Pursuit For Lucidity

By Marie Jem

Claire Morgan is a young, beautiful, and career oriented new graduate with a degree in healthcare. Upon accepting a position at Downtown Memorial Hospital, she meets Dr. Alex Blake, who is a reconstructive plastic surgeon. Claire is faced with difficult decisions, which involve her dark past. Her frequent nightmares are a constant reminder of the horrible events that cannot escape her memory.

After breaking her own rules and dating someone from her workplace, Claire soon falls in love with Alex, only to find out that she is not the only one who carries a dark past. Dr. Blake has his own share of secrets he has withheld from her.

Unable to escape her anxiety and constant premonitions of impending sorrow, Claire feels as though she has embarked upon a roller coaster of life, which leaves her no choice other than her pursuit for lucidity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marie Jem
• Release date: Nov 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311010797

Marie Jem

Marie Jem was born in Yerevan, Armenia and migrated to the United States at the age of two. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two children. She enjoys writing romance with a twist of mystery and suspense. Marie also enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling. Marie is the author of the Crashing Waves series, which takes you on a journey through the life of a young woman with a dark past, who falls in love with a surgeon from the hospital in which she works. Although fiction, Marie's books are very much relatable to real life. Those who read Marie's books are taken on a roller coaster ride of every emotion possible by her characters.

Book preview

PURSUIT FOR LUCIDITY

By

MARIE JEM

Copyright ©2013

Smashwords Edition

About the author

Marie Jem was born in Yerevan, Armenia and migrated to the United States at the age of two. She was raised in Orange County, California and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. She is married and has two children. Marie enjoys writing romance with a twist of suspense and mystery. She also enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling. Although fiction, Marie’s books are very much relatable to real life. Those who read Marie’s books are taken on a roller coaster ride of every emotion possible by her characters.

Pursuit For Lucidity

Claire Morgan is a young, beautiful, and career oriented new graduate with a degree in healthcare. Upon accepting a position at Downtown Memorial Hospital, she meets Dr. Alex Blake, who is a reconstructive plastic surgeon. Claire is faced with difficult decisions, which involve her dark past. Her frequent nightmares are a constant reminder of the horrible events that cannot escape her memory.

After breaking her own rules and dating someone from her workplace, Claire soon falls in love with Alex, only to find out that she is not the only one who carries a dark past. Dr. Blake has his own share of secrets he has withheld from her.

Unable to escape her anxiety and constant premonitions of impending sorrow, Claire feels as though she has embarked upon a rollercoaster of life, which leaves her no choice other than her pursuit for lucidity.

Chapter 1

California had a way of melting the sun into your skin only enough to give you a beautiful bronze glow. How I loved spending my free time sunbathing in my parents’ backyard, my earphones filling my ears with my favorite music to get my mind off of the huge graduation party my parents were hosting for me the following day. All the years of hard work and sleepless nights studying had paid off. I had made my parents very proud by achieving my master’s degree in healthcare. My mother, Elizabeth Morgan, a psychiatrist, who took her career very seriously, and my father, Henry Morgan, an entertainment attorney, both believed that education was the key to the future. I couldn’t agree more.

My parents lived in a beautiful neighborhood about forty minutes from Los Angeles, in the city of Calabasas. Their home was enchanting, with wrought iron gates and a stone pathway that led to a circular driveway surrounding a breathtaking water fountain. The house itself, was over seven thousand square feet on at least three acres of land with lush landscaping. I grew up in that house with twin younger brothers, Kyle and Calvin. Kyle was down south in Orange County studying to be a pharmacist at UCI and Calvin was studying marketing at UCLA. I missed the days we all lived together as a family in that big house. My graduation party would give me a chance to spend time with all the members of my family. I knew my parents missed that also, as they mentioned it from time to time.

I moved out a few years after my grandmother died. Her condo in Encino was vacant and my parents did not want to rent it out. They decided it would be a safe place for me to live on my own, since I was ready to move out and would be less than ten miles from their house. My parents did not ask me to pay rent, since I was a full-time student with many unstable part-time jobs. They only asked that I pay the utilities. I was blessed with such generous and understanding parents.

Claire, my mother said, waving at me and pulling the earphones out of my ears. Claire, I’ve been calling your name, honey. I hope you didn’t fall asleep in this scorching heat. You know how easily you can burn this time of day, she said.

Hey, Mom! Sorry, I just couldn’t hear you because my music was too loud. You know I can’t enjoy it at a normal volume, I replied.

I should know that by now, right? said my mother, chuckling. I just got off the phone with the caterer. I asked him to add food for two more guests. I would like to invite the new neighbors, Pat and Cynthia Crow. Since they’ve invited us to dinner before, I thought it would be nice to include them, she explained. I liked the new neighbors. They were a very pleasant couple around the same age as my parents. Their children were attending a university outside of California. They seemed lonely, so my mother wanted to spend time with them to make them feel happy.

