Chapter One

Dr. Modupe Bankole Williams always had her life under control every moment.  She hated last minute plans,  or people who arrived late to appointments, or even sudden rainfall in summer....  Well you get the gist.  She never liked when things don't go according to her  plans which you can assume, makes her a darling to her patients but a nightmare for the nurses under her.

Even her colleagues tend to walk on egg shells around her. 

She never minded though, She graduated Magna cum laude from Brown University Medical School  and was now an ambitious attending doctor. All twenty-eight years of her life, she had always been the minority as a colored woman but Modupe never believed in playing the victim.

"Never give up, never surrender" was her motto since she was a teenaged high-schooler. And even though it helped her become the Doctor she was now, it also meant she never allowed herself to be weak or overwhelmed which were useless emotions as far as Modupe was concerned.

It also meant she hated surprises, 

Like the one her mentor sprung on her this morning. 

Dr Miley Evans her head of department and mentor since residency had called her to her office that morning to ask her for a favor. 

The forty-something year old woman was sitted behind her table, her regular cup of mint tea in one hand and her spectacles balanced delicately on her straight nose. Her eyes were warm and kind as always,

Modupe had always thought that the woman's disposition better suited a nurse than a doctor. 

"Dr Mo Williams" She called once she saw Modupe standing at her opened door, poised to knock. "Please come right in and have a seat. Have you had your cup of coffee today?" 

Modupe grinned taking a seat "It's 9:25." She replied. Her cup of coffee had to be delivered ten minutes to nine and gone by nine prompt. 

The older woman just calmly took a sip of her tea used to her ward's abrupt and vague answers. 

" You asked to see me. " Modupe prompted when the other doctor just watched her while calmly sipping her tea. She didn't liked being stared at neither did she like wasting time. 

" I did. " Dr Evans took another sip of her beverage and carefully placed the cup on her table before finally facing Modupe. " I'm organizing a team of rookie doctors and nurses to go on a free medical services trip. All expenses payed by Hope-Vision, I think you've heard of them? " She asked 

Modupe rolled her eyes secretly. The woman was always talking about her charity work hoping to convert the younger into being a saint like she was. " Isn't that the Charity Organization you work for? " 

Dr. Evans gave her signature kind smile glad that Modupe had been listening " Yeah. They are organizing this event to provide free medical services to places they are needed the most. Since the hospital is one of their sponsors,  they've decided to make the final year residency exam an on-field evaluation this year. "

Modupe connected the dots in her head. That meant the resident doctors had to participate in this to complete their residency. Well, too bad for them. She would not like to be in their shoes right now, carted off to some country side or under populated town to work under pressure of a supervisor, using minimal and probably outdated equipments and working around the clock to pass. They'd probably end up treating more farm animals than people. She had to stifle a snort at that thought. 

" Okay... " Modupe drawled out. " So,  what has that got to do with me? "

" I have chosen you as one of the doctors in charge of the units. You will go with them as a supervisor and guide. "

Modupe watched her supervisor in silence for a few seconds hoping she'd call off the joke. She had always made it abundantly clear to her that she had no interest whatsoever in Charity work. She simply had no time for it.

" You are pulling my legs,  right? " Mo asked with a grimace on her face at her supervisor's weird sense of humour and the fact that she had wasted half an hour of her time on frivolities.

Dr. Evans shook her head at her. " No,  I am not. "

" I'm not interested. "  She said simply and got up showing that there was no way she was changing her mind about it. 

" This will help your career greatly Miss Williams, " Miley said in her stern voice. 

That caught Mo's attention and brought her to a stop before she could stride out of the door.

" It would earn you points as a doctor, and prove your leadership skills. I know you want to climb up the ladder, Mo. I know an ambitious woman when I see one. And though you won't get payed for this,  I assure you the higher ups are watching. Pull this off and you just might be one of the youngest Head of departments in this hospital." She leaned forward as though she wanted to share a juicy secret " I'm fifty-five retiring at sixty. " She said with a conspiracy wink and then leaned back in her sit cup of tea in her hand. " You're a smart girl, Mo. You know what you want and how to get it. It's just for a month at most. " 

Modupe stood at the door glaring holes at the old smiling Doctor. The woman may look like an angel but to Mo, she might as well have grown horns on her head and a long fork tail between her butt cheeks. The Head of department was absolutely right but that didn't mean Mo had to like it. Why was she chosen anyways? Miley knew she wouldn't want any part of this. 

Giving up on the silent staring contest, she pinched the bridge of her nose hoping she was not about to regret her decision. " I'll think about it. Where will the event take place?" 

Dr. Miley Evans gave her a dazzling smile " Oh you'll love it," She paused for dramatic effects " Nigeria. " 

" Oh, Hell No.

