That Unreliable Call

I saved a pregnant woman on the side of the road, but I was in a hurry for a blind date and had no time to take her to the hospital.

So I called her husband's number.

Hello? Dad-to-be? Your wifes in my hands. Shes about to pop, and I dont have time to wait around. Im just going to cut the baby out myself. Itll be better for everyone. Your call. And don't forget to bring cash.

I glanced down. The pregnant woman, drenched in a cold sweat from the pain, watched me hang up with a look of pure terror.

I never would have guessed that five minutes later, twenty private helicopters would land on the hospital lawn.

I couldnt help but marvel. Are families this extra these days?

Its just childbirth, not a full-scale military invasion.

1.

The roar of the massive rotor blades felt like it was trying to tear my skull open. A hurricane of wind kicked up debris from the lawn, stinging my face.

I squinted, my eyes fixed on the line of matte-black attack helicopters hovering in the air. Ropes dropped, and heavily armed men slid down with chilling efficiency.

Anyone else would have thought they were filming a Hollywood blockbuster, or that some head of state had just been assassinated.

But I knew. This whole spectacle was for me.

Or more accurately, for the pregnant woman at my feet, who had just broken her water and was writhing in agony.

Just five minutes ago, Id done the craziest thing of my life.

Im a former surgeon, suspended from the hospital and desperate to appease my furious mother by going on a blind date. On my way there, I found this poor woman.

The ambulance was stuck in rush-hour traffic on the interstate. She had acute placental abruption. Ten more minutes, and it would be two bodies instead of one.

I didnt have time to explain medical jargon to her family or waste precious seconds on pleasantries.

To get the fastest response, you have to use the most extreme methods.

So I snatched her phone, called the top contact labeled Hubby, and delivered a threat that could have landed me in prison.

The effect was immediate.

But it seemed I had provoked someone I really shouldnt have.

This wasnt just any family.

This was the devil himself.

Dozens of men in black suits swarmed the area, forming a tight perimeter. The dark muzzles of their gunsthough they tried to conceal them, I could smell the metallic tang of rust in the airwere vaguely pointed in my direction.

The man leading them was built like a tower, his custom-tailored suit doing little to hide his formidable frame. His face, while criminally handsome, was dark enough to curdle milk.

He strode toward me, his presence so commanding that the very air around us seemed to freeze.

Whos the one whos going to cut my wife open? His voice was a low growl, laced with a bloodthirsty chill.

I swallowed hard, but my hands didnt stop moving.

I was using a brand-new eyebrow razorsterilized with an alcohol wipeto cut away the fabric of the woman's dress, performing emergency triage.

That would be me, I said without looking up, my hands a blur of motion. And tell your pilot to hold steady. The wind is kicking up too much dust. We dont want the wound getting infected.

The man stopped in his tracks.

He probably wasnt used to kidnappers being concerned about their hostages risk of infection.

He stood over me, his shadow swallowing me whole.

How much money do you want? he asked coldly. Or is it your life youre after?

I need gauze, hemostats, antibiotics, and a gurney on wheels that wont get stuck in traffic. Now! I finally looked up and shot him a glare. Your wife is fully dilated, but the baby is in the wrong position. Keep wasting my time, and you can prepare for a funeral.

The man was stunned into silence.

Just then, the woman on the ground found a sliver of strength and weakly grabbed his trouser leg.

Damien Mr. Knight Shes a doctor Shes saving me

Mr. Knight?

My mind flashed to the one and only Damien Knight, the tycoon who controlled half the citys economy and was rumored to have his hands in both legitimate and shady dealings.

I was so screwed.

I had just threatened to gut his wife.

2.

The misunderstanding was cleared up faster than I expected, mainly because Damien Knight, while terrifying, wasn't an idiot.

With a single wave of his hand, the men who had been pointing guns at me transformed into the most professional team of paramedics, gently lifting the woman onto a waiting stretcher.