Sure, Mom, that sounds great. They seem very sweet, I said.

I knew you’d agree, sweetheart, she said, smiling before she got up to check on the decorations. I began to get up and help my mother with any last minute decorations when my cell phone rang. The number was blocked. I hated receiving phone calls from blocked phone numbers. I normally would not have answered, but I felt I should, just in case it was a happy graduation wish from a friend or family member.

Hello? I said, hoping it was someone I knew.

May I speak to Claire Morgan, please? said the unfamiliar voice on the other end.

This is Claire speaking. May I ask who’s calling? I asked.

Yes, Miss Morgan, this is Julie Rodriguez from the Human Resources department at Downtown Memorial Hospital regarding your interview last week. We would like to offer you the job if you are still interested, she said.

Interested? My heart was about to burst out of my chest from excitement knowing that I may finally have a job that would pay more money than what I had been making at my part-time, minimum wage, or short-term jobs.

Yes, I’m interested, Mrs. Rodriguez. I’m so glad you called, I said, gratefully.

That’s wonderful, Miss Morgan. Can you start Monday? she asked with her pleasant voice.

Of course, Monday sounds perfect, I said, full of excitement.

Have a great weekend, Miss Morgan, and congratulations, said Julie.

Thank you so much. You have a wonderful weekend as well, I replied.

I had prayed night and day that they would offer me that job. I would be working in Hospital Administration as an Administrative Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer, which involved various tasks. This job was the first step into my future. I could finally say I had experience in the field I had received my degree in.

Mom, you’re not going to believe this. They just offered me the job I interviewed for last week at Downtown Memorial Hospital! I screamed.

Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! Perfect timing, too. I’m so happy for you, sweetheart, my mother said, as she hurried over to me and gave me a hug.

Thanks, Mom, I said, hugging her tightly.

There’s nothing left to do here, Claire. Why don’t you run your errands, get your manicure and pedicure and just relax today, so you will be all ready to party tomorrow, she said.

I’m definitely going to take your advice, Mom. I really need a manicure and pedicure, I replied.

Sounds like a great idea, she said, giving me a kiss on my cheek.

As I headed inside the house, I felt as though I had gotten a bit too much sun. I was hoping I didn’t get sunburned the day before my big party. My feet felt so good against the cold tile inside the house. I put my clothes on, grabbed my keys and purse from the kitchen counter, and headed out to run my errands, so I could go home and relax afterward.

My car seat felt as though it were on fire. The heat from the sun had penetrated into the leather, causing the back of my thighs to sting. My parents had surprised me with a BMW M5 after I had received my bachelors degree. They had always promised me they would surprise me with something really nice if I graduated with honors and so I did. I wanted something smaller and sportier, but my father wouldn’t have it. He always lived by the better safe than sorry saying. I had to admit, my car was pretty fast for a sedan.

As I pulled into the mall parking lot, my car’s computer began to beep notifying me that I had low tire pressure in one of the tires. I knew I should have taken the car in the past week to have the sensor reset. The flat tire false alarms were becoming very annoying.

Westfield Mall was one of the most extravagant malls in California. It had Tiffany, Neiman Marcus, Armani, Versace, Chanel, and Valentino. I could go on and on about the exclusive boutiques it contained. My mother couldn’t control herself every time she came here and I couldn’t blame her. I, on the other hand, was very careful with my spending, since I hadn’t been making much money and didn’t want to charge everything on my credit card. My mother usually took me on shopping sprees and purchased more than I wanted or needed.

As soon as I opened the car door, I could feel the heat coming at me with force. As much as I liked the heat in the valley, I found myself looking forward to Fall and Winter. Walking as fast as I could to get out of the heat, I finally made it to the entrance of the mall. The cool feeling inside the mall was a million times better than the outside. The mall looked very crowded for a Friday afternoon. It made me wonder if most people were here just to avoid turning on their air conditioner at home because they couldn’t afford it in this terrible economic crisis. Another reminder of how blessed I was.

The nail shop was empty, so I would be able to enjoy a spa manicure and pedicure without waiting. It felt amazing to have my feet massaged. I hadn’t done much that day, but felt so drained from the weather.

I wanted to walk around for a while and check out the new arrivals in some of the beautiful boutiques, but decided this was not the day for it. Hopefully that job would be stable enough for me to make good money that I could save. Another visit to this mall was in order.

As I approached my car, I noticed the front passenger side tire had gone completely flat. The flat tire sensor in the car was accurate this time around.

