Chapter 6

Delighted to be able to give her a ride, John led her to his car and drove her back to work. Eleanor said goodbye in the car, declining his offer to wait for the bus with her.

Relieved to be on familiar ground, she waited for the bus to pass, mentally cursing her odious boss and his awful manners. How dare he leave her stranded in the middle of this place, a place teeming with hungry wolves? This wasn't going to end like this, she was sure of it. Now he was going to pay for everything. She didn't have a secretary anymore, she didn't have to cover for anyone. If he wanted his stupid cappuccinos, he'd have to get off his ass and make them himself.

"Ellie! How much longer do I've to wait for you? I've already changed the time twice with the receptionist."

Lavinia protested, on the phone with Eleanor.

"Stop the blonde motorbike, I'm late because I was working, not because I fell asleep."

He warned her impatiently; it was the third time she had called since she had arrived at her son's pediatrician's office, and Lavinia could be quite a pain when she wanted to be.

"Stop it already... you know I'm having a hard time," she whimpers, lowering her voice.

"It will take me about 10, maybe 15 minutes if the driver stops at empty stops.."

She whispers as she notices that the lady sitting next to her was paying too much attention to their conversation.

"Okay, but you need to know that I need you. That idiot Tristan still hasn't deposited my money for this month."

"Wow, what a dad your doll has," he grumbles, remembering Lavinia's petulant ex.

"You're telling me! — she dramatizes." If it weren't for the fact that I use that money to pay the rent and Hugo's kindergarten, it would have gone to hell years ago!

"Okay, okay, no more empty threats, I'm close," Eleanor announced, looking out the window of the old, noisy bus.

"Touch up your makeup, you know how Rupert gets when he sees you," she teased playfully.

"Lavinia! I already thought it was strange that you were calling me so many times... I'm not going to flirt with him," she warned, frowning.

"Come on, don't be mean! Rupert is crazy about you, you're my diamond in the rough, he always takes care of my baby for free when you come with us."

"You should stop taking him to that expensively exclusive clinic. Find another pediatrician, or better yet, get breast implants and rub them in his face! That's all he looks at!" she protested grumpily.

With her arms crossed and on the verge of a tantrum on the phone, Eleanor recalled Hugo's last visit to the pediatrician...

UNCOMFORTABLE!

His eyes kept wandering to Eleanor's cleavage every 30 seconds. He even included her in the conversation with Lavinia about his son. The shameless woman lied, saying she was the loving and perfect godmother who worried about her little angel all the time.

"Little Angel... Ha! SON OF THE DEVIL, that miniature manipulator is doing better," Eleanor thought, as she remembered the last time with the sensual pediatrician.

"Don't play dumb, you love the little doctor." Lavinia accuses her, pulling her out of her momentary anger.

"I don't like blondes." He ignores her.

"Liar."

"He makes me nervous, okay?! He's too attractive and perfect, not to mention he adores children, even his handwriting is beautiful," she sighs defensively.

"You see, Ellie, I can feel your pulse quickening from how much you want to see him."

"Don't make fun of me, Lavinia. You're asking me to accompany you just so I don't charge you, you rat."

"you've to survive, plus you go crazy when that big doctor looks at you with those big green eyes, or when he gives you that flirty smile."

"Don't try to convince me, I know it's attractive."

"Then get your ass moving and get here already!" she demanded, reclining on an armchair in the waiting room.

"Sure! I'll tell the driver I'm late so he'll speed up," she said sarcastically.

"I love having such a lovely friend, see you Ellie."

Annoyed, Eleanor shoved her phone in her bag and crossed her arms. She hadn't noticed the woman still sitting next to her, looking at her reproachfully. Of course, the nosy old woman had her earpiece volume blasting to hear their entire conversation. Ugh, what a busybody.

Fifteen minutes later, just as she had told Lavinia, she arrived at the office. She went up to the fourth floor, looked in the waiting room, but Lavinia wasn't there. Without bothering to call her, she went back to the elevator and headed straight to the cafeteria. At 8 p. m., there weren't many people, and that included her friend. Exhausted from the excessively long day she'd had, she reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone, ready to call her and put an end to this whole charade when a male voice stopped her...

"Difficult day?"

"Shit."

