5. Strange Caller

Her phone flashed with an unknown number. She would call back later. Cassandra tapped her pen on her desk, waiting for her computer to turn on. Her nurses were sorting out some patient’s files in specific drawers and working on the test results they have recently obtained. 

She cleared her voice, finding herself free enough to engage with them, “I heard you two complaining when you were in the lab. Is there anything wrong?” 

They froze, stopping what they were doing as they slowly looked at her, their face turning white. She could see that they were nervous. Jillian opened her mouth to say something and Emma protectively stepped forward, exclaiming, “Everything is alright, doctor! You don’t have to worry.”

She looked back at her screen, launching her email, “Listen, I know work has been hectic lately. You two are my only assistants and you’ve been overworking yourselves.” 

Jillian laughed sarcastically, leaning against the edge of her desk, “Look who’s saying.” Emma shook her head as she resumed sorting out the files, “We’re fine, Cassandra. We’re doing great!” 

She gazed at them, realizing they weren’t even taking her words seriously. She ordered, “Both of you. Sit down.” 

Jillian casually slipped into one of the seats and Emma reluctantly closed the drawers, taking a place beside her colleague.

The doctor pensively suggested, going through some resumes she received online, “I’ve been thinking of hiring a few more assistants.” 

Emma baffled, “What? Why! We’re handling things!” 

She crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair, “It’s unfair of me to make you work from Monday to Saturday including Sunday morning.” 

Jillian tsked, unconsciously slamming her hand onto the table, getting her point across, “That’s why you pay us a six figure, Cass. We know what we’re dealing with here.” 

She ignored her, “I’ve received formidable applications. You won’t have to come during the weekend and—” Emma pursed her lips, visibly upset as she broke in, “You’d just replace us, huh? I don’t even know why we’re talking about this. We’re enough for you!” 

Cassandra exhaled slowly. She should have known they wouldn’t take this well. She was about to speak again when Jillian stood, “Well, I think we’re done here. I’m going to get the second room ready.” 

Cassandra firmly said, “Your health matters to me. I’ve put you in stressful situations these days and it's not right. I’m hiring a few assistants who’ll work directly under you. You’re both capable enough. You’ll assist me and manage some of the appointments on your own but I don’t want to see you here on weekends and that’s final.” 

Jillian glared at her, “Come on! You’re being plain mean!” She frowned, making it clear, “I have said what I had to. It’s for your own good. Now go on. The next patient will be here soon.” 

Emma harshly pushed her chair back, bursting out of the room and Jillian pouted at the doctor before following her colleague out. The latter slammed the door hard enough to make her flinch.

Cassandra grumbled to herself. Normally two assistants should be more than enough but her workload has only kept increasing and she hated refusing patients. That was a bad habit of hers. Initially, she opened a private office to have more flexible hours for herself but now she was working far more than the standard 40 hour job.

There were fewer private practitioners especially concerning obstetrics and gynecology around the area. Even though the main hospital was only five minutes away, people preferred to consult privately for several reasons. It also didn't help that the hospital was experiencing a severe shortage of staff. No wonder they had been calling her more than usual. She checked her drained coffee mug for the third time. She should get some more or she would die.

Her phone lighted up again with that unknown number again and she irately answered, “Cassandra here.” 

“Are you…the doctor?” 

Only few people had her personal number and they were close friends and relatives. “If you need to book an appointment, you have to call my office. You can access my—” 

“No, I want to meet you. It’s…important. I have things to tell you! I’ve been trying to call you since morning but—” 

“Look. I understand some cases can be very sensitive but I assure you my staff will treat your information in utmost confidentiality.” 

“Listen up, doctor. I don’t need a fucking appointment. I just…I have to talk to you. It’s about him.” 

“About who?” 

“Jason. He is not who you think he is and I’m sorry. I need you to forgive me because I did wrong to you.”

What the hell was that woman rambling about? She couldn’t recognize the voice. She pulled the phone away to check the number again and then asked, “Who did you say you were already?” 

“Please, meet me in an hour at Café Luxe, the one close to the stadium.” 

She maintained her calm, ignoring the loud thumping in her chest, “I have patients and your issue will have to wait.” 

There was a minute of silence before the woman asked her, stammering, “Wh…what time then?” “8 p.m.” “Alright. Thank you.” The call ended abruptly and without wasting any time, she instantly searched up Jason’s number, feeling more anxious as the rings went by. 

He answered on the fourth one, “Sup Cassie?” 

“Jason, are you alright? Where are you?” 

“I’m home, darling. Was taking a nap.” 

“You didn’t go to work?” 

“I…I’m a bit tired. Is everything okay?” 

“…yes.” 

