Serena checked her watch constantly and then looked at the building where Jason was currently showing the last group of prospecting tenants the building. She pursed her lips. 18:05. He should already be done and out by now. She spotted him walking out the front door and exclaimed, shaking the driver's seat, "That' s him! The guy wearing that sexy white shirt."
The cab driver gave her a conspicuous look as if he was judging her but right now, she didn' t care. She was focused. She was a spy. And she would not let guilt get to her. She watched as Jason got into his car and once he started driving away from where he was parked, she commanded, banging her fist against the driver' s seat, "Come on! Come on! Follow that car!"
"Alright... alright sheesh! No need to get that fired up." The man muttered as he started the engine. He was going to charge her additional for making him wait that long.
Was she being paranoid for doubting him? Serena tightened her grip on the car seat, the taxi driver occasionally asking her if that was what she really wanted to do. She knew he was trying to make her see reason. She knew it wasn' t right. But… what if that 'doc' was not a colleague but an actual doctor? What if he was hiding a deadly illness from her and he missed his treatments because of her? What if she couldn' t support him in his time of need when he had been there for her all the time?
These irrational thoughts were making her sick. She knew he needed her. She would prove to him that she was worthy, that she would support him like none other.
"Miss, I know it ain' t my business but if you' re doubting that fella like that, you ain' t right for him and he ain' t right for you. Just sayin' …"
"Argh, just keep following him! I know what I'm doing!"
"Do you though?" He shrugged, changing the channel to find some good music,
She pouted, admitting, "No." She really didn't know what she was doing right now, doubting the man that she loved like that but her instincts were gnawing at her, telling her that something felt wrong.
A few moments later, they entered a quiet residential area. Where were they? She watched in utmost confusion as Jason steered his car left and stopped right into a garage. Did he live there? It looked like one of those small villas she saw in movies. It dominated the area. Probably the highest around here. "Please stop here, sir. Near the sidewalk."
The driver hesitated, "You sure, miss?"
"Yes! Absolutely! 100 percent sure!"
When the cab pulled over near the pavement, she paid him rapidly and stepped outside. Having realised what was happening, the old man glanced at the house and then looked at Serena again, "Want me to wait for ya?"
"Uh…no but thank you very much."
"Right, girl. Just... stay outta trouble, will ya?"
As the taxi drove away, a sudden sense of nervousness invaded her. That old man had been so sweet to her. Maybe she should have asked him to wait for her. Well, there was no going back then. As she walked towards that house, the wind blew coldly around her, messing with the strands of her hair. She shuddered and silently scolded herself for not bringing a jacket. She looked around. This neighborhood was very quiet, in a pleasant way.
She gazed at the two-story house. It clearly reflected money. Why was Jason hiding this from her? She could move in with him! Well, if he wanted her to, right?
She crossed the road to get a closer look. The lights were already on and as she approached it, she noticed there was a second car in that garage. She stared at it. No big deal. Maybe he was rich and he didn' t want her to know. Ooh. Or maybe he still lived with his parents? Hah, what were the odds?
She took in a deep breath and stopped herself. She felt like a creep right now and she hated herself so much in that very second. Why did she give in to suspicions about the man who loved her so much? She sighed heavily, tucking a few loose strands of her hair behind her ears. She shouldn't meddle further. There must be a valid reason why Jason was living there. Still, she was slightly disappointed that he told her that he was staying in an apartment like hers when he had been here all this time. Why did he lie?
She should just call another taxi and go back home then. She took out her phone, launching the uber app. Instinctively, she looked at the window and then froze at what she saw. She tightened her grip on the device, seeing Jason move rapidly towards another form. She trembled, watching how he pulled that woman close to him, sealing their mouths in a firm kiss.
Her eyes widened. She must be mad. She was dreaming, hallucinating. She turned away from the window, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. What the fuck? She looked again and the lights seemed dimmer but the shapes, the silhouettes, of clothes being peeled off, of them kissing, of them… disappearing in the darkness.
That was a fucking nightmare. She escaped that area, running from there, wanting to erase what she just saw. That wasn' t Jason. Jason loved only her. It didn' t matter. He was a fucking cheater, a fucking liar, a fucking asshole. Her foot collided against a hunched root and she tripped and fell down on her knees on the side of the road. She stared down at the asphalt, tears running freely now.
It wasn' t fair. It wasn' t real. It couldn' t be or had she been blind all this time? She clamped her hand on her mouth to prevent herself from crying out loud, not wanting to awaken the whole area. She should just get out of this place to get her thoughts right because right now, she was at a complete loss.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kassandra pressed her hands on Jason' s chest and shoved him back, breaking the contact of their lips, "Wait."
He breathlessly panted, watching her approach the window, "Fuck. I need you, Kassie. It' s been ten days, man."
She checked the road outside, frowning slightly when the scenery stayed still. She swore, in that split of a second, that she had seen someone, standing there and watching them. She had heard someone running off. Had she imagined it? Possibly not. Her intuition wouldn' t betray her like that.
Jason groaned at having to wait, "Hell. Don' t just stand there in your bra. What if someone sees you?"
