4. Gianna

Gianna watched Scarlett storm away with an exasperated huff. So infuriatingly stubborn and self-righteous, that woman. Gianna had thought that maybe they'd managed to clear some air after working so well together, but her admittedly stunning colleague was determined to take everything she said as a personal insult. It was exhausting. The two of them seemed to constantly be at odds, even if they occasionally had their moments. Maybe one day she would manage to get through to the gorgeous, neurotic redhead.

They didn't cross paths again for the rest of the day. The traffic accident left several other patients in dire condition that required immediate treatment, keeping the whole hospital staff scrambling around all afternoon. She performed two surgeries and assisted in another, along with a battery of examinations and tests on some less critical patients. It was hectic, to say the least.

By the time the end of her shift rolled around, she felt completely drained of every last drop of energy. Her whole body was aching and heavy, her limbs dragging as she made her way to the locker room to gather her things so she could finally head home for the day. If there was any place on earth she needed to be right now, it was in her comfortable pajamas on the couch with a soft drink and some mindless reality TV. And then, eventually, snuggled up in bed with her vibrator. After an intense shift like today's, she really needed to unwind.

All the way on the drive home, though, she kept thinking about her altercation with Dr. Miller. The woman just drove her insane.

Admittedly, Scarlett was one of the most attractive women she had ever seen. Tall, slender, with elegant features, perfect posture, and flawless porcelain skin. If she ever let her hair down and stopped frowning, she would look like some kind of Old Hollywood movie star with her aristocratic cheekbones and pouty lips. Everything about Scarlett screamed class and high standards, all proper and respectable, and Gianna couldn't help imagining what it would be like to see her totally wrecked, undone, with the buttons on her collared shirt open and her perfectly groomed hair a mess.

Unfortunately, this breathtaking redhead was also an obnoxious control freak with a serious superiority complex. As Gianna slammed her car door shut, she felt her blood boil once more at the mere thought of those intense hazel eyes glaring down at her. For some reason, she just couldn't let it go. She carried that anger with her all through dinner, which consisted of reheating some leftovers from the previous evening's take-out order. It carried on until she hopped into the shower. She stewed about it while she brushed her teeth and plucked her eyebrows.

When she slid into bed, she was still fuming about it as she opened the WomenConnect app to see if her anonymous pen pal was around. She really needed to vent to someone who would give her a sympathetic ear. DrHeart hadn't been online all weekend, but tonight, there she was, and she responded immediately to her message. Soon enough, they were exchanging messages rapidly, their chat filling up with Gianna's furious ranting.

EmergencyKisses: Ugh, she's just sooo annoying! How is she even real, honestly? She acts like she owns the whole goddamn place, ordering everybody around and acting like she's so much better than everyone for no reason. I don't know why people even tolerate her half the time.

DrHeart: I feel you. I have this coworker who drives me totally up the wall too. We get into this huge fight pretty much every day. It's exhausting. And everyone acts like she's like the greatest thing since sliced bread or something. Like, just because she's hot, does it mean she can act however she wants and not have to worry about consequences?

EmergencyKisses: Exactly! And then she keeps going on and on like I'm inferior or something, and meanwhile, my results speak for themselves. Seriously, it's not like I haven't made my own sacrifices or put in the work. Why can't she just respect that, you know?

DrHeart: OMG, I totally get that. It feels like no matter how hard I try, nothing I do matters. And everyone else just treats her like the queen bee or something, even though she's actually super arrogant and bossy. I can't believe we have to work with these people.

EmergencyKisses: Right? We're good people. We deserve better than this.

It felt good to get the frustration off her chest. Something about DrHeart felt familiar, comforting, like they just understood each other. There was a rapport between them, an instantaneous click the moment they first exchanged messages. The longer they talked, the more she felt herself drawn in by the mystery girl's charm.

EmergencyKisses: Anyway. Sorry for the rant. Thanks for listening. 3

EmergencyKisses: I hope I didn't scare you off on Friday? I was a little bit tipsy haha, sorry if I came on too strong.

The reply came almost immediately. Gianna grinned in satisfaction and stretched out comfortably on her bed.

DrHeart: Not at all ;) It was a fun conversation.

Yes! Victory. With a devious smirk, she wiggled her hips in excitement before settling down once more to keep chatting. Cocoa gave her a judging stare from the foot of the bed, but she ignored him entirely in favor of the tantalizing prospect of more dirty talk with her internet crush. A warm tingle spread across her stomach as she typed her response and hit send, biting her lip as she eagerly awaited the answer.

The banter continued on and off throughout the rest of the evening. This time, DrHeart was a little bolder and more receptive, engaging in the steamier exchanges without freezing up. Since it was a work night, it didn't get quite as heated as it had on Friday night. Nevertheless, by the time they wound down and went to sleep, Gianna was in a much better mood as she drifted off, the memory of their latest conversations lingering in her mind.

