"How'd you know?" Sylvia asked, her voice a mix of shock and disdain.
"I guessed right then!" Ortega flashed her a playful smile, his chin raised in a bogus attempt to appear superior.
Sylvia's eyes widened in disbelief, shaking her head as if unable to accept how easily she had let Ortega know she hacked into his medical records.
"I figured you wouldn't rest until you had some sort of leverage against me." His eyes suddenly narrowed, startling Sylvia. "You know, looking for anything that might incriminate me further—like if I lied about my psychogenic seizure affliction..."
"You did lie!" Sylvia exploded, walking over to him with her index finger pointed accusingly at his forehead.
Ortega's expression turned crestfallen. "I know you're hiding something," she smirked, feeling smug. "I know your big secret, and I'm going to expose you!"
Ortega took two steps back, his eyebrows shooting up as he pressed his lips into a thin line. Watery black eyes met fierce blue.
Sylvia raised a brow as she observed Ortega's cheeks puff, his glazed eyes crinkling and his chest compressing as he placed a palm on his stomach...
"Pretending you have another seizure attack won't save you this time, Ortega," she spat, her voice dripping with disgust.
His head bowed suddenly as his body began to shake. "Pffffffffffffft!"
"Hey! Something wrong?" As much as she despised Ortega, Sylvia couldn't bear to see him so helpless. She placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to discern what was wrong with him, her medical training kicking in.
"HAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA HAHAHAHA! Oh my goodness, doc!" Ortega looked up at her, causing Sylvia to do a double take. He was laughing really hard, so much so that tears flowed from his eyes.
He wasn't having an episode like she suspected; rather, he had been trying to suppress this uncontrollable outburst of laughter that had now erupted!
Sylvia couldn't believe it.
"What was so funny?" Her eyes questioned as she watched Ortega bend over and slap his knees, still cackling like a hyena at a stand-up comedy show.
"What's so funny?!" she voiced out, irritated.
"Oh, wow!" He exclaimed, flicking a tear with his index finger as he looked at Sylvia, suddenly calm. "Expose me, doc. I dare you." He challenged.
Sylvia shuddered involuntarily, sensing the severe iciness in Ortega's voice. He pocketed his arms, his black eyes piercing as he paced slowly, circling her. If Ortega had heat vision, Sylvia would have turned to roasted barbecue in mere seconds.
"Don't try to act tough. Daring me could cost you." Sylvia felt a chill run down her spine and her palms got sweaty.
"I don't make empty threats," she spoke, her quivering voice betraying her unease. Ortega was seriously creeping her out! He was acting strange. Earlier, he had laughed off her threat like it was nothing and now, this?!
Her heart began to thump, a sneaking suspicion creeping in.
"You wanted to know what's funny, right?" He whispered, eliciting a jolt from Sylvia. Ortega was behind her, his breath hot against her ear. She tried to maximize the distance between them, but firm hands wrapped around her waist, restricting her movement.
Sylvia gasped, there was hardly any space between their bodies as she felt his heat.
"Let me go! Wench!" she hissed, clawing at his hands gripping her waist, but Ortega didn't let go. Instead, he held on, ignoring the pain caused by her fixed nails.
"I received a call this morning," he began, the vibrations in his voice rippling her sensitive nape. Sylvia shuddered, feeling goosebumps crawl on her skin. "From the hospital I was formerly admitted into. About a... security breach."
"W-what? That's impossible! I made sure to cover my tracks." Sylvia couldn't stop her voice from quaking.
Ortega chuckled, a deep intoxicating sound that caused Sylvia to feel lightheaded.
"Did you?"
She gasped, feeling her heart jump to her throat as Ortega suddenly turned her to face him. His onyx eyes were a hypnotizing whirlpool of dark amusement as she struggled to escape his grasp, her manicured hands pushing defiantly against his broad chest despite her low odds of success.
"Did you, really?" Ortega gazed intensely at Sylvia, who found herself willing the door to suddenly burst open. She hated interruptions like that but she needed it now!
