Tangled with a Psycho

April Scott was a new intern in the Anesthesiology Department at Northwood University Medical Center, and despite rehearsing how calm and composed she would appear, her nerves betrayed her the moment she stepped inside. If only she knew what the day had in store for her, she might have as well followed her instincts. After showing her ID at the security desk, she hurried toward the elevator. Her department was on the twelfth floor.

The lobby was a beehive of activity, patients, stretchers, nurses, orderlies and that familiar pungent smell of disinfectant that screamed welcome to the real world.

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a tall, young, gorgeous man standing inside, clad in a crisp lab coat. His brown wavy hair looked as though it had been styled with a broom, messy and tousled.

"Oh my God. This guy is freaking hot." She mulled wordlessly to herself. He must be a doctor. Can't be more than thirty, she thought, catching a strong wisp of his cologne which did things to her head. He should have been a model or an actor instead.

"Are you coming in or not?" His voice was deep, stern, and impatient.

She rolled her eyes before stepping in, masking her feelings. The doors slid shut.

"Did you just roll your eyes at me?" he growled.

April took a slow deep breath and kept quiet. His voice was husky and smooth.

He scoffed. "You're ignoring me?"

"What?" She glared up at him, meeting his gaze.

"Are you normal?" he snapped.

"I should be the one asking you that."

"Really?" His brows shot up.

"What did I do wrong, huh?"

"Why did you roll your eyes at me, stupid?"

April froze. Was he for real? How can this hot looking guy be so cranky? "Are you actually a doctor, or is that lab coat for someone else?"

He tilted his head slightly. "Good question. What do I look like to you?"

A psycho, she thought angrily, biting her lip as she stared down at her feet. He couldn't even pretend to be nice at least.

"Won't you say something? What do I look like to you?"

"A psycho," she blurted just as the elevator stopped. She bolted out and hurried to the locker room to change, trying to shake his image off her head. It was way too early to want to have a bad start.

...

Dr. Adrian Smith wasn't okay.

Not after sharing an elevator with her. She was too hot and attractive for her own good. Was she really a nurse?

He should never have let her in. That part was on him.

She had actually dared to call him a psycho. What gave her the nerve and effrontery?

"Dr. Smith," Naomi, the head nurse of the Anesthesiology Department, called.

"Yeah?"

"You asked to see all the new interns before their orientation."

"Yes. Let them in."

He smirked. He couldn't wait to see her face when she realized exactly who she had disrespected. He bet she would be on her knees, crying for mercy.

April Scott. Anesthesiology Department.

He had memorized the name on her badge without even trying.

Four interns walked in, two guys, two ladies. His gaze scanned them quickly.

Where was she?

"Is this all of you?" he demanded.

They exchanged confused glances.

"I said, is there anyone left?" He turned sharply to Naomi.

"Yes, sir. One more intern. She should be here soon."

"And what the hell is she waiting for?" He slammed his fist on the table. "A special invitation?" His irritation spiked. "You know what? All of you, leave. Naomi, bring them back when the missing princess decides to show up."

He stood abruptly and left the office, choosing to use the staff restroom instead. Why was he feeling this way? She wasn't the first beautiful woman he had seen, with alluring curves capable of distracting a saint. Or maybe she was. Her beauty did strange things to his senses. And she looked familiar, but he couldn't place her face.

He rubbed his head, lost in thought till he reached the restroom, pushed the door open, and crashed straight into her.

April froze in shock, having just pulled down her scrub pants.

"Seriously?!" She yanked them back up in a hurry. "You followed me in here, you psycho? I don't understand. Are you after my life or something?!"

Adrian straightened, trying to rebuild whatever dignity had just crumbled inside him as he forced a measured breath. "Are you nuts or flat-out insane? What are you even doing here in the first place?"

April scoffed and threw her hands up. "Dumb question of the year, idiot! I'm here to make coffee!"

He blinked at her, incredulous. "Stop yelling like a maniac and try to think before speaking."

April gasped, her hand flying dramatically to her chest. "Did you just call me a maniac? After barging into my privacy?"