The next couple of days were a blur of intense focus, countless medical emergencies and procedures, and very little downtime. Most of the trauma patients from the traffic accident required ongoing care, in addition to new patients arriving every day, and she barely even had time for lunch most days. It had been a while since she had seen so many different cases all at once, and the whole team was pushed to their limits, struggling to stay on top of it all. Still, despite the chaos and the fatigue, it was exciting, in a way, knowing that she was working hard and making a difference.

On Thursday evening, after a rough week of intense work, she was once again lounging on her couch and ready to reach for her laptop to see if DrHeart was on. Before she could, though, her phone buzzed and lit up on the coffee table beside her. Her eyes narrowed at the name displayed on the screen.

Jade. Her ex-girlfriend. They hadn't talked at all since their breakup well over a year ago. It had been a messy and ugly breakup, and it made Gianna all the happier when she was offered the position at Rose Bay a few weeks later. Maybe it was a bit childish to quite literally run away from a bad breakup in your mid-thirties, but she just couldn't deal with staying in that town where everything reminded her of the girl who broke her heart. They'd been together for eight years, most of their adult lives, so it was a difficult, devastating blow. Moving far away for a fresh start had been the best decision she ever made.

Except now, for whatever reason, Jade was calling her. Gianna took a deep breath and ignored it, shaking her head vigorously. No way was she opening up that old, scabbed-over wound again. Just a moment after the missed call appeared onscreen, though, it started up again, buzzing insistently at her.

As little as she wanted to talk to her ex, that made her curious. What if something had happened? Hesitating, she picked up the phone and stared at the screen, indecision swirling in her head. It wasn't in her nature to ignore someone who might need help. Finally, she gave in and pressed to accept.

"Hello?" she asked tentatively.

"Gigi!" came Jade's voice through the receiver, all chirpy and friendly like they hadn't been screaming and hurling insults at one another the last time they spoke. "Hey, babe. How's it going?"

All the warmth faded from Gianna's face, her expression going blank. She gritted her teeth and clenched the phone tightly in her fist, trying to contain the rage and hurt that rose up in her chest. Did Jade think she could just waltz back into her life after all the drama she caused, like they were friends? After what she did? Her nostrils flared, but she did her best to remain calm. She didn't want to let on that she was affected. For now, at least. Breathe in, breathe out. It was fine. Everything was fine.

"Uh, I'm good," she answered, then added in a confused tone, "What's up? Did you need something?"

The woman on the other end of the line had the audacity to laugh like she had no idea why she wouldn't be calling and catching up like there was nothing wrong. Gianna shifted in her seat uncomfortably, resisting the urge to hang up and throw the whole phone out the window. The sound of Jade's laughter was a sharp knife plunging into her chest. After all that time, there was still a whole lot of bitterness and resentment there.

"Nothing special," came Jade's breezy answer. "Just wondering how things are going. Are you still working at that hospital in Rose Bay?"

"Yeah, I am," Gianna replied coolly, "and I have an early shift tomorrow, so unless this is important, I'm going to have to cut it short."

"Always so busy, Doctor Rodriguez," Jade purred in a tone that was entirely too intimate for their current circumstances, then giggled softly. "Nah, I'll let you get to it, Gigi. But I'm gonna be in town for a couple of weeks for a new project, so we should get together and catch up. Dinner and drinks on me, okay?"

Gianna rolled her eyes so far back she could see her own skull. The tabby cat resting in her lap chose that moment to let out a loud, whining meow as he squirmed around to demand more petting. His owner gladly obliged, burying her fingers in the soft fur to distract herself.

"Aww, is that Cocoa?" Jade cooed with delight. "How is my baby doing? Tell him I love him, m'kay?"

"He's just fine," she replied curtly. "Now, as I said, I'm very busy and tired. Have a lovely time in Rose Bay."

She didn't wait for an answer before ending the call. Setting the phone down on the table, she took a moment to calm the tremor in her hands. Deep breaths. Relax. She wasn't angry. It was fine. It had been nearly a year and a half, and she was fully over the situation and their relationship. Sure, finding out that your live-in partner of almost a decade had been taking every available opportunity to cheat on you while away on her various videography trips for weeks at a time was rough, but Gianna was over it. Truly. Things were good. She was on her own with her gorgeous cat, enjoying a casual sex life, and thriving in her professional career.

For about twenty seconds, at least, she felt better about the whole thing. Then the stress and anxiety flooded back in once the adrenaline subsided, and she sat in silence, staring blankly at the TV screen for several minutes. Only when Cocoa meowed indignantly and stuck his fluffy orange face inches from her nose, blinking his blue eyes slowly and purposefully, did she shake herself back to reality and snap out of the stupor.

"I need some sleep," she said out loud to the cat, who responded by poking her cheek with his paw. "Ow, that hurt. Rude."

Cocoa yowled loudly, looking extremely unimpressed as his human scooped him up in her arms and stood up from the couch. With a resigned sigh, he rested his head on his shoulder, curling against her neck in his customary fashion. As she turned off the television and headed down the hallway toward her bedroom, the cat emitted a series of soft, grumbly purrs. Despite the residual anger and grief simmering in the back of her mind, she cracked a weak smile.

