Chapter 22

The clinic lights carved sharp angles across Ethan Roscente's face. Shadows deepened the intensity of his gaze beneath prominent brow bones.

Vivian Laurent's fingers tightened imperceptibly.

She adjusted the metal strip of her surgical mask with practiced precision. The edges sealed flush against her skin.

"Registration form." Her voice dropped deliberately lower.

Ethan slid the document across the desk with unyielding force. The leather chair creaked faintly under his weight.

Vivian retrieved black-framed glasses from the drawer. The reflective lenses masked the flicker in her eyes.

"General Surgery doesn't entertain hypochondriacs."

"Abdominal pain." His expression remained impassive.

Her pen scratched a jagged line across the prescription pad.

"Try Gastroenterology."

The air thickened between them.

She felt his gaze piercing through the glasses, dissecting every microexpression.

"Night." Ethan suddenly uttered the codename. "Double your last fee."

Ink bled from her stationary pen tip.

"You're mistaken." Vivian adjusted her glasses. "I'm just a resident."

Her lab coat sleeve revealed a slender wrist.

Ethan leaned forward abruptly.

"That racing overtake technique matched your Nightfall Lounge rescue move."

The scent of disinfectant mingled with his cedar cologne.

Vivian slammed the medical chart shut.

"If every abdominal pain patient hallucinated like you, we'd need a Psychiatry department."

She yanked out a CT request form.

"CBC, abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, MRI..." Her pen nearly tore through the paper. "Twenty thousand deposit."

Ethan's hand trapped the emerging printout.

"Doctor Laurent needs money?"

"Standard procedure." She met his stare. "Unless Roscente Group can't afford it?"

A medication cart rattled past outside.

Ethan's lips curved slightly.

"You know me."

Her eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

"It's on your registration." She gestured to the monitor. "Next patient's waiting."

The door handle turned abruptly.

"Dr. Laurent?" A nurse peeked in. "Emergency consult."

Vivian stood instantly, her coat brushing Ethan's knee.

"Tests are ordered." She slapped the forms down. "Decline them for actual patients in need."

Ethan examined the thick stack.

A crude smiley face was scribbled at the bottom.