C1 CHAPTER

LAURA’s POV

"We'll miss you, Dr. Laura," Receptionist Grace said, passing me few documents. I took them from her and offered her a weak smile. I am also going to miss everyone here.

"Call me anytime, Grace, we will be just one call away."

"Okay, Laura. Here you go." She added and placed my transfer letter on the desk.

"All the best for your new journey."

I nodded and automatically, the corner of my lips twitched as I glanced over my name mentioned in the documents.

Sometimes it feels strange to watch my name written without any family name. But I couldn't help it. I don't even know who my family was? Whether they are alive or not? All I know is that someone from my orphanage had told me years back that I had been there since the day I was born.

All my childhood and teenage years had passed in craving for the love of family. I had seen many of my friends back in the orphanage getting adopted. I always felt envious of them because no one ever spared me a single look to thought about adopting me. But now it doesn't matter to me. Being alone for whole my life of twenty-four years, taught me that love is not always about expecting, but it's all about offering.

"Dr. Laura, are you okay? You seemed zoned out."

I laughed nervously at Grace’s word and wrapped my arms around her, reassuring her that I was fine. After bidding my goodbye to everyone, I made my way to the airport.

From today I am going to have a new start of my journey, starting from the place where it all began. After six years, I am returning back to the country where I had grown up.

I still remember the day when I turned eighteen and all ready to leave the orphanage. It was great luck of mine that I got a scholarship for a medical college in abroad. Then after completing my studies, I got an internship as a psychiatrist. And after a few years later, I ended up with the name 'Dr. Laura.'

***

As I reached my destination, I sighed. Everything is going to change. New country, new city, new hospital, new people, new life. Let's just hope that this new journey will bring some new chapters in my life.

"Barbie doll."

A huge smile formed over my cheeks as I heard a very familiar voice.

Tilting my head a little, I arched up my eyebrows in surprise and walked to the person standing in front of me. After adjusting my backpack on the right shoulder and pulling the suitcase along with me.

"Hey," I whispered softly and wrapped my arms around him.

"Welcome back to the Philippines."

"How are you, Mike?" I asked, ignoring the smirk which constantly appeared across his face.

He was definitely planning something.

"Well, since now you are going to be a part of the hospital where I work, then I'd say I'm good." I shook my head at his cheeky tone.

Mike is like my good friend. We both had met a few years back in one of a medical conference and since then, we share the bond of friendship.

He is a well- known surgeon but he can be quite childish.

"Look, doll, in this hot weather also, I came to pick you up from the airport. Now, please don't just stand here like a statue. Come on, let's go. After dropping you off to your new house, I have an important thing to do."

I nodded and quickly sat inside his car.

Biting the corner of my lip, I mentally debated whether I should ask him or not? The question that had been bothering me from so long.

To my periphery, I looked at him, only to find him with a giant smile on his face.

Why does he seem so happy with my arrival?

"Why, Mike?"

"Huh?"

"Why did you wanted me to come here?" I asked hesitantly.

He looked into my eyes then said,

"You'll see."

Okay, so he is not going to give me the real reason.

"Look, Laura, there's something in which I need your help. I can't tell you what exactly, but now you seem to like my only hope."

He sounded calm, but the hint of little seriousness in his tone didn't go unnoticed by me.

"You know, Mike, I am already here so there is no chance that I will return back after knowing the reason. Trust me, you can tell me. I promise I'll try to help you with whatever you need."

He averted his eyes from me and fixed them on the windshield.

"Do you know Daryl Montefalco?"

I had a sudden urge to laugh at his question.

"Come on, who doesn't know him?" I replied and that's when the corner of his mouth broke into his signature smirk.

"Well, he's going to be your next patient."

He announced with a casual shrug. I blinked twice to register his words.

Daryl Montefalco? The billionaire, Daryl Montefalco?

"Relax, okay? He's also a human."

"Do you know him?" I asked him in a surprised tone and he chuckled.

"Yes, Barbie doll. I know him. He is my best friend."

"You never told me about this," I whispered.

"You never asked."

"B-But why me? He can hire any best Psychiatrist then why me?"

How am I going to treat him? He's such a big personality. I had never seen him, but the stories I've heard about him were enough for me to have my heart fill with pure respect. He had worked really hard to build a huge empire in the business world at such a small age. I can imagine the number of the sleepless night he might have spent for achieving all the success. But why does he need a psychiatrist?

"Because you are the best I can ever find for him."

I flushed.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, doll."

"Why does he need a psychiatrist?"

His face became hard at my question and the second later, I regretted asking him that.

"He doesn't, but I need you for him."

