Page 31 of Hades

He frowns. “I think you are misunderstanding. It is a requirement that you go with me. Part of your employment here.”

“Sir, I know my employment contract. While it does state that I am required to attend trainings and conferences that the hospital deems necessary, it also states that all of these are required to be submitted to me formally in writing with a fifteen-day notice so that I can arrange my life around them. Especially since it is not during an already scheduled shift, which means it is on my personal time.”

His face turns red. “Fine, I was asking you as my date. I would like you to go out with me, Evelyn. Say yes.”

My eyes widen at his brazen request.

“I’m not interested in dating you, Dr. Pembrooke. You are my boss, and I prefer to keep our relationship purely professional. My apologies if this does not align with what you wish. If it makes you uncomfortable, we can speak with human resources about assigning me a different superior to report to.”

There is a vein in his forehead throbbing. He thought he would get his way, and he’s not.

“I don’t understand your reluctance to date me. I am rich, handsome, and a doctor, for Christ’s sake. What is so wrong with me?” he spits out, anger clear in his tone.

For the first time since I’ve met him, I’m slightly afraid of what he might do. I didn’t truly realize how creepy he had become.

“Is there a problem, Dr. Kingston?”

The way my body relaxes as the sound of his voice should embarrass me, but it doesn’t. Nor do I feel guilty about the way I lean into Hades as he puts his hand on my lower back.

Dr. Pembrooke glances at him before looking back to me, pure hatred in his eyes.

“I see. You’d rather slum it with biker scum than date someone reputable. I believe your boyfriend has spent too much time here. I’ll see to it that he is trespassed and can no longer come on hospital property.”

Dr. Pembrooke doesn’t wait another moment before he turns, attempting to go back through the doors to the back.

I try to withhold a smile when the locked doors don’t budge.

“Buzz me in, dammit. Fucking useless,” he snaps at the triage nurse.

Once the door buzzes, he pushes through, leaving us behind.

“You shouldn’t have interrupted. He’s going to make it hard for you to stay here now,” I warn him.

“I didn’t like how he was looking at you. Besides, I’m only a concerned family member of a patient. I came to ask you a question about my dear Nana, and he became enraged.” His delivery is uncanny.

I can’t even tell he is lying. I doubt security will either.

“How long are you going to use that as an excuse? I mean, are you even going to see her to keep your cover?”

He snorts. “Of course. I’m not an amateur.”

I frown, looking down. “You’d leave me alone?”

I don’t like how it makes me feel, thinking about him leaving me unguarded. I might not have wanted him here, but I have to admit that I have felt safer.

“You think for one second I left you unattended? Come on, Princess. You’re smarter than that.”

I cross my arms. “Then who watches me?”

“Travis. I text him when I go up and then when I get back.”

I think back to the past several weeks to the times Travis has shown up and tagged along even when he didn’t have to.

“That rat bastard,” I hiss.

“Be mad at him later. Don’t worry about Pembrooke. I’ll handle it. Is there anything else?”

I almost forgot about the reason I came out here in the first place.