My Hometown Love

Chapter 23 – What’s Done is Done

Lexie’s P.O.V

 Lexie: “Hello Ms. Lee? This is Lexie Cooper. I have made my decision.”

Ms. Lee: “Hi Ms. Cooper. What have you decided?”

Lexie: “After pondering deeply, I have decided to accept the company’s apology and compensation. I may not fully agree with what the company has done but I do care for my friends and family. Therefore, I do not wish to further stretch this matter and would like to close this chapter in my life forever.”

Ms. Lee: “Wise choice Lexie. Actually, I just received a memo from the head office, they just had another discussion with the board and decided to change the compensation plan since they received complaints from their PR department. So now, each of you will be getting the $5,000 but in addition to that, you will be receiving an additional amount loosely based on your salary for the months remaining in your contract.”

Lexie: “Oh wow, that’s great. I have to admit that is much fairer and much better than the previous offer.”

Ms. Lee: “I just want to say that I understand your predicament and wish you all the best. Please email me your current residential address so that I can send you the official letter. As for your compensation, you will be receiving it directly into your bank account, similar to how your salary was given. You should be receiving both the letter and compensation within 2 weeks. However, before that, we need you to sign the agreement.”

Lexie: “I understand. I will email you my address. As for the agreement, how can I sign it? I don’t think I will be able to come to New York just for that. I hope there is an alternative.”

Ms. Lee: “Definitely. I comprehend your situation. I will email you a copy of the agreement, please go through it and sign it. After doing so, please scan a copy and email it to me before sending me the original hard-copy by mail. Is that clear, Ms. Cooper?”

Lexie: “Yes, of course, Ms. Lee. Thank you for your help. I will make sure to do it as soon as possible.”

Ms. Lee: “My pleasure Lexie. I will send it immediately. I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors. Take care and goodbye.”

Lexie: “Goodbye Ms. Lee.”

I hang up the phone with a sigh of relief. I convinced myself that I did the right thing, for me and everyone. I quickly typed out a text to my Fantastic Four group, updating them of my decision. Smiling at their supportive responses, I turned off my phone to go spend time with my family.

**************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I paced up and down in the residents’ lounge. I had just finished my night shift but I couldn’t be bothered to get changed or go home. Once in a while, I would check my phone to see if there was a message from Lexie.

I have to admit, I was terrified. I was afraid that Lexie was going to decide to go back to New York to sue the company. I mean, I was scared that she was going to get into a lot of trouble but part of me just didn’t want to let her go.

I bit my fingernails as I looked at my phone again. I even restarted the phone in case there was a problem with my network. I checked the Wi-Fi again. Still nothing.

The ego side in me didn’t want to call her and ask. I didn’t want to seem desperate and needy, curious as to what she decided. It was stupid but still true.

I was so deep in thought that I didn’t realize when my colleagues, who were working the morning shift, entered the lounge.

“Yo, Kev-o! You’re still here? And why do you look like that?”, Mike asked as he shoved his bag into the locker.

“Oh yeah. I was just about to leave. Just wanted to get something done first.”, I answered as I shoved my phone into my pocket.

“Okayyy? Are you sure you’re okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”, Lucy added as she put on her white coat.

“I’m fine. You know what, I’m going. Or else you guys are going to keep on drilling me.”, I said, giving them a smirk as I pulled out my bag from my locker.

I put my phone on the bench as I sat down to change my shoes.

DING!

I was in the middle of putting on my sneakers when my message alert rang. Before I could reach down to grab my phone, I saw a hand reach down next to me and pick it up.

“Oooh…It’s a message from Lexie.”, Tom said as he waved the phone in my face.

“No wonder Kevin is so tensed. He was waiting for her reply.”, Mike said slyly as he put his stethoscope around his neck.

“Give it here. Aren’t you guys going be late for rounds?”, I said as I snatched my phone back from Tom’s bony fingers.

I quickly opened the text from Lexie that read:

‘Hey, Kevin. We need to talk. I just went to your house and you weren’t there. Are you working?’

My thumbs were a blur as I quickly typed back a reply.

‘Oh hey, Lexie. I just finished my shift. I’m still at the hospital.’

As soon as I press send, I swiftly changed my clothes and closed my locker.

DING!

My phone chimed again, alerting me of a new message. But before I could check my phone, my chief resident walked into the lounge.

