Chapter Twelve: The Unexpected Hospital Visit
"I'm sorry, I've got another emergency patient again," Ethan texted Sophie, punctuating the message with a crying cat emoji.
"Haha, again? How many times have I been ditched?" Sophie replied, a playful tone masking her disappointment.
Her assistant, flabbergasted, interjected. "Ditching you? Who dares to do that? Well the, how about we go give him a piece of our minds?"
"Sounds good!" Sophie grinned, feeling a mischievous spark ignite.
Moments later, they arrived at the hospital. Sophie strode through the halls, her elegant outfit and poised demeanor drawing glances from everyone around her. She exuded wealth and confidence, unbothered by the attention.
"Can I have Ethan? Dr. Ethan Grant, if I'm not mistaken?" she asked the counter clerk.
"D-Dr. Ethan is in surgery right now… He might finish around 2 a.m," the clerk stammered, glancing nervously at Sophie.
The assistant leaned in, whispering, "Miss, it's 10 p.m. now, and you have a board meeting at 8 tomorrow morning. It's better to go—"
Sophie flashed a warm smile, cutting her off. "It's fine. I'll wait."
Her assistant sighed, exasperated, as they stepped away from the counter. "You can't just sit here! You need to think about your schedule!"
Sophie simply shrugged off the worry, finding a cozy spot in the lobby. "I'll take a quick nap," she said, reclining back in her chair, her confidence unwavering.
As she closed her eyes, her assistant paced nearby, frustration bubbling over. "You can't keep doing this, Miss! You need to prioritize your time!"
But Sophie was already drifting into a light sleep, the chaos of the hospital fading away. Her thoughts lingered on Ethan, the missed connections, and the warmth of their conversations. Whatever the consequences, she was determined to wait for him.
Sophie drifted off, the hustle and bustle of the hospital fading into a gentle lull. Unexpectedly, her assistant also succumbed to fatigue, both of them resting peacefully in the lobby.
Suddenly, a loud commotion jolted Sophie awake. Blinking away the drowsiness, she squinted and caught sight of Ethan animatedly talking to his friend.
"Gosh, how could she sleep here? What to do? I feel like I've dug my own grave, huhu… I don't know what to say if she wakes up," he blurted, his voice tinged with panic.
Before his friend could respond, Sophie sat up and called out, "Ethan? Oh Ethan! Hey, I see that you're done with your surgery!"
Ethan turned, clearly stunned. "Uhh, yeah," he managed, his heart racing.
He couldn't help but smile, though. Despite the chaos of the moment, it was hard for him to feel any anger. Sophie was always like this—bold, unpredictable, and effortlessly charming. She had a way of wrapping him around her little finger, and her stubbornness only added to her allure.
As he watched her, he couldn't shake the feeling of admiration. Here she was, unapologetically herself, while he felt like a coward for not being more spontaneous. It was both infuriating and endearing, a combination that made him smitten with her antics all over again.
"Were you really going to wait for me?" he asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes.
Sophie grinned, stretching her arms above her head. "Of course! I wanted to see you. Plus, what's more fun than surprising you at work?"
Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"Exactly," she replied, her eyes sparkling.
As they exchanged playful banter, Ethan realized that despite the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties around them, moments like this made everything worthwhile.
But that was all to it, as Sophie's assistant woke up, the urgency in her voice pierced through the quiet lobby. "Please go, Sophie, listen to your assistant, we'll meet at a proper time," Ethan had urged earlier, concern lacing his tone.
Sophie felt a pang of disappointment at his words. With that, her replies to Ethan's texts grew dry and distant, her excuses often revolving around her busy work schedule. Each lackluster response weighed heavily on Ethan, making him feel like the light between them was flickering out.
Finally, Ethan decided it was time to take action. One day, he mustered the courage to visit Sophie's company, determined to see her in person.
"Is Miss Sophie Carter in?" he asked the clerk at the front desk.
"I'm sorry, but she's not in her office right now," the clerk replied.
Just then, the door swung open, and Sophie walked in, accompanied by a younger man. Ethan's heart dropped at the sight, an unexpected wave of jealousy crashing over him. The casual ease with which the man interacted with her set his nerves on edge.
"Sophie!" he called out, his voice breaking through the murmurs of the office. He didn't care how it looked; he needed her attention, and he wasn't going to wait.
Sophie turned at the sound of his voice, her eyes widening in surprise. In that moment, she couldn't help but notice how Ethan was pouting, looking like a child caught in a moment of distress. She glanced at her brother, who was equally confused, then back at Ethan. Suddenly, she burst into laughter, the sound bright and infectious.
"Ethan! What are you doing here?" she exclaimed, amusement sparkling in her eyes.
Ethan felt a rush of warmth at her laughter but couldn't shake the jealousy simmering beneath the surface. "I came to see you," he admitted, his tone a mix of frustration and longing. "But it looks like I interrupted something."
Her brother raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. "Is this guy bothering you, Sophie?"
"No, not at all!" Sophie replied, still chuckling. "This is just Ethan, an old friend."
Ethan's heart raced at her words, a mixture of relief and yearning flooding over him. "Yeah, just an old friend," he echoed, trying to sound casual. "But I'd really like to have a proper chat, if you're free?"
Sophie's laughter faded into a warm smile. "Of course! Let me just wrap things up here."
As her brother walked away, Ethan felt a surge of hope. This was his chance to reconnect, to remind Sophie just how special their bond could be, even after all this time apart.