Shit! I yelled. My roadside service had expired and I had not renewed it because it was so costly. I guess it wasn’t a good time to be cheap. I didn’t want to call my father. He was in the courtroom that afternoon with a big high profile celebrity case he had been working on for the longest time. The tire looked too flat to attempt driving to a tire shop.

Are you all right? I heard a male voice from a few parking spaces over.

No, not really, I sighed. I have a flat tire and an expired roadside service, I said.

Nothing to worry about, I know how to change a tire. Is the spare in the trunk? he asked as he approached my car. I couldn’t help but stare. He was tall, at least six feet, two inches, with black-brown hair and eyes so piercing blue that they almost looked unreal. With his jaw so chiseled and his body so lean, with very broad shoulders, he has to be a model, I thought. He wore a tightly fitted dark blue T-shirt with his arm muscles stretching the fabric. My eyes shifted down and I noticed his flat muscular abdomen underneath his tight T-shirt.

Did you want to open the trunk so I can grab the spare tire? he asked.

What? Oh, yes, I’m sorry. I will unlock the trunk, I replied.

Oh no, he probably noticed how I was staring at him. I was mortified. There was no doubt in my mind that women were lost for words in his presence.

He opened the trunk and leaned over, opening the lid at the bottom of the trunk to expose the spare tire. Got it, he said, as he pulled out the tire. I couldn’t help focusing on his muscular arms. What did this guy do all day, work out? Bodies like his couldn’t come that easy. I was sure he was a model and just worked out all day and posed for the camera. I couldn’t imagine him making a living any other way. Maybe he’s a mechanic, I thought. The way he worked on the tire seemed to come very easy to him. I watched him work, analyzing his every move without him noticing my stares, as he was busy with the tire. He removed the flat tire, replacing it with the spare and my car was good to go.

Now you’re ready to roll again, Miss, uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name, he said, smiling.

Thank you … It’s Claire, I replied, And you are? I asked, nervously.

I’m Alex. You’re very welcome, Claire, he replied.

Listen, Alex, could I pay you for changing my tire? You really saved the day for me and I want to thank you by giving you some money, I offered.

No, no, it’s really not a big deal, Claire. Besides, I wouldn’t take money from a woman, he said with a big smile. His teeth were so white and perfectly lined. Would you have a cup of coffee with me? he asked.

Um, I really have a lot of errands to run today, I lied. Another minute in his gorgeous presence, I might have gotten weak in the knees and collapsed.

How about a rain check then? Maybe we could exchange phone numbers and have coffee some other time, he offered. How could I decline that? After all, I owed him a cup of coffee for his help.

O-Okay, sure, let me give you my phone number, I said, with a shaky voice.

He handed me his cell phone and asked me to dial my number, so he could save it. I was feeling so anxious that it took me a few seconds to recall my own phone number. Finally, it came to me, thank God. I normally wouldn’t react that way to a random guy I just met at a mall parking lot. After I was done, I handed the phone back to him and he dialed the number I had entered into his smartphone. My phone began to ring.

Just making sure you didn’t put a wrong number, and also to make sure you have my number, too, he winked. I wasn’t sure if it was the heat adding to my sweaty palms or just my nerves.

Thanks again, Alex. I should really get going now, I said, as I moved closer to the car door. I hoped he hadn’t noticed how nervous I was in his presence.

My pleasure, Claire. I will be calling you for that cup of coffee you promised me, he smiled big, revealing his perfect dimples.

He opened the car door for me like a perfect gentleman. I made my way inside and sat down as he closed the door after me. I started the car and rolled down my window to thank him one more time and say goodbye. I noticed a distant look in his eyes when I looked at him. Could he be daydreaming about me? I laughed at the idea and how ridiculous that sounded.

Claire, if you have any problems with that tire, please don’t hesitate to call me. I’ve changed a few tires before, but I’m no pro at it. We can take the car to a shop, he said, smiling again. That confirmed he was not a mechanic.

I will call you for sure if this thing doesn’t make it home. Thanks again, Alex, I said and drove off.

On the drive home, I was daydreaming about his beautiful, crystal blue eyes and how sweet it was of him to change the tire of a complete stranger. In some way, he did look familiar to me. Maybe I had really seen him on a cover of a magazine. My original guess had to be accurate. He had to be a model.

I pulled into the parking garage of the condominium complex and parked my car in the usual spot. I almost ran out of there to get away from the heat. As soon as I unlocked the door and made my way inside my condo, the phone rang, not even giving me a chance to get settled.

Hello? I said, short of breath.

Hey Claire, what’s up? Haven’t heard from you all day. Is your cell phone working? It went straight to voicemail when I called. Did you get everything done at your mom’s house? Katherine asked. Katherine was my best friend since grade school. We had been inseparable since we were five years old. She was the sister I never had. I could talk to Katherine about anything and she never criticized me. She always had such an open mind about things. She had a bachelors degree in Communications from UCLA and had been working ever since.

