Chapter 34 Feelings for Him
Jessica’s best-kept secret to sticking by Damian's side so long was respecting privacy and strictly adhering to doctor-patient confidentiality.
When she tried to approach Damian for a second hypnotherapy session and caught him on the phone yet again, she had no choice but to wait patiently with a cup of water in hand.
Her woman's intuition and her expertise as a psychologist easily led her to suspect that a woman was on the other end of the phone.
Damian's tone was still cool and detached, but not as authoritative, indicating it wasn't a business call.
So...
While Jessica was guessing, she overheard Damian ask, “What do your parents think?”
She couldn't catch the response, only Damian’s answer, “I'll handle things with my grandpa.”
There must have been a lengthy response on the other end as Damian, after a pause, continued, “Are you marrying for yourself?”
Then, the call ended.
Damian set his phone aside and wandered over to the floor-to-ceiling windows in his pajamas. Outside his mansion, camellias flourished, their buds caressed by the gentle breeze that carried a subtle fragrance into the room. The silk curtains billowed, casting his shadow that alternately stretched and shrank across the floor.
When the tension in the room had sufficiently eased, Jessica cracked open the door. "Damian, want some water?" she offered.
Irritated, Damian pulled out a cigarette.
Jessica caught sight of him striking a match. The wooden stick with a bright orange flame danced at its tip, igniting the tobacco, and a delicate plume of smoke escaped his lips, vanishing quickly into the air. He didn’t rush to snuff out the match, patiently waiting until it burned down to its end.
She nearly warned him, "Careful, you’ll burn your fingers," but Damian coolly discarded the used match into the ashtray, adding another grey stick to the collection.
The bedroom was spacious enough that the straight-line distance across it felt like 6 feet of insurmountable chasm to Jessica. They were worlds apart; she could only stand on her tiptoes and look up at him from afar.
With a cigarette in hand, Damian spoke without turning to her, "Leave the water."
She gingerly set the water glass down. "Damian, smoking before bed can affect the quality of your sleep. Going without it for a few days might help you sleep better."
Damian flicked the ash off his cigarette. "Can't sleep. No hypnosis tonight; you head back early."
Staring at his silhouette, even without seeing his face, his presence was imposing enough to be lethal. She imagined what it would be like to wrap her arms around him from behind, to press herself against his figure...
Suppressing thoughts that shouldn't surface, Jessica replied, "Okay, Damian. Try to sleep early. If you can't, stay away from electronic devices. Even just closing your eyes can give your brain a little rest."
He grunted a single, "Hmm."
Jessica had gradually learned Damian's manner of responding to people; if he didn't show her any patience, she would be ignored.
Stepping out of the grand mansion’s door, she slumped into the car, feeling a sense of loss. Through the windshield, she could see the mansion's hedge. Lowering the window let in the scents of olives and gardenias. The elegant three-story white house featured a sunken courtyard with a large swimming pool where she had once seen Damian swimming, his trim waist and defined abs like those of a merman.
She couldn’t pinpoint the moment her heart swayed; perhaps it was their first encounter when he asked casually, “Are you the one Hayden mentioned?”
Or maybe it was during her first visit to his office for hypnotherapy when he confronted a subordinate. His demeanor was cool without rage, yet he exuded the effortless authority of a leader.
Otherwise, it was her first visit to the mansion, mesmerized by the sight of him gliding effortlessly in the swimming pool, the lights casting a shimmering glow on the water. His arms wide, legs kicking powerfully, he dazzled her. Climbing out, he carelessly wrapped a robe around himself and tossed it over his shoulder, "Wait for me in the living room."
Jessica's gaze fell, her hands clenching the steering wheel so tightly.
Hayden had warned her, "Damian's generous with money; no worries there. Keep him happy, and you'll gain both wealth and prestige. But remember, if you fall for him, you're setting yourself up for hurt."
At that time, confidence brimmed within her, "What are you talking about, my friend? I'm a doctor, he's a patient; professional ethics matter to me. You think I've never been around the block before?"
The bitterness in her eyes threatened to spill as Jessica forced a wry smile at her reflection in the rearview mirror.
Unexpectedly, she saw the gates of the house swing open, a blaze of headlights slicing through the dark night.
Damian made a swift right turn, vanishing before she could even make out his car, the taillights a fading memory at the end of the road.
Where could he be off to this late? The woman on the phone earlier?
A tug at her heart prompted Jessica to hit the gas and follow, but her instincts held back, knowing she shouldn't break the rules.
If Damian caught her tailing him, their doctor-patient relationship would be over.
---
The nurse came in to remove the IV, waking Ashley up.
Groggy and limp, she mustered no strength, her head buzzing, "Can I leave after the drip?"
The nurse had been careful not to miss the window for removing the IV.
Hayden, the most sort after heartthrob, was the darling of the hospital staff.
Yet, it seemed he never had a formal girlfriend.
Some colleagues often speculated in private, any public romance of Dr. Sackler would surely involve a stunningly beautiful and exceptional woman.
Seeing Ashley, the nurse understood. Indeed, only a woman of her grace and elegance could match Dr. Sackler's attentiveness.
The nurse disposed of the medical waste into a sealed bag and made sure everything was in order. "Dr. Sackler insisted that you spend the night here at the hospital, for fear of the inflammation getting worse," she advised Miss Astor, "If you need anything, just ring the bell; I'll be right outside."
Ashley's head was spinning, her legs felt numb. "Where's Dr. Sackler?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He got called into an emergency surgery; he's in the OR right now," the nurse explained, "Do you need me to take a message for you?"
How could she interrupt him while he was in surgery? That would just get in the way of saving lives.
"No, that's alright. Just let me rest, and I'll leave tomorrow."
"Your fever has reduced, Miss Astor. Are you feeling better? Would you like something to eat?"
Now that the nurse mentioned it, Ashley realized she was indeed hungry. "Is there a place to grab a bite to eat around the hospital?"
A few 24-hour eateries are in the area. The nurse enthusiastically said, "I can go get you something light to eat."
Ashley, feeling like it was too much trouble, hesitated before saying, "Maybe just something from the convenience store near the hospital, like some bun and milk. Much appreciated."
She didn't want to make it a trouble; just some snacks would do.
The nurse smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Miss Astor. The diners near the entrance have great reviews. Dr. Sackler eats there often too. Just wait a bit; I'll be back in thirty minutes tops."
The nurse seemed more than happy to run the errand, practically beaming with enthusiasm.
Ashley didn't bother to correct the apparent misunderstanding about her relationship with Hayden and simply closed her eyes to rest some more.
About fifteen minutes later, there was a gentle knock at the door.
That was fast.
"Come in."
