“Yeah, but she’s being treated. Oh, that reminds me. Gwen and I were talking. We’re thinking of expanding the clinic’s services. To provide more care to patients who are on the bubble financially. It requires more money, naturally, and we’re thinking of taking on a third investor. This person would become the third owner of Brightside.
She paused and looked at me.
I blinked and then pressed my hand to my chest. “You mean me?”
She nodded and shrugged. “Possibly. It’s a lot to ask, I realize, but you’ve talked a lot about wanting to serve those who have trouble affording healthcare. This would be a way to do that in an even greater capacity.”
“I don’t know what to say. I would have to look into it more.”
“Of course,” Dr. Pierce said with a wave of her hand. “I wanted to put the bug in your ear. We’ll circle back in a couple of months with some solid numbers and details.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“I’m off to the hospital to check on a few patients.”
I nodded and watched Dr. Pierce stroll off, feeling honored she even thought to ask me about such a huge opportunity.
I headed up to the front of the office to ask Reese which patient was next. Hopefully, the lobby would be empty, and I could get to work on some charts I needed to complete before I left for the day.
“Hey Reese, how’s it going?” I asked.
She smiled as she turned to face me from the chair she sat in at the front desk. “It’s quieted down,” she said.
I pushed out a breath. “Good.”
“Yeah, I might make it out on time today,” she commented.
I raised my eyebrows. “Got a hot date?” I inquired.
Reese dipped her head, the light brown, bob wig she wore, moved, covering her face, slight. Since I began working at Brightside, Reese changed her hairstyle at least six different times. I like the various looks on her.
She looked back up at me with an embarrassed half smile. “Yeah, right.”
“Why is that such a silly question?” Reese was a pretty woman, in my opinion. She was a few inches shorter than my five-foot-six size and less ample in all the places I was, but she had a cute figure.
Her skin tone was a few shades darker than mine, but there was a glow about her skin that even the best Mac bronzers couldn’t compete with.
She shrugged and peered down. “Men don’t look at me. Not like that, anyway. I’ve made peace with it.” She stood. “Anyway, I volunteer most evenings either for Meals on Wheels or at a nursing home not too far from here.”
“That’s kind of you,” I told her while I plucked one of the patient files from the filing cabinet.
“Truthfully, I feel more comfortable around seniors than people my age. Anyway, tonight’s a special occasion, and I’d like to get to the nursing home on time. To help set up.”
I turned from the filing cabinet to ask her what the special occasion was, but my heart plummeted at the man who’d just walked into the clinic.
Vincent Reyes locked eyes with me as soon as he approached the front desk.
“Can I help you?” Reese asked.
His lips spread into an evil-looking grin. “I think Ms. Greyson knows why I’m here,” he said, not breaking eye contact with me.
“Is he a patient of yours?” Reese asked.
I swallowed down the fear that rose in my throat.
“Are you here for a follow-up?” she continued before she reached for a stack of files.
“I’ll take it from here, Reese.” My voice shook a little, but I hoped she hadn’t heard it. “R-right this way.”
