Love and Second Chances {Book 6}

Chapter 1

Daniella

I stood outside of the humungous hospital, admiring how gorgeous it really was and trying to calm my nerves. I was really going to be a doctor. Looking down at my watch, I realized I was going to be late for my appointment if I didn't hurry so I quickly made my way inside and headed straight to the reception desk.

"Hi, how can I help you?" She asked politely and I pulled out my ID and handed it to her. "Oh, so you're the new pediatrician from New York. I've heard a lot about you. Excited for your first day?" She asked while she rummaged through some files.

"Yeah. I'm a little nervous but I'm hoping it'll pass."

"Oh trust me it will. Everyone here is super nice and Doctor Moore, who'll you will be working pretty closely with your first few weeks, is definitely easy on the eyes. You'll fit right in. Here are your passes to get you into the pediatric ward and the staff room and if you have any questions feel free to ask me. I'm Raven."

"Thank you, Raven," I said smiling genuinely before taking the passes and my ID from her. "Wish me luck?"

"You won't need it." Taking a deep breath, I headed into the elevator and hit the seventh-floor button and waited for the doors to gradually close but right as it was about to, someone yelled wait and I stopped it from closing so the person could enter.

"Thanks," the man said and I took a minute to look him over and lord was he fine. Light skin complexion, short afro style cut, slim build that filled out his skin tight tee shirt and denim jeans.

"No problem."

"I'm Raymond and you are?"

"Daniella."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful woman," he said and I couldn't help my smile. "So I assume you are the new addition to the pediatric ward?" He said looking at the floor I was going to.

"Yeah, I'm the new head pediatrician here at the hospital."

"Well welcome to the family."

"Thanks."

"So are you working with anyone while your here or are they just throwing you the wind?" He asked with a chuckle.

"I'm working with someone. Dr. Moore, I believe."

"Oh I'm sorry to hear that," he said frowning and I raised my eyebrow up confused.

"Why?"

"I've never met the man personally but I hear he is a real asshole and doesn't even know how to smile."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But whenever you need a good laugh you can come find me," he said and I couldn't help my smile. 

"I'll keep that in mind." We reached our stop and the elevator doors opened to reveal a woman holding a clipboard. 

"You must be Miss. Daniella Myers. I'm Whitney, the head nurse. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

"And I see you have met Dr. Moore," she said and I turned to face a grinning Raymond.

"Doesn't know how to smile huh?" I asked and he chuckled before holding out his hand for me to shake.

"What can I say, you bring out the best of me."

"Well since you two have already met, I can just go ahead and introduce her to the kids--"

"Don't worry about that. I'll show her around," Dr. Moore or should I say Raymond said and the nurse slightly frowned.

"I thought you said you didn't have time yesterday."

"I just remembered that my appointment was pushed back this morning."

"Oh okay. Well if you need me I'll be in the staff room."

"Thank you, Whitney," he said before she finally came out of view and we headed on our way to meet some of the patients. 

"So as you know the hospital does a lot of charity work and the kids you are about to meet are actually apart of a new program we are running. Kids who are in foster homes, we offer them free medical services, which are the kids you are about to meet. And here they are," he said as we stopped in front of the room.

"After you Mr. Moore."

"We're all friends here, call me Raymond."

"Okay. Well after you Raymond." He shot me a full grin before opening the door and right as it opened, a little girl ran right into my legs, giggling.

"Don't let them get me," she yelled laughing while two boys came running behind her.

"Hey that's cheating," they yelled simultaneously.

"No, it's not. Right, pretty lady?" She said looking up at me and I smiled nervously before looking over at Raymond.

"Well she isn't talking to me pretty lady," he said chuckling and I rolled my eyes before looking down at the expectant little girl.

"It's definitely not cheating. It's safety," I said and she grinned before sticking her tongue out at the boys.

"Well safety only last three seconds," one of the boys said matter of factly and before I could say anything else, she took off running in the opposite direction in a fit of giggles with the boys chasing her.

"Well, that's Crystal, Reese, and Taevion."

"Cute kids."

"Yeah. Crystal is a really special girl. No matter what she's going through she always has a smile on her face. Too bad her sister doesn't have the same mentality."

"Who's her sister?"

"Ebony. The one in the corner mean mugging everyone," he said making a not so obvious gesture and just like he said she was sitting down glaring at everyone except her sister. She was definitely gorgeous though.

"How often are they here?"

"Well whenever someone gets hurt they are here but they do Bi-Weekly visits as well just to make sure the foster home they are at is treating them well," he explained and I nodded making myself a promise in my head; I would come back to visit these kids. And soon. Man, I love my job.

JJ

I walked out the building pissed as hell and annoyed. JT had signed me up for a damn anger management class and reluctantly I went. BIg mistake. Paparazzi was everywhere, people kept trying to take my picture and worst of all... The teacher was doing more flirting than teaching. At this rate, I'll never be back in the NBA.

"Someone looks like they're having a bad day," a voice called one that I recognized as the wicked bitch of the west. Ah, you guessed it, Marriah. She was leaning against my car, a grin on her overly caked with makeup face while her expensive designer clothes, that my money paid for, mocked me over and over.

"I'm only having a bad day because I'm looking at you."

"Someone's a little feisty. Does the little baby have trouble containing his anger?" She mocked and I tried to remember what the woman had actually taught at that class. Deep breathes. Deep fucking breaths. "As much fun as this is, I didn't come here to raise your blood pressure. I actually came to give you a piece of advice."

"Oh really? And what might that be?"

"Agree to my terms in our divorce settlement."

"Give you more money to waste? Hell no."

"Look JJ. You're a nice guy and I would hate to see your life start to fall apart because of a little miss understanding."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Of course not baby," she said smoothing out her outfit. "Like I said, it's just a little friendly advice. Think about it," she finished before patting my chest and walking away, leaving me with an uneasy feeling.

What was that girl planning?