“Okay people, hurry up. We have patients waiting and no doctors. Let’s go.”, Dr. Jensen said as he started shooing people out the door with his Flipboard.

“Oh, Dr. Walker? There’s a pretty girl downstairs in the lobby asking for you. Better not keep her waiting.”, he added with a wink just as he was stepping out the door.

My colleagues turned to look at me surprisingly just before they too disappeared out the door. Confused, I pick my phone to check my message.

‘Guessed as much. I’m in the lobby.’ 

Laughing to myself, I took one last look at the mirror to check how I looked before controlling myself from running to the lobby.

*************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I shoved my phone into my back pocket as I looked around the hospital lobby. I decided to pop by and visit Kevin since he was kind enough to help get my perspective right yesterday. I felt that he deserved to know, and so here I was.

The corner of my eye caught the sight of Kevin from a distance as he strode towards me from the elevator. He had a huge smile on his face but his eyes had dark bags under them. I felt guilty for robbing most of his time when he could be sleeping and resting for his shift.

I gave him a small wave and smile before I found myself moving my hand through my hair or smoothening my blouse to make sure I looked okay.

“Hi! You must be the famous Lexie.”, I heard a strange voice behind me say.

I turned around to see 3 strangers standing in their white coats with charts in their hands standing in front of me, staring at me intently.

“Um... yeah? I’m Lexie. I’m sorry, how do you know my name?”, I asked curiously yet slightly petrified.  

“We have heard so much about you. It’s great to finally see you in person.”, said the lady doctor whose coat read the name, Dr. Lucy Wong.

“Wait, how have you heard about me?”, I continued asking as I had gotten no answers.

“Ahem.”, I heard behind me.

I turned around to see Kevin glaring. Not at me, but to those behind me.

“Weren’t you guys just leaving?”, he asked signaling them to scram with his squinted eyes.

“Fine. It was nice seeing you Lexie!”, the other male doctor said as he took off up the stairs.

“I’m so sorry about that. Those were my wonderful yet annoying colleagues. We have known each other since our intern year.”, Kevin said as he looked at me apologetically.  

“Oh, so that’s where they have heard about me from. Wait! You talk about me?”, I asked curiously to know why would Kevin talk about me to his friends.

“Oh. Yeah. Just about the wedding. Ok, shall we go?”, Kevin replied rather hassled, as though he was trying to change the topic.

I eyed him suspiciously as I followed him out of the hospital. I adjusted my eyes to the sunlight as I watch people entering and exiting the hospital.

“So, where’d you wanna go?”, Kevin asked as he fished out a pair of sunglasses out of his bag and put them on.

I found myself swooning ever so slightly as he gazed into the distance. He looked so handsome in those sunglasses. Like Tom Cruise in the mission impossible movies.

“Lexie? You okay?”, Kevin’s voice snapped me out of my daze.

“What? Sorry, I was thinking about something. What were you saying?”, I replied as I tried to hide my flushed face.

“I asked where’d you wanna go and talk.”, Kevin replied.

“Oh, anywhere quiet is fine. Like a café or something. But I also need to print and scan something, so do you know a place I can do both?”, I ask professionally.

“As a matter of fact, I do. There’s a library just on the edge of town with a small café attached to it. I think you can do both there.”, Kevin replied after pondering a little while.

“Okay great. Let’s go then.”, I reply enthusiastically.

“Did you drive here?”, Kevin asked as we walk towards the parking lot.

“No. My parents dropped me off earlier. I was thinking maybe we could go in your car?”, I replied as I watch Kevin put on his black leather jacket.

I tried my best to remain upright as my weak knees shook below me at the sight of him.

“Oh. About that.”, Kevin said as he turned to face me, clearly trying to say something.

“Oh sorry. I should have asked first. I shouldn't have pressured you to give me a ride. I am so sorry about that.”, I start blabbering, thinking of how stupid I must look for demanding a ride.

“Oh no no. I don’t mind giving you a ride at all. Is just that-”, Kevin starts saying before trailing off and moving out of the way to reveal what was behind him.

It was then I saw what behind him was not his usual Nissan Outback car but instead, it was Betty. The motorcycle Betty!

I stood there in shock as I stared at the bike, wondering what I had just signed up for.

“So, you ready?”, Kevin said smirking as he got on the bike and offered me his hand to get on behind him.

Oh god, what on earth did I get myself into!