Chapter 153 - Valentine's day (8)

Seeing that her mentor is handing her a bouquet of red roses on Valentine's day, JoAnna was uncomfortable. 'Why is he giving me flowers? He is not having some ideas, is he?' He is more than twice her age! Even if JoAnna neglects age difference, she never had any romantic ideas about him. She respects him as a person and as an expert in surgery, but that is where her thoughts about him stop. Also, he is her mentor and who supervises her residency, any romance between them would be very inappropriate. JoAnna shook her head chasing those thoughts away. "I'm flattered, but I don't think it's appropriate for me to accept these."

His smile faded and he frowned, "You don't like them?"

She shrugged, "There is nothing wrong with flowers... they are beautiful."

"Then accept them. A beautiful lady deserves beautiful flowers.", smile came back to his face.

JoAnna had a complex expression. "Hearing you say it like that, makes me even less comfortable to accept them. Thank you for the dinner. I need to go now, my patients are waiting.", she turned around and left his office swiftly, not giving him a chance to respond.

Dr. Light was standing in his office looking at the closed doors without moving. His lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyebrows furrowed.

Dr. Light looked at the roses and icy expression covered his face. He remembered numerous subtle attempts to get JoAnna's attention, and she didn't respond. His instinct told him that she is too young, and not experienced. That is why she didn't notice his advances. After thinking about it, he decided to take more direct approach. But now, instead of ignoring him… she actually rejected him? Him? Did she forget that he is a renown surgeon with numerous women lining up with hope to get their hands on him? He has her career in his hands. Heck, without him she would not have any career! And this little lass dared to reject him? Rage swelled within him as he threw the roses into a trash can on the way back to his desk. He plopped on his chair, took the black stress ball from his desk and squeezed it aggressively for a minute while edge of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. Dr. Light threw the stress ball aimlessly across the office, picked up the phone and called his secretary. "I need you to come and clean up my office... yes, now... no, it can't wait until tomorrow." He stood up, grabbed his coat and rushed out of his office with a dark expression on his face.

...

JoAnna was in the resting room for nurses, with panic showing on her face. 'What did just happen? Was that a romantic advance? How did this happen? Did I lead him on somehow? Did he give off any signals and I missed them? Shit! Shit! This can't be good no matter how I look at it...'

Dr Light is very influential in FMC and overall in the field in surgery. Being just a medical student doing her second year of residency, JoAnna can't afford to offend him. She still has at least three more years of residency, and after that, she plans to make a name for herself in her field of surgery.

JoAnna took few deep breaths to calm her raging mind and analyze situation. As her mentor, he used his connections and influence to give her opportunities that other students don't have. She can't deny that. JoAnna thought that he is doing that as her mentor, because he recognized her potential. And he probably did that as a mentor, at least at first. 'When did he start having ideas about me? From the start? Not possible... I was only 19 years old when we met first time...' JoAnna realized that her hands are shaking. 'Did he accept me as a mentee because of my academic achievements and potential, or because he wanted to get me into his bed? Nothing makes sense anymore.' JoAnna saw him as a father figure, and now all that crashed.

JoAnna is aware that he can crush her chances to make a name for herself as a surgeon. He can use his influence and connections to close off her path to learn and progress. 'What is the point in me being the brilliant one-in-a-million medical student, if no one wants to give me the opportunity to learn and work?' JoAnna shivered and felt cold sweat on her forehead. She checked the time and saw that she is late for her round. She decided to push all this aside and to think about it later, right now she has patients who are waiting for her. JoAnna took few deep breaths and walked toward the area where patient rooms are.

~Tesla University, women's dorm~

Vivian is in the common room with two other girls. They are watching Sleepless in Seattle* on the TV and crying their eyes out. In front of them is the long coffee table filled with chips, soda, popcorn, chocolates and several boxes of paper tissues.

Each of the three girls has few tissues in her hands which she uses to wipe away tears and snot.

Girl1: "Am I ever going to find my Sam**?

Girl2: "At this rate, we will grow old and loveless... buhuhu..."

Girl1: "I still have hope that I will find my love, I'm still young... snif, snif..."

Vivian is weeping with them. She has Gabriel, but she does not have him. 'Am I better or worse than them? It does not matter if I have him, because the fact is that I'm spending Valentine's without him.'

Vivian's phone rang, and it's Gabriel. Her mood instantly improved. She quickly grabbed few more paper tissues from the table and rushed to the corner of the room. She is wiped her nose while taking the call. "Yes?"

Gabriel's deep voice came from the phone, "I wanted to hear your voice."

Vivian was still sniffling, and sound of his voice made her heart ache even more because he is not with her.

Gabriel was distressed, "Are you crying? What happened?"

"Just a silly movie."

"I see.", he chuckled.

Vivian smiled when she heard his light chuckle.

"What are you up to?"

"Watching movies with some girls in dorm... you?"

"I am...", his answer was cut off by a female voice which came from the background: "Gabe, honey... hurry up, we are going to be late... you are on the phone?"

"I need to go.", he hurriedly said before handing up.

Vivian stood in the corner, holding the phone next to her ear, not moving. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks. After some time, her knees went weak and she slowly slid down, ending up sitting on the floor, sobbing.