Well-deserved Slap

Wendy shot out an arm to steady her. ‘Are you all right?’

Callie blinked away the black dots. ‘I’m fine. Just needed a sec.’

Her entire left arm felt numb, like she had a dead tree branch attached to her body.

Enduring the weird sensation, Callie removed her mask with her right hand and walked towards the door. ‘Wendy, let me know if anything changes.’

‘Will do, Dr Hawthorne.’

Callie beckoned at Abby, who had not made a sound since she entered the operating theatre. ‘You. Come with me.’

Abby hesitated, her expression a mix of fear and defiance.

But she had no choice but to follow Callie out of the room.

Wendy shook her head as she watched the two women leave.

Though both were surgical residents, in her mind, only one of them could be called a doctor.

As they stepped into an empty hallway, Abby braced herself for a dressing-down. ‘I was only trying to—’

Smack!

Before she could finish her sentence, Callie’s right hand connected solidly with Abby’s cheek, leaving a fiery mark behind.

The sharp sound of the slap reverberated through the hallway.

Abby recoiled, her hand flying to her stinging cheek.

The pain mirrored the shock on her face as she stared at Callie, disbelief written all over her features. ‘You...Did you just hit me?’

Callie stood tall, her eyes blazing with a fire that couldn’t be extinguished. ‘Did you not listen to a word I said? You could’ve killed the patient!’

Abby, her tears welling up, mustered a feeble defence. ‘But he didn’t die, did he?’

‘No thanks to you.’ Callie sneered.

Abby bit her trembling lower lip. ‘Fine, I made a mistake! But that doesn’t give you the right to hit me! You are not my superior! You are just a resident!’

‘Senior resident,’ Callie reminded her.

‘But you still work for my father. He owns this hospital!’ Abby seethed. ‘What do you think he’ll say if he finds out you hit me?’

‘What do you think he’ll say if he finds out you almost killed a patient?’ Callie shot back. ‘A soldier no less?’

Abby couldn’t find a reply to that sharp remark.

So she changed the topic. ‘You just have it in for me because you are jealous! You picked on me because your boyfriend chose me over you! This is revenge!’

Callie’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin.

She wasn’t about to let Abby’s words deflect from the real issue. ‘I couldn’t care less if you’re the director’s daughter or my ex-boyfriend’s new squeeze or the queen of the universe. You deserved that slap, and you’ll deserve more than a slap if you keep repeating stupid mistakes like the ones you made today.’

Before Abby could react further, a familiar figure emerged from Operating Theatre One.

Simon, fresh out of two back-to-back surgeries, approached with weary steps.

His gaze flickered between Callie and Abby, sensing the tension in the air.

‘Abby, what happened?’ he asked, his voice tinged with worry.

His protective instincts kicked in as he noticed the red mark on Abby’s cheek. ‘Did Callie do this to you?’

Abby, tears streaming down her face, nodded pitifully. ‘My face hurts!’

Simon turned to Callie, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He couldn’t fathom why she would resort to violence. ‘Callie, why did you hit Abby?’

‘Why don’t you ask her why I did it?’

Simon looked at Abby, who averted her eyes.

He turned back to Callie, scowling. ‘Even if she did something wrong, violence isn’t the answer!’

Callie, physically and emotionally drained from the exhausting surgeries and the blood loss she had endured, inhaled deeply.

She hadn’t slapped Abby because the woman had taken Simon away from her, but because Abby’s irresponsible actions had put a patient’s life in jeopardy.

Yet, Simon jumped straight to Abbey’s defence without even bothering to find out why.

Callie couldn’t believe this was the man who had been with her for three years, who’d made the most solemn vows to her.

‘Dr Moncrieff, I did slap her. And I’d have done a lot worse if the patient had died.’

‘What patient?’ Simon scowled.

‘Why don’t you ask her?’ Callie turned away. ‘Go comfort your precious girlfriend. Just make sure she never sets foot in the operating theatre again!’

She left before Simon could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

The pain of being admonished by Simon, who seemed more concerned about Abby’s face than the truth, hurt worse than the blood draw.

Callie couldn’t help but wonder: what about the three years they’d spent together?

She had placed her trust in Simon, not just as a colleague but also as a boyfriend, believing that they would eventually build a future together.

Even if their breakup led her to revise her opinion of him as a man, she never doubted his professional integrity.

