A blast from the past (3)

Carlos was a phantom in every sense of the word. As though he had not had enough fun haunting her dreams, he had decided to slot himself into her life. It was already enough that they had crossed paths on the hallways all day. Couldn't a woman safely pay her best friend a visit anymore?

To be fair, she couldn't blame him. He was Leo's best friend. The man obviously had an excellent taste in women but his choice of friends were a different tale altogether.

"Chérie, do you have a minute? Ashton needs help with his homework." Leo called out to Shera.

"Oh no you don't." Kara glared at Shera before she could move an inch. She knew them all too well.

Alas, Shera merely winked at her. "My son needs me. Have fun." She lowered her voice into a whisper as she leaned closer to Kara. "No one will come downstairs. All the maids are on vacation but if you prefer more privacy, the guest room opposite the movie theatre is the best choice. Condoms are in the bedside table, top drawer."

She slipped away before Kara had the chance to react.

Leo made a dramatic move of grabbing Laia who was playing with a doll on the carpeted floor. "It's time for Laia's nap."

"Shera Qin, I'll kill you!" She yelled in frustration, making the couple laugh.

"Mon amour, Kara wants to kill me." Shera's pout was evident in her voice as they hurried up the stairs and disappeared around the corner.

"I dare her to try." Leo played along with her, then it all went quiet.

She took a deep breath to face the man before her.

"Why do you have to do this?"

"Do what?" His tone was laced with annoyance. "I literally paid my friend a visit, okay? You followed me here."

"I followed you? I'll be damned if I want to stay under the same roof as you for a single second!" She retorted, her hands flying to her hips.

"Yet, guess who is stuck with me for years." He sing-sang.

"Right."

The living room fell into silence, with her pondering how to make him leave and him settling in on the farthest couch from her.

"You know, we don't have to bite each other's heads off every time we meet." He started, pausing when he was met with a fierce glare. "We used to work so well together, Kara."

She stood up with a huff. "Tell Shera I'll give her a call later."

"We were in love! We were so good together. Can't you see?" He yelled after her back.

She paused in her steps, bracing herself before she turned to face him. "What happened back then was a mistake."

"Kara…"

"If you wish for peaceful cooperation, I would like to leave unnecessary matters in the past." She didn't give him any room for negotiation before leaving.

When she finally got into her car, she stared ahead through the windshield as her thoughts kept rushing back to him. Her eyes stung with unshed tears but she was not going to cry for a man who shouldn't have existed in her life.

___

The next morning was uneventful for the most part—until she got into Grand View Hospital. The scene was wilder than the one the day before. There were more female doctors and nurses trying to snuggle up to Carlos, practically sticking onto him like chewing gum.

They had trimmed their uniforms to show off their curves and most of their faces were made up with bold colored lipstick.

"Is this how you spend your time during working hours?" She snapped. The young women scurried away from Carlos and hung their heads in shame as she reprimanded them.

"Who is attending to your patients while you seduce your superior?" She narrowed her eyes on them.

They mumbled their apologies and scattered away like scared bunnies.

"I don't want to see those miscrospic uniforms if I bump into any of you." She huffed when she saw a nurse whose uniform was merely halfway up her thigh. Her head throbbed.

"You!" She glared at Carlos who was watching the scene in amusement. "The hospital is a mess. Are you happy now?"

He had the audacity to tip his head in laughter.

"I didn't do anything. My only crime is being attractive." He ran a hand down his hair in a way that was aimed at getting a rise out of her. It took all her self control to not punch him in the face.

"You look cute when you are jealous." He teased.

She crossed her arms. "Don't be ridiculous. You should be grateful that I'm not flinging you out through the window for all the distraction you are causing."

"Get to work." She ordered.

"Yes ma'am." He winked at her before disappearing into his office. He was making fun of her. She couldn't stand him!

____

It was baffling how fast news travelled. First, it was the doctors and nurses who couldn't keep their eyes off him, then the students at the research center joined the theatrics as soon as he was introduced to them. Not even half a day later, there was an influx of young women specifically asking for Dr. Aubert and a series of disappointed sighs when they learnt that he couldn't tend to their needs.

Kara slapped her forehead in exasperation. Homme fatal.