into the bustling hallway and made my down the hall. Don't look, don't look, don't look I told myself, resisting the urge. However I seemed to lose all control of my neck muscles as I glanced back to see Quint's devilish smirk just before the doors glided shut. Shivers ran down my spine. Urgh, it's as if he gets off on being creepy.
I popped my coat on the coat rack, and my handbag under my desk like any normal work day. That's exactly what I needed, a normal work day. I stood behind my desk, powering up my computer. I could hear the rain pounding on the floor to ceiling glass windows behind me. I stepped over to the window, putting my hand against the cold glass. Looking out all I could see was grey.
"Good morning Victoria," Dr Lane's voice sounded from behind me. It startled me, causing me to spin around with a squeak. "I hope you're feeling up to task today, I have a busy schedule and I need you to be your usual organised self, you hear me?" He asked furrowing his brows.
"Yes of course Sir, I'm ready to knuckle down," I smiled, ignoring his complete insensitivity with the politest manner.
"Good, here's my schedule for today, Mandy made it up yesterday so I imagine you'll have to completely redo it properly," He sighed, pulling his diary out of his brief case and tossing it on the desk.
"I'll get right onto it Sir," I smiled. Dr Lane retreated into to his office. Suddenly my work phone began to bleep. I settled myself into my chair before answering.
"Dr Lane's Office, Victoria speaking," I chimed.
"Vicky why have you not been texting back?! I called too and no answer! Are you okay? What happened?" Trisha's voice panicked down the phone. Gripping the phone to my ear in one hand I reached for my handbag.
"I haven't heard my phone go off, I'm totally sorry for not calling I literally went home from hospital and slept through until this morning," I sighed, rustling around in my bag.
"As long as you're okay, you gave us a fright, the doctors wouldn't tell us anything, and they said you came in the ambulance with your boyfriend. We sat in the waiting room for hours!"
"That's a long story," I whispered down the phone, keeping an eye on Dr Lane's office door. He hates personal phone calls. "I can't find my phone, it's not in my bag," I hissed, re-shuffling through it all. "I think it may have fallen out, or been stolen, urgh this is so not my week," I dropped my bag to the floor, its contents splattering everywhere. I was so passed the point of caring. I leant my elbows on the desk, head in hand as I heard Trisha address one of the Dr's as if she was talking to somebody of importance on the phone.
"Oh, well then you're forgiven for not texting," Trisha chirped from the other end. "We'll talk more at lunch?" She asked. I felt a sudden presence in front of my desk, and felt a form looming over me. Leather arms and rough hands leaned onto the desk in front of me.
"Yes, yep, thank you for calling Dr Lane's office, have a nice day," I smiled sweetly, terminating the call and placing the phone back.
"Nice save," Quint's rough smug voice spoke from above me.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I smiled sweetly, returning his stare. Dr Lane stepped out of his office slowly, clocking our stare down.
"Am I interrupting something?" Dr Lane asked sarcastically.
"Of course not," Quint said, standing up straight.
"Clear my schedule for the next hour Victoria, my associate and I have some urgent business to attend to," Dr Lane informed me.
"Of course Sir," I nodded, making a note on the rota he had handed me earlier. The two men strode down the hall towards the elevator, as they stopped and waited for it to arrive; Quint glanced around, flashing me a cheeky smug smirk. My face reddened, either he knew I was staring, or he hoped I was.