Just a Simple Love Story - Kimberley Nunes (13 inch ebook reader txt) 📗

I'm a mere Biologist

 

“Good morning, Kaity!” a shrill voice greeted me right after entering the hospital.

I made my way to the reception and smiled widely at the lady sitting across me.

“Good morning, Nala. You’re back from your vacation” I winked before hugging her tightly.

Nala Macera, a stunning blonde receptionist with beautiful deep greenish-blue eyes and a bubbly personality. She was one of the first people I befriended after moving.

“I heard the great news, Kaity!” she squealed. “The Benz family has decided on going through with the implant, right? I’m so happy for you! Your hard work is paying off! And of course I’m happy for Ian, too” she kept rambling on.

“Calm down, Nala” a serious voice reprimanded.

The blonde receptionist rolled her eyes in annoyance at the voice, but as she was facing away from it, I was the only one to see her.

“Oh c’mon, Liz! Let me be happy for my friend here” she hissed.

Well, Liz is rather calm and level-headed. With her dark brown hair and eyes, as well as a labret piercing she isn’t just personality-wise, but appearance-wise the polar opposite to my friend Nala.

“It is fine, Nala” I tried calming her down while smiling at Liz.

The calm receptionist acknowledged me with a curt nod and went back to work. Nala snorted disapprovingly and sat back down.

“Doctor Noakes?”

I turned around at the familiar voice, only to be met by a pair of electrifying blue orbs.

“Good morning, Mr. Benz” I greeted him happily.

“Good morning” he replied.

“Sebastian!” the blonde receptionist behind me called out.

“Nala?” he asked surprised.

But he wasn’t the only one surprised. My eyes darted from the man known to me as my patient’s younger brother, Sebastian Benz to my closest friend here, Nala Macera.

“Oh my God, how long has it been?” she asked squealing out every word.

The otherwise so collected Benz was lost for words. I’m way too nice to people. Seeing him feeling awkward I stepped in by asking something way too obvious: “You know each other?”

Nala beamed her brightest smile at me: “Well, of course! We went to the same high school, right Sebastian?”

“Hn” he answered.

“Anyways, Sebastian. When did you return? I myself returned yesterday night from a three weeks’ vacation…”

I knew she wouldn’t stop questioning the poor guy so easily. But hey, they did visit the same high school and it seems they haven’t seen each other in a long time. That’s my cue to get going.

I smiled at them, turned around and walked towards my office.

Entering the tiny room my good mood fell abruptly upon seeing the stacked papers on my desk. I sighed and closed the door behind me. Guess I should have known from the start that life in such a renowned hospital wouldn’t all be lab research and chatting with way to good looking patient’s brothers. I stopped myself right there. What the heck am I even thinking? I need a coffee. Now.

Stepping onto the teeny tiny lobby adjoining five other offices I made my way over to the cafeteria while fiddling with my pager, trying to pin it to the belt loop of my blue jeans. Before even finishing this plane task my pager went off. It was a message from Gin. I turned right on my heel and headed towards a familiar corridor to room number 1024. Reaching my destination I lightly knocked on the door. Instead of a response it was yanked open by my smiling friend and mentor, Gin Thompson.

“Hi” he greeted grinning widely.

“Hi?” I cautiously replied, sensing something going on.

“Doctor Noakes” a deep and stern voice called out. There was no doubt who it belonged to.

I stepped into the room I had first entered yesterday. I was expecting Sebastian Benz’s beautiful face to gaze upon me and a lifeless Ian Benz lying on the bed, but to my surprise the face I first locked my eyes on did not look familiar. Instead, a beautiful lady stood before me. There was no need for me to ponder about this stranger’s identity. She was as stunning and vibrant as her sons.

“Doctor Noakes?” Sebastian Benz pulled me out of my daze. “This is my mother, Madeleine.”

She smiled brightly and extended her hand towards me. Without any hesitation I shook her hand and couldn’t stop myself from returning her warm smile.

“I’m Kaitlynn Noakes. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Benz.”

“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Doctor Noakes. My son told me you are the one who developed the device to be implanted into Ian’s brain?” she inquired.

I nodded once not knowing how to respond otherwise.

“My, aren’t you a young one, though? And so pretty as well” she added delighted.

I could feel my cheeks heating from the compliment. Fortunately, Gin came to my rescue, as I stood there blushing.

“Isn’t she?” he asked Madeleine Benz, smiling like a proud father.

And here I thought he would come to my rescue.

“Please excuse me, Doctor Noakes” she excused herself. “I need to talk to Doctor Thompson about a few things. It was nice meeting you and I hope we see each other soon.”