An accompanying medical team rappelled down from one of the helicopters and immediately took over.

I let out a sigh of relief, tucked the bloody eyebrow razor into my purse, and stood up, dusting off my pants.

Well, since the cavalry has arrived, Ill be on my way.

I glanced at my watch, and my heart sank.

Only ten minutes left until my blind date.

The guy was a premium catch my mom had meticulously selectedan elite professional whod worked on Wall Street, with a six-figure salary. If I was late, my mom would lecture me for a year straight.

Wait, Damien called out.

He had already regained his composure, looking every bit the untouchable CEO, though his eyes now held a flicker of curiosity as he looked at me.

What you said on the phone

A tactical threat, I cut him off. If I hadnt scared the hell out of you, would you have deployed your helicopters? The ambulance is still crawling along the freeway.

Damien was silent for a moment, processing the logic. Then, he pulled a gold-embossed business card from his jacket and held it out to me.

Damien Knight. I owe you one.

I didnt take it. My hands were covered in blood; Id only smear it.

No need, Mr. Knight. Saving lives is instinct, even if Im currently suspended. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Instead of a favor, could you have one of your men give me a ride to The Sterling Cafe? Im about to be late.

Damien raised an eyebrow.

A blind date?

Obviously, I said, gesturing to the designer tweed suit Id worn for the occasion, which was now wrinkled and stained with blood.

A ghost of a smirk played on his lips.

Get in. Ill drive you.

It turns out, arriving at your blind date in a Rolls-Royce definitely makes a better impression than taking the subway.

If only I didnt smell faintly of blood.

Damien drove himself, handling the car like a Formula 1 racerimpossibly fast, yet impeccably smooth.

You said you were suspended? he asked suddenly.

I watched the city blur past the window and grunted in affirmation.

Yeah. Pissed off the wrong people. Sometimes, in a hospital, saving a life is the wrong thing to do.

He didnt press further.

The car pulled up to the cafe right on time.

Thanks, I said, hopping out without a backward glance.

I heard the window roll down behind me.

If youre in trouble, use that number.

I waved a hand over my shoulder and rushed inside.

At that moment, I had no idea how much that promise was worth.

Nor did I have any idea what kind of freak I was about to meet.

3.

When I found table 18, the so-called elite professional was impatiently tapping his watch.

He was decent-looking, I guess, but the shrewd, calculating glint in his eyes immediately put me on edge.

I didnt waste time with small talk and sat down.

Sorry, something came up on the way. I was delayed.

The man looked me up and down. His gaze lingered on my blood-stained sleeve and disheveled hair, his brow furrowing in disgust.

Alex, right? he began, his tone dripping with annoyance. Youre a full thirty seconds late.

I was speechless. Was this guy for real?

And whats with your outfit? he continued, pinching his nose with a napkin. You smell strange. I thought you were a doctor. Dont you people care about hygiene?

I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to throw my glass of water in his face.

I had to save someone on the way here. Didnt have time to change. You must be Kevin? The matchmaker said youre in finance.

Kevin scoffed, puffing out his chest.

Thats right. Just back from Wall Street. We dont need to talk salary; you wouldnt understand the complex financial models anyway.

He picked up the menu but didnt offer it to me, flipping through it himself.

Since were both here, lets get straight to the point. I have very high standards for a partner.

First, youll have to quit your job after were married. A doctors schedule is too demanding, and you wont be able to manage the household. I need a full-time housewife to take care of me and our future children.

Second, my mother will live with us. Shes had a hard life, coming from a small town. Youll need to be respectful and never talk back to her.

Third, I dont like women who are frivolous with money. Your salary will be deposited into an account my mother controls. After all, Im the finance expert. Ill manage our assets.

Fourth

I listened, utterly stunned. He wasnt looking for a wife; he was hiring an unpaid nanny and a baby-making machine. A machine that had to hand over its own paycheck, no less.

