Chapter 4 Love Discovery intense in suspense.

Should we talk about the weather? Or the fact that his driver was early today even though he wanted to drive himself to work today? Or the fact that he had a good sleep ?. Today is really feeling like a great day indeed. Smith kept on humming to the song playing on his phone. He stared at himself in the mirror. Who wouldn't have a crush on him? Is it his tall height? Or his cute pink lips? Or his abs and muscles? Or his well round shape face?. He kept on admiring himself. Who won't want him as a husband? .

More reasons he can't blame Lisa's attitude during the weekend but he is not ready for commitment either. He likes this life alot and alone.

He picked up his briefcase as he set out for work.

" Good morning boss" Marcus greeted waving at him

He nodded back greaning.

Atleast he greaned. Marcus thought.

On his way, he kept admiring nature outside and nature inside- him. He don't know why he is feeling really elated today . Maybe this is a good sign for something coming up his way.

After an hour of a drive and him humming with song, he got to work. Checking his car for the last time for everything being set, he came out of the car after parking of course.

" Doctor Smith" a voice called at him

He looked back. " Nurse..." Trying to remember her name. That's one of his problem, he hardly remember names.

" Nurse Ash is the name" Ash helped him while smilling.

" Is anything the problem?" He watched how she was greaning from ear to ear. So embarrassing!

"Have you checked the notice board or open your mail?" Ash smiling again

Smith showed her his car key and brief case ." As you can see, I'm just resuming for duty"

Before he knew it, she hugged him. Damn! This is more embarrassing!!

"Congratulations"

" For what?"

"You got selected as part of the candidates running for the chief medical director position" Ash announced now with more smiles. " And guess the most important part?"

" What's that?"

" I'm the nurse assigned to you today" Ash couldn't held her joy, jumping up all round him.

Smith placed his suitcase on the car as he tried to calm her down. " Nurse Ash, right?"

"Yeah"

" This is really embarrassing. I get you are happy but this..." He stopped and looked at her"this can wait"

" And what's going on here?" Lisa came in through them

" Nurse Ash, we"ll see later during the ward round" Smith assured her , sending her off.

" Sure" she replied back still smilling and left.

Smith tool his suitcase. " So now, I can't talk to others ?"

" You can but no physical contact"

Smith chuckled.

" And why the laughter?, I didn't say anything funny"

He looked at her squarely like giving her a warning. " You better don't allow what happened during the weekend into your head, I won't say it twice". He left her standing. Whatever she is thinking, she better lay it down.

Chief medical director position? Me? I'm too young for that. Infact I don't want drama or any competition with all these older doctors. This is not the happy day he was perceiving this morning.

******

During ward round.

As interesting as Ash's stories were, he is already tired of hearing her gossips throughout the round. She always find one story to tell or another. If not about the patient, it will be about the relative or another nurse that Walk by.

" I think we are done here" Smith announced. Deep inside that he is finally free from her chit-chat.

"Nope"

" What did you mean by nope?" He asked curiously.

" We have a patient in the side room now"

" When was that?"

" Two days ago"

Smith knew he is in for it today and he needs to get prepared to hear another episode of story about this patient. They got there and he was shocked. This really is a shock absorber. He couldn't believe his eyes. He looked at Ash as if finding an answer from her.

Ash was silent.

Why will she be silent here of all places?. This is actually where he needs explanation because he can't believe his eyes presently. He watched as Ash ran out crying. He ran after her.

" Are you okay?"

" She is my role model. She is the best nurse in this hospital. She doesn't deserve it" Ash kept on repeating these words while crying.

No wonder there was moment of silence earlier. He don't even know what to do, whether to comfort the nurse that couldn't hide her emotions or go on to see the nurse who became a victim of her own specialization- psychiatric.

" I know you can help her"

"Me?" He asked in disbelief.

" Yes" Ash replied back, wiping her tears. She held his hand ." Please ask for the transfer of her treatment from Doctor Donald to your list of patients"

Lol. Today is really a strange day indeed for Smith. Not the day he was expecting at all. " I don't know if that is right, it's like I'm telling the hospital that Doctor Donald is not competent" he voiced out.

" It doesn't mean. Doctor Donald is non challant. I don't think he has come to see her for the past two days ago and here you are, performing your duty even when you didn't know she is not your patient" Ash replied back.

"Oh my God" he exclaimed

"Please"

" I will see what I can do about but I'm not promising you of anything" Smith knew he had to agree if he wants to be free from this Mother Theresa with the puppy eyes Infront of him.

Ash smiled back. " And that pea- hen mustn't know about it"

He was confused. Another drama again?. " Who is the pea-hen?" He asked.

" Lisa or whatever her name is called"

He smiled. " She won't". He patted her on her shoulder. "I promise"

"Really?"