Hey, Kathy! Yeah, I hung out with my mom and helped her out a little for the party tomorrow. I even got a manicure and pedicure on my way home. Oh, and how could I forget to mention that I ran into the hottest guy ever in the mall parking lot who changed my flat tire, I started to describe Alex before Katherine interrupted me.

Changed your tire? Are you serious or is this just a joke, Claire? asked Katherine.

"Why would I make a joke about having a flat tire? Oh and when I offered to give him money for helping me out, he refused to take it and asked if I could join him for a cup of coffee," I said.

Really? He sounds hotter every second. How was the coffee date? she asked.

Uh, I declined, I confessed.

Why? she asked, with disappointment in her voice.

I told him he could have a rain check. I didn’t want to say yes right away. I’m sure no woman has turned him down for coffee or anything before. Besides, he’s a little intimidating, Kathy. He’s so good-looking and I’m a complete mess today. I’d rather style my hair and put some makeup on before a coffee date. So we exchanged phone numbers and will do coffee some other day. I think it’s a good idea to play hard to get with this guy. Besides, I’m a little afraid to get involved with anyone right now. He looks like he walked out of a magazine. His face looks very familiar. Chances are … He really is a model. I said, laughing.

Claire, you have to give people a chance. Not everyone is an asshole like James.

I know, I know. It’s just that I’ve been skeptical after James, but you’re right, there are nice guys out there. You did really well for yourself. Maybe there’s hope for me, I replied.

I loved talking to Katherine. We could go on and on, but I had to hang up, so I could do the necessary things before I showered and relaxed. Saturday was going to be a big day and I didn’t want to be exhausted. I did quite a bit of laundry, cleaned my condo, and organized anything that needed organization. Before I knew it, it was very late and time for some sleep. As I got into bed, I tossed and turned and just couldn’t get to sleep. I couldn’t get Alex out of my mind. His eyes kept popping up in my mind, they were so mesmerizing. With those thoughts, I somehow drifted off to sleep after two in the morning.

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Saturday morning was beautiful with the sun glowing bright in the sky. It was the perfect weather for an outdoor party. Yoga was in order for that morning. I felt so refreshed after yoga. It helped me with stress and anxiety from school and the unstable jobs. Dancing was my first love and yoga was number two.

After I exercised and showered, I thought I should try on the graduation dress my mother had gotten for me. It was a beautiful lavender Mandalay dress, very tight fitting, revealing all my curves. It seemed a bit sexy to me when I tried it on at the boutique, but my mother assured me it just showed off what other people didn’t have. Claire, honey, if you have it, flaunt it. With a body like yours, why would you hide in loose, unattractive clothing? I loved my mom.

The dress was a perfect fit, but I didn’t have shoes to match. My mother’s closet would do. Anytime I needed to borrow shoes, my mother’s closet was where I shopped. It was filled from top to bottom with designer shoes such as Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and Gucci. I was so glad we wore the same shoe size.

Just then, my phone beeped to notify me of a new text message.

Hi Claire, it’s Alex. Is everything to your satisfaction with your tire?

Hi Alex, my hero…everything is fine and dandy with my car, thanks to you.

That’s just what I wanted to hear. Listen, I was interested in cashing my rain check this weekend.

My weekend is packed, Alex. How does next Friday evening sound?

Well, in that case, since I don’t drink coffee in the evenings, how about dinner?

He had a point there. I didn’t drink coffee at night either. It had to be dinner and I wasn’t going to decline that.

Dinner sounds great. You pick the place and just let me know

.

You will be hearing from me soon, Claire.

I pleaded with my heart to slow down. This was a good thing. I had a whole week to plan. He wouldn’t see me as such a mess as he did that day.

My stomach began to growl as I was starving because I had skipped dinner the night before. I made myself a sandwich and prepared to head out, so I didn’t miss my hair appointment.

I drove to the hair salon and made it twenty minutes early. Melvin, my hairdresser for years, greeted me with his usual smile. Claire, it’s so good to see you. How have you been? Are you ready for your big day? he asked.

I will be ready after you make me glamorous with your magic touch, I replied.

I decided to have my hair curled loosely. I didn’t want an up do, that would be too fancy. I liked my hair down most of the time, unless I was exercising. Melvin worked his magic and I was out of there in less than an hour. My mother would start calling every two minutes if I was running late.

I parked my car in the driveway and made my way inside the house. I loved the entrance, double staircase, huge foyer and cathedral ceilings. It was the kind of home I would love to have a large family in. Hey, sweetheart! My father was just walking out of his office. He probably had to work that Saturday, which was very common in his field.

