Chapter 3 Avoiding Conflicts
Ingrid reluctantly accompanied Jasper. Though they were walking side by side, there was still room for another person between them. She felt guilty and constantly worried that he might suddenly bring up what happened the night before when they were alone.
But after 40 minutes, Jasper didn’t mention anything, as if their only encounter had been that brief meeting. The one where she was fully clothed.
When they were done, Jasper was polite and courteous as always. “Thank you for showing me around for so long. You should get back to work now. I hope I didn’t keep you too long.”
Ingrid replied, “Welcome to Peaceheart again, Dr. Clifford. I would count on you for any questions about work in the future.”
Jasper smiled. “You’re the senior here. I’ll be counting on you in the future.”
Ingrid wasn’t sure if he was teasing her. After all, it was rare for a doctor to rely on a nurse for guidance. Especially since Jasper had a face that didn’t inspire much trust in patients—not handsome, but rather a bit of a rogue look.
That was probably why she had immediately pegged him as a playboy last night, only to find out he was a doctor—and a highly skilled one at orthopedics.
She smiled and nodded, while she was still processing everything. Watching him leave, a sense of unease settled in her heart.
She couldn’t figure out what was in his mind. Did he not recognize her? Or, did he want to avoid acknowledging what happened? But if that was the case, why had he brought up the accident on Cleris Lane?
She stood there, and someone walked past her from behind without stopping. It was Brandon.
Ingrid frowned. If running into Jasper was fate, seeing Brandon was bad luck. She must have done something terribly wrong in her past life to have both of her ex-flings turn into colleagues.
Back at the nurse’s station, she was immediately surrounded by a group of nurses. All of them were eager to know about Jasper.
“Does Dr. Clifford have a girlfriend?”
Ingrid replied, “What? In just a few minutes, do you think we’ve become best friends, and I’m giving him relationship advice?”
“Is Dr. Clifford here for a permanent position or just temporarily?”
Ingrid responded, “I suggest you ask Dr. Zimmerman.”
“I saw Mr. Geppard and Dr. Clifford talking. Are they friends?”
Ingrid knew the answer to this one, but she shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”
“After spending so much time with Dr. Clifford, what did you talk about?”
Ingrid deadpanned, “I told him about the single ladies in the department.”
“Really?” they gasped.
Ingrid sighed and walked away. Peaceheart had a rotating three-shift schedule—three days shift, one evening shift, and one night shift, with two days off.
Unlike public hospitals, where the schedule was strict, Peaceheart allowed nurses to choose which shifts to work.
Since the pay was the same, no one liked the night shifts from midnight to 8:00 a.m. Ingrid, however, applied for the night shift after a day shift, and there was only one reason for it.
Brandon had been promoted to department deputy head and only had one night shift a month. If she couldn’t avoid seeing him, she would at least try to see him less.
However, her decision unintentionally triggered the jealousy of other nurses competing for the head nurse position.
They gossiped about her behind her back. “Who’s she trying to impress? I’ve never seen anyone so eager to work the night shift unless it’s for Dr. Zimmerman’s attention.”
“She’s wearing her intentions on her sleeve—obviously trying to get noticed.”
“Disgusting. She knows I’m pregnant and can’t stay up late.”
“My son is only one year old, and she’s clearly trying to make us both look bad.”
“No wonder she’s nearly 30 and still single. What good will becoming a head nurse do her?”
No wall was thick enough to keep these whispers from reaching Ingrid’s ears, but she didn’t care much.
What did marriage mean, anyway? She had witnessed a pregnant colleague’s husband leaving a hotel with another woman.
What good was a boyfriend? Her supposed “boyfriend” could easily be someone else’s. Her pregnant colleague, sitting next to her, was on the phone with her husband who was doting on her over the line.
Ingrid didn’t even have to doubt it—her colleague’s husband was definitely enjoying himself, and there was no need for any excuses about not coming home.
The buzzer on her call light flashed. Someone was calling for help. Her colleague ignored it, and Ingrid quickly answered. “Hello, what can I help you with?”
“Come over here.”
“Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Ingrid hurried to the VIP room, knocked, and entered.
The man with a leg injury was lying on the bed. “I need to go to the bathroom. Can you help me?”
Ingrid said, “I’ll call one of my male colleagues to help.”
The man replied, “Can’t you do it?”
Ingrid hesitated. “I can only help you to the bathroom door. I’m afraid you might have trouble inside…”
He insisted, “Just help me sit up if you can’t, then call someone else.”
Ingrid approached and lifted the blanket. She noticed the man was fully undressed from the waist down. She quickly pulled the blanket back over him.
