"Hello, Miss Ivy, I'm Dr. Richmond," he introduced.
Jeez, was every man in this socialite circled so handsome? Dr. Richmond was handsome. His piercing pitch-black eyes, greying flowing black hair accompanied by his chiseled jaw and muscular physique. Couldn't he at least be less attractive? Older maybe? I wanted to hide myself. I knew I didn't look great from crying yesterday. My eyes were still slightly swollen, and I could barely sleep, even with Zeus holding me all night long.
I shook his hand. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"It's not a problem at all," he smiled. I've known Mr. Castle for a long time."
"Mr. Castle?" I looked at Zeus, "Your name is Zeus Castle?"
Zeus beamed, "Yes, it is. I'll leave you both alone."
Once he closed my bedroom door behind him, I dropped my head in misery. This wasn't going to be easy.
"What seems to be troubling you?" he asked.
I sighed at him, "I think I'm pregnant. I don't need to be examined. I need an answer. The appointment that I missed was meant to have my blood taken."
He blinked. There was no judgment in his eyes. He opened his Von Baer black briefcase and put on gloves, followed by a cleansing wipe and a packaged syringe.
"We'll take a blood sample," he started, "Once I get back to my office, I'll have it examined. I will call you within the next forty-eight hours with the results. I also have an at-home pregnancy test you can take."
"Thank you," I whispered.
He cleansed my forearm before wrapping a yellow band around my bicep. I winced as I felt the needle slip into my vein. Before I knew it, he removed the band from my arm and placed the needle in what looked like a small ice cooler. Once back in his briefcase, he pulled out the home pregnancy test.
"Thank you," I lowered my head in shame.
"You don't seem too happy," he commented.
"Not necessarily," I confirmed, "I never wanted children."
"Not all of us do," he concurred, "I don't."
Once he stood up, he extended his hand to me with his cell phone, "Your number so I can call you with the results."
I took in and quickly typed my information for him, "Thank you so much, sir."
"You can call me Rick," he smirked.
"Rick," I smiled.
He walked out of my room and closed the door behind him. Within a moment, Zeus was entering with a gentle knock.
"Feel better?" he asked.
"Actually, yes," I lied.
"Want to get some fresh air?" he offered while opening my curtains.
I covered my face as the orange sunlight poured in as he opened the window.
"It is a beautiful sunset," I commented while veering out at the rolling green hills with fields and fields of grape vineyards, "You grow your wine?"
"I have many businesses," he said, "Would you like to go horseback riding?"
"Is this some fairytale?" I laughed, "Who says things like that anymore?"
"I do have a golf cart," he added, "Riding the horses is easier."
I shook my head in disbelief, "I don't know how to ride."
"I can teach you," he offered.
I stepped away from the window, "Why are you so perfect?"
A cocky smile overtook his expression as he ran his fingers cooly through his hair, "Maybe you've never met a real man before."
Folding my arms, I pressed my tongue to my cheek, "I don't have clothes for riding a horse."
He went over to the wardrobe and opened the grand double doors. There was an assortment of skirts, tops, and maxi dresses. He took out a black maxi dress with slits up to the hips, followed by black boots, "This is perfect."
"You're joking?" I scoffed, "You think I can ride with my hip?"
He tossed the dress and shoes on the bed before approaching me. He pulled up my skirt.
"Uh!" I yelped, "What are you doing?"
"The bruise is healing well," he whispered as he rubbed my hip, "The gel we've been applying has helped immensely."
I looked down at my hip in awe, "No way. It usually takes at least a week to lighten up like this."
Instead of seeing hues of blues and purples, they were shades of warm brown and yellows.
"I think you'll be fine," he leaned down and kissed me.
His warm hand cupped my head as he slid his tongue into my mouth. I knew what he was doing. He was trying to entice me.
"Get dressed, beautiful; I'll meet you downstairs," he commanded before walking out.
"Asshole," I smiled.