Daddy! I’ve missed you. You’ve been working too hard these days. I’m going to come and steal you one of these days, so I can have a few hours with you, I said. He laughed, hugging me hard.

You like what your mother has done with the place in preparation for the party? he asked.

How could I have not liked it? My mother had it decorated as if it was my wedding reception. Covered tents filled the large space in the backyard, with chiffons covering the sides. The beautiful centerpieces made with orchids would catch anyone’s eye.

I decided I should go upstairs and start doing my makeup and getting dressed. My mother said I could borrow any one of her beautiful shoes to complete my look. After I was dressed and in her six inch platform Christian Louboutins, I took a look at myself in the mirror and wondered if it were a bit too much for a graduation party. It was too late to change anyway, so my attire would have to do for the evening.

As I made my way downstairs, I caught my mother at the foot of the stairs gaping at me with her mouth open. Claire, honey, oh my, you look stunning!

Thanks, Mom. I knew you would like it, I smiled.

Honey, take a look at our daughter. Doesn’t she look stunning? she asked.

My father came out of the office to look at me. I can’t believe this is my little girl, he said, a sad smile on his face.

The Mandalay dress fit perfect that day, even better than the day my mother purchased it for me. The heels were going to be a problem, though. I felt my feet throbbing and it hadn’t even been ten minutes since I first put them on. Oh, the things women had to put up with to look good.

I greeted our guests as they began to arrive. The wonderful compliments kept pouring in about how great I looked and how beautiful my hair was, how beautiful my dress was, and my beautiful shoes.

Claire! Congratulations, girl! My brother, Kyle, hugged me hard. I hadn’t seen him in months so it felt great to finally be together with the whole family. He had brought his girlfriend, Molly, with him. I really liked Molly. She was so sweet and caring and I was glad my brother was dating someone who loved him so much.

Hey Kyle, I missed you so much. Hi Molly, it’s so good to see you again. Gosh, it’s been so long, we need to get together more often, I said, hugging both of them. Where’s Calvin? Have you heard from him? I asked.

I just spoke with him, he’s on his way. He should arrive shortly, Kyle informed me.

Just as we were speaking about him, he arrived. Sis! Congratulations! How have you been? You look great, by the way. Did you get taller or is it those shoes? Calvin asked, staring at my shoes, Those are Mom’s shoes, aren’t they? he asked, whispering.

I laughed. Hey Calvin, I missed you, silly. I was just telling Kyle and Molly how we should get together more often, and not only on formal occasions such as this, I replied.

We all agreed that meeting for dinner once in a while to catch up would not be such a bad idea.

Claire, you look gorgeous! Cynthia Crow, my parent’s neighbor had just arrived with her husband, Pat. Congratulations, dear. We are very proud of your accomplishments, she said, with a warm smile.

Thank you, Mrs. Crow, Mr. Crow. Welcome, please make yourselves comfortable, I said.

As the guests started pouring in, I was constantly reminded of my throbbing feet. How did women dance in those high shoes all night? I wondered if I would have blisters on my feet the next morning. I hoped not, but my mother always says that beauty sometimes involves pain. I begged to differ at that moment and really missed my tennis shoes.

My father had booked a DJ, so my fellow graduates from school looked like they were having a blast. I loved to dance. I had been dancing since I was four years old. Ballet, jazz, a little hip-hop, tap, and salsa. Dancing was always something I was good at, so my parents encouraged me to dance until the college workload began to get difficult. Then, studying left no time for dance class.

May I have your attention, please? My father had the microphone in his hand and was ready for his speech, with my mother by his side. I would like to thank you all for coming today and sharing this very important day with our family. We are so proud of Claire for all of her accomplishments. We love you, sweetheart. Congratulations, my father finished his heartwarming speech.

I thanked him and gave both my parents a kiss.

Thank you all for coming. I’m so glad to be sharing this day with all the people I love and care about. I would like to thank my mother, my father, my brothers, Kyle and Calvin, and my best friend, Katherine, I looked at Katherine in the crowd and smiled. You all have been a significant part of my life. And have guided me through thick and thin. I am so blessed to have family and friends whom I know care about me so deeply. I love you all. Now, let the party really begin! I handed the microphone back to the DJ and hugged my family and Katherine.

That was so sweet, Claire. Thank you for including me in your speech, said Katherine.

You are the sister I never had, I hugged her tightly.

I guess you’re right, Sister, we both laughed and joined everyone on the dance floor.

The party started to wind down shortly after midnight. All of the guests congratulated me one more time on their way out and thanked my family for such a wonderful time. I planned to stay at my parents’ house, since it didn’t make sense to drive home so late with my feet in pain. I helped clean up and said goodnight to my parents and headed upstairs for some much needed shut eye. I decided I should take a bath to relieve my throbbing feet. After my warm bubble bath, I headed to my room and crawled into bed. I would open my gifts in the morning.

