I had also chosen Miami General because it was far away from Chicago-from Scott. I didn't say all this to Lori, however. I simply downed my second martini and motioned for another. For once, I was thankful that I didn't have a car. I could drink as much as I wanted to tonight.
"And everyone knows that Lex Makarov is a total asshole," Lori continued.
"Lex who?" I asked, barely paying attention as I watched the attractive bartender shake my drink. It had been a long time since I'd been with a man-not since Scott. Maybe I needed to get out more, go on a few dates. Not that I had time at the moment.
"Alexey Makarov," Lori said, breaking me out of my thoughts. "Or Lex, as people refer to him. The guy who was practically interrogating you. He's like that with everyone. He wasn't blaming you or anything. I've seen him be that condescending to doctors twice your age and with double the experience. It might be a Russian thing-the guy isn't afraid of anyone. "
"That guy was a douche," I agreed. "What's his deal anyway? He doesn't seem that much older than us. What does he do?"
"He's not even a doctor," Lori assured me. "He's just some billionaire who owns half of the town … including the hospital. Well, technically, the board of directors owns the hospital. But he's the major shareholder and the CEO."
I choked on my drink and started coughing.
"He owns the hospital?" I asked. "I was just practically accused of malpractice by the CEO of the hospital. Great. He's going to fire me, for sure."
"Relax," Lori told me, sipping her second martini as I began my fourth. "He is not directly involved in hiring or firing interns. We are recruited by the senior staff doctors. They are also the only ones who could let us go, if they so chose."
"Yeah, but I bet he can pressure someone else into doing it," I replied.
"Not going to happen. Just relax. No one was saying it was your fault. Even if they decided that having an inexperienced intern in the room prevented the patient from getting the swiftest care possible, that's not on you. That's on the doctor who approved your presence. Again, you did nothing wrong."
I tried to believe what she was saying. But this really had been the worst month of my life and I was no longer sure what to believe. Not only was I in a brand new environment, without the support of friends and family that had always been there for me in the past, but I was also doubting my ability to be a good doctor for the first time, the one thing I had never doubted before.
"Not my fault," I said out loud, trying to agree with Lori's statement.
The image of steel grey eyes and the judgmental frown of Lex Makarov came to the forefront of my mind. God, that guy had been an asshole. He'd had no right to call me out like that, in front of everyone. M&M conferences were not about placing blame. They were about trying to figure out how to make things run smoother. It appeared as if he'd already known I was a brand new Emergency Room intern. He could have simply stated that he wanted to talk about the inter-departmental use of interns. He didn't have to interrogate me in front of everyone.
"Lex Makarov," I said in a mock voice. "God, that guy was a complete and total ass. And he's not even a doctor. I'm sure he has no idea how a hospital even works."
"Is that so?" came a deep, gravelly voice from behind me.
Startled, I spun on my stool and came face to face with the same harsh grey eyes I'd been thinking about for the last hour. I blinked to make sure I wasn't dreaming as I was currently on my forth martini and things were starting to seem a little hazy. This entire day had been something out of a nightmare, but, unfortunately, I seemed to be awake at present. Lex Makarov really was standing right in front of me and had, apparently, heard every word I'd just said about him.
"And that's my cue to leave," said Lori, reaching into her purse for a twenty-dollar bill to leave on the bar. "Sorry, Michelle, I really need to go pick up Gabby from her father's house."
Lori flashed me an apologetic look over her shoulder before scampering out the door.
"Traitor," I mumbled under my breath, though I didn't actually blame her. I would flee as well