Perfect Illusion

Chapter 2: Regret

She remained that way for the rest of the afternoon and upon nightfall they were still occupying their office in silence, the yellow and orange city lights flickering below them in the window.

"Well that's me finished for the night." He scooted back in his chair, turning his computer monitor off before grabbing his satchel. His eyes landed upon her tired frame as she continued typing. "Perhaps we should go for a drink, maybe wind down a bit?" He offered sweetly, not wishing to leave her on her own.

"I'm fine, thank you." Her face barely moved, illuminated by the glow of her computer screen.

"Another time maybe." Smiling sweetly, he looked down and headed for the door. "Don't stay too late." The brief eye contact they shared was her way of answering, he nodded gently and closed the door behind himself. As soon as she heard the click she exhaled shakily, her eyes stinging with the need to weep but she wouldn't allow it. The mere thought of a new registrar had her balling her fists, out with one in with another. It sickened her. One of the two registrars starting tomorrow was in fact Lord Byrne's son, Joseph. Trust him to use such a tragedy to further his son's surgical career. The second name was a Mr. Sam Strachan. Her heart had rejected both names but if she had to choose any it definitely wouldn't be a Byrne.

"Mr. Strachan it is then." She muttered miserably to herself, a glass of wine on her mind already.

-X-

The regret was sinking in already. What the hell had she got herself into? In the doorway of the private room she stood glaring at his back, her arms folded and an unimpressed expression plastered across her face.

"Mr Strachan." She barked loudly, shocking both him and his attractive patient.

"Excuse me." He smiled down at the pretty blonde, receiving a smile back before he headed towards his angry superior. "Mrs Beauchamp?"

"Need I remind you that you have more than one patient, Mr Strachan. I suggest you stop lapping up the attention of our wannabe supermodel here and tend to Mr Roberts, now please."

"Right." He folded his lips together, slightly irked and brushed past her. She locked eyes with the tanned blonde in the bed, giving her a satisfied smirk before leaving too.

It had been four weeks since Will's funeral, five weeks since his death and it still didn't hurt any less. She had her hands full with Mr Strachan to say the absolute least. Every day she wished she'd selected Joseph Byrne over him. He was a womaniser, a flirt and cocky as all hell too. Joseph was mousy and nervous which also annoyed her deeply but Sam? He was something else.

"I see he's doing well." Elliot spoke over her shoulder at the nurses station as they watched on over him. She couldn't help but smile seeing him in a rough situation. Mr Roberts' catheter had been pulled out in a fit of rage, leading to a leakage of urine pooling on to the floor surrounding Sam's shoes. He looked disgusted and livid, even more so when he caught her looking with a smirk on her face.

"He's arrogant and cocky. He could do with being knocked down a peg." Her smile faded and she resumed her task of flicking through patient notes before she was due in theater.

"He reminds me a little of Will actually-"

"He is nothing like Will." She spat viciously, a deathly stare off happening between the two as Sam approached cautiously.

"Right." He muttered softly. "I'm sorry for saying so." His voice was timid and a little hurt. "Excuse me, I've got patients to see." With a bowed head he squeezed past her, a wave of guilt hitting her hard. Her mood swings were deadly at the moment. Taking a deep breath she blinked slowly in attempt to cool herself.