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I was running fast. It was dark out and I was running as if someone was chasing me. Wait, someone was chasing me. Oh no! I started to run faster, but the shadow was closer behind me, so close that it was going to catch me. Dry, wilted trees surrounded the path I was running on, as the tallest ones touched the dark, overcast sky above. It was that car again, the white van. I ran as fast as I could, to pass it since it was just parked to the side. I approached the van and almost passed it, but the side door slid open as a pair of hands reached out for me. The person chasing me caught me, wrapping their arms around my waist as I collapsed.

I woke up screaming. It was that nightmare again. When was this nightmare going to go away? I was drenched in sweat, including my hair. I got up out of bed to change into something dry. My mother knocked on the door, Claire, sweetheart, are you okay?

Yeah, Mom, just a nightmare. Please go to bed, I’m okay now. I love you. I could hear my mother turn back around and head for her bedroom. She was used to my nightmares by now, but she always wanted to make sure I was all right, since I had awakened screaming again.

I crawled back into bed, hesitant to fall back asleep and have the same nightmare. I stayed awake as long as I could until sleep found me and I couldn’t fight it any longer. I didn’t have another nightmare, thankfully, and awoke with the sun piercing into my bedroom through the window shutters. It was going to be a nice day, I told myself, as I climbed out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth, and headed downstairs to have breakfast with my parents.

The aroma of fresh brewed coffee filled the entire house. My mother was in the kitchen making pancakes and omelets, humming her favorite tunes. Good morning, sweetheart. Oh, it’s just so good to have you spend the night. It gets really lonely around here for your father and I, she said. My father was on his laptop, most likely working, as he looked up. Good morning, cutie. Come, have a seat next to me. It’s rare that we have breakfast together these days. I want to enjoy every minute of it, he said.

Thanks for making such an amazing breakfast, Mom. I will open my gifts after we eat. How does that sound? I asked. My mother looked excited.

We went into the living room where all my graduation gifts were neatly organized in one corner. I received a lot of money, gift certificates to different stores, perfume, and a lot of beautiful clothing. My mother was anxious about her gift. She couldn’t wait for me to open it.

It’s from me and your father. Go ahead, open it! she said, impatiently.

It was a small box. When I shook it, it sounded like jewelry. I opened the wrapping and exposed the gift inside the box. It was a set of keys. I looked up at my parents, wondering what the keys were for. Another car? No, I already had a very expensive car they had gifted me for achieving my bachelors degree.

Claire, your father and I decided that we should rent out your grandmother’s old condo and move you somewhere safer. You could have your own private garage that is attached to your condominium, so you don’t have to park in a dark, underground parking garage. We have purchased a condominium for you, in a newly developed, gated community in the Walnut District of Encino. I was speechless. I couldn’t take those keys. They had done so much for me already.

Mom, Dad, please, this is too big of a gift. I cannot accept this. I have to pay you back somehow, I said.

You do not need to pay the mortgage for now. Your mother and I will help you out as long as you need. Just focus on your career, Claire. When you are financially stable, you will take over the mortgage payment. My father sounded like he had already done the math.

You will only pay temporarily. I want to be able to pay for it myself once I’m on my feet, I replied.

My parents agreed to that and I hugged and kissed both of them, my eyes filling with tears at their generosity. My father was eager to take me to see my new place. We finished eating, changed, and made our way to my brand new home.

The Walnut District was a brand new community of condominiums providing superb security. As we approached the front gates, my father used one of the new remotes to open the gate to make our way into this beautiful community. He used another remote for my garage door and we made our way into the garage. How I loved the idea that the garage was attached to the condo. No more parking underground in a dimly lit garage with strangers. As he opened the door to the inside of the condominium, I was taken aback by the beautiful high ceiling, espresso wood floors, granite kitchen with stainless steel appliances, and the bathrooms made up of beautiful glass tiles and travertine stone. So modern, so young, it took my breath away.

Mom, Dad, this place is amazing! I don’t know how to thank you enough. Tears started to roll down my cheeks.

Oh, honey, don’t cry, just say thank you. Your safety is the most important thing to us, you know that, my mother’s eyes were also filled with tears. I took a tour of my new place, planned the future move with excitement, and we headed back to my parents’ house so I could go home and prepare for my first day of my new job.

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I gathered my things, leaving my mother’s beautiful but painful shoes in her closet and thanked my parents a million more times for their kindness and generosity. I headed home to shower, do yoga, and try to get a good night sleep. I called Katherine to tell her about the new place and she was ecstatic. She was probably even more excited about my new place than I was. We joked about having slumber parties there.

