He stepped in and nodded to Tosh.“You made good time.”
“Yeah.Here’s your coffee.”Tosh handed him a mug.“We had better discuss this in the kitchen.It’s the only place with enough chairs.”
Etienne frowned.He was good at frowning.
She looked at him.“Etienne, why are you here?I know what you think of me.You made it quite clear.Did your dad make you come here?”
“Yes.He did.”
She sighed, sipping at her coffee.“And you made Tosh come here.”
Tosh got wary.“He called me.”
“Then, I think both of you should beat it.Neither of you needs to be here.”She followed them into her kitchen.They sat on her chairs, and Tosh gestured to the chair between them.
She nodded and focused, holding her breath as she settled on the chair.She felt sweat coursing down her hairline but kept her face composed.
Tosh stared at her and said, “What’s wrong?”
Etienne snorted.“She needs to take her pain meds.”
Dex shrugged.“Didn’t get any.The doctor discharged me without them.I asked about it, and he said it was drug-seeking behaviour.I got the hell out of dodge at that point.”
Etienne stared at her.“When was your last dose?”
“You aren’t a doctor.You are a banker or lawyer or something.”
He smirked.“You don’t know?”
“Why would I know?We don’t interact.”She looked over.“Tosh, your shoes are dyed.Do you want me to put your elastics on?”
“No, I will do that when you are back.”
“So, tomorrow.”
Etienne looked at his phone.“My dad is going to threaten the doc who discharged you.”
“Why is that a thing?”
“Dad is the hospital chief now.Has been for two years.”
“Oh.Right.I didn’t know that.I might have been a little less lippy with him.”
“He wants to know who told you about the finances?”
“Well, at first, it was my insurance portal, and then it was one of the guys from billing.”
“Did you hear that?”
Dr.Aquilar’s voice came through the phone.“Yes, I heard it.It was late, or I would have explained that it was going to be paid for by the company for the lax security that let the attack happen while you were at work.”
“Ah.That would have made a difference.”She shrugged.“I am too used to my father trying to part me from my money.I just distrust guys who are more than twenty years older than me.My well-being is rarely a concern.”She was frank.
Etienne looked at her.“So, it really was your father who did that?”
She grinned.“Wanna see the video?”
She got it up on her phone and set it down so Etienne could see it.“While Vincent tried to get me safe, my dad wanted the family represented at the contract signing.He even brought me a dress and shoes just so I would dress appropriately for once.”
