As if the music conductor knew that the most important figure of the night approached the dance floor, the music instantly turned into the most romantic strain I ever heard. The moment he placed his hands on the small of my lower back and me on his shoulders, my world began to spin. The sound of my heartbeats competed with the loud sound of the percussion instrument hammering in the background.
"You're so beautiful without the white coat on," Mr. Grey commented after he ran down his eyes on me. I felt like wax then, melting against the glow of his gaze.
"Thank you," was all I could mutter after letting out a faint and awkward smile. I was no longer the dominant doctor I was, knowing that I was in his territory.
"How are you and Mr. Martela?"
The question sent shivers down my spine, and it brought back the pain I was trying to push back inside. I couldn't look into his eyes, so I kept staring at his chest, hoping he wouldn't notice my reaction.
"We are fine, Mr. Grey," I lied, of course. He smiled at me and then swayed gracefully, dragging me gently along with his sideward and backward steps. Before I realized his motive, I saw Eric swaying with the woman a few steps away from us. He didn't seem to notice me because he looked so engrossed in flirting with the woman he was dancing with.
I winced in pain and turned my head away. How could Eric do this openly? If he couldn't care less that he was hurting me, he should have cared about what his colleagues might think of him.
"Would you still say the same?" I heard Mr. Grey spoke, and I turned to look at him reluctantly.
"It doesn't mean anything, Mr. Grey, just as how I agree to take this dance with you," I reasoned out, and he smirked, telling me with his expression that I couldn't fool him.
"I'm in the business world for so long, Dr. Red, and I am already familiar with the dirty tricks of some business colleagues."
I blushed, ashamed of being caught. I felt guilty then, being the pawn Eric cast on him.
"I will never share my woman with others just because of some business-related interest. And I will never hurt her in the name of a business." Needless to ask, I knew what he was referring to.
"Mr. Grey, can I go back to my seat now? I want to use the bathroom," I made an excuse because I knew that in the next moment, I wouldn't be able to hold back my tears.
He must have noticed the crack in my voice because he nodded. "I'll take you to my private exit."
Without waiting for my reply, he held my hand as he led me to the far side of the room. We stopped in front of a lift, which I presumed to be the one he referred to as his private exit. He then pressed a number on the wall buttons I never cared to know at the moment. I didn't even notice when the lift stopped until the door opened to what looked like a living room.
"The bathroom is on your left," I heard Mr. Grey's faint voice, but because I was already sobbing silently again, I just nodded and ran in its direction.
I cried my heart out once I was inside. All the humiliation came back as I began to recall how I was losing my pride as a human and my integrity as a woman. The worst part of it was that Mr. Grey tried to point it out to me. If he, whom I had met twice only and had noticed it, how much more for those people around us? They even had no idea that every time we argued, Eric would always threaten to throw me out of his life until my sinking self-esteem convinced me as well that I was worthless.
As crying proved to be a therapeutic way of releasing one's heartaches, I felt better after shedding the last drop of tears from my eyes. I washed my face and dried it with a paper towel, applying a thicker layer of makeup afterward. Cosmetics has its ways of projecting a fake image, and so I came out fresh as if I hadn't poured out a bucket of tears.
"Better?" Mr. Grey greeted me with a worried smile as soon as I stepped out. He was already on his white undershirt though he was still on his slacks.
I just responded with a generous smile as I stood in front of him, confused about what to do next. I wondered if I should sit down with him or go back right away to the dance hall. To think, I was only asking to use a bathroom and not to sit down and chat with him.
"Please sit down," he said as if he had read my mind. He then stood up and held my hand, guiding me to sit down across him on the couch. Eric had never shown such kind of respect and gentleness this way, though, in all fairness, he was generous with money.
"Eric might already be looking for me," I snapped as the thought occurred to me. Glints of fear and worry must have registered into my face because the next thing I saw was the frown on Mr. Grey's face.