Smith chuckled. "Seriously, I won't tell her"

"It's better you don't tell her"

"Why?"

Ash shrugged her shoulder. "Lisa has this unhealthy rivalry spirit with Joyce and I really do not see reason for that "

"What do you mean, you don't see any reason in that?"

"Lisa only see those who wants you as competitor but clearly, Joyce doesn't like you in any way"

Smith was astonished. This is the first time he got to know, there's a nurse that doesn't like him because everyone believes all nurses in the hospital likes him. He just stood there, staring at Joyce . Now he just start to realize, Joyce doesn't greet her whenever he resume for duty, she always keep the conversation as formally as possible and avoids any prolong issue with him. Wow, he didn't notice all that until now.

"So, what did you think is the reason, she doesn't like me?" He asked, facing Ash now.

She shrugged again. "Maybe because of the paparazzi around you"

He chuckled too.

Damn!! Ash can't believe,she is literally watching the most handsome guy in the hospital closely while he is smilling. He is handsome while his smile is so beautiful. She felt so happy for this opportunity because junior staffs like her do not get the chance to work with senior doctors like this so easily. And this opportunity, she won't take it for granted and use it to prove her best professional skills, perhaps a promotion and lastly favour in his sight.

"There's no paparazzi around me"

That brought her back to life. "Maybe because you didn't notice, but everyone knows you have paparazzi around you"

"So she hate that?"

"With passion"

Wow. Interesting. Probably if she was well, he would have tried his skills to impress her but right now, it's too late. He looked at Joyce again. She is actually not that bad. Infact, he never really noticed her in the hospital all these while. They only work together on a professional level and nothing more, not only her, even to others in the hospital. The only one he has an affair with other than on a professional level is Lisa and he really regret it but it can't be reversed any longer. Someone patted him, he jerked back to the presence.

"Sorry, I was lost in my thoughts" He apologized.

Ash smiled brightly.

It's so cute when she smiles but he is just not feeling that connection with her. "I think we should round this off"

"Yeah, she is the last patient here actually"

"You lead the way"

He watched Ash left the ward while he took the case note to read. He doesn't know why he is getting the sudden quest to work on this case.... It's intriguing.

And maybe, if he was able to revive her back to her normal mental state, she will be grateful and later like him–Maybe if.

********

Joyce heard their conversation. Wow, she didn't know Ash really care for her so much. But she is not sure if it's right that Doctor Smith will take over her case. He is the best psychiatric doctor in their hospital, it won't take long before he find out that she is just pretending. How will she cope with that? Or better still, she should just let nature take it cost. It hasn't been easy for her , pretending.

Last night, when her dad came to check up on her , she almost lost her act but she held it down. If only people appreciate what they have when it is still with them, life would have been so much better. She wouldn't have found herself in this situation.

Since her mum's demise, she was raised by one nanny to the other before her dad brought her another woman. From her perspective, she didn't have problem with that at all because she had always wished her step mum will love her and they all Iive together in unity and love but to her dismay, her step mum was the worst opposite of what she was dreaming of.

The worst part started when Lisa joined them and there she realized her dad had been cheating on her late mum before her death and even brought his concubine in to their house. Lisa even made the matter worse, she was always thinking they're in a competition which Joyce never see the need for that.

Joyce only wanted a happy home after her mum's demise not a house full of drama. Due to the persistence cruelty from her step mum and step sister, out of anger, she decided to complete her study abroad, atleast by the time she get back, things would have changed.

She came back and realized things was even worst. Lisa decided to do the same profession like hers. There it dawned on her that the competition is not yet over. All of a sudden, Lisa grew interest in the same hospital, Joyce was employed.

Through Mr Will''s influence, the hospital employed Lisa too and the sisters agreed to not let the other staff know they are related. Things had been going well with that but the bad energy between them was obvious in the hospital but everyone was oblivion about the reason for the hatred between them.

Thanks to Vivian, her best friend, Joyce wonder how she would have cope up till this time. Sometimes, she would spend the night over at Vivian's place to have her peace, sometimes week before coming home. Her dad was a business man, here and there , never stable. Maybe he noticed what was going on or not, she had no idea or he decided to act non challant to what was happening in his house.

Since her admission, Mrs Will and Lisa haven't come visiting. Definitely they are behind this. But how will she prove it out is what she is thinking about. But definitely one day, they will come in here, thinking she is really mad and confess to her like she watch in movies- Whereby the muderder will think the victim is dead and started confessing unknowing to him that the victim is still alive.

Who else would have done this if not those two?. She only live with them and their maid, Pamela and she is certain Pamela can't do something like that. Pamela always treat her like a sister, making sure she takes something before leaving the house in the morning even if it's a coffee and she cooks well too. Definitely, it's her step mum and Lisa.

Joyce knows she is fighting a good fight. She is just not sure if the way she is fighting is right or wrong and whether she will win the fight or not.