She chuckled, "Pff, what can they even do about it?" She pulled the curtains and turned back to him, arching an eyebrow at seeing him already naked. She sighed, running her hand in her hair, "Yeah, I was saying… you should probably take a shower and order something. I'm heading out tonight."
"What?! Where are you even going?" He followed her in their bedroom, hating how she was already choosing some clothes to wear.
"Catching up with some friends at the bar. Will be late."
He muttered some cursed words and whined, "Shit. Sometimes I think you don' t even care about me, Kassie."
She hummed, "Got things to do, pretty boy. It' s rare that I get some free time for myself."
He was about to argue but instead swallowed hard as he watched her sliding off her pants and standing only in that black underwear. What a sight. She was so goddamn perfect and right now, he only wanted to ravish her. Thing is… he would never dare touch her without her permission. He wasn' t brave enough for that.
So he stood. And watched her get dress, hating how it took her mere minutes to get those clothes on her body. When she grabbed her phone and her car keys, he mumbled, "You should be spending time with me instead since you' re busy all the time."
She laughed sarcastically, "And do what? Have sex?"
He became red, clenching his fists, his pride hurting as he weakly agreed, following her, "Yes? I miss you." Her eyes softened as she reached for her coat, "If that' s a bit of comfort, I missed you too."
He leaned in, pressing his mouth onto her lips. She smiled against him, "Next time I' m free… my time is yours, Jason." He deepened the kiss and she pulled back instantly, checking her phone, "Now, now don' t get ahead of yourself. You' ll be fine without me. And wear some clothes for god' s sake."
When she let him go, he reached for her hand again, saying in disappointment as he stroked her fingers, "You' re again not wearing it."
She shook her head, "I kept it on the vanity table. It' s annoying when I have to constantly take it off to perform surgeries lately. Been getting a lot, back to back." She briefly glanced at his hand, remarking, "And… I see you' re not wearing yours as well."
He became pale at her words. He stammered, releasing her hand to hurry through the room. He grabbed his discarded trousers and dug in his pocket, taking the jewel out, "I uh… had, the car broke down on the way! Didn' t want it to get dirty when I checked the engine."
She eyed him suspiciously as he slipped it on again and smiled like an idiot at her, showing the ring to her. Did he really expect her to believe that? "I see. Well… See you later then." She held the doorknob and he regained his composure, trying again, "Hey, I could take you out instead. How about that, hun?" She smiled over her shoulder, starting to feel ticked now, "Next time. I' m already taken tonight. Have fun!"
Kassandra closed the door, dialing a number as she got into her car. He seemed even more clingy than ever. She wondered how long she could go on like that. Those past few days have been heaven. Just her and her work and nothing else to worry about.
She held the steering wheel, waiting for the call to connect with Bluetooth while she revved the engine. Once she was on the road, the call finally connected after several rings. A woman's voice came through, smooth and teasing, "Where are you, Kass? If you're not here within five, I'm sending a helicopter."
Kassandra winced, knowing she could very well pull something like that, "Relax, Cat. I just have to swing by the lab for a minute. Forgot some files there."
"Kassandra. Honestly."
She laughed when the woman sounded instantly pissed. "Just kidding. I'm en route! Is Meg there yet? Heard she was working on a big case these days."
"Tsk, you know she' s always down for some drinks. You' re the rare bird here."
"Not my fault. Alright. I' ll hang up already." She tuned the radio, flicking through the channels, stopping only when she heard some 80s song playing, slamming her foot on the gas pedal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The next day
The next morning, Dr. Kassandra York stepped out of the medical room, followed closely by her two assistant nurses Emma and Jillian. Their gloves were still streaked with blood, the sharp scent of antiseptic clinging to them.
Jillian peeled off her gloves and tossed them into the bin before scrubbing her hands thoroughly at the sink, "You're glowing today, Kass. Jason came back?"
Kassandra's lips twitched, reflecting slight annoyance at that comment, "Hah. We delivered three babies today. That' s reason enough to glow and be extremely happy, don't you think?" And admittedly, unwinding at the bar last night with her two close friends had helped. So there was that too.
Emma laughed, "Come on, doc. You do that practically every week!"
"They were triplets, Em." She turned towards the sterilizer, carefully placing her tools inside, "That' s not something I get to witness every day."
She mumbled, watching the machine hum to life, "Isn' t it wonderful to hold these little humans, knowing that we played a tiny part in their life? Did you see how happy the family was?"
The nurses shared a knowing look between them. Emma held her shoulder, "We sure do a beautiful job, Kass."
Jillian gently elbowed her, teasing her, "But Jason also did come back, eh? Don' t lie."
"Yeah he did." She gazed at the ring she was wearing and recalled how glad he was that she wore it this morning before setting out. Hmpf. A simple symbol of belonging to someone, of sharing a life with another person... when all she wanted was to be right by herself.
She walked back to her office, removing it and setting it carefully in one of the drawers. She pulled up the latest results of her upcoming patient. A complex surgery. One that demanded everything from her — which, right now, was exactly what she needed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~