"I doubt it, Dr. Red. Wait until he calls you. Don't punish yourself by returning to the dance hall and watched him kissing someone else."
Mr. Grey proved himself right because I then received a text message from Eric. "Don't wait for me. Just go home ahead. I saw you with Mr. Grey a while ago. I hope you didn't forget what I told you."
I was already used to this scenario. We had previously attended too many events, but we always arrived and went home separately. Every time he got engrossed in talking to someone, I always went out and waited for his next instruction at a coffee shop. I hated to look like a fool, waiting for him unnoticed until their discussion ended.
He was also used to this. He never even once doubted that I would cheat on him and spend time with one of his colleagues like tonight. Perhaps because he knew that he had already succeeded in stripping me off from my self-worth and pride.
"Is it Eric?" I noticed how he no longer addressed him formally.
"Yes."
"Is he already looking for you?"
"No. He tells me to go home ahead. So, thanks for the kindness, Mr. Grey. I have to go now. I still have work tomorrow."
He frowned, and I understood this must be because I dismissed him too early.
To my relief, he nodded, but his next words surprised me. "I'll take you home."
"No, thank you." I shook my head in protest. It was too much to ask him that. He was not just a familiar business partner of Eric but was a significant figure in the business world.
"I insist," he said with an air of authority that I couldn't dare to argue.
The trip home was silent until he broke it with a statement that made me cringe in shame.
"Dr. Red, I do not mean to interfere, but I never like how Eric treated you ever since we were at the lift. Save your pride as a woman. Give yourself back the worth you deserve."
It had been some weeks already after that first and last time Mr. Grey dropped me off at home. When he gave me that piece of advice, I responded with just a smile. I couldn't pour out all my heartaches to him because I didn't want him to think that he was better than Eric because he was richer. And besides, we were still strangers who just got to know a little about each other. We were neither friends. Eric's shame was also mine because it also meant I was too stupid to allow him to trample my worth and pride.My mind was all set up. I would be leaving him. I was just waiting for the right time, and I would be breaking it to him gently. I was then slowly taking my distance. Oblivious to him, I was able to purchase my townhouse. After duty, I no longer went home. I just went there sometimes, but I wouldn't take long. I just told him I was accepting another job as a company doctor and slept at the doctor's lounge. It didn't seem to be a problem because he didn't argue with me a
I did not know how long I was crying on Sean's chest. He did not say a word but did not stop stroking my hair and my back. Knowing somebody cared and understood your heartache was such a nice feeling that my crying spell took longer. After what seemed like an eternity, I pulled myself up and looked at him with a faint smile. "Thank you, Mr. Grey." "Sean. We already agreed on this." "Ah, yes," I chuckled, feeling awkward. "I need to go back. They are already looking for me," I said as I looked around, ignoring his complaint. I sighed in relief when I realized we're standing on a corridor that only ER staff were using. I pulled my phone out and saw unread messages. I then opened the one from my fellow physician-on-duty. "Doc, Red,don't worry. I'm taking over. Mr. Martela asked if you are on duty, but I told him you are accompanying a patient who transferred to another institution." I smiled at Dr. Mimi's thoughtfulness, but I grumb
Eric rolled up his window and threw me a confused stare. Suddenly, I lost my courage to say it personally to him that I was already leaving. Not because I had hesitations, but because I did not want to hurt myself anymore. I knew he would start insulting me again and remind me how ungrateful I was."Eric," I greeted him as soon as I was done placing some of my things in the passenger's seat. It was not much anyway because I already pulled some of it every time I dropped by."What happens to your car?" I was right. He didn't notice the absence of my things, even in our bedroom. Either he was too busy with my best friend, or he just didn't care about it. I was used to it, anyway."It's safe from scratches here. Long hours in the hospital's parking lot is too risky.""I won't mind. You can have it fixed anytime."Oh, really. What makes him so gentle today?"Thank you," I said, giving him a pursed smile. "Eric, I have to g
