The Curiosities Concerning Fate

∷ Chapter 20 ∷

KLYDE NEVER UNDERSTOOD Sebastian's desire to be the next director of Faith Hill though he knew there was no one else more capable. The two had been friends the day they were grouped in the same team during the first few months of their internship and Klyde prided himself in the knowledge of possibly having been his first-ever friend.

In the moments since, he'd never seen Sebastian as enthusiastic or concerned about anything except at the mention of the directorship and the man currently in position. When they had the opportunity to meet with the man in question, Dr Jeremy Eaton, Klyde was further surprised to note that the former seemed to know Sebastian. Although he was greeted with recognition, Sebastian held nothing but contempt in his eyes, an emotion he failed miserably to conceal. It was a curiosity that Klyde never had the chance to satiate.

"Why do you think he wants to see you? Is it about the directorship? Do you think he'd give it to someone else?" he asked instead.

He was watching Sebastian with keen interest, trying to detect hints of anything, really, but as ever, he could not seem to make much sense of his friend's vacant expression.

Sebastian shrugged, glancing at him with a dissatisfied look on his face and easily redirecting the conversation by asking, "Why are you even following me?"

"For moral support," Klyde said in a tone that indicated the answer should've been obvious.

Sebastian eyed him for a full minute before saying, "You're just being nosy, aren't you?"

"Yeah," he nodded without hesitation. "But the offer of moral support still stands if you think you need—"

"No."

"Alright, okay. I thought so too."

They were standing in front of the director's office by now, though Klyde made no move to leave. Sebastian stared at him sharply which was enough to get his point across.

Trying his luck for the last time, he said, "Are you sure you don't need someone to—"

"Go," Sebastian said.

"Fine," Klyde huffed. "No need to be rude about it."

He skulked down the hallway in the opposite direction, glancing over his shoulder several times only to be disappointed when Sebastian knocked once on the office door without looking back and entered upon hearing the muffled voice ushering him in.

Jeremy Eaton was at his desk, focused on the computer as he motioned for Sebastian to take a seat on one of the upholstered chairs.

"I'll be done in a minute," he said, to which his guest remained silent.

Sebastian took the opportunity to survey his surroundings. It wasn't the first time he'd been summoned to the director's office but it had been a while since his last visit. His gaze flitted to the shelves behind the desk, a new addition to the space that housed several awards of excellence and certificates of achievement including the medical degree that bore the director's name.

Appearing somewhat misplaced amongst the honoured recognition, however, was the framed photograph of two men standing in front of a newly opened Faith Hill Private Hospital, both donning white coats and bright smiles.

One of the men was Jeremy Eaton himself and the other . . .

. . . was his father, Dr Roberto Alrik.

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ADINE OPENED HER eyes to find herself staring at a familiar coffered ceiling, a pillow supporting her head as the chilled kitchen tiles bit into her skin.