Treating Mr. Billionaire

~ 40 ~

The unexpected break from work started to feel like an intentional act Jayden implored in distancing himself from her. It wasn't hard to figure out when his assistant sent a message that he wouldn't be available for another week due to a business trip.

Maria knew that reason could be true, judging by his work status. However, nothing about it explained why he hadn't been picking up her calls and her messages either, as though he never wanted to see her again.

And, now this prolonged vacation, which seemed so unnecessary. Since sitting at home for so long didn't sit quite well with her, Maria had been visiting the hospital.

It was these thoughts that had her snoozed out in the middle of the hallway. She had just finished assisting some workers on the evening shift and was now staring at the phone she had used to try Jayden's number a while ago but received no answers.

"Fine! You want to do this? I won't call you again, you jerk!" She huffed loudly as though the gadget was human before throwing the object into her bag with pure irritation.

"What's all the fuss about, sweetheart?" Dawn's voice had her throwing a look behind and she let out a sigh at the approaching lady.

Dawn came around the corner with a huge grin on her face, her monolid eyes gazing fondly at her exasperating-looking friend. "Sounds like a boyfriend problem," The Asian doctor teased as she stepped closer.

"Boyfriend??" Maria exclaimed at the absurd word, her eyes bulging. "Please," her eyes rolled. "More like my patient giving me a hard time." She mumbled, rubbing her forehead with a finger.

"Still on that?" Dawn raised an eyebrow. "He must be fine enough to not want to see you. Or maybe he is just bored of your face. Seeing someone almost every day can be pretty exhausting sometimes," she shrugged, her words blunt, and that was her just being her natural honest self.

Maria puffed silently as the other lady walked past her, staring at the floor for some seconds before coming up with a response. "Well, that is not my fault, you know. I am following what is requested in the contract." She pointed at her chest in defense.

Dawn halted her steps and threw a look over her shoulders slowly, "I have a better one." Her lips curled into a smirk and Maria sensed she was about to say something naughty. "Or maybe he likes you and is just too dishonest with himself to admit that. So, maybe not seeing you will prevent him from falling harder," she shrugged again, this time with a more teasing tone, "anything can happen when a man and a woman see each other often." She stated as she finished with a wink.

Maria's jaw dropped slowly at every single word she heard, her gaze going wide when each meaning hit home. Sometimes, Dawn could be too blunt for everyone's good. Her friend always said whatever came to mind without concerning herself about how her listener would take it.

"Well...?" Dawn pressed further, waiting for an answer.

"Crap," was all Maria could offer when she found her tongue back. "Crap." She repeated when she tried to think of a reasonable response.

Dawn snickered as the blonde lady walked past her with obvious fumes coming out of her nostrils before she followed after her with a loud giggle. "C'mon, I was just having fun messing with you. Why do I think you are taking this personally?" She asked, locking her arm with Maria's.

"That's the worst you could use for a joke," Maria muttered. "Like me? That man's heart is made of steel. He can't even like anyone." She insisted on her words, shaking her head while they moved towards the elevator.

"Okay, okay, let's leave it at that." The other woman laughed loudly in response, even though she had enough comebacks for a whole hour. "But still, you need to forget about him and stop worrying about him too much. Even if it's for the night. It's beginning to sound like a couple fight which made me say--"

Maria's eyes instantly threw daggers at her companion, and Dawn let go of her remaining words, replacing them with a jesting chuckle.

"Which is why tonight's union really came at the right time! Just don't think about anything else!" Dawn exclaimed as she reached for the door.

"Speaking of tonight's party..." Maria started slowly, her mind taking a quick switch in topics. "Are you certain Evan will not be showing up tonight?" she added, her tone hinting worry.

"Yeah, I am sure the asshole changed places once he was released from jail. Besides, I don't care about if he comes or not, as long as the asshole doesn't bother me." Dawn stated, her tone different from the teasing way she had been talking, sounding more serious and confident.

"Okay..." Maria sighed, nodding slowly, glad that her friend was beginning to recover from her violent relationship, and she couldn't be more proud. "And if he comes, that means he came to find out how you are doing without the prick in your life. And you will be showing him exactly that." She continued, giving her friend a nod, a small smile on her lips as she imagined the disappointed look on the mentioned guy's face if he showed up tonight.

Dawn grinned in response. "I can sense some party spirit in you today." She teased as she entered the elevator, her playful attitude returning in full swing.

Maria missed her friend's words as she stared into the space of the elevator, hesitant about stepping inside.

The moment she was trapped in one of its kind came to memory and her fear rose slightly. Ever since the incident, she had been taking the stairs, believing it was safer. But now she wasn't walking alone, and unlike her, most people had no problem with the elevator.

"Maria, are you okay?" Dawn asked, her voice coming from inside after noticing her hesitation.

"Yes... yes," Maria quickly answered, her eyes going away from the floor below, her mind shifting from her train of thought.
"Well, aren't you coming in?" Her friend added softly.

"I-I am..." She stuttered before taking controlled steps into the elevator, trying her best to hide the knees trembling beneath her pants.

Dawn was quick to accept her entrance as she locked their hands, giggling before her words, "I wonder how many of my exes will come tonight."

Maria shook her head slowly, "Medical school was like a battlefield but you had enough time dating around. I always wondered how you passed all your exams in one sitting and became such a good doctor." She stated in a light tone, feeling a bit amused.

"Well," Dawn flipped her short black hair, fighting back a chuckle. "I either got lucky or I am a genius." She declared proudly, causing her other friend to burst out with a short laugh that contained nothing but mockery.

Dawn's smile widened as she saw her reaction. "I love that laugh." She chuckled, finding the sound contagious.

Maria rolled her eyes, both at the lady's previous and latest words. She felt her hand get squeezed, and her eyes dropped to their locked hands.

By now, Maria could sense that Dawn already knew that something about taking an elevator ride made her uncomfortable, despite how much she had tried to hide it earlier.

Considering the fact that Dawn wasn't the clinging kind of person, Maria could tell she was purposely holding her hand and making conversations that would distract her from negative thoughts

That was Dawn's effort of silently encouraging her, her continuous laughter a replacement of the words, 'It is okay, Maria. Nothing to be afraid of."

And then Maria smiled softly as she returned her gaze to the other lady who was still crackling with a giggle. Her lips stretched at a funny joke Dawn had said, and all she did was listen to more of it while admiring how wonderful her friend was.

***

Hello and happy new month, Fam!
Sorry for the late update. I haven't been my best self lately. But I am happy to be back. Keep on reading and voting, it supports me greatly, thank you!