Eleanor murmured, so he wouldn't hear her. It was him. The famous, attractive 28-year-old pediatrician. Damn it, why did he have to be so handsome? With his irresistible athletic body, tall, tanned, blond, charismatic, adoring of crying babies, the one with the big, strong, magical hands... he was perfect, the son of... her mother!

"Good evening, Dr. Carlisle."

Eleanor waved, turning around with a nervous smile.

"Dr. Carlisle? Come on Ellie, it's Rupert, you know that, don't make me feel old, I've still got a ways to go for that."

He winks seductively at her, while leaning in to kiss her on the cheek as a greeting.

"I'm sorry... long day," he apologizes. "I was looking for Lavinia..," he added quickly.

"I checked my patient schedule, it's not your turn until the last shift. Will you join me for a coffee?" She suggests with bright eyes, full of optimism.

"Rupert, I hate coffee, but if you'd like, I can go with you to get some.." She offers nervously, hoping he'll say no.

"I love the way you pronounce "Rupert"." She purrs, shamelessly scanning his body.

"I'd like to find Hugo."

She let go so that he would return to her face and stop harassing her breasts, which were well protected by the jacket of the outfit.

"Is everything alright with the little angel?" she asked with interest.

"She had a bad night and I want to see if she's okay," she lied shamelessly to escape the sensual doctor.

"In that case, let's leave the coffee for another time and check on that little one."

"Oh no, please go and have your break, I'll wait in the lounge until it's Hugo's turn."

Biting his lower lip, Rupert took a step back, devouring her with his gaze.

"Duty calls, besides, it's always a pleasure to assist you." He blurted out brazenly.

"You mean Hugo, right?" She hastened to clarify, flustered by his... sincerity?

"Also."

Frozen by his radiant smile, she didn't know what to say to his flirting. While it was something she did every time she saw him, this time he was being quite "intense." So, desperate for a distraction, she looked around. She was going to kill Lavinia if he didn't appear soon. She was hysterical. She was sweating with nerves because this charmer (who was surely a firstrate womanizer) was undressing her with his eyes.

"That's enough playing around, come get something at the bar, it's on me."

He smiled victoriously at seeing her so nervous, "yes, doll, I'm hot and you can look at me all you want," Rupert thought, while smiling like an idiot waiting for a reaction from Eleanor.

"No..., I shouldn't..., I still have to find my friend and..., pay for the consultation and.."

Embarrassed, she tried to escape, but only managed to take two steps back before Rupert grabbed her by the waist and pinned her to his side.

A muffled scream from the women in the room was heard along with Eleanor's; this was a heartbreaker who drove them all crazy for some attention.

"You're so pretty," he whispered against her lips. "I'm happy to take care of the little one if you're watching me... it's exciting," he emphasized the last word, teasing her.

"Is it?" Sighed Eleanor, somewhat dazed by the closeness.

"Yes, what better pay than seeing you.."

"Wow..., I think this is starting to get awkward.." She observed everyone watching the little doctor's movements closely.

"Do you want privacy?" She raised a suggestive eyebrow.

"I'm saying your hand is crossing the line from right to... to.."

He was so close to her lips she could taste the mint on his breath. She could feel her body melting against Rupert's muscular torso. She could feel his heat rising and that hand on her ass, pressing her against him...

"Intimate?" Rupert whispered seductively, trying to finish his sentence.

"Perverse?"

Laughing, he settled himself in front of her, grabbing her with both hands, peering curiously down the bottom of her back, his gaze drifting to her round, wellformed buttocks...

"Wicked," she tasted the words in her mouth. "I like the way that sounds on your lips."

"Like a word? —She looked him straight in the eyes."

"As an invitation to.."

SAVED BY THE BELL! Or by a phone call. Her cell phone started screaming just in time inside her purse.

She was so glad to finally have a reason to end this close encounter that, when she stepped back and took her cell phone out of her bag, she didn't bother to see who it was.

"Hi! What's wrong with you?" she squealed happily, very attentive to Rupert's movements.

"Miss Hartley, is that any way to answer a call from your boss?"

Damn it! Did it have to be this annoying guy? He grumbled while trying to keep a smile on his face.

"I'm sorry, I've a bad signal here, give me a minute to find a better reception."

Signaling to Rupert, he practically ran towards the exit, while his boss waited on the other end of the line, impatient and annoyed at having to wait.