“This will be your office,” Maddie tells me. She’s a nurse at the Astor clinic, and she’s taken it upon herself to show me around, practically shooing away the lady from Human Resources.
I follow her in and can’t help but smile. It’s a fully equipped office, but it’s far more luxurious than what I had at Dr. Johnson’s clinic. There’s even a fully leather patient check-up bed. It’s insane.
Taking this job is the best decision I ever could’ve made. The college is only a twenty-minute drive from home, the pay and benefits are great, and the resources they provide me with are top notch. I’m lucky they called when they did. Even the interview was surprisingly pleasant.
Maddie rests against my desk and smiles at me. “We’re so lucky to have gotten such a handsome doctor,” she says, smirking. “You’re definitely going to brighten up my days.”
I smile, but not for the reasons she’s thinking. I can hear Aria’s voice in my head, and I just know my little sister would’ve sicced Human Resources on Maddie real quick. She’s all for equal treatment, and she’d never stand for this type of behavior. I miss her. I’ll have to hop on a video call with her and Gray soon, even if it’s just to fill her in on the new job. She’s probably heard about it from Grayson already, but I know what she’s like. She’ll want to hear all about it from me directly.
“So,” Maddie says, drawing out the word. “There are a couple of things you need to know, though I’m sure HR has already filled you in.”
I turn to her and nod. Since the entire university and everything on its grounds is owned by one family, there are bound to be some unwritten rules. I don’t want to fuck this up. This job opportunity is far too good.
“One: don’t fuck any of the students. Like, really don’t. It’s an instant dismissal. Don’t even go anywhere near them, because if Mr. Astor finds out he’ll lose his shit. Apparently, his daughter fell in love with one of the staff and threw away everything for him, only to have to come back home, all alone. No one knows the full story, but ever since then, Mr. Astor has been crazy about boundaries for staff members.”
I nod. I have no intention of fucking some preppy student. Fuck that shit. I can’t stand the drama — and the lack of experience. Maddie grins and runs her hand through her hair. “That doesn’t include me, of course. I’m not a student.”
I shake my head at her bravado. She’s trouble. I can already see it. I definitely can’t ever fuck her, because she’ll never leave me alone if I show her the tiniest bit of attention.
“Two: sleep with a patient, and your career is ruined. Doesn’t matter if they aren’t a student. Faculty staff is off-limits too. Mr. Astor will legit report you wherever he can. He’s done it to the doctor you’re replacing. Last I heard, the poor guy still hasn’t found a job, and it’s been a few months. Doubt he’ll find anything. If the Astors want something, they get it.”
I nod, a chill running down my spine. I’d better be extremely careful. It’s been a while since I was at college, but I remember what it was like. I doubt I’d be tempted, but it won’t hurt to be a little extra mindful of my interactions with patients.
“That’s it, really,” she says, before turning to show me how the systems work. I’ve barely spoken a word, but thankfully I don’t have to. Maddie speaks enough for the both of us.
I smile as I think of the horror I’d see on Grayson’s face if he were in my situation right now. A chatterbox is his worst nightmare. Me? I don’t mind it so much. I prefer being around people that fill the silence that always seems to surround me.
“That’s all, Dr. Grant,” she says, smiling up at me. She’s leaning in, showcasing her breasts. I smirk, and that only seems to embolden her. “Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need something,” she says. “Like… anything.”
“Sure thing, Maddie,” I tell her. “Thank you for the warm welcome.”
She giggles as she hops off my desk and walks to the door, looking back over her shoulder. “Anytime, Dr. Grant.”
I breathe a sigh of relief when the door closes behind her. She’s a whirlwind, that girl. I shake my head and reach for the white doctor’s coat hanging on the hook behind my desk.
This is everything I’ve always dreamed of. An office of my own, being referred to as Doctor, and helping patients on a daily basis. This is a dream come true, and I need to make sure I don’t fuck it up.
I sit down in the far too posh seat behind my desk and shake my head. How could I have gotten this lucky? I smile bittersweetly as I reach for my bag and take out two photos: one of my parents, and one of just Aria and me. I place both photo frames on my desk, already feeling much more at home in this office.
Would Mom and Dad be proud of me today? I’d like to think they would be. Neither Aria nor I are very religious. We stopped believing the day our parents were brutally taken from us. Yet somehow, I still want to believe they’re watching over us.
I’m startled out of my thoughts when my desk phone’s loudspeaker crackles, the receptionist’s voice resounding through the room.
“Dr. Grant, I have a patient here to see you. I’m sending her file over now.”
I nod, my heart pounding. “Send her in,” I say, just as I click on the patient file. My eyes widen when I read the patient’s name. Amara Astor.
Astor? Fuck me. Just my luck. It’s not a common enough surname for her not to be one of the Astors.
I’m nervous as the door opens and try my hardest to hide it, but all my composure is lost the second I lay eyes on her.
Bright blue eyes. Long wavy red hair. She’s breathtaking. Fuck. I tear my gaze away and tug at my tie, suddenly feeling suffocated.
I offer her my hand in introduction and she nods at me, her cheeks flushed and her breathing uneven.
Does she have a fever? Fucking hell. I’m a doctor. She’s obviously here because she needs medical help, yet here I am, acting like a goddamn pig. No wonder Mr. Astor has his rules in place.
“I’m Dr. Grant,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine. I could’ve sworn her touch fucking zapped me, but she doesn’t seem to notice a thing as she shakes my hand. “Amara Astor,” she tells me, and her voice… fuck. It’s rare for a woman’s voice to turn me on, but she does it for me.
And she really shouldn’t. She’s my patient, after all.
“Doctor,” she says, her voice soft. “Let me preface this by telling you that I’m a mechanical engineer. A PhD student, actually. This sounds like the lamest excuse, but I swear I’m not lying.” I frown, intrigued. Amara shakes her head and looks away. “Maybe this is a bad idea. I shouldn’t… I can get help elsewhere. I didn’t expect you to… Why are you so young?”
I put on my most reassuring smile and shake my head. “Don’t you worry, Ms Astor. There isn’t much I haven’t seen yet.”
She laughs, the sound betraying her nerves. “Oh boy. You have no idea how wrong you are.” She looks into my eyes, seemingly gathering her courage. “Dr. Grant. I need your help. I… I have a sex toy stuck inside me.”
She has… what? What the fuck?
