Chapter 11: Jealousy
Petra recognized that syringe from the time with Mrs. Walker, and it was the same syringe that almost caused the death of the woman seated before them all.
"My God, this is just the height of it. How can you harbor such a wicked thought in your heart and kill a patient?" She was surprised that Davis believed the lies being sold out by the duo.
"I stand here to say that I have no hand in the death of Mr. Thomas. He was my ex-fiance, and I still love him. I will never harm him."
"Or...You might have been personally hurt by the fact that he dumped you and married someone else" She sent a nasty glare to Mitchell, who was becoming annoying by the moment.
"Can the entire board room stand to decide the fate of Mrs. Petra Hills" Gareth announced.
"If you believe that Petra Hills should be stripped off her title and be reported to the head of all medical practitioners in the whole of Washington, D.C, let me see your hands" She turned to see a majority of hands risen against her. She was shocked to see Davis also standing against her. However, when she turned to look at Matthew, the latter didn't raise his hands.
"If you believe that Mrs. Petra be freed from this charges and it should be reported simply on the ground of act of God, as a defense while she is facing a lawsuit, raise your hands" Only Matthews had his hands risen, and he was sent series of glare
"Now that the board has decided, it is now up to Mrs. Walker, the CEO of this prestigious hospital, to accent to the decision from everyone" The old lady cleared her throat and stared at Petra for a moment.
"I believe this was the same young lady that saved my life while I was on the sickbed?" She turned to ask Hernandez, who nodded.
"I don't know about everyone here, but one thing I believe in is love for humanity. Mrs. Petra Hills has clearly shown that love on two separate occasions; the first was when she saved the president, and the second was me. The fact that things didn't go as planned with her does not mean she should be accused unjustly. Charging a surgeon using Lethal Injection is a capital offense and could lead to death. It is with this that I at this moment proclaim that she should be released off this accusation."
Petra sighed in relief as the other doctors mumbled amongst themselves. The board of directors was chatting with Mrs. Walker about her decision, but the latter stood firm by what she had proclaimed.
***
Kemi Clarkson rushed down to the emergency ward to meet with one of the patients when she accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oh, I am sorry, I didn't see you there" Lewis was deep in thought that he didn't know when he ran into the young lady.
The moment Kemi raised her head and her eyes came fixing on Lewis, she froze.
How can a man be this handsome? She thought to herself as he helped her get the last file from the ground.
Lewis was becoming uncomfortable under her intense gaze that he had to cough slightly to get her attention back.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't know I was staring...what is your name" She summoned the courage to ask.
This was the first time she would act like this before any man.
"I'm Lewis, and you are?"
She shook his hands firmly. "Kemi, Kemi Clarkson...I haven't seen you before. Are you a new intern at the hospital?" She decided to initiate conversation, hoping it would lead somewhere.
"No, I have been at the hospital for months now" She chuckled nervously and began to think of what to say
"So...uhmm...I don't know if you would go out for lunch with me by two pm?" She said with a shy smile.
Lewis was surprised that he was being asked to a proper lunch by a stranger.
"Sure, I will hmmm meet you there," He said with a surprised gaze.
Kemi chuckled nervously, and after a while of just standing and saying nothing, she decided she would take her to leave.
***
When Lewis arrived at Petra's office, he was surprised to see that she just had to settle down.
"How did the meeting go?" He asked as he proceeded once more to the fridge to grab her a glass of water.
"It was wild, and I think there is something that is playing out, and I need to find a clue about it,"
Lewis paid immense attention to her as she spoke. He was not listening to her at that moment but was engrossed in her beauty.
"Uhmmm...Lewis?" Petra snapped her hands at his face, feeling uncomfortable by the stare he was giving her.
"Oh! Sorry about that, I was just deep in some thought about something."
"Or would you rather say someone," Lewis looked up swiftly, trying to understand what she meant?
"I can see she likes you," Petra stated, sipping in her glass of water.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh, please, stop acting like you didn't enjoy how that nurse stared at you back there," Lewis was surprised that she had seen both of them.
"And to think she asked you out on a lunch."
Lewis was trying to understand if he smelled jealousy as Petra made that comment.
"Just forget about it, I believe it was a simple gesture and nothing else,"
Petra shrugged and said. "That is how they usually start...from a simple lunch to date, and then the relationship follows."
All the signs were there for Lewis to see that Petra was jealous, but he thought he was assuming.
***
Lewis sat anxiously at the restaurant, waiting for Kemi to arrive. He thought about not coming but seeing that it was probably a harmless lunch, he decided to show up.
After a while, Kemi showed up at the restaurant, and this time, Lewis was able to stare at her finally. She was beautiful but could not be compared to Petra.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting. You know how these patients work. They always want to get something, and we need to be there for them to get it." Lewis smiled in understanding, and she settled down.
"So tell me, how long have you been working in this hospital?" Lewis decided to initiate a conversation between both of them.
"That would be two years ago, and I got the opportunity of a lifetime. Working as a nurse in St Gregory has always been my dream, and I have to admit that it feels perfect."
Lewis smiled as the waiter brought their launch of simple pasta. While they delved into the sumptuous meal, Lewis noticed someone familiar seated afar from their table and was surprised to see that it was Petra.
What was she doing here? He wondered; Petra was not the type to quickly go out of the hospital. Seeing her outside even brought her beauty like never before.
"Seen something?" Kemi asked, turning around to trace her gaze to Petra.
"Oh, Doctor Petra Hills; the lady that is misunderstood"
Lewis shifted his gaze from Petra to Kemi and asked;
"What did you say?" He asked.
"Well, isn't it obvious, the fact that surgery had gone wrong for her? People tend to forget the good deed she committed for the hospital..."
Immediately, it was a shock to them to see Petra was standing beside Kemi with a bright smile on her face as she bowed slowly at the stunning look of Kemi.
"Excuse me and sorry to interrupt you both, but I think I will be needing the assistance of Lewis."
Kemi, who had massive respect for Petra, nodded in agreement and urged Lewis to follow her.
***
"Why were you at the hospital restaurant today?" Lewis asked as they were walking into her office. Petra didn't say a word but waited till they were in the office.
"What is happening here?" Lewis was confused by the question and asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I am talking about the fact that you went to lunch with her?" She said with an ink fake smile.
Lewis was confused for a second. 'Did she expect me to reject the offer, and for what reason would he do something like that?' He thought.
"Kemi is a fine young nurse, I know, but you need to understand that people like her could be uhmm..." Petra didn't know why she was saying this.
Ever since she figured that Kemi was going on a lunch with Lewis, she suddenly grew jealous about the brewing chemistry that Kemi was endorsing into the stare of Lewis.
"I don't understand what you are-" Lewis could not continue what he was saying as Petra crashed her lips into his, causing him to freeze in the process.
With wide eyes, Lewis froze, still in contact with Petra's soft and warm lips on his.