After some well-needed yoga, I showered, prepared my outfit for the morning, and made my way into bed. I needed a good night’s sleep. There was no way I was going to start off my first day at work cranky.

Chapter 2

The morning alarm startled me as it awakened me from a very comfortable, deep sleep. I was thankful for a nightmare free night. I decided to wear my pinstriped charcoal grey suit with a powder pink blouse. It was a very conservative look, which was what I was going for in order to be taken seriously. I was very career-oriented and had many goals to reach by climbing the corporate ladder in the healthcare organization. I had a quick bite to eat for breakfast with a cup of coffee and headed to the parking garage. I was so glad that I would soon have my own garage, which would make me feel much safer. I always thought I heard noises in the dark parking garage of my grandmother’s condominium complex.

One thing I really hated about Los Angeles was the traffic. It was so difficult driving five to ten miles an hour to reach your destination, taking at least an hour longer than it should.

Downtown Memorial Hospital was located in the heart of Downtown, Los Angeles. It was a five-hundred-bed hospital and offered the best care. I felt honored to have been given a position in this hospital.

After an hour and thirty minutes of traffic, I finally made it to the hospital and parked in the huge employee parking structure. I had to make a stop at the Human Resources Department to complete some required paperwork. Julie Rodriguez, the friendly woman who had called to offer me the position, greeted me with her beautiful smile, Hello, Miss Morgan, and welcome to your first day at Downtown Memorial. There are just a few things I need from you; a copy of your driver’s license and I need to take a photo of you for your employee badge and parking pass.

After I had my mug shot taken and was given my work badge and parking pass, Julie escorted me to the Hospital Administration Department, where I would meet my employer and coworkers. Right this way, Miss Morgan, Julie pointed in the direction we would be headed in.

A long walk finally led us to the Hospital Administration Department. It was a very conservative, yet warm and friendly environment. All the furniture was mahogany with black leather office chairs. The reception area was a combination of mahogany wood and stainless steel, giving the department a very modern and elegant feel. Julie walked me over to Eleanor, the receptionist, who would take it from there. I thanked Julie for her assistance as she headed out of the department.

Hello, Miss Morgan, I’m Eleanor. I am the receptionist in this department. Feel free to help yourself and grab a cup of coffee if you’d like. She walked me over to the kitchen area, which was very large and included a stainless steel refrigerator and a dishwasher.

No, thank you, Eleanor, I’ve already had some coffee. Maybe I will pour myself a cup later, I said.

Eleanor was a pretty, older woman, maybe in her fifties, with big brown eyes and short grey hair. She seemed like a very classy lady and I liked her from the minute I met her.

We walked over to greet my employer, Walter Wells, who was the chief executive officer I would be supporting. Hello, Miss Morgan, I’m so glad you accepted our offer. You did so well in your interview and the panel liked you so much, we would have been very disappointed if you had turned us down. Walter made me blush with all the positive things he mentioned from the interview. Walter Wells was a very conservative executive, probably in his fifties. He was approximately my height with grayish brown hair and dark brown eyes.

Thank you so much, Mr. Wells, I am very honored to have been given this opportunity. I will give you my best at my job, I wanted to sound humble.

Very well then, I have a meeting to attend now, but Eleanor will get you situated, he replied, looking at his watch and heading out of the department.

I followed Eleanor to my cubicle, which was very large and right next to a big window with a view of the city. I liked the view. I wouldn’t feel so claustrophobic if I could look out and see the beautiful buildings across the way. I received my computer password and was introduced to the others in the office. One girl that I really took a liking to was named Laura Kevorkian, another administrative assistant, like me. Laura was a very beautiful and friendly Armenian girl. She reminded me of Katherine so much, like someone I could feel comfortable talking to.

Hi, Claire, I’m Laura and I will be training you for the next few weeks. Please feel free to bug me and ask me any questions. I may not have all the answers, but I will do my best, she smiled.

Thank you, Laura, that’s very nice of you. It’s a pleasure meeting you as well, I replied and entered my password into the computer.

Laura was very informative. She showed me all the databases that I would be using, introduced me to the finance and medical staffing office that I would also be working with, and gave me a thorough lesson about all the great places to have lunch in the city that would not take more than an hour. She was very bubbly and made me laugh quite a bit.

After a few hours of concentrating on a spreadsheet, I felt the need for some coffee, which Eleanor had offered earlier that morning. I headed into the kitchen to warm up a blueberry muffin and pour myself a cup of coffee. My cell phone began to vibrate from my pocket and I noticed it was Alex calling. Why was he calling me instead of sending a text message? I decided to answer and let him know to send text messages instead, especially since I had a new employer.

Hello, Alex, I whispered.

