Chapter Text
ONE
My name is Jessica Black. I'm a regular person. Yeah. I'm a regular woman, I'd say. Nothing scandalous about my past. I'm just this tall, slim hazel-eyed brunette who walks down the corridors of this hospital with one single mission : give it life. And profits. I'm much more than a doctor. I'm the head of this building. I'm the CEO.
Daddy must be proud of me. A 29-year-old female cardiologist doesn't become the head of a hospital network out of nowhere. That happened thanks to hardworking, a little ass kissing here and there, and, obviously, my education - or perhaps my charm?
Yes. Because I know how to handle people. Especially men. Oh, men. Some of those bastards were really pissed when I got this promotion. They can't take an order from someone wearing a skirt and a nice pair of heels. Well, that was before me. I made them deal with it. They have to swallow me, no matter how bitter I may taste.
I sat down in my office, sipping my cup of coffee, crossing my legs and looking at my Louboutins. Everything was just fine. Perfectly, absurdly, undeniably fine. Until that damn day.
Alice knocked twice and entered my office, looking worried like she always did. That old lady was getting on my nerves more and more everyday, but I had to admit it - no one could be a more competent secretary. She cleared her throat, looking more exasperated than usual. I looked at her pale face, waiting for a word.
- Alice?
- Miss Black, good morning... You don't have a boyfriend, do you?
- Alice, you know very well I don't even have the time to pamper a silly boy if I have to run a hospital. - I took another sip of coffee, and then realized something was not right. - But why are you concerned about such a personal matter just now?
Alice took two steps closer to my desk, and whispered.
- You know... I had to check.
- Check what? Speak louder, woman! You're flirting with me now?
She blushed, and I felt sorry for her. She was 63 years old. I had to take it easy.
- Sorry, Miss Black. It's just - there's a man out there looking for you. He wants to talk to you. And he won't tell me what he wants.
I frowned, and placed my cup on the desk.
- Does the mystery guy have a name?
- His name is... - she looked at her notepad, then back at me. - Bruce Robertson, miss Black.
- And you didn't insist that Mr. Bruce Whatever told you what he's doing here, Alice?
- I did, but...
- Damn, Alice! What am I paying you for, anyway?
- I asked him to tell me, but he didn't want to. And he told me...he told me to shut up and do my job.
I held my lips between my teeth. I couldn't tolerate that. I knew that Alice could so sweet and insecure to the point of being unnerving, but she was a good person. And very competent and honest. And she was an old lady, damn it. I could never let some guy treat her like garbage, in my own company. In my own hospital.
- Men. Fucking men. Stay here, Alice.
I stood up, my heels clattering on the hardwood floor. My heart was fluttering in my chest. I opened the door, breathing fast, ready to send that asshole right where he came from.
Right in front of my door, stood this red-headed, blue-eyed bastard, grinning more than he should, his hands inside the pockets of his suit. I was breathing so fast, my t-shirt wet from my sweat, and for some reason I regretted having opened the door looking that way. The bastard looked up and down at my body, examining my figure in a way that made me blush. I hated him at that very moment.
- Doctor Black... - he said my name so slowly, he seemed to savor the words with his eyes closed. - Doctor Black, I'm honored to meet you. Good morning, I'd say. - He offered me his hand, but I didn't shake it.
- May I know who you are, and what makes you think you can treat my secretary that way, Mr. Nobody?
He took a few steps closer to me, until there were only a few inches between our faces. His grin grew wider, as he took something out of his pocket.
- Apparently, Mr. Nobody is Bruce Robertson, detective inspector in Edinburgh's Police Department, Doctor Black. - He showed me his badge, so close to my face I took a step back - And I'd like to have a word with you, if you don't mind.
I could feel his breath on my skin. He was almost laughing at my face. I hated him. I tried to process the words he just said, but I could only hear "Police Department", and my head was dizzy instantly. Alice was looking at us, flabbergasted, and annoying the fuck out of me.
- Alice, what are you looking at ? Go do your job! - I said, opening my office's door for the bastard and then slamming it shut.