"I'm used to this. I can still sleep," I smiled awkwardly. "No. Drink milk, instead. I also bought a little." "What-" "Wait." He cut me off, only to make me wait. Yet, when he came back, he already had two bags in his hands. My eyes got wide when he pulled out a big can of milk. Standing to take it from him, I giggled. "Thanks, Sean, but I'm not a baby anymore." "The babies are not the only ones who need a good rest. Adults, also. And milk contains melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep. You're the doctor here, so I don't have to give further explanation." I raised both my hands, still giggling. "Okay, okay, I'll drink the milk. I don't need another lecture. What else do you have there?" I stood up next to him as I opened the two bags and looked at what he got. I shook my head in amusement when I saw that those foods were even enough to feed me for three months: nuts, chocolates, cookies, noodles, dri
Sean slowed down as we were about to enter the basement entrance of a tall building in one of the famous parks of the city. He did not tell me where we were going; he just diverted our conversation into some trivial topics. I put my head forward so that I could take a look at the whole facade-- from top to bottom. Built of tinted glass and silver steel framework in a contemporary design, its mirrored glass panes reflected the lights of the lamp posts and the night view of the surroundings. It wouldn't take more than just a glance to tell that the building was a work of elegance. What caught my attention next was the bold, silver signage enclosing the beautiful landscape that glittered against the evening lights.LAMINAE, INC."So, this is your building?" I asked, looking at him with awe.Sean chuckled and threw me a glance. We were already descending towards the basement parking lot that required his focus. "Not only mine, but I also have business partn
Sean and I went out of the clinic. I thought he was going to show me his office, but to my surprise, we turned right to a corridor next to the clinic. I noticed that along the length of that corridor, there were only two doors, and there were no signages attached. We stopped in front of the first door, and Sean opened it. He held it open for me, and I gasped in aweas I stepped in. Expensive furniture and appliances graced the mini living room, enhanced by the modern ceiling and lighting design.Behind it was a partition wall, separating the kitchen and the dining room. On the other side was another door, and I could tell without asking that it must be the bedroom. Though the room was not painted with pink or red, and that its shade suggested a general preference, I could still say it was more of a feminine design. I then began to question Sean's personality. Ever since I knew him, I never heard him mention a woman. He even didn'tinvite someone to be his partner du
There were a few seconds of silence before he spoke again. "Come on, Red. What do you mean by that?"It took me a while before I replied. I didn't want to hear him ranting at me anymore. I then heardsounds of opening and closing of doors, and pulling and pushing of drawers."Red, what do you mean by these empty closets and drawers? I don't see white coats here anymore.""Just when did you learn to check my things, Eric? Just when did you take your eyes off other women for you to see my missing things?""Red, you're exaggerating things-""Am I? When you seduce every beautiful woman, including my best friend?""Comehome! Let's talk about this.""My home is somewhere else already, Eric. And I am not sorry. Whatever was there between us, it's over. I have a list of all my expenses, including my tuition, and all those fancy things you give me. Just give me time, and I will return every penny you spent for me-- with intere
"I'm sorry, Red," he said in between his sobs, "I'm really sorry."I chose to keep silent because I already made up my mind. If I would reply, he would onlytry harder to convince me. Tears were always my weakness, and I was afraid I would give in if he continued his drama. I couldn't define what I was feeling for him because his unrestrained tongue wouldalways ruin every sprout of affection that I had for him.Those five years I chose to endure were more of my way of paying him because I owe him my profession and my existence. It was never difficult to love him--he's sweet if he was in a good mood. He's generous to my wants and needs, and he always wanted the best for me. He bought me an expensive car, surprised me with signature stuff, and gave me access to his bank accounts. He never questioned, nor complained whenever I went out of the line and spend on something irrational.Yet, his weakness was his shorttemper and his endless nagging. Ever