"Reservation under Bankole Williams? " Modupe asked the waitress that met her as she walked into the restaurant her father and his wife asked her to meet for their monthly family dinner that they were forever inviting her to. 

" This way ma'am. " 

Mo sighed to herself when the table came into view. Her dad and his wife Claire sat across the table from each other but held hands over the table and seemed to be having an intimate conversation as though the rest of the world did not exist. She really didn't want to be here. After the tiring day she had, she was physically and emotionally  exhausted and there was nothing she wanted more than to relax in her bathtub and try that fruity bath bomb she just bought, maybe even have a glass of sparkling wine while she was at it. She definitely didn't want to be thrown in the midst of their annoying honeymoon theatrics, faking a smile all night and pretending she liked Claire for her father's sake. 

" Good evening." Mo greeted as she took a seat beside her father. 

It was almost funny the way they both started like a couple of teenagers before pulling back awkwardly. Claire was quick to cover her embarrassment with a polite smile. "  Modupe. I'm so glad you could join us. " She said a little too loudly for Modupe's eardrums. 

" Call me Mo." She corrected not returning the smile, she had told the woman several times that she could not correctly pronounce her full name but the woman was adamant.

" Modupe, We thought you wouldn't make it again today. " Her father said with a smile happy that she had even bothered to show up. 

Modupe shifted guiltily in her seat avoiding her father's gaze. Ever since her father got married to  Claire, she had begun to avoid him and they had begun to drift apart. " I'm starving, please. Let's order." 

There was a very awkward silence as they ordered and waited for their food. 

"So... Modupe, how have you been doing?" Claire said as a conversation starter when their food was served. 

Modupe glared at her stepmother for using her name and then proceeded to continue eating as though she didn't hear her question.

Claire exchange glances with her husband and then sighed at her step daughter being unnecessarily difficult. The lady had refused to like her no matter how much she tried, she just hated her for just existing.

"Mo, " she corrected herself "how are you doing? "

"I'm okay. " Modupe answered only because she knew her father would get mad if she ignored his wife again after she asked twice and oh-so nicely and she was not in the mood to listen to his lectures. She should have just gone straight home, if she wasn't so hungry and exhausted, she would simply excuse herself and go home. She hated when Claire pretended to give a shit about her. For fuck sakes, couldn't the woman take a hint? 

"You look exhausted." 

"I know." She nearly snapped back at the pestering older  woman. 

Claire looked to her husband for help. Modupe watched them exchanged pregnant glances from the corner of her eyes. They always seemed to communicate with their eyes. Too bad she wasn't moved by shenanigans like these. She could never forgive them and especially Claire. They both turned back to face her seeming to have come to a silent agreement. Her father cleared his throat to say something.

"I might be traveling back to Nigeria." Modupe blurted out before he had a chance to say anything. 

After considering her boss' proposal, she weighed the pros and cons and realized that she really couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Her career was the most important thing to her and she really had no ties to hold her here. Making that decision was what brought her to the dinner tonight, to tell her father in person that she was leaving the country. The shocked expression on their faces was an extra pro though. 

" Modupe, what do you mean you are leaving for Nigeria. What is this about?" Her father looked alarmed. 

"Is this because I....."

Modupe cut her stepmother off. "Don't delude yourself, my life doesn't revolve around the both of you. I'm going for my career. I'll be back in a month's time. "

Claire grabbed her husband clenched fist. She stroked it lightly trying to calm him down. For some reason, Modupe liked to throw taunts at that everytime they met.  She had learned to deal with it, Michael hadn't. 

"Would you stop by at your mom's?"

"No." She said simply. 

Mr Bankole Williams took a deep breath breath before responding. "Fine. Safe journey."

"Mo, Mo,  wait up."

Modupe rolled her eyes recognising the male voice calling after her. The most annoying human in the universe, first a course mate at Brown and now a colleague at work. Will Moore. 

 

She paused and let him catch to her. "Good morning, Mo." He said throwing an arm on her shoulders casually. 

"Doctor Moore, we are not on a first name basis. " She said stepping out of his embrace. 

Will Moore pouted giving her a dissapointed look. "Come on, we've known each other for so long."

Modupe stared at him blankly. She didn't know if he was trying to look attractive, was this look supposed to change her mind about the strict professional relationship  between them. He only looked childish to her.Never mind that Will was a good looking ball of smarts, which he used to his advantage all the time. His unending flirting always annoyed her. 

Will cleared his throat awkwardly since she didn't say anything more. "Uh, uhm... Happy birthday to you." 

"How did you know it's my birthday?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest.

"I saw it on f******k." He grinned.

Oh, she forgot he followed her on f******k after he dared her drunk self to accept his request in a stupid game of truth and dare.

She had swore to never play the dang game ever again or drink in his presence. She made a mental note to delete him from her timeline. The one year was up. 

"Stalker." She muttered and walked past him,  leaving him standing.