What better way to blow off some steam at the end of a hellish week than to go out and get wine-drunk with a group of friends? After one last long day at work, Gianna changed into a stylish outfit fit for dancing and spent over an hour fussing over her appearance, applying thick layers of eyeliner, mascara, and dark matte lipstick. She curled her hair, sprayed it, and gave herself a satisfied nod in the mirror. She might not be able to pass for twenty-five anymore, but she reckoned she still looked damn good.

The bar they chose was an upscale, modern one with twinkling lights strung around the walls. On a typical Friday evening, the place was filled with professionals networking, chatting, drinking, and occasionally having ill-advised hookups in the bathroom. The rooftop terrace boasted panoramic views of the city at night, with dimly lit lamps casting a warm glow that created a cozy atmosphere.

When Gianna arrived at around seven, Bianca and their other friends were already there waiting. As she approached, her younger sister stood up from the outdoor sofa, clad in tight black pants and a low-cut red blouse, and gleefully embraced her with a grin and a giggle.

"How much have you had to drink already?" Gianna teased, releasing her sibling.

Eileen and Avery sat across from each other at the table and grinned as the two sisters walked over. Eileen, tall, thin, and dressed impeccably in a navy-blue dress and heels, raised her glass to toast Gianna, while the much shorter and curvier Avery greeted her with an enthusiastic wave and gestured for her to sit between them.

"We've only had, like, two drinks," Bianca protested playfully, slumping down into the armchair on Eileen's left.

"Two shots of tequila," Avery clarified matter-of-factly.

Avery herself wasn't drinking. The woman was five months pregnant with her first child and worked as a perinatologist, so there would be no shenanigans tonight. While she sipped her mineral water and caught up on work email on her phone, Gianna and the other two clinked glasses of rosé and happily chatted away.

It was a gorgeous, balmy evening, perfect for unwinding and relaxing. The mood was light and friendly, and they passed the time talking about everything from sports to politics to reality TV, getting progressively tipsier and giddier as they joked around. As the night went by, they laughed and danced, singing along to whatever song came on. It was the perfect way to forget all about the stress and drama of the past few days.

Well, at least until about an hour later when she glanced over to see none other than Scarlett Miller sitting quietly at a corner booth with Carla Anderson, the cardiology department head.

Gianna couldn't recall ever seeing Scarlett outside of scrubs and lab coats before, honestly, and the effect was striking. Gone was the unflattering work uniform, and in its place was a white silk blouse and a pair of well-tailored, high-waisted slacks that drew attention to her impossibly long legs. Her fiery hair, usually tied back in a severe bun, now cascaded past her shoulders like molten bronze. Her bright hazel eyes were subtly accented with tastefully done eyeliner and mascara. There was nothing overtly sexual about any part of the ensemble, but it exuded class, elegance, and style. Everything she wore had been tailored to fit her lean frame perfectly and brought out the subtle curves of her body.

Gianna didn't realize that she had been gawking until Bianca sharply elbowed her in the ribs.

"Ow!" she squealed in protest, rubbing at her side and glaring indignantly at the culprit.

"Who's the hottie?" Bianca asked in a conspiratorial whisper, leaning closer with a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"My colleague," Gianna replied vaguely, sneaking another glance in Scarlett's direction before forcibly shifting her attention back to her companions.

"Oh, hold up, is that the infamous Doctor Miller?" Bianca gasped excitedly.

"Who?" interjected Eileen, giggling tipsily as she leaned in for juicy gossip.

"Oh my God, you haven't heard?" Bianca exclaimed. "Gigi's been fuming about her for months. She totally wants to get all up on—"

"Okay, that's enough of that!" Gianna shouted over her, firmly covering her mouth and holding it shut, earning her a muffled, indignant mumble in protest.

Their friends burst out laughing, and Gianna was unable to stop herself from chuckling as well despite her embarrassment. She removed her hand and swatted Bianca's arm with her clutch, pouting grumpily. Meanwhile, her mind kept drifting over to that damned woman, still seated primly at the table with that cold, statuesque expression fixed on her face.

"Wait, what? Is there something going on down in cardiology that I don't know about?" Avery exclaimed, feigning shock and disbelief. "We miss all the best gossip in OB-GYN. What is the story here?"

"No story," Gianna replied with a heavy sigh.

"Oooh, we should ask them over," Bianca suggested eagerly, flashing a wicked grin. "You all know each other, right? Let's order more wine, make some room, and have a group thing. It'll be fun!"

"What? No!" Gianna retorted.

"Yeah, we should," agreed Avery, completely ignoring the objection.

Without waiting for anyone else to offer input on the matter, she waved over at the two doctors and flashed a broad smile. Carla grinned and waved back, and moments later, they were rearranging chairs and tables to create space for the newcomers. Soon enough, Scarlett and Carla were sitting across from the four friends. Scarlett's rigid posture gave off the impression that she wanted to be absolutely anywhere but here.