Still staring at Smith. Now she sees what they are all fighting over. Smith is really the handsome type actually. A quick glance at him and you might conclude that he is a model or actor, definitely not a doctor , surprisingly he is a doctor.

Joyce had always knew Smith to be hardworking and efficient at his work, no scandal or anything except the rumour about him and Lisa dating. She knew they weren't dating because if they were, it doesn't make sense how Lisa is still trying hard to impress him. If there's anyone that knows how competitive Lisa can be, definitely it's Joyce. For Lisa to be so active , definitely they're not dating but Lisa's fake life will not allow her to admit the fact with others. Poor Smith!

Truly, since her admission, Doctor Donald haven't check up on her and that's really unprofessional. Doctor Smith can never do that. No wonder, he is part of the candidates for the Chief Medical Director position. Probably if anyone is ready to listen to her, maybe if anyone is ready to listen and work things out with her, she might stop this fake act and find the bottom line-Only if.

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

POV: At the Nurses break room.

Nurse Ash returned back to the nurses desk feeling on top of the world. It's so good to be close to the best. Apart from experience she just had, she had the chance to talk for a while with her crush, this is really her dream. Imagine through her constant interaction with Doctor Smith, affection start growing between them, from there to getting married, that will be so cute.

She jerked back from her imagination when someone patted her. "What?"

"I have been calling you since"

"Sorry, I didn't hear you"

"You have been greaning since you came back from ward round"

Ash looked at her gist partner in the hospital, Nurse Dina. Nurse Diana was employed immediately after her, she had no one talk to due to hierarchy issue in the hospital except from Nurse Joyce. Both her and Nurse Diana cling unto Nurse Joyce till they both blend with each other and became best of friends in the hospital. "I just finished ward round with Doctor Smith" She announced smilling.

Diana stood up from her seat immediately. "Really?"

Ash nodded.

Diana hugged her. "Congratulations"

Diana was genuinely happy for her friend. She knows how hierarchy works in Babcock hospital. A junior staff doesn't even have a chance to stay wherever the senior staffs are. This is really a great opportunity for her friend. She remembered the time they just got employed, it was like they were invincible in the hospital . Nurse Joyce was the only one who accepted them, showed them the way around the hospital and built relationship with them with other colleagues. Diana never knew they will get to work with senior staffs this early, not only senior staff, a candidate for Chief Medical Director position!

Ash pulled away and relaxes her back. She remembered Joyce and the happiness in her faded instantly. "I know right"

Diana noticed that. " What's wrong?, I was expecting you to be more happy than this"

Ash knew Diana didn't know about Joyce's predicament. "It's about Nurse Joyce"

Diana's eyes dilated immediately. "What about her?"

Ash announced the situation to her. Diana was in shock with her mouth opened in astonishment. Her face was already bringing out tears when Ash hugged her tightly. If there's anyone who loves Joyce than her, it's definitely Diana, so she understands thus reaction.

After wiping her tears. "So, what's the next line of action?" Diana asked.

"I have no idea. Doctor Donald is not seeing her, so I urged Doctor Smith to take over"

"Do you think he will?"

"I'm still hoping"

"Is everyone aware about this?, especially that pea-hen" Diana asked again.

"I'm surprised you don't know about it but I think everyone already know. Well I can't blame you for not being aware, you're just resuming back from your leave." Ash explained.

Diana sat down beside her, staring at the awards the nurses received over the years in the hospital and abroad. The last year award was dedicated to Joyce. She deserved it. Joyce took it upon her self for the Sucess of the program and now she is a victim of her specialty. There is more to this and she is certain. Even if Joyce is passing through depression, Diana is certain that Joyce can't venture into taking narcotics as a solution to the problem. Definitely not her.

Nurse Vivian came in.

"Don't you guys have patient to attend?" Vivian asked them surprised with their idleness.

They both stood up .

"I just finished ward round with Doctor Smith" Nurse replied.

Vivian was surprised. A junior staff working with Smith. What's going on here?. "And how is that possible?"

"Nurse Joyce suppose to be with him but due to her admission...." Ash couldn't complete her statement when Vivian cut in.

Vivian knew she is really taking two surprise bombs at the same time. "Admission, where?"

Wow. For Joyce's best friend to not be aware of what happened, she is definitely safe here too Diana thought.

"She is admitted here." Nurse Ash replied back.

"You must be joking?"

Diana knew this is the chance to come in. "I think, she is serious about it"

Vivian couldn't believe her ears. She stormed out of the nurse's break room.

Ash and Diana faced each other in awe. Whatever is going on, definitely, something is fishy here.

"We'll talk later" Diana told her friend as she left to her ward.

Whatever is fishy here, Ash determined to get to the root of this case. She likes adventure, maybe this is another medical adventure entirely. She is ready for this!