A Passionate Love Affair with a Total Stranger Read Online Free PDF Page B

ever-so-slightly malevolent expression. ‘So, Charlotte,’ he said. The only people who called me Charlotte were Granny Helen, when she was being terrifying, and myself, when I needed a pep talk. Dr Nathan Gillies was enjoying this situation immensely.
    ‘So, Nathan. This is a nice surprise,’ I said awkwardly. It was nothing of the sort and he ignored me.
    ‘You’ve fractured your tibia in two places. It’s going to take a long time to heal. But the good news is that the operation was a success and you should be out of here in about a week.’
    I stared at him, stunned. ‘I’ve broken my leg in two places?’
    ‘Yes. You also had a potential fractured skull, which
turned out to be OK. You’ve suffered quite a lot of soft-tissue damage, with various superficial wounds on your arms and legs from the rocks you fell on. Oh, and I suspected you may have fractured your pelvis, too, so I’m sending you for a CT scan shortly.’
    ‘So – and
you
operated on me?’ I asked. He nodded curtly.
    Even worse.
    My mind was racing, trying to figure out the implications of a properly broken leg and maybe even a broken pelvis. Dr Nathan Gillies watched me with malignant amusement, knowing full well what was happening in my head. ‘No, Charlotte, you will not be able to run again this year. Possibly never. No, you cannot go back to work soon. And, no, I do not recommend that you transfer to a private hospital.’
    I had yet to come up with a satisfactory explanation for why I had gone out with Dr Nathan Gillies for so long. Hailey had insisted that it was because of my obsession with men of medicine but I wasn’t convinced. Deep down, I suspected it had more to do with the fact that he was so chronically unavailable, both mentally and physically, he was actually my perfect man. During our relationship I’d got all the nourishment I needed from work, and for four years we had seen each other three times a week (sex on Wednesdays), with my emotional state remaining entirely unaltered.
    But today my emotional state was in grave danger.
Don’t give in to the fucker
, I imagined Hailey hissing in my ear. ‘So … just to clarify, how long until I can get back to work, more or less?’ I asked him.
    He seemed bored. ‘I don’t know. A few weeks. Longer if your pelvis is fractured.’
    I stared dumbly. ‘
Weeks?
But … we’re just launching Simitol! It’s going to change the face of medicine!’
    He interrupted me with an upturned hand. ‘Charley, this is non-negotiable. I’m sure John will be able to find someone else to do your job while you’re recuperating.’ Aware that this was just about the worst thing anyone could say to me, he positively beamed.
    I felt my face crumple. ‘This is the most crucial time in Salutech’s history,’ I whispered. ‘I can’t not be there. I just can’t.’
    Dr Nathan Gillies shook his head. ‘It’s as I said, Charley. And I will be making sure John MacAllister is fully briefed, should you be tempted to return to work earlier than advised.’
    I swallowed hard, my eyes stinging. This was too much. ‘How many weeks. Three? Four?’ I whispered.
    He put my chart back at the end of my bed and shrugged noncommittally. ‘We’ll see.’ He shot a shrewish look in my direction. ‘Speaking of John, what do you think? Interesting news, eh?’
    I felt exhausted. ‘What? Us getting the health secretary behind Simitol?’
    ‘No. John and Susan Faulkner getting engaged,’ he said, watching me intently.
    I stared at him. ‘Susan Faulkner is married,’ I said uncertainly. ‘It’s just a silly little affair.’ I didn’t acknowledge the fact that John had been having this silly little affair for three years.
    Dr Nathan Gillies smiled. ‘Not any more! John called
Fraser Cassidy earlier to tell him the good news. Apparently Susan’s divorce came through yesterday and John proposed to her on the spot. I’m surprised he didn’t mention it.’
    I swallowed, bolts of pain shooting down