"Whose privacy, if I may ask?" He arched a brow. "Do you perhaps suffer from early-onset dementia?"

"What?!" She nearly stomped her foot.

"Didn't you read the label on the door?" he asked, his voice low and patronizing.

April finally glanced sideways and spotted the huge bold sign.

GENTS ONLY.

Embarrassment flushed up her neck. Her stomach did a tiny, unfortunate swoop. Shit. She had been in such a rush that she hadn't even looked.

"Fine," she muttered, swallowing her pride. "Enjoy your toilet, perfecto señor." She spun to leave, but Adrian caught her wrist with a firm grip.

"Is that your idea of an apology?"

"Apparently." April lifted her chin and held his gaze. She refused to be intimidated by his height, his tone, or those dangerously handsome features that seemed to pore into her and made her heart flutter.

For a moment, neither of them looked away. They were close enough to feel each other's breath. Would he apologize and kiss me? April wondered stupidly.

Then something flickered across his expression.

"Andrea Johnson?"

April frowned. Her heart slammed violently against her ears. Andrea Johnson was a name she had been forced to drop twelve years ago, after a dark, ugly incident.

No way.

There was no way this jerk standing in front of her knew her past or real identity.

TWELVE YEARS AGO

"Hey, Andrea. Leave that stupid matchbox and come play with us," Adrian called heartily.

School had dismissed for the day, and their parents were still in a meeting with the teachers.

Andrea happily dropped the matchbox and dashed over to Adrian and his playmates. "What are you guys doing in the sand? Come on, let's play hide and seek in the kindergarten classroom," she suggested, already bored with the tic-tac-toe they had been playing.

"Fine, let's do it then," Adrian agreed easily.

The moment one of the boys shut his eyes and began counting, Adrian took Andrea's hand and, together, they raced toward the abandoned supplies store tucked right behind the block of classrooms.

"Are you sure no one would see us here?" Andrea whispered, glancing around nervously.

Adrian drew her closer as they inched behind a dusty cupboard. "Of course no one would find us. As long as we keep quiet. I will play the big brother role for you and protect you."

Andrea flashed him a coy grin. "Big brother indeed. You're barely three years older than I am and..."

"Shhhh," Adrian suddenly hushed her. "I think someone's coming."

Andrea immediately fell silent and waited, her heart pounding. Seconds passed. Nothing happened.

"It's fine," Adrian whispered at last. "Here. I made something for you. But I wanted to give it to you in secret." He handed her a beaded bracelet with a small tag engraved with A 4 A.

"A for A. That's Adrian for Andrea, huh?" She beamed, staring at it in awe. "Wow. I love it!" she exclaimed.

"How about me?" Adrian asked softly. "Do you love me?"

Andrea was stunned. She had never thought he had a crush on her; she had always seen him as just a friend. While she was still trying to process his words, he leaned down and kissed her.

It felt strange, confusing. She had never done anything like that before. She tried to resist him, yet somehow didn't. It was as though an invisible force held her still.

Seconds passed, until a shadow suddenly loomed over them.

The school cleaner.

"Adrian!" the woman barked, fury blazing in her eyes. "Is this what you do now?"

Adrian rolled his eyes and Andrea stood up abruptly, her face crimson with fear and shame. She knew her parents would be deeply disappointed in her, but how could she have resisted Adrian? He was so charming and handsome.

"Come with me, Andrea," the woman snapped. "Your mother must know what you've been up to. I suppose it's high time she starts educating you on some things."

Andrea burst into tears as the woman grabbed her hand. "No, please don't. I'm sorry."

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as the woman dragged her forward. Panic flooded Andrea's chest, and suddenly, an idea struck her. She yanked her hand free, shoved the woman away, and bolted.

But the woman lost her balance and fell backward, hitting her head on a nail that jutted out from a broken wooden cupboard.

Andrea stopped short.

She watched in horror, as the woman bled, a hand clamped over her mouth as a gasp tore from her throat.

"Don't worry," Adrian said bravely, grabbing her hand. "Let's get out of here first."

They ran, returned to the playground and acted like nothing had happened.