Simon was a competent doctor.

Yet, it was obvious that he didn’t have the same faith in her.

Tears blurred Callie’s vision, making everything before her appear hazy.

Under a brave facade, her heart throbbed with pain as if it had been ripped in half.

She hurriedly walked with her head down, not wanting anyone to witness her sorrow and disarray.

Lost in her thoughts, she collided with a man at the corner, her face taking the brunt of the impact as she stumbled backwards.

Just as Callie thought she was about to crash onto the ground, a pair of strong arms caught her waist, saving her from the fall.

She found herself leaning into a man’s comforting embrace, feeling a warmth in her ear as his breath brushed against her skin.

Blinking, Callie mumbled, ‘Um, sorry. And thank you.’

She looked up and stared into a pair of deep, unfathomable eyes.

‘We meet again.’ Elias’s lips curved slightly.

He hadn’t anticipated running into her here; a pleasant surprise amidst a hectic and tragic day.

‘Um.’ Callie blinked away her tears, her gaze fixated on Elias, trying to place the familiar face.

Then her eyes widened with recognition and surprise. ‘It’s you!’

Beautiful and Deadly

Some distance away, the emergency room buzzed with activity as doctors and nurses hurried past, their scrubs swishing in a flurry of purpose.

But the hallway outside the operating theatres was quiet.

Callie leaned against the wall, her white coat wrinkled and stained with blood.

She tried to compose herself, wiping away the remnants of tears that stained her cheeks.

Elias didn’t release his grip on Callie, his eyes penetrating into her soul.

‘What happened?’ he asked, his concern seeping through the sternness in his tone. ‘Why were you crying? And what’s with the blood on your arm?’

Callie’s guard shot up like a fortress wall.

She wiped away her tears, determined not to let a stranger witness her vulnerability.

‘It’s none of your business,’ she snapped, her voice tinged with defiance.

Elias moved closer, his gaze unwavering.

Callie’s breath hitched as she felt his proximity, his presence engulfing her.

‘Maybe it is my business,’ he countered, his voice low and commanding. ‘I don’t like seeing tears in those beautiful eyes.’

Callie’s cheeks flushed, her heart pounding against her ribcage.

She wasn’t accustomed to such directness.

Her instincts told her to step back, but a small part of her longed for the solace of a comforting touch.

Her voice trembled slightly as she met his eyes. ‘It’s nothing, really.’

‘Then why are you crying?’

‘It’s nothing,’ she repeated, her voice shaky. ‘Just a bad day.’

Elias moved closer, his gaze unwavering.

Callie’s heart skipped a beat, and she stumbled over her words. ‘I-I really can handle it myself,’ she stammered, flustered by his proximity.

‘Did you donate blood?’ Elias demanded. ‘Is that why you have a bandage on your arm and why you look so pale?’

Callie looked away nonchalantly, dismissing his remark. ‘I don’t have to explain myself to you.’

Elias leaned in, his lips dangerously close to hers.

Flustered, Callie took an instinctive step backwards, bumping into the wall behind her.

Her breath caught, and her mind whirled with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Just then, a familiar voice pierced through the tension, cutting through their conversation like a knife.

It was Wendy, the spunky nurse with a fiery spirit and a knack for speaking her mind.

‘Callie!’ Wendy exclaimed, rushing towards them. ‘There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you. How are you feeling? You lost so much blood. Are you all right?’

Callie managed a weak smile. ‘I’m fine, Wendy. Really. Just a little tired, that’s all.’

Wendy’s eyes narrowed, her frustration evident in her tone. ‘Abby is such a pain, you know? Always acting like she knows everything. If it weren’t for you, that soldier wouldn’t have made it. She needs to learn her place.’

Callie patted the nurse’s arm. ‘Wendy, calm down. It’s not worth getting worked up over. Let’s focus on the patients.’

‘That despicable Abby Colman!’ Wendy’s teeth clenched, still seething. ‘I don’t understand how Simon could choose Abby over you. You two had plans to get married next year, and your relationship seemed so solid. If it weren’t for Abby’s meddling, everything would have worked out perfectly. Simon is such a jerk. He must be after that witch’s wealth and status...’

Wendy’s words struck Callie’s heart once again, breaking it further.

She intervened, speaking softly, ‘Wendy, that’s enough. Their relationship has nothing to do with me. I saved that soldier not to prove a point but because I’m a doctor...’

