Love in the ER

CHAPTER 2

Paris was deep in thought, as usual. She had just finished her lunch break and was walking back to her duties at Salameda Health Care Center, but her mind was miles away. Between juggling her internship, caring for her grandmother, and worrying about her future, it was hard to focus on anything else. The hospital gossip about Dr. Oliver Salameda, the owner's son, didn't even register. Handsome or not, Paris had more pressing matters on her mind.

She turned the corner of the corridor, absentmindedly thinking about her next steps, when—bam. She collided with something firm, as solid as a rock.

Paris staggered back, blinking in surprise. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she blurted out, embarrassed. She rubbed her forehead, expecting to see a wall. But when she looked up, she froze.

It wasn't a wall.

It was Dr. Oliver Salameda.

Tall, composed, and definitely not the faceless rumor she had been ignoring. He smiled down at her, his brown eyes warm and amused.

"Don't worry about it," he said smoothly. "I wasn't exactly paying attention either."

Paris stood there, speechless for a second, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. Of all the people to bump into, it had to be him. Her thoughts raced, trying to pull herself back to reality. She was about to introduce herself when, to her surprise, he spoke first.

"Paris, right?" Oliver said, still smiling.

Paris blinked, startled. "How do you know my name?" she asked, genuinely curious and a bit flustered.

Oliver chuckled, a playful gleam in his eye. "Let's just say you're quite famous around here."

"Famous?" Paris echoed, incredulous. She couldn't help but laugh nervously. "I highly doubt that."

"Well," he said, folding his arms casually, "word travels fast. I've heard a lot of good things. You're hardworking, dedicated, and... maybe a little prone to running into things when you're distracted."

Paris couldn't help but laugh at that, her nerves slowly easing. "Yeah, I guess that part's true."

There was a brief pause, the kind that didn't feel awkward but carried a strange sense of connection. Paris noticed that despite the buzz in the hallway, the nurses walking past, and the busy hospital atmosphere, Oliver's focus stayed completely on her.

"Well," Oliver said, glancing at his watch, "I've got a meeting to get to, but it was nice finally meeting the famous Paris in person."

Paris smiled, still unsure how to process the interaction. "Nice to meet you too... Dr. Salameda."

"Please, call me Oliver," he replied, giving her one last smile before heading down the hallway.

As he walked away, Paris exhaled, her heart still racing from the unexpected encounter. She hadn't thought much about Oliver before, but now? Now she wasn't so sure she could ignore the spark that had passed between them.

************

Later that day, after things had calmed down a bit, Paris found herself in the break room with Clara, her closest friend at the hospital. Clara was sipping on her coffee, eagerly chatting about the latest hospital gossip, most of it revolving around Dr. Oliver Salameda.

"So, did you hear?" Clara began, her eyes wide with excitement. "Dr. Oliver is already making an impression. Nurses are literally swooning left and right."

Paris let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Actually... I kind of bumped into him earlier."

Clara froze mid-sip, eyes widening dramatically as she slowly put her cup down. "Wait, what?" she said, staring at Paris in disbelief. "You bumped into Dr. Oliver?"

Paris nodded, trying to keep her cool, but Clara's reaction made it impossible not to grin. "Yeah, I wasn't paying attention, and I accidentally walked right into him."

Clara gasped and grabbed Paris by the arm. "You walked into Dr. Oliver?" Her voice rose, filled with exaggerated shock. "Like... physically bumped into him? What did he do? What did you say? Did he smell good? Oh my God, tell me everything!"

Paris laughed, shaking her head at her friend's over-the-top reaction. "It wasn't that big of a deal. I apologized, and he... well, he knew my name, actually."

Clara's jaw dropped. "He knew your name? Oh. My. God. Paris, you're living the dream right now! The most eligible doctor in this place, and he's already heard of you? I swear, if I bumped into him, I'd probably faint on the spot."

Paris rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but feel a bit flattered by the memory. "It wasn't anything like that, Clara. He just recognized me from the hospital."

Clara waved her hand dismissively. "Please. He doesn't just recognize people from the hospital. You clearly made an impression. I mean, you literally ran into him, and instead of being annoyed, he smiled at you? He's probably thinking about you right now."

Paris chuckled, trying to play it off. "You're being ridiculous."

"I'm being realistic," Clara corrected, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Trust me, this is just the beginning. Mark my words, girl, you and Dr. Salameda are going to be the hospital's next big thing."

Paris groaned, but deep down, Clara's teasing stirred something inside her. As much as she wanted to downplay the whole incident, there was a small part of her that wondered... Could Clara be right?