Chapter 41
“Dr. Olson, how’ve you been these past few days?” zne asked, her tone half–teasing as she followed Leroy down the hallway. “I’m jealous you had time off! I’ve been buried in work here at the hospital”
Leroy semilled faintly. “Sounds like it’s been tough. Want me to talk to the administration and get you a couple of days off?” he offered,
Zoe lit up at the suggestion. “Really? If you can swing that, I’d certainly owe you one!”
Leroy chuckled softly. “It wouldn’t take much–just a word from the hospital, and they’d approve it in no time.”
“Ah, but that’d ruin the fun,” Zoe said with a grin. “You’re the boss here, Dr. Olson. I’ll leave it to you.”
As she looked at him, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, “Walt you really do seem different, Happier, even You’ve been smiling a lot more lately.”
Leroy raised an eyebrow. “Have 1?” he asked, geminely surprised.
Before either of them could continue, a soft knock came at the door, followed by a young nurse stepping in. “Dr. Olson, there’s a patient in the burn unit who says they’re a friend of yours and is asking for you to come over.”
Leroy frowned. “Afriend?” he echoed, puzzled
zee chimed in with a reminder. “Dr. Olson, don’t forget you have surgery scheduled later today,” she said. “It’s an important one.”
Leroy nodded but decided to check on the situation. “If they say they’re a friend, I’ll at least see what’s going on.
When Leroy and Zoe arrived at the bum unit, the sound of lood complaints greeted them. Zoe rolled her eyes as soon as she recognized the voice.
It was Cedric
“Cedric?” Zoe muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with disbelief. “That guy actually dates to call himself your friend?”
Leroy didn’t respond immediately, his expression unreadable as he took in Cedric’s exaggerated gestures and complaints. He turned to leave immediately.
“Leroy! Finally, you’re here. I’ve been waiting forever. You can’t just leave me like this–I’m burned” Cedric whined, gesturing dramatically toward his toot Leroy’s eyes flicked to the so–called “bum“, it was a small blister, barely worth mentioning. Zoe’s eyebrows shot up as she suppressed a laugh. “Burned?” Zoe arpeated with a smirk. “Is that what you’re calling it? That tiny blister on your foot? Yeah, looks bad. If you hadn’t come in, it might’ve even healed on its own.”
The sarcasm in her voice was palpable, and Leroy’s
‘s lips quirked in reluctant amusement,
Cedric flushed, clearly embarrassed but refusing to back down. “Leroy, you can’t just leave me like this. Aren’t doctors supposed to help people?”
Leroy’s tone cooled. “I have a surgery scheduled today, Cedric I don’t have time to entertain this.”
He turned to leave, but Cedric’s voice grew louder and more insistent. “Don’t give me that! What could possibly be more important than me? I’m Scarlett’s fiancé, Leroy. That means you’re not going anywhere today.”
Zoe stiffened at the sheer arrogance in his voice. “Are you serious right now?” she snapped. “Dr. Olson doesn’t even work in this department, and you had the nerve to drag him tune for a blister? Just because you’re riding on Scarlett’s coattails doesn’t mean you can boss him around.”
Her words drew attention from the other doctors in the bum unit, many of whom were now
Cedric’s face turned red, his robarrassment giving way to anger,
wwatching with thinly veiled amusement
“I’m a patient!” he shouted, “It Dr. Olson refuses to help me, I’ll just use my connections with Payne Group. Let’s see if he’s willing to risk his career over this.” With Payne Group backing him, Leroy felt untouchable. He was determined to humiliate Leroy. The smugness in his voice was palpable, and Zor looked ready to explode
Letyrated a land to stop her. “Cedric,” he said calmly, ”
y, “do you losow who my surgery is for this attemoon?”
Cedric scoffed, using his arms. “I don’t care. It’s not my problem.‘