“Weird. You sound stressed. It’s not like you to call out of the blue.” She laughed softly, “I’m just checking on you.” 

He joined in her laugh, deepening his voice, “Are you…somehow, missing me, hun?” 

“Uh-huh. See you tonight.” 

“Love you.” 

She checked that unknown number, jotting it down on a piece of paper. Who could that woman be? She sounded nervous on the phone. It was probably nothing good. She had a bad feeling about that. It was best to just ignore something like that. She would have be mad to want to meet up with her. 

Should she ask her cop friend to run a search on that number and get her a name? She groaned, realizing it would only make the latter worry. She’d better deal with that by herself and that meant, ignoring whoever just called her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Selena absently gazed into her untouched brown coffee. She wanted to drown herself in shame. It was nearly 9 p.m. now. She was tired. It felt so cold. She exhaled slowly, realizing in despair that the doctor would not come. Maybe her sister was right? She recalled her exact words: Break up with Jason…and cut out all contact with him. Let him deal with his shit. There’s no need to inform the other woman. 

And yet, here she was. She didn’t want the guilt to eat her up. She wondered why she even bothered asking her sister for advice when she herself knew, that deep inside, she would do what she thought was right.

What should she even do now? She couldn’t just go back to her apartment. That asshole might come back to look for her. And right now she had nowhere else to go. She was about to push her chair back when she realized someone was standing right before her. 

She shuddered. How long had she been there? When she moved in the light, her eyes meeting hers, she felt intimidated. She wasn't a blonde woman in skimpy doctor clothes like her silly mind imagined. She was so beautiful. Her dark black hair was pulled up in a messy chignon. She was wearing a long black coat, a cream blouse and black pants. It seemed she came directly from work. Was she really a doctor though? “What do you want?” The words she spoke startled her.

Cassandra observed her. This woman looked like a mess. Her blonde hair was completely disheveled. It looked like she barely slept. It was clear that she was cold, dressed in that thin blouse and ripped jeans. 

Her voice trembled as she spoke, “You’re…Mrs. Wagner?” 

“Yes.” 

That single word made her shudder. It hurt more than she thought. She shifted in her seat, tears welling in her eyes. She had hoped that she was wrong. She had no idea where to start now that she was right here. “I…your husband is Jason?” 

Cassandra sighed, starting to really get impatient now, “Yes. Yes he is. What do you want with him?” 

Selena stood now, shivering as the wind blew harshly around them. She swallowed hard, unable to look her in the eyes, “I thought you ought to know that he’s…he’s been cheating.” She feared her reaction right now but the doctor remained incredibly impassive. 

She instead crossed her arms and demanded, “And what makes you think I’d believe you?” 

Selena desperately approached her, “I’m sorry. I’ve been dating him. I didn’t know—” Cassandra moved a step forward, coldly saying as she looked down on her, “Never contact me again.” 

Dismayed, Selena watched as she turned her back to her. Was that how she wanted things to be? She did her best, right? And that should be enough. Yet logic didn’t matter when her heart took over. She clenched her fist, yelling, “He was with me the last two weeks when you thought he was just working as a real estate agent and…and he also came to see me last night.” 

Cassandra didn’t bother to stop as she grabbed the handle of her car door and opened it. This was simply ridiculous. To say she wasted time coming here. Selena ran to her, slamming her door violently, banging it, “Please. I…I have pictures!” 

She dived her hand in her pocket, taking out her phone. Cassandra sighed as the woman swiped through it with trembling hands. “Here! Look!” She showed her the pictures of her and Jason at the beach, at the amusement park, in the cinema.

Cassandra’s hands trembled as she reached out, “This is a joke right?” She swiped through the gallery. Selena averted her eyes, “He never let me post any of it. I didn’t know why at that time.” Her words were barely heard. 

When the doctor again looked at her, she saw the rage and fury in her eyes, “Fucking stay away from me.” “Please you have to listen to me. I had no idea—” “I don’t fucking care. You’ve been fucking him and it’s enough to know what kind of a fucked-up person you are.” 

“I am so sorry. Let me help—” 

Cassandra raised her hand to stop her from speaking, “No. Get the hell out of my face.” She held her shoulder, shoving her out of her way as she slid in her car. Defeated, Selena watched as she sped away the next moment. Her heart was pounding hard in her chest. This was the right thing to do, right? 

That woman deserved to know the truth about that bastard…or should she have not gotten involved like her sister said? This was supposed to make her feel a bit better but right now, she felt worst. She dug her hands in her pocket to call a taxi and realized that her phone was gone with the doctor. She sighed. It didn’t matter. None of it mattered now.

~ ~ ~ ~