“I hope so, too, Mrs. Benz” I smiled.

With this Gin and Madeleine Benz left the room. So now it was just the Benz Brothers and me. My eyes wandered across the room finding the vibrant blue orbs I had initially intended to meet. Had he been standing there the entire time? Sebastian Benz was casually leaning against the window, arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Well” we both started at the same time.

“You go first” he demanded.

“Actually, I only wanted to say that your mom is a real beauty” was all I could blurt out. His sight made me forget what I intended to say.

“Hn” he commented.

“You know, this is actually your cue to speak up.”

“There’s a reason I asked Doctor Thompson to call you here” he started.

I had forgotten all about that. Gosh, what was happening to my calm self? I nodded for him to go on.

“I want you to be there during the implantation.”

This confused me slightly: “I’m not quite sure I understand what you stated right now.”

He stuffed his hands into his jeans’ pockets without shifting his gaze from me.

“I said I want you to be there in the operating room, overlooking the entire transplant” he explained.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Benz. But I think you are mistaken here. I’m not a practicing doctor. I’m a mere biologist with a Doctor title. That means I can’t just enter any –“

“I know that” I was once again interrupted. “I did talk to Doctor Thompson about you. He said he could make an exception in this case as you are the developer of the device.”

I couldn’t believe his words. My eyes felt like they would pop out of their sockets. I had expected to follow the operation either via video broadcast or in the evening on tape.

“Take care of Ian in there” the younger Benz softly pleaded.

This was the second time today morning I was lost for words. I nodded first and then managed to choke out: “I will.”

Tea, Cofee or Something Else?

 

This day was just unbelievable! I couldn’t believe I was actually present as the BNG-29 was implanted into Ian Benz’s brain. The operation proceeded without any complications and the older Benz brother was brought to the intensive care for observation. He would remain there for at least one week. If everything went as per plan he would then be transferred to the ward after awakening from his coma.

It was five thirty now and the offices slowly emptied. After being told to attend the transplant I had returned to my office to get some paperwork done. But as I had expected, I was way too excited to get anything ready. But at least I was able to sort out urgent work onto a new pile, well that’s what I thought. Looking at that pile now it had been an absolute waste of time. It was as huge as the pile before. I was also supposed to prep a few things for a new research, as my colleagues had asked me to. Well, there’s no sense in crying about spilt milk, I guess. But before I start, I better get myself an early dinner and then pull an all-nighter.

After having a light supper and buying two cups of coffee, a bottle of Coke and a few sweets, I locked myself up in my office for the rest of the day and most of the next morning. Finishing the most urgent paperwork I needed to submit by 5pm, I made my way to the laboratory, taking care of the preparations for the new research. It was 4am when I led myself out of the hospital doors greeting some staff. I had barely four and a half hours before I needed to resume back to work.

I entered the hospital feeling rather energetic, although I had only slept for three hours. As usual Nala greeted me. We chatted for a short time and I made my way towards my office holding a cup of coffee in my hand. Today was all about finishing the paperwork and then meeting an old Professor of mine for dinner. I was able to finish quite a lot of work through the morning and early afternoon. Around two I decided it was time for my light lunch and made my way to the canteen.

“Doctor Noakes?” I heard someone call for me.

Recognizing the voice I turned around to look at the man who had enabled me to take part in the operation yesterday.

“Mr. Benz” I greeted him, smiling.

I was slightly taken aback at him eyeing me from head to toe.

“I guess you’re just not wearing your lab coat” he mumbled more to himself.

I chuckled and nodded: “Yeah, I’m not wearing it. Today is, I guess you could call it my office day.”

He arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow. Instead of an explanation I just waved him off.

“I’m having the time of my life cramped in that office” I sarcastically stated. “Where are you heading, anyways?”

“On my way to get some food” he dryly answered.

“Me, too. Want to grab a bight together?”

My heart skipped a beat as his eyes locked with mine. “Yeah.”

We walked down the corridor together getting in line to order something to eat. It felt all so natural sitting there with him, talking about all kind of random stuff, laughing together about really funny stories from his past, learning that Nala was some crazy fan-girl…

Time flew by quickly. Without even realizing, we had spent nearly two hours talking.

Suddenly his mobile started vibrating. He fished it out his pocket and checked the ID, frowning slightly. I questioningly raised an eyebrow while tilting my head to the side. He sighed and explained: “Ian’s wife.”

My eyes widened in surprise. Before I could ask any further, he gestured in dismissal. He told me to hold on for a bit as he had to get the call. In contrary to my expectation he didn’t leave his seat to take the call.

“Yes?” He was irritated.