The man had another drag from his cigarette an action which Mallory found repulsive. She couldn't control the expression of disgust that covered her face as he blew out the smoke, instinctively she brought her hand up to cover her nose.
The man threw the almost finished cigarette on the ground and stepped on it effectively putting it out. He turned his face slightly to look at the girl standing to his side. She stood at 5'2 and was dressed in the hospitals baby blue uniform he couldn't tell if she was a nurse or a doctor.
"I'll keep that in mind next time." he finally replied as he turned his back to her and made his way towards the elevator. She watched as the doors closed and only then did she come out of the trance she was stuck in, remembering she was still on call. She pulled out a tissue and picked up the cigarette and disposed of it.
"Where were you? I looked all over for you." Jacob was standing at the edge of the patients bed as he checked over their vitals.
"Sorry I was on the roof I lost track of time." she replied as she made her way towards the monitor to help him out.
"The group is planning on heading out for drinks later on are you tagging along?"
She thought about it but the idea of going out weighed against the comfort of her bed and getting the much needed rest didn't sound that appealing.
"I think I'll have to bow out tonight, all I can think about right now is the comfort of my bed." Jacob chuckled at her reply as he moved towards the door with Mallory in tow.
"Honestly I was also thinking the same thing but I can never say no to free booze and food, cheap huh?"
"Free booze and food? Who's buying?"
"Who's rich enough to invite everyone out for a meal?"
She scrunched up her face which made him laugh, the rivalry between Mason and her wasn't a secret in fact she was sure that if the doctors here didn't already know about it yet they would surely know about it by the end of their next practical week.
Mason made it his mission to get on her nerves and honestly she couldn't blame him considering she made sure to return the favor with any chance that she got. Most people viewed their rivalry to be childish, they pulled pranks on each other after all so no one would really blame them for thinking that.
"I'm tempted to come just to ruin his night but I'll let him have his peace today." Jacob shook his head and chuckled as they proceeded with their rounds.
"What's the deal between you too?"
"He's secretly in love with me." her reply made Jacob release a loud and hearty laugh.
"I'd pay to see you guys go at each other." he replied as they made one last stop.
Her shift was almost over and she was looking forward to spending the weekend resting and the week on campus with her friends. She knew the field she chose wasn't going to be easy but she was in no way or shape ready for what she was exposed to. All those sleepless nights she spent studying seemed like nothing when compared to what she went through in this one week alone.
When she made her way back to the ER everything had relatively calmed down, a few patients with minor injuries' were being brought in and treated for their wounds some were being checked out. She made her way towards the reception clocked out and headed home.
Zion made his way through the hospital hallways heading towards the room that his friend was staying in. This had become their routine, Vaughn would get into trouble and to avoid facing his parents wrath he'd check himself into the hospital and for some reason he always got the same room every time.
"I thought you ditched me."
"I thought about it." he made his way towards the couch and propped down placing his feet on the arm rest.
"I'm surprised you didn't do it." his friend replied as he placed the magazine he was looked at on the side of the table.
"Just be happy I'm here." he replied closing his eyes and leaning back.
"Another blind date set up by your mom?" the question made him clench his jaw which earned a chuckle from his friend.
"One would think that after all these years you'd be used to it."
The two sat in silence both occupied by their own thoughts. Vaughn was right, he should be used to it, it's been happening for half his life after all. Zion was the second son of the Angello family and was the known problem child. His father was one of the wealthiest and probably dangerous man in the city. He owned Kasion Industries which consisted of a range of high end restaurants and hotels and was now branching into pharmaceuticals. His family and Vaughn's had been partners for as long as he could remember whereas his family was big in the hospitality industry Vaughn's was big in Pharmaceuticals.
His father always said it was a shame the Garcia's didn't have a daughter, according to him it would of made for a great business merger. If the two family's united they would of formed a powerful empire. He rolled his eyes in irritation that his parents thought of marriage as the only way to form alliances with other prominent families.
Unlike him his older brother abided by his parents every word which is why he was now stuck in a loveless marriage, not that he personally believed in marriage or love. He viewed marriage as a pointless and useless union and love as a stupid emotion, to him humans could live without the two. Most importantly, Zion was of the notion that business should be held separate from personal life and the idea of involving marriage in business transactions deeply displeased him. Now that he had successfully graduated from business school and was working for the company his mother had turned her full attention to him determined to make sure he married into one of the wealthy and successful family on her list. The thought made him grind his teeth in annoyance.
He was determined to make sure he proved to his parents that becoming the most powerful enterprise could be achieved without selling off their children into lifelong commitments but through strategic planning and hard work. And in order to do so he'd have to ensure he stayed single for as long as he possibly could but he knew this was one task that was damn near impossible as long as his mother was still alive.
"The only way she'll leave you alone is if you brought a girl home." Vaughn said as if reading his mind.
"And by a girl, you mean someone she'd approve of."
"If we're being honest our parents would never approve of anyone we personally choose, even if they were on their list of potentials, sometimes I get the feeling it's not even about economic compatibility they're just determined to trap us in unhappy marriages to make our lives miserable. It's as if the thought of seeing us happy repulses them."
Zion pondered over his friends words every syllable held truth to it but he was determined to not fall victim to his parents, he would live his life on his own terms whatever the cost.