FAULTLESS EX- HUBBY

INTERVIEW

The next day,

Today's work had been hectic, tiring, and boring. It was my usual day at work (Laughs) Yes! It was so boring lately, but I’d rather have those boring and dull days rather than the ones I had before. I sighed sadly.

It’s 4:30 pm, and I need to get ready for my 6:00 pm appointment with the Medical Director of the biggest Neuro Hospital in Asia. The interview would complete my thesis requirement. My business case was about adapting to the evolving technology landscape of Hospitals. It was the last of my ten interviews. It took me two months to set this appointment before they finally agreed. 

Darn it! They were so high-toned and snobbish! I mumbled to myself irritatedly.

Anyway, I wore a beige wrap around- short-sleeved, knee-length dress to wear for the interview. It was business casual but stylish and classy. Highly appropriate to wear for the kind of person I would be meeting today. He's the Medical Director and in complete control of the facility. 

He wouldn't be able to snob me when I looked presentable enough. I hope!

"Do you plan to seduce the old man Trisha?" (laughs) It was not that! The medical director might be close to his retirement year. How may I seduce an old man who was probably as old as my late father? 

I aimed to appear professional and presentable to have all my requirements accommodated. His insights would support my thesis. I just hope the Medical Director was knowledgeable enough. 

I also dolled up my face a bit and tied my long brown hair at the back of my head. I looked sophisticated and presentable. I never appreciate the way I look since I hardly dress up to work. Wearing casual was a trend anyway.

My finance department job has no direct interaction with clients. There was no need to dress up to impress. I just go to work on my comfortable jeans and tops.  However, on special company occasions, the effort to look good was necessary, but that was rare.

As I looked in the mirror right now... Oh... well, well, well! I was pleased at what I saw.

I am confident I'll impress the "old man" whom I'll meet today. I heard the physician, especially those of his ranks, could be snobbish and hard to deal with. But I'm ready not to be ignored. I need the information I'd gather from him, and since I was only given 30 minutes for the interview...I should gather as much information as I could, not a single minute should be wasted.

I was applying a little mascara to my long dark lashes when the door of the restroom opened suddenly. Soon the figure of Emily barged inside the restroom, and I noticed her swollen scarlet eyes right away. In our four years of friendship, I never saw her this disoriented and sad. 

Who and what upset her? I instantly went to her side.

“Anything wrong, dearest?” My voice rattled a little in sympathy. 

Emily hugged me real tight and cried more. We hugged each other for a long time with only her sobs echoing in the restroom. 

I’m glad I chose to use her private restroom instead of the one used by staff to change my office clothes to the dress I'm wearing for my scheduled interview later. Anyway, this restroom was always offered by Emily to me.

When she calmed down, she uttered, “I am canceling the wedding!” She inhaled and exhaled deeply while she said it. Her eyes were somber. I could almost feel her pain.

“Why, tell me what happened?!” I was surprised by what I heard. Emily and Josh seemed to have a stable relationship. It was only yesterday when everything was alright, now she was canceling the wedding with only two months away? What happened? I almost blamed myself for not joining her last night.

I was freaking out inside, but I maintained my composure while I listened to her.

“The man is a freakin’ womanizer! A horny piece of s**t! I hate him.” She blurted out in anger. She was shaking in anguish.

“What the hell happened?” I was dumbstruck. I wanted to cry with her but I stopped myself since I have a meeting to attend later, I couldn’t  face the director with swollen eyes.

“I saw him last night in the garden kissing a horny flirt just like him. Sucking and leeching each other as if his fiancée was a blind i***t and he will not be caught cheating. I was there Trish, I was there at his freaking party!” Emily’s beautiful face turned extremely red, and tears cascaded from her swollen scarlet eyes.

My heart broke as I feel her pain. I could definitely relate. No one understood the feeling of being betrayed unless they experienced it themselves. It’s so f*****g painful, and your entire body wouldn’t  be able to move an inch at the time you caught your partner fooling around.

“Okay! Calm down...just breathe!” I said I don’t want her to have a nervous breakdown right at this very second. 

I did not see Emily for the whole day. I did not check since she often has appointments with clients outside the office but geez, I never thought she drowned herself from loneliness and sorrow the whole day.

“What idiotic men we have in this world? Does the word fidelity ever exist in men’s vocabulary?” It’s all in my thoughts. I dare not vocalize it. She was drowning in loneliness. I couldn’t put gasoline in a burning piece of wood. Right?