He sat in front of my desk, and crossed his legs. He watched me sit down, and I felt like a silly little girl under his stare. He tilted his head, and pointed at the door, right where Alice stood minutes before:
- You know... That shit you did there - was not that polite either.
How dare you? I thought, crossing my legs and folding my arms, to examine his face. I felt ridiculous. And scary. There was a damn detective in my room, and I knew I was fucked.
- I am nervous. And what I told her there does not make your attitude towards her right.
- Fair enough.
He was chewing a bubble gum. I hate bubble gums.
I didn't say anything else. If he really was a police officer, he would come with the talking. And the asking. I kept looking at him.
- So you're nervous, huh? - He dragged his chair closer to my desk, still chewing the gum. - Guilt, perhaps?
I wouldn't take it any longer.
- Mr. Robertson, I don't have police officers in my room everyday. So yes, that makes me automatically nervous. That does not mean, however, that I am feeling guilty, for, as far as I know, I haven't done anything wrong. Now, would you please tell me what is the purpose of your visit?
- I like the way you talk, Doctor Black. Nice use of words. Confident. May I? - he took the bubble gum out of his mouth, pointing at the saucer under my empty cup. Disgusting bastard. I nodded. - It seems like we will get on very well with each other, doc. - He smashed the gum on the cold porcelain of the saucer, looking at me with a smile that was almost obscene.
I raised a brow, still waiting for a proper answer.
- Well, we're investigating a case of fraud in the Hill-Smith Group, Doctor. You're familiar with this name, I suppose.
I swallowed a tiny amount of saliva. Of course I was familiar with it. That was my hospital. Hill-Smith General Hospital, the largest hospital of the Hill-Smith Group, a network that ran 30 private hospitals in the United Kingdom. His sarcasm had no limits.
- Would you like some coffee or water, Mr. Robertson? It seems we'll have a long conversation. - I wanted that bastard to get out of that place. Some poison would be nice right now.
- I would love some coffee, but we don't want to disturb Alice right now, do we?
- Of course not. I'll get it myself. Do you like it black?
- Always. - He smiled at me again, laying back on his chair and looking straight into my eyes. His were electric blue, and, though I hate to admit it - beautiful.
As I walked towards the coffee machine, I could feel his eyes feasting on me. That man was clearly dangerous, and I had to be careful. There was something dark hiding beneath that cheap flirtatious mask - I was not stupid.
- And no sugar, darling.
Darling? Who the fuck does he think I am? His wife? I knew exactly how to handle a chauvinist pig like him. And he would not beat me.
I placed the cup of coffee on the desk, his eyes resting on my hips and no sign of shame on his face.
- Your coffee, Mr. Robertson.
- Thank you, Doctor. - he sipped the coffee, and frowned. - So tell me, miss Black, and please do not let my question make you feel uncomfortable : how could a fraud be committed in this company?
- I have the same doubt, Inspector.
- You do, don't you? Which is weird, in my opinion, because I thought the CEO of a company would know its weaknesses, or am I wrong?
- Mr. Robertson, when you say the word "fraud", I don't even know what you're talking about. If there is some kind of fraud happening in this company, it's news to me. And if there is really something going on, well... I cannot control every single employee in this network.
- And that surprises me, because - with all respect, miss - how could such a good-looking, competent professional not be charismatic among her collaborators?
I smirked. He was definitely a player. Asshole.
- Please, Mr. Robertson, thank you but spare me of the compliments. It's not about charisma. Even a perfect leader couldn't control such a large group.
- So you're perfect, Miss Black? - he dragged his chair even closer, and put his hands on the desk, only an inch away from mine.
- I didn't say that, Mr Robertson. - I placed my hands on my lap, and he smiled in that obscene way again.
He stood up, and walked towards the window. He looked at the busy street, and asked:
- Do you know how much money your cancer charity raised in the last year, Miss Black?
Hill-Smith Group also ran a cancer charity for children. I didn't understand his question, but I answered it anyway.
