The Curiosities Concerning Fate

∷ Chapter 21 ∷

SEBASTIAN WAS ONCE again on the hospital's rooftop, sipping his coffee as he recalled his brief appointment with Jeremy. The latter's reason for pushing the meeting forward was mediocre at best. He was tired of hospital life, or in his own words, "I'm done being a doctor."

As had always been his stand, Sebastian knew that Jeremy Eaton was drastically unfit to be the director of Faith Hill. It should have been someone far more suited to the role, someone like his father. But alas, such was not the case.

It was lamentable how Jeremy thought he was capable of vacating his post simply by tendering his resignation and naming someone else as the next director. But it wouldn't be that simple. Sebastian would make certain of it. Jeremy Eaton wasn't going to leave just by walking out the door, he'd be dragging himself out.

Sebastian's expressionless gaze reflected no emotion as he absentmindedly scratched the black ink of his name scrawled onto the paper cup. The case of the meeting aside, his appointment with Jeremy had been unsettling.

The idiot of a director knew Sebastian loathed formal events. Yet he openly invited Sebastian and his "lovely wife", as he put it, to the annual medical convention with the known excuse of needing someone to represent Faith Hill.

Seeing his hesitance, Jeremy said, "You'll have to meet the other representatives sooner or later, so why not do it in a more relaxed environment?"

Although Sebastian had given him a small nod, he wanted very much to scowl and tell the man that medical conventions were a lot more suffocating than relaxed. Not to mention having to meet and interact with so many people he deemed insignificant and downright annoying.

But for the sake of his plans, he agreed.

Spurred by his agitation, he crushed the paper cup in clenched fists, spilling remnants of coffee all over his hand. Only then did he snap back to reality, blinking in surprise at the mess he'd made.

"Why did you do that?"

The sudden intrusion of a panicked voice pierced the silence in the air. Sebastian turned to see Adine rushing towards him, dumping her tote bag in the empty spot next to him as she rummaged within for some tissues. She pried the coffee cup from his grasp and tossed it in the bin, her face now scrunched in annoyance as she dabbed at the droplets staining his hand and the sleeve of his lab coat.

Stunned at his wife's sudden appearance, Sebastian could only stare at her as she busied herself cleaning after the mess he'd made. It was when he'd come to his senses did he yank his hand free from hers, his glare measuring her shocked expression. Used to his tendencies by now, Adine remained unperturbed, scoffing as she threw the tissues away.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice much too loud for her liking.

"Now I know why you're so bitter all the time," Adine commented, ignoring his question and mumbling beneath her breath, "Drinking coffee with no milk or sugar . . ."

Sebastian eyed her with disdain before asking, "How did you know I was here?"

She shrugged.

"You weren't in your office. Which means you're probably here trying to escape the crowd."

The crease between his brows smoothened at her unexpected yet accurate explanation. He didn't think she was one to notice the small details, but perhaps she was due a lot more credit than she was given.

"What are you doing here?" he repeated with lesser animosity in his tone.

"For you," she said, giving him the paper bag she'd brought along with her.