When she calmed down a bit, she looked at me and said, “Oh, you will be late for your appointment! You must go now.” Knowing that my appointment was essential for my thesis. 

The good thing with Emily she always thinks of me and always there to support me, but right now she needs me more.

I smiled at her and said, “Yes! But would you like to come with me? Then after this appointment, let’s go to a bar and have a good time.” I proposed. I was unsure though, if she was up to it. Sometimes people would like to be alone in situations when the heart was severely hurting.

I saw her nod in conformity and said. “Yeah! Let’s do that!” she pulled a half-smile.

Oh well, Emily was tougher than I give her credit for. 

“Yeah, baby, let’s forget those suckers ruining our lifetime happiness. They don’t deserve us!” But I kept it to myself still.

“So, what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” I grabbed her hand and anchored her to the door. There's lots of time later to handle the serious pain of my friend, but for now I’d deal with the old doctor first.

Geez! How can two good people be so miserable because of inconsiderate men in their lives? Later this evening I will have a heart to heart talk with my friend! 

If I was able to pass through that stage before, she could do it too.

We will wipe our worries away with a magical potion called alcohol! Yeah, alcohol will be our new friend tonight.

We arrived at the hospital still earlier than my call time. Thanks to the efficiency of Emily’s driver, we avoided the traffic during rush hour. 

Emily decided to visit the garden of the Hospital instead of accompanying me to the meeting. Anyway, she won't be able to contribute anything according to her.

I couldn’t  blame her since she needed time for herself and the hospital garden was the prettiest I’ve seen and good for people who wanted to escape from worries and anguish. The hospital took pride in having the garden installed inside the facility for the delight of their patients. I praise the brain that had it come to life. Genius! The beauty of the place could help the patient heal faster.

Anyway, I am on my way to the appointment after I left Emily in the garden. I knocked on the office door, and the secretary’s pleasant face and smile greeted me.

“Ms. Gonzalez?” She queried.

“Yes...I have an appointment with the Medical Director.” Gosh! I couldn’t  even remember his name. This thing with Emily messed with my brain.

“Yes, ma’am, he’s expecting you; Please follow me,” she said. and walked towards the direction of the Director's office.

I give her credit for professionalism and pleasantness. Unlike the previous interviews I had with other hospitals, this secretary was a lot more approachable and she's very pretty.

The entire lounge of the Medical Director’s office was classy and modern. What's expected from a real big name in Care Hospitality Industry in entire Asia with branches in various countries? They were the best in their field. 

The secretary anchored me to enter the Medical Director's huge office as she announced my arrival, then she left.

I saw the Director's trousers while he was engaged in a call, but his body and head were hidden from my view by the wooden divider between us. I just saw the grey pants with a white coat by the lower portion of the divider.

I walked towards him and stopped upon attaining a safe distance while I wait for him to approach me. I stood straight with my tablet and recorder in my hands until he finally moved away from the divider and showed himself to me.

I felt my entire body shook and my knees weakened when I saw his face…

With weak knees and in the absence of something that could support and stabilize me, I found myself falling slowly. I closed my eyes, expecting a hard impact on the floor. I readied myself to feel the pain in my butt or my knees, but it did not happen…

Instead, I found myself confined in a firm chest and gentle hands while I smelled a familiar scent that I used to like. No one carried that kind of scent so enchantingly and sensually arousing, but one man I knew so well.

“Trish… what happened?” he gently asked.

Even that voice was too sensual, too damned sexy for anyone’s comfort. For my comfort to be precise.

I decided to open my eyes slowly...until I opened it in full. Staring at the sexiest deep grey eyes I ever encountered in my life. And his face, so manly and so damned perfect to be owned by a plain person and not a royalty.

Right at the very second, I thought I would faint...I thought I lost my mind completely! Insanity?

Until I heard his voice again.” Are you alright?” that district voice quality. 

He then carried me to the sofa as if my weight was equivalent to a stuffed toy. He didn't exert much effort as he scooped me up in his arms. He laid me down on the sofa. His eyes were looking at me intently...either he was concerned about my health condition as a physician or for someone he used to know.

The handsome devil, the gorgeous and attractive creature, looking at me intently and touching me is none other than...My EX...HUSBAND!!!