- Of course I do. About 30 million pounds.
- Wow, 30 million pounds, huh? - He looked back at me, his hands in his pocket again. - Big big money, right? You're definitely the boss. Such a great work.
He sat on the glass surface of my desk, and I could feel his tweed pants brushing my bare legs.
- And do you also know that much of this money was never used to treat any children, but apparently to fill someone's bank account in Zurich?
I was shocked. I blinked slowly, trying to find the right words. My heart was fluttering again. The money is being stolen?
- What? I run this charity, please. It treats almost 20,000 children. Everything is perfect there. You must be mistaken.
He laughed, so hard that he tilted his back.
- I am mistaken? Miss Black, are you underestimating my job? There are 20 million pounds in a secret back account in Zurich right now, and if you don't collaborate, well. You don't want the HMRC involved in this, do you?
- I honestly don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Robertson.
I don't know what kind of look I had on my face, but apparently it didn't please him. He leaned on me, his mint-scented breath on my face, his electric blue eyes so close to my face I could almost feel his lashes brushing mine.
- Listen to me, Doctor Daddy's Favorite. You think you can fool me with that pretty face and the posh attitude, but you're so wrong, baby. I know who you are. I know Hill is your mother, and Smith your father's father. You're not here because of talent, diploma, or whatever it is - you're here because you're daddy's girl, you're sitting here because of mommy, and just like you had the guts to step on your brothers - who were way more experienced than you - to get this job, I know, I know you'd have the guts to steal money from cancer charities, my darling.
At this point, his hand was around my throat, and he was breathing hard, his lips almost brushing mine. He had little freckles on his nose, and a strong jaw. I was so nervous I was shaking, and I didn't know if I was more embarrassed for being so scared, or for actually finding him good looking.
Or for actually liking this.
I didn't say anything. I looked down at the floor, too ashamed to let those electric blues eyes scan my mind.
- Look at Princess Black, who minutes ago was playing Wonderwoman defending old ladies, now shaking under my grip. Scared, luv? Where's the fierce girl I just met? - He ran his index finger down my throat, until he met the gold chain around my neck. He held the small heart pendant between his fingers, pulling it gently towards him. - Now tell me, how come that money is hidden in a Swiss bank account?
- I told you I don't know! And you know what you're doing is coercion, don't you?
He raised my chin, forcing me to look at him. He kept his right hand on my throat, his thumb playing with my left earlobe. He gave a very sarcastic, intimidating laugh, his face flushed in anger and contempt.
- What you're going to do? You're gonna call the police, darling? - He tilted his head, looking at my face as if I were a baby and laughing even harder. - I could arrest you right now for disrespecting an officer, omission and obstruction of justice . - His mouth came closer to my ear, and he whispered: - You wanna know how good you'd look in handcuffs, luv?
I crossed my legs, and I knew I was blushing. And there was only one reason why I was so embarrassed: his ridiculous threat, unquestionable coercion and his lack of morals had just made wet. I was horny, in a way I never imagined I could be. His voice sent shivers down my spine as he proceeded:
- So... will you cooperate, Doctor Black?
- Yes... - I said, my voice a little faint while he kept his hand around my throat.
- Good. You wanna cooperate more? Meet me tomorrow at the Police Office, 5pm, darling. We may have a more pleasant conversation there.
- Am I suspect? - I frowned, and looked up at him. That bastard was disgusting. And hot.
- Don't be so full of yourself, miss. I have to leave, I'm late. So... will you cooperate? - he whispered again, the finger now brushing my collarbone.
- Yes. - my voice was almost inaudible in my shock.
- I didn't hear it , luv.
- YES. - I said, his lips now touching mine, but not kissing them.
- Good. I knew you'd be kind, my darling. - He kissed the place where my neck met the cheek, and walked towards the door. Before closing the door, he smiled and said:
- Oh, next time, try to treat Alice a little better. She's just an old lady, after all.
I was soaking wet. I hated him.
[TO BE CONTINUED]