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion.

Huh?

He exhaled a deep blow of air and his hold on the steering wheel tightened a bit.

"I will give you his medical files tomorrow."

* * *

DARYL’s POV

"Get the fuck out of my office," I spoke calmly, spinning the paperweight.

"S-Sir...I need this job." He again repeated the same sentence. I blew out a small amount of air and tilted my head in his direction. His face was all restless in fear and sweat. My eyes went over his trembling fingers which tried hard to grip some documents.

"You want this job? Then why the hell you took leave without informing me?" I asked still trying to calm my temper as much as possible but all he did was to bend his head low.

Fuck this shit.

"Leave now."

"Sir, my wife was sick, I-I...."

My lips broke into a faint chuckle. So he gave priority to his wife's health over this job? Well done, you just gave me another reason to remove you from my company.

"Now you have two choices either get the fuck out of here or wait and watch how I make sure that no-one will ever hire you."

His face became paler and without saying any single word, he walked out. I pushed the paperweight and it fell on the floor, shattering into pieces.

"Sir, do you need a little distraction?" Cara, my secretary came, closing the door behind her. She walked to me and stood in between my legs. I raised my eyebrows but she leaned closer and loosen my tie with her perfectly manicured fingers.

Who am I complaining? She's one hell of a distraction. She knows how to satisfy me. Licking her lips, she pulled her top over her head. I smirked and smashed our lips together. She let out a moan when our tongue collided. Lust ignited into every core of my nerve.

"Dude I am warning you if you don't stop all this then one day you're going to end up having STD."

I clenched my teeth as the door flew open and a familiar voice made its way. Cara quickly maintained a breathable distance with me, glaring Mike who looked at her in disgust.

I rolled my eyes and leaned more into the leather chair, pressing my fingers over my forehead. This Mike has the worst timing. Cara put her top back and started walking to the door, throwing daggers at him all along the way.

"Hey, Asshole."

"Oh hey back, STD transmitter."

Once Cara went out, he grabbed a seat across the table and started wiggling his eyebrow.

"Why are you here? Don't you have any work in the hospital?" I asked slightly irritated. He rolled his eyes and leaned forward only to pinch my cheek.

"Mike, I dare you to do something immature like that again and trust me,next you’ll find yourself on the hospital bed."

He sighed and pulled a blank face. I clenched my fists in frustration. What the hell is wrong with me? Why this pathetic mood swing?

"What's wrong?" He asked, his voice lacing concerned.

"Piss off."

"Look Dude, I am your best friend and for God's sake stop behaving like I am your enemy. Why can’t you just tell me?" He yelled in a hollow voice but when I didn't reply anything, he drank the whole glass of water in one go.

"He chose his wife's health over his job," I added blankly and pressed my eyes shut trying to avoid his gaze.

"You were jealous of him, weren't you?" I swallowed the thick amount of lump forming in my throat.

Jealous? Maybe.

After all, that employee had someone to return home for, unlike me who got nothing but this company.

"Out. Now." I simply stated and he scoffed.

"Dude, you love me, don't you?"

"Mike stop acting gay and come to the point. What do you want?" I asked ignoring the weird look he has, with wide eyes and lips being pulled out. Bloody Drama queen.

"I've found a bride for you." I choked on my saliva at his words. What the hell?

"Before you kick me out of your cabin, just hear me out, okay?" He said in a panic and passed me an innocent look. I nodded hesitantly and that's when he smiled from ear to ear.

“Dude, you've promised me that you'll do anything for me. So today I am asking you to marry someone of my choice. Please only for me, agree to this marriage." He explained in one breath and then looked everywhere but me.

"You will destroy her life," I stated.

"She's not an ordinary woman. She has a heart of gold and believes me Dude, one day you'll thank me for arranging your marriage to her." He exclaimed happily.

I had an urge to laugh at his stupidity. I might end up marrying someone of his choice but not even my wife will be able to bring the change in me. Mike is my friend but still, there are many secrets to which he is unaware. If only he knew then definitely he would have never tried to set up my wedding with anyone.

A person like me doesn't deserve all this. I had done terrible things which are hard to forget. That pain, that guilt, that agony was not something to forget. They had trapped my heart.

The woman with the heart of gold will never be able to mend my broken soul.

"Look at yourself Daryl. You're the most eligible bachelor blessed with the perfect look and all the riches. Anyone would die to marry you but still at the age of twenty-seven, you're single. But I am not complaining, I am actually glad that you are single because if anyone deserves to be your wife then it's Laura, only her."

“You're not getting Mike, no one deserves to be the wife of a fucking Nightmare.” I answered him.