"Because I remember the doctor telling me that they managed to trace the IP address of the hacker, linking it to this very clinic."
Her breath hitched as her brows shot up in surprise. She knew Ortega was trying to scare her but she wasn't going to let him have his way.
"Lies! Lies! You lying psycho! Let me go!" Sylvia roared, startling Ortega. Sensing his guard was down, she kneed him in the gonads and freed herself from his grasp, immediately bolting for the door.
"Stop!" Ortega barked as her hand rested on the doorknob. Sylvia didn't listen. She banged vigorously at the clinic door, calling out and twisting the knob at the same time:
"Becky! Open the damn door! He's crazy! Get help! Fucking call security!"
Ortega slowly stood up, hissing in pain as sweat glistened on his forehead. However, he only wore a crooked smile as he watched Sylvia rant.
"She can't hear you, doc," he said, pulling a keychain from his jacket pocket. The slight ringing caught Sylvia's attention, and she slowly turned to face him.
Her expression morphed into helplessness as she slid down the door, slumping to the ground. Tears flowed freely down her face as she gazed blankly at Ortega, who dangled the keys teasingly.
"Something told me this could happen. So I stole the keys from Becky when she wasn't looking." He cocked his head to one side and tossed the keys in the air, catching them and shoving them back into his pocket. "Your nurse was very helpful."
"As for why she can't hear you..." Ortega shrugged. "Well, you know why."
She did. Her dislike for distractions and unnecessary noise while she worked had caused her to soundproof the clinic—a measure she now regretted taking.
"What do you want?" Her voice was coarse and potent with resignation. Sylvia was a far cry from her earlier composed self. Her lab coat was wrinkled and her makeup was ruined by her tears.
"Nuh-uh..." He walked over to her and knelt down on one knee, then tipped her chin up to face him with his index finger. "I haven't finished the story," he said with a predatory smile.
He brought out his phone, showing her a detailed User Behavior Analytic report that indicated unauthorized access to his medical log.
"Over the phone, I told the security personnel I was going to take this to court as evidence for the atrocious act committed against me by a doctor I thought I could trust." He leaned closer, his eyes emotionless as they surveyed Sylvia's reaction. The doctor's lips trembled as more tears spilled, shaking her head and murmuring unintelligible phrases.
"I believe you know the punishment for cybercrimes against a medical patient." He grinned. "I'll educate you. The Health Insurance and Accountability Act states up to ten years in prison if the intent is to sell, transfer or use patient health information for commercial advantage, personal gain, or... malicious harm."
He stood up, making sure his words sank in as he looked down at her. Sylvia lifted her head to face him.
"I'm sorry," she gulped. "I'm sorry, please don't do this. Don't, I—I beg you... please. I'll keep my mouth shut, I'll do whatever you want, just—don't do this to me. Please." She sobbed, her voice hoarse as she bawled incessantly.
She looked vulnerable and weak, like a stranded little lamb.
"Oh, shut up and stand," Ortega said, rolling his eyes.
Sylvia did as told.
"Come closer," he beckoned, opening his arms out to her with a dazzling smile.
When Sylvia hesitated, however, Ortega's tone dropped menacingly, "I don't want to repeat myself." He threatened, still smiling.
Sylvia walked over. Her head rested on his chest as his arms draped over her, enveloping her in an embrace. Sylvia still sobbed.
Her plan was to reach out for the evidence and destroy it, but Ortega was smart enough to catch on to her tricks and had already buried it in one of his many pockets.
Thus, Sylvia could only taste her salty tears as she let it all out. She was a terrible person, stupid enough to get caught committing a terrible act. She held him tighter and squeezed her eyes shut.
If only...
"Sshh... There, there, doc. Don't cry, my pretty lady. I only need one thing from you..." Ortega consoled emotionlessly, stroking the curls of her silky afro-styled hair.
...If only she wasn't so stupid.