Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
I glance over to the bar and see Nathan talking to that pretty woman I saw him talking to in the hospital last week. She’s laughing, all animated, and he smiles back at her. My eyes roam up and down her body. She’s beautiful with a figure to die for. Dark hair and olive skin. She says something as she rubs his upper arm, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Don’t touch him.
I sip my glass of water as I watch the two of them. He seems very comfortable with her. When did I become such a green-eyed monster?
“Tell me about your new job?” Peter interrupts my thoughts.
“It’s great,” I lie. “I’m working for a plastic surgeon as the office manager. Just needed a break from nursing for a little while; I’ll be back soon. I’m missing it too much.”
“Good to hear. A change is as good as a holiday, or so I hear.”
Nathan falls back into the seat beside me. “Peter, Nadia.” He smiles as he kisses her cheek and shakes his hand. “How are you both?”
They fall into conversation as Nathan’s hand slides under the table to hold mine on my lap. I sip my champagne and smile as my world returns to normal again.
Dr. Dreamy is here, and I am his faithful patient.
Nathan smiles as he holds me on the dancefloor. We’ve had a wonderful night, with great company.
“Can we go home now?” he murmurs into my ear.
“I thought you’d never ask.” I kiss him softly. “I’m going to the bathroom before we go.”
“Okay, I’ll meet you back at the table.” He kisses my cheek, and I weave my way through the tables, out into the lobby. There’s a bathroom attendant, and she opens the heavy door for me.
Wow, it’s all marble in here with large palms in matching plant pots.
I go to the bathroom and come out and wash my hands. I reapply my lipstick, and the attractive, dark-haired woman in the red dress comes out of one of the cubicles—the one who was talking to Nathan.
“Hello.” She smiles when she sees me. She washes and dries her hands. She definitely is friendly enough.
“Hi.” I smile.
“It’s a beautiful turn out, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“I love your dress. It’s Eliza, isn’t it?”
“Yes, thanks.” I smile as I roll my lipstick together on my lips. “I’m sorry, I’m terribly rude. I know we’ve met before, but I can’t recall your name.”
“Oh.” She holds her hand out to shake mine. “I’m Stephanie.”
I stare at her as my brain misfires.
What?
But he knows that Stephanie from the gym, not work.
“You go to the gym with Nathan?” I ask as a test.
“Yes.” She smiles warmly. “We work together, too. I’m a cardiovascular surgeon. We operate at the same hospitals.”
“Ah.” I fake a smile. “How wonderful.”
I stare at her beautiful face as the sky turns red. I begin to hear my furious heartbeat in my ears.
This is Stephanie?
A woman that he is friends with. A woman he works with. A beautiful woman that he trusts and knows well is who he went to… over me.
I get an image of the two of them together, kissing—her on her knees, drinking him down.
“Goodbye,” I force out.
“Lovely to see you.”
I fake a smile and storm back to the table. Nathan catches my eye, and I glare at him as I fall into my seat.
His brow furrows and he puts his hand on my thigh. “Everything all right, sweetheart?”
I flick his hand away. “Don’t touch me,” I whisper angrily.
“What?” He frowns.
“I just met Stephanie.”
His eyes widen.
I push my chair out. “I’m leaving.”
18
Eliza
“Goodbye.” I smile at the people around our table. “Lovely to meet you all.”
“Goodbye,” the table sings.
I fake a smile and storm toward the entrance.
I can’t believe this, I am fucking livid.
Nathan quickly shakes hands with his associates around the table—his manners not letting him leave without doing so first. I march out to the undercover entrance, and I walk straight up to a taxi and get into the back seat.
“Eliza!” Nathan calls as he runs after me. “Wait.”
“Smith Street,” I say to the driver as I slam the door behind me.
Nathan runs up and opens the back door and dives in beside me. “What are you doing?” he hisses.
I cross my arms and glare out of the window. I am not having this argument in front of a cab driver.
Nathan puts his hand on my lap and I flick it off. “Don’t you fucking dare touch me,” I growl.
He clenches his jaw and sits silently. I already know that he’s preparing his speech. The car pulls up out the front of our apartment. “Thank you,” I say as I open the door and get out. I march into the building as Nathan pays our fare. He shuffles through his wallet and throws cash at him, not waiting for the change.