Elias watched the interaction between Callie and Wendy, his gaze shifting from one to the other.

A pensive expression played on his face as he assessed the strength and resilience in Callie’s eyes, and the unmistakable anguish in her voice.

Thoughts of the photo he had seen in her apartment haunted him—the despicable ex-boyfriend Simon, he concluded.

However, the fact that the photo was discarded in the trash can brought him a sense of relief.

Elias studied Callie once more, his eyes lingering on the bandage adorning her arm.

Nurse Wendy’s words told him that it was a result of a blood transfusion.

Impressed by Callie’s dedication, Elias couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

She had not only performed life-saving surgery on one of his subordinates but had also donated her own blood for the patient’s recovery.

Meanwhile, Wendy, engrossed in conversation with Callie, couldn’t help but notice the tall, muscular man standing nearby.

Her eyes widened, and she almost let out a wolf whistle.

Clad in a tight-fitting black t-shirt and black pants, the man exuded a commanding presence.

His striking features and intense gaze were enough to make anyone weak in the knees.

Wendy nudged Callie, pulling her aside.

‘Callie, girl! Do you know who that hunk of a man is?’ Wendy gushed, her eyes filled with excitement.

Callie shook her head, her expression wary. ‘I have no idea, Wendy.’

Wendy swooned, her voice laced with admiration. ‘Look at him! He’s like a walking work of art. I mean, seriously, have you ever seen anyone so good-looking?’

Callie sighed, cautioning her friend and colleague. ‘Wendy, you have to be careful. Just remember, the prettier they are, the more dangerous they can be. It’s like in nature—beautiful creatures are often the deadliest.’

Elias, standing nearby, caught wind of their conversation and couldn’t help but smirk.

Callie warned Wendy to keep her distance, and yet, here she was, praising his appearance.

Elias found her contradictory statement amusing.

Unconvinced by Callie’s words, Wendy pressed for evidence. ‘Come on, Callie, you can’t just judge a book by its cover. Is there any proof that he’s dangerous?’

Callie almost revealed the truth, her thoughts drifting back to that rainy night weeks ago—the torn blouse, the forceful kiss.

But she caught herself just in time, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

She deflected Wendy’s curiosity, dismissing it as nothing.

Just as Wendy pressed her for an answer, a soldier in combat gear approached, drawing their attention.

Both Wendy and Callie saw him, but paid him no heed.

Rosedale Hospital, where they worked, had close ties to the military.

It was not uncommon to see soldiers there.

The soldier came to a halt before Elias, saluting sharply.

He addressed Elias as ‘Lieutenant Colonel Westwood’ and reported that the injured members of their squad, who had been admitted to Rosedale Hospital, were now in stable condition.

Elias nodded in acknowledgement, his military instincts taking over.

Recipe for Disaster

Callie and Wendy exchanged amazed glances, struggling to process the revelation.

Callie couldn’t help but feel a sense of astonishment at Elias being a soldier, as he wasn’t dressed in uniform.

But then, it would explain all the bullet wounds and scars on his body.

Lieutenant Colonel—a high-ranking position, she assumed, given the young soldier’s respect.

There was something undeniably alluring about a man in uniform.

Wendy, always the romantic, seized Callie’s hands, her eyes shining with excitement. ‘Oh my gosh, Callie! Are all soldiers that ridiculously attractive?’

Callie was about to respond, but a sudden wave of dizziness crashed over her like a rogue wave.

Her head spun, the world blurring into a whirlpool of confusion.

And then, without warning, her legs buckled beneath her, and she slumped to the ground in a heap.

‘Woah, hold up!’ Wendy lunged forward, but before she could catch Callie, a pair of strong arms swooped in and cradled her limp form.

‘Callie!’ Wendy reached for Callie’s hand.

Elias, his brows furrowed with concern, shot Wendy a stern glance. ‘Seriously, nurse? You should know how to handle this situation.’

Wendy covered her mouth, her eyes wide with astonishment as she watched Elias embrace Callie protectively.

His voice dripped with annoyance, tinged with an underlying worry.

The man cared, that much was obvious.

Pulling herself together, Wendy found her voice. ‘Right, follow me.’

Elias scooped Callie up effortlessly, his strong arms cradling her gently as he followed Wendy’s lead.

The trio made their way through the hallways of Rosedale Hospital, Elias’s powerful strides matching Wendy’s hurried steps.