Kevin, I interrupted his monologue. I think theres been a misunderstanding. Im here for a blind date, not to apply for a position as your personal slave.

Kevins face darkened.

What kind of attitude is that, Alex? Youre a suspended doctor with a ruined reputation. Im doing you a favor by even showing up. Do you really think youre in any position to be picky?

My heart skipped a beat.

How did he know I was suspended?

That information was supposed to be internal to the hospital. No one on the outside knew.

Unless

Who told you? I asked, my voice turning to ice.

Kevin smirked.

Its a small world. My cousin works at your hospital. Laura. She told me you were suspended for taking bribes from patients and causing a medical accident. Said youve been blacklisted from the entire industry.

Laura.

The name hit me like a punch to the gut. My dear cousin. The one who stole my promotion, framed me for taking bribes, and ultimately got me kicked out of the hospital.

It really was a small world.

And it was full of my enemies.

4.

If you know why I was suspended, what are you doing here? I sneered at him. Not worried I might slip something into your drink if Im in a bad mood?

Kevins face paled for a second, but his arrogance quickly returned.

Dont try to scare me. Laura said youre a total pushover. Marrying me would be the best thing that ever happened to you. I suggest you get smart and agree. With your reputation, youll never find another man.

As he spoke, he reached across the table to grab my hand.

Your reputation might be trash, but youre not bad to look at. As long as you learn to behave

CRACK!

I slapped him across the face. The sound was crisp and loud, silencing the entire cafe.

Kevin clutched his cheek, staring at me in disbelief.

You you hit me?

So what if I did? I stood up, looming over him. That was to teach you some respect. And you can go back and tell Laura that she shouldnt assume her dirty little secrets are safe. I may be suspended, but Im not dead yet.

I grabbed my purse and turned to leave.

Kevin, seething with rage, jumped up and seized my arm.

You bitch! You think you can hit me and just walk away? Not a chance! Youre going to kneel and apologize right now, or Ill make sure you can never work in this city again!

His grip was strong, and I couldnt break free.

People around us started to whisper and point, but no one moved to help.

Just as I was preparing to use my self-defense training to introduce his groin to my knee, a cold voice cut through the air.

Make her kneel? Who the hell do you think you are?

The cafe door swung open.

Two of Damiens bodyguards strode in, plucked Kevin off me like he was a bag of garbage, and threw him to the floor.

Following them was Damien Knight himself.

Hed changed into a dark grey trench coat that made him look even taller and more imposing. He didnt even glance at the whimpering man on the ground, walking straight to me and frowning at the red marks on my wrist.

Finished here?

I nodded, stunned. Mr. Knight? What are you doing here?

Just passing by, Damien said coolly, his gaze finally shifting to Kevin. This is your blind date? You have terrible taste.

Kevin, dazed from the fall, scrambled to his feet, ready to curse them out. But when he saw Damiens face, the color drained from his.

M-Mr. Knight?

As someone in finance, he of course recognized the most powerful man in the industry.

Damien ignored him, turning back to me. Do you need me to take out the trash for you?

I looked at Kevins pathetic, trembling form and suddenly felt nothing but boredom.

No, thanks. Not worth getting my hands dirty. I straightened my clothes. Hes not worth it.

Damien nodded and gave a slight flick of his wrist.

The bodyguards understood immediately, grabbing Kevin and dragging him out.

Mr. Knight! Please, Im sorry! I didnt know she was with you

Kevins desperate cries faded into the distance.

The cafe was deathly silent.

I sighed and looked at Damien.

Mr. Knight, isnt this a bit much? You scared off my blind date. My mother is going to kill me.

The corner of Damiens mouth twitched into a smile.

Perfect. I happen to be in need of a private physician. Room and board included, with a salary triple what you used to make. Interested?

I was speechless.

Wasnt this plot moving a little too fast?

Besides, he paused, his gaze deepening, my wife is awake. She wants to meet the woman who threatened to cut her open to save her life.