Moments later, Andrea watched as teachers shrieked and screamed. She watched as the cleaner was rushed into an ambulance.

But the woman never made it.

Andrea was still in shock when she confessed everything to her mother, who had been present at the parents' meeting. "Don't worry, darling. It was a mistake. The police won't come after you, I promise," her mother had assured her.

And indeed, the police never did.

It was assumed the woman had tripped over the clutter and fallen. Andrea's mother made sure they relocated to a different state, and had their names changed.

April swallowed as the memory replayed vividly in her mind.

Adrian smirked at her. "You disappeared, but the incident didn't. Her son knew I was with you. He was aware I gave you that bracelet because he made it himself, and he knew we were hiding in that store. So he thinks he knows exactly what happened."

A deep frown creased her forehead. "What are you talking about?" There was no way she would let this jerk know, or even think, she remembered a thing. It had been a deadly mistake. It was in the past. Twelve years ago.

Moreover, it was Andrea Johnson who had committed the crime, not April Scott.

Adrian let out a bitter snort. "I guess you will find out when you meet her son. He works here."

Her heart jumped at the last bit of information. She opened her mouth to give him a piece of her mind when the door suddenly opened and a doctor walked in, stopping short in surprise.

The tension shattered instantly.

Adrian released her wrist at once. April stepped away as though his touch burned.

"Get out," Adrian muttered, visibly embarrassed.

April shot him one last daggered glare, hissed under her breath, and marched out, the other doctor's stunned gaze following her all the way.

On the elevator ride down, April felt her cheeks burn. Her mind reeled, momentarily forgetting the humiliating fact that he had seen her pants down. She covered her face for a second, mortified beyond words.

He's got to be kidding.

There was no way he remembered a thing. She had to make sure he stayed confused, had to make him believe he was mistaken.

As soon as she stepped outside the hospital premises to get some air, someone nudged her, and she nearly jerked out of her skin.

"April!"

"Jorge!" She fell straight into his arms. Her only safe space. Her tall, lanky childhood best friend with impossible blue eyes.

"Are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost," Jorge said, examining her closely.

"Where have you been?!" She pulled back with furrowed brows, deliberately switching the attention away from herself. "If we had come together like we planned, that idiot wouldn't have bullied me in the elevator."

Jorge let out a humorless laugh. "What idiot? Who?"

"I don't know. Some psycho who carries himself like his dad owns the entire place."

Jorge burst into laughter. "Maybe you've already caught his attention. He probably has a crush on you."

"Crush my foot."

"So where exactly are we heading?" he asked, watching her exhale like she had just run a marathon.

"Here."

"Here where?" He glanced around, confused.

"Just... here," she sighed. "I need real air, Jorge. You won't believe this. He barged into me in the bathroom and called me a maniac."

"No way!"

"Believe me! He walked in like he owned the place. The worst part?" She winced. "My pants were down when he came in."

Jorge gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth.

"Tell me you're kidding, April. What the hell was he doing in the ladies' bathroom?"

"Uhm..." April cringed. "It was actually the gents."

Jorge threw his head back, laughing even harder.

"Jorge, it's not funny!"

"Says who?" He wheezed dramatically. "Oh, and that reminds me. Let me tell you something else that isn't funny. We went to see our professor for the first day briefing... but since you weren't there, he was furious."

April slapped both hands over her mouth. "Oh my God. Really? What did he say?"

"He was pissed that we weren't complete, so there was no briefing. I heard he doesn't tolerate nonsense, and could even fire you on your first day if he thinks you're dumb. I hope he doesn't think you are."

"But he hasn't even met me yet!"

"Listen, April." Jorge lowered his voice. "We need to be careful. Our professor actually owns this hospital. Nobody messes with him."

April flipped her hair back with a scoff. "Fine. Let's go before we ruin our futures."

They turned around, only to nearly collide with a group of paramedics rushing critically injured patients inside on oxygen, each strapped to fast-moving gurneys. Alarms blared in sharp, frantic bursts.

Jorge, who had been slightly ahead, stopped abruptly. He grabbed April's wrist with sudden urgency.

"Wait. Look at that hand."