***

The sterile white room hummed with the soft sound of medical equipment.

Callie’s eyes fluttered open, and she found herself lying on a hospital bed.

The scent of disinfectant filled her nostrils, and she noticed the IV needle secured to her arm, administering a mixture of saline and glucose.

She sat up, feeling exhausted and disoriented, her head throbbing.

Before she could gather her thoughts, Nurse Wendy hurried over, placing a pillow behind Callie’s back. ‘Easy there. You fainted, remember?’

Callie rubbed her temples, trying to recall the events that led to her current predicament. ‘Fainted? But why?’

Wendy removed the IV needle carefully and tended to the puncture on Callie’s hand.

She scolded Callie gently, ‘You shouldn’t have been moving about after donating so much blood.’

A sigh escaped Callie’s lips as she leaned back against the pillow. ‘I guess I pushed myself too far. Two surgeries and donating blood—it was a recipe for disaster.’

Wendy nodded, her face etched with a mix of admonishment and concern. ‘Girl, you should know better. Your blood sugar must have tanked after all that. Seriously, as a doctor, you should take better care of yourself. If Lieutenant Colonel Westwood hadn’t caught you in time, you’d have bashed your head against the floor.’

‘Lieutenant Colonel Westwood?’ Callie muttered the name.

‘Yeah, Elias Westwood, that’s him! A commander in the Special Forces,’ Wendy answered casually. ‘The soldiers admitted here earlier are his men. And let me tell you, he’s got quite the high rank. You should’ve seen the way Director Colman fawned all over him.’

Wendy rolled her eyes. ‘But our director never said a word about the medical mishap his precious daughter caused earlier. Almost killed one of the soldiers when she nicked the wrong artery during surgery.’

Callie let out a resigned sigh. ‘Let’s not dwell on that. The important thing is that the soldier survived. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let it slide.’

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, and Callie beckoned the person inside.

It was none other than Elias Westwood himself, striding into the room with an air of commanding confidence.

Callie’s grip tightened involuntarily around Wendy’s hand, nerves fluttering in her stomach.

Wendy withdrew her hand with a playful wink. ‘Dr Hawthorne, you have no idea how worried Lieutenant Colonel Westwood was about you. I thought he might explode with anger if anything happened to you. I’ll leave you two to chat. Rest up, Callie!’

With a knowing smile, Wendy discreetly slipped away, leaving Callie and Elias alone in the hospital room.

Elias closed the distance between them, his steps deliberate and purposeful.

With a low, almost whispered voice, he uttered a heartfelt ‘Thank you.’

Callie, taken aback, furrowed her brows. ‘Thank me? For what?’

‘For saving my men.’

Not only did she step up and perform the surgeries, she gave her own blood to one of his soldiers who otherwise might not have made it.

‘Oh, that.’ Callie shrugged. ‘You don’t have to thank me. I’m a doctor. It’s my job to save the patients in any way I can.’

Elias’s gaze softened, his eyes lingering on her calm expression, his mind wandering back to the image of her tear-stained face.

This woman, who shed tears for others with such sadness, treated herself with such ruthless disregard.

It stirred an uncomfortable feeling within him.

‘Why did you cry?’ Elias’s voice held a trace of coldness, tinged with a flicker of anger. ‘Just because of the man who betrayed you?’

Callie’s fingers tightened around the glass of water, a flicker of pain flashing through her puffy eyes.

She had always clutched her emotions tightly, not wanting anyone else to witness her sorrow and amplify her misery.

Yet, this man kept barging into places where he had no right to be.

‘I didn’t cry! I didn’t!’ Callie’s voice rose, her eyes welling up with tears once again.

She couldn’t understand why her eyes stung and tears flowed so easily.

‘What’s the big deal with crying anyway? It’s none of your business!’ Tears streamed down Callie’s face as she defiantly confronted Elias.

His irritation grew as he stared at the tears on her face, a maddening sensation overpowering his reasoning.

It made him want to shatter the fragile vulnerability of this woman standing before him.

In a sudden burst of anger, Elias seized the glass from Callie’s hand and set it down on the bedside table with a loud thud.

Callie, startled, glared at him.

Elias’s hands closed in around her, his long legs pressing against hers, trapping her against the bed.

It was a stark contrast to their previous encounter, where he was the one lying in bed and she the one standing.