Hello yourself, Claire. This won’t take much of your time, I promise. I was just wondering if you work at Downtown Memorial Hospital, he asked. I suddenly froze. Was he following me? Was he stalking me? I had never mentioned anything about my work location. Crazy thoughts were racing in my head. Was this some lunatic who was following me around? Maybe he was following me the day I had a flat tire. Or did he cause the flat tire? No, no, that couldn’t be. The flat tire sensor in my car had constantly notified me of that before I even pulled into the mall parking lot.

Uh, why do you ask? I asked, in a shaky voice.

Because I could swear I just saw you walk into the hospital administration kitchen, he replied. I turned my head to the side when I noticed someone entering the kitchen from the corner of my eye. I almost dropped my phone. It was Alex, standing there in hospital scrubs! The words Alex Blake, MD Plastic Surgery, were embroidered across the left. Alex was a doctor? He wasn’t just a doctor. He was a surgeon, a plastic surgeon. Oh my. My heart began to race and I was afraid of having a panic attack and humiliating myself.

Alex? I said, as I ended our conversation on the phone. What a surprise. I d-didn’t know you worked here…or were a physician, or … Uh … A s-s-surgeon. I stuttered.

Yeah, I have to admit, I am also surprised by the fact that I’m a physician, he joked. I have to be honest, Claire, I was hoping I’d see you before Friday and here you are, working in the same hospital. What were the chances? he asked.

Today is my first day. That’s why I said I would meet you on Friday evening, since I will be working all week, I replied casually.

I normally don’t perform surgeries on Fridays. I do consultations in the clinic, in the medical office building across the street. He’s so down to earth for a surgeon, I thought. Did you think I was stalking you, I mean, when I called you and asked you if you worked at this hospital? I’m sorry if I freaked you out, he said honestly.

I laughed, Yes, it was a little creepy at first. I’m just glad that you actually work here and aren’t a stalker, we both laughed. "I better go, Alex…I mean Dr. Blake. I just came to get some coffee. I don’t want to get into trouble, especially on my first day," I said, as I began walking back to my desk with my appetite lost and butterflies in my stomach from what had just taken place in the kitchen.

I’ll text you later, he whispered loud enough for me to hear almost all the way to my desk.

Every time I tried to focus on my work, Alex’s face appeared in my mind. He was tall, handsome, nice, and a surgeon! Oh how I hated to have to work in the same building as someone I had a crush on. I had a do-not-like-or-date-a-guy-from-the-workplace rule. Ugh! Why did life have to be so complicated when it came to men?

Laura appeared at my desk seconds after I settled down, Claire, was that cute doctor talking to you in the kitchen? she asked, her eyes wide. Yes, he was, Laura…why?" I asked nervously.

He seems to like you, she winked.

No, he just happened to change my flat tire in a parking lot this past weekend, I explained.

Really? Her big eyes widened, if that was even possible.

You’re so funny, Laura. Let me finish some of my work, so you can help me decide where to have lunch, I said.

I plugged in as much work as I could get in and realized it was almost one in the afternoon. Laura walked me down the street to an eatery called The Falafel House, which was very delicious. I decided I would be eating here quite often. We went back to work on a very full stomach and just as I sat down at my desk, I received a text from Alex.

I noticed you didn’t invite me out to lunch today. I’m going to scrub into surgery now. Hope the rest of your day goes smoothly.

I sat there, thinking about what I should reply. Or if I shouldn’t respond at all … No, no, that wouldn’t be nice. I took a deep breath and composed my text.

I just thought it would be a little weird if I asked one of the surgeons out to lunch on my first day. Good luck with your surgery. Hope it goes smoothly.

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The rest of the day flew by and before I knew it, it was five o’clock and time to head home. The traffic was horrific at five o’clock. It took almost two hours to get home. Everyone started calling to hear about my first day. My mother called first, followed by Katherine. Kyle and Calvin texted to see how everything went and I texted back assuring that my day was great. Katherine nearly fainted when I told her about the encounter with Dr. Alex Blake.

What? Did you say he’s a plastic surgeon? Claire, this is crazy! Who would have thought, you go to work on your first day only to find that the gorgeous man who saved the day by changing your flat tire, looked like he modeled, is a plastic surgeon at the same hospital you work in. And to top it off, you’re going to have dinner with him on Friday night! Katherine was so excited, maybe a little more than I was. I was getting anxious about Friday, to be quite honest.

Okay, Claire, I’m going to go now because John is dying to hear the story. He won’t stop bugging me to tell him the whole story, she hurried to get off the phone.

John was Katherine’s boyfriend of many years. He was such a nice person, very genuine, exactly the type of guy that Katherine deserved. We could talk to him about anything, and I was sure he was going to be ecstatic to hear about Dr. Alex Blake.

Just as I was getting settled in, my cell phone rang.