Whirlwind

CHAPTER 9

Barging into her office, Brad slapped the newspaper hard on Alice's desk. "What's this, Alice?" His voice was tight, showing how hard he was reining in his anger.

Angelique was still bent over a file as she responded in a bored tone. "It's a newspaper. Why?"

Brad's eyes widened in bewilderment. If he didn't know her, he'd think she didn't know anything. Her acting skills had improved since the last time he saw her.

Urgh! That's not important right now.

How had he found himself trapped in the claws of the devil again?

"Because it says we're lovers, damn it!"

For the first time since Brad barged in, she looked up at him. Behind her calm façade, Brad saw a twinkle of mischief swirling in her brown eyes. "So what? You know how the media is." She shrugged nonchalantly, "I'd ignore them if I were you. They'll get bored eventually."

"You really don't get it, do you?" His cold gaze did nothing to break through Alice's armour. "I know you're behind all this."

She pushed her chair back and stalked towards him, stopped a feet from him and smiled. "I know I'm good, Brad, but I'm not that good." She stepped closer so they almost touched. "You give me too much credit, doctor."

Brad stepped back and regarded her in disgust. "Show a little remorse. Oh! But that's not your style, right?"

"Right. I see what I want, I go get it," she purred seductively.

Brad emitted a mocking laughter. "Except you don't know what it is you want."

"Oh, I do. And I know you do too." She perched on the edge of her desk, arms crossed defiantly. "So why don't you stop beating about the bush and tell me what the problem is?"

The nerve...! "You are the problem, Alice. Always have been!"

"So you mean wanting you makes me a problem?" She raised a well-trimmed eyebrow. "Because you didn't think so when you put a ring on my finger."

Brad brushed a hand over his face, praying for strength. "That was eons ago, Alice. And it's your fault we broke up." Alice went to say somethbut Brad cut her off. "No, Alice. You ruined my life once, I'm not going to let you do it again. You're poisonous."

That finally broke through her façade, and she balled her hands into fists, nose flaring. "Who's the bitch that has got you wrapped around her finger, Brad? There has to be someone you think you love more than me!"

Brad shook his head at her pitifully, and calmly said, "First, I don't love you, Alice. I don't think I ever have. Second, yes, there's someone I love very much. And third, you're the bitch here, not anyone else. You! I've already handed in my resignation letter, I'm leaving this place back to my love. It was a mistake coming here, I see that now."

"You can't resign, you just started working here. Brad..."

"I don't your permission to run my life, Alice. That chapter has been closed for years now. I'd say I wish you a happy life but I'd be lying." He smirked, backing up towards the door. "You need counseling, Alice, seriously."

The tears that had brimmed in her eyes throughout Brad's speech finally fell. "No, I need you Brad. I meed..." The door slammed as Brad made his exit. He rushed out of the hospital building to his house to get his belongings before heading to the airport.

•   •   •

Rosaline kept herself busy preparing dinner to keep her mind from drifting back to Bradland.