April followed his gaze, her heart instantly slamming against her ribs. The hand dangling weakly off the gurney wore a familiar bangle, one she had seen almost every day of her childhood.

Her lungs tightened.

"That's... Maya's bracelet," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Jorge... that's Maya's. That's definitely hers."

Maya was April's younger sister.

But deep down, April knew that the bracelet on Maya's hand was that same bracelet Adrian has given her twelve years back. For some dumb reasons, she had held tightly to it and now it was going to be her doom.

For a fleeting moment, they stood frozen. Then their voices broke out together.

"It's Maya!"

They bolted after the gurney as the paramedics rushed toward the emergency room.

"Please wait!" April cried, her breath hitching painfully. "That's my sister! Please, please, stop!"

She tried to reach for Maya, her fingers shaking, torn between taking the bracelet off her hand and worried about her severe condition, but a paramedic gently yet firmly blocked her.

April's voice cracked. "What happened? What, what happened to her?"

"There was an accident," the paramedic said quickly as they wheeled the gurney inside. "But she will be fine, ma'am. Please step back."

April and Jorge went in after them, refusing to lose sight of her. Machines beeped rapidly as doctors swarmed around Maya.

A nurse stepped forward, her expression tight with practiced urgency. "You both need to stand back. If she is your sister, call your parents immediately. She will need emergency surgery."

"S-surgery?" April's voice splintered as her stomach dropped. Her vision blurred. Money. Bills. Debt. "Is she going to be alright? Please, just tell me she will be okay."

"Yes," the nurse replied briskly, attempting reassurance. "But it's serious. There was a car accident. Her ribs broke and punctured her lungs. We will have to remove part of her lung and repair the ribs before they cause further damage."

April swallowed hard, forcing her voice steady. "Please. Let me in first. As you can see, I'm a staff member here and..."

"Are you sure?" a deep voice cut through the chaos.

April stiffened and turned sharply.

It was Adrian, already in scrubs, gloves halfway on, clearly preparing for surgery. Her gaze dropped to the name badge pinned to his uniform, and realization struck hard.

So he was the one in charge.

She cursed herself for not connecting the name sooner. Adrian Smith.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes locked onto hers like he had been waiting for this moment.

"What?" she snapped, unrepentant, determined to keep him believing he had mistaken her for someone else. "Are you planning to fire me right now?"

"Are you really asking?" He arched an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Oh. So now you know me?"

"Listen," she said sharply, "that's my sister over there, and I don't have time for your..."

"She will be fine," he cut in coldly. "Why didn't you report with your colleagues when you were summoned?"

April rolled her eyes hard. "Look here, psycho. My sister's life is on the line, and you are blabbing about this?"

A low ripple of gasps and murmurs spread across the room.

Adrian's eyes widened slowly.

"Psycho?" He stared at her in disbelief. "Did you just call me that?"

"You are a doctor, for goodness' sake!" April flailed her hands in the air. "Why would you revere a meaningless summons over someone's life? How does that even make sense?" she flared.

"Are you nuts? Or is this your idea of blackmail?" Adrian snapped, then gestured sharply behind her. "Her treatment has already commenced while you're standing here yelling. You know you're in the wrong and are only trying to use her as a façade. Isn't that it?"

"Really?!" April shot back heatedly. "My sister is fighting for her life, and here you are whining about why I didn't show up?"

He pointed a finger at her. "I don't want to hear that line again if you don't want to lose your job."

"I bet you would be a real psycho if you fired me over personal issues that have nothing to do with work."

"Real what? Real psycho?" He scoffed, leaning forward slightly. "Did you say personal issues? Like not reporting when you're summoned? Or like right now, when I called for a meeting and you're here arguing your ass off?"

"Hey!" April raised a hand between them. "Don't use derogatory terms on me, bro. And you know exactly why I'm here. Or is my sister's life..."

"Bro?" Adrian snorted loudly, glancing around the room. "Who is your freaking bro, maniac?"

That was when April realized the entire ER had gone dead silent. Only the soft beeping of monitors filled the space. Every eye was on them, wide, stunned, whispering.