A Thousand Ways To Say I Love You

CHAPTER IX

After their quick coffee, Isabella stood up from the bench, a reluctant smile lingering on her lips. "I should get back to work," she said, glancing at her watch. "Patients to check on and all that."

Matteo felt a pang of disappointment at the thought of her leaving but quickly masked it with a smile. "Of course, duty calls," he replied, his tone light. "It was nice to finally chat, Isabella. I really enjoyed it."

"Me too, Matteo," she said, her eyes brightening as she met his gaze. "Maybe we can do this again sometime?" There was a hint of hope in her voice, and Matteo's heart soared.

"Absolutely," he replied, trying to sound casual. As she walked away, he watched her go, his thoughts still spinning from their conversation. There was a sense of excitement in the air, a spark that lingered long after she had disappeared into the hospital.

Once he felt the moment was over, Matteo turned and headed back towards Albert's room. The halls felt different now, brighter and more welcoming, as if Isabella's presence had infused the place with new energy. He found himself smiling as he approached Albert's room, the earlier worry replaced with a renewed sense of purpose.

When he stepped inside, Albert looked up from his bed, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement. "Well, look who's back! Did you finally manage to find yourself a girlfriend?" he joked, raising an eyebrow.

Matteo chuckled

Albert looked at his friend, obviously they had been friends for a long time, he knows about his friend, "Did you met her?" He asked, making Matteo lips curled into a smile, "I didn't know she works here" he replied, Albert looked at his friend smiling slightly, "You've hide yourself long enough from her, you never tell but you need her in your life" he looked at his friend, Matteo knew that long before but he couldn't just bring her into his world which was dark and full of thorns in what ever path he takes

"I know..... but I couldn't I'm a coward when it comes to her, I'm scared that because of me she might end up unhappy" Matteo replied looking at Albert

Albert giving a loud sigh......

"Forget it, who am I talking too, now help me to the bathroom, I've to go pee"

---Afternoon---

In the afternoon, Isabella found herself running from ward to ward, her feet aching and her mind racing. Each patient required her full attention, and although she loved her work, the exhaustion was beginning to wear on her. The rhythm of her day was relentless, filled with charting, treatments, and conversations that demanded her focus.

Just as she was about to head into another room, she spotted Doctor James, her professor, walking toward her with a warm smile. "Isabella!" he called out, waving her over. "You look like you could use a break."

She smiled back, grateful for the interruption. "I'm just trying to keep up," she replied, trying to hide her fatigue.

"Why don't you take an hour for lunch? I'm heading to the cafeteria, and I'd love to have some company," he suggested. "You've been working hard, and it's important to refuel."

Isabella hesitated for a moment, glancing at her watch. She had a few more patients to check on, but the thought of sitting down for a meal and having a conversation sounded appealing. "Okay, I could use a break," she said, finally relenting.

Doctor James led the way to the cafeteria, and they settled at a small table by the window. As they shared a light lunch, Isabella found herself opening up about her experiences in the hospital, the challenges she faced, and the rewarding moments that kept her going.

"So, how are you adjusting to the demands of the job?" Doctor James asked, genuinely interested.

"I love it, really," she replied, her eyes lighting up as she spoke. "But some days are definitely tougher than others. I want to give my patients the best care, but it can be exhausting."

He nodded in understanding. "That's the nature of this field. You care deeply, and that's what makes you a great doctor. Just remember to take care of yourself too. It's easy to forget." Isabella appreciated his advice

After they finished lunch, Isabella felt a little more refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of her day. As she walked back to her patients, she wondered if she might cross paths with Matteo again.

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After leaving Albert's room, Matteo headed to his office, a part of him still buzzing from the morning's coffee with Isabella. But as he stepped into the sleek, polished space, he felt the familiar weight of his reality settle back on his shoulders.

He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath, pushing aside thoughts of Isabella and the warmth of their conversation. In this world, he had to be composed, focused. The underground empire he had built demanded his attention, and he needed to stay sharp.

Mia, his trusted assistant, was already at her desk, organizing files and making calls. She looked up as he entered, her expression shifting to one of concern. "You look different today. Everything okay?"

Matteo forced a smile, trying to downplay the turmoil he felt inside. "Yeah, just had a long morning. How's everything on your end?"

"Busy, as usual. We've got a few meetings lined up and some negotiations to finalize. I've prepped the documents you need," she said, handing him a stack of papers. "But if you need a moment to breathe, just let me know."

He nodded, grateful for her understanding. "Thanks, Mia. I appreciate it." As he settled into his work, Matteo tried to immerse himself in spreadsheets and contracts, focusing on the legitimate side of his business. But every now and then, his thoughts drifted back to Isabella-the way she smiled, the kindness in her voice, and how effortlessly they had connected.

Despite the chaos of his life, a small part of him longed for more moments like that. Yet, he knew he had to keep his worlds separate. The underworld was dangerous, and he couldn't risk pulling someone like Isabella into it.

As the hours passed, he resumed his usual facade, discussing strategies and plans with Mia and his team members and colleagues as if nothing had happened last night, he kept it pure professional to not link his buisness world and his underground world to not let others find out and still carries his family legacy just like he had too.

But as he moved through his day, the thought of their next encounter lingered at the edge of his mind, reminding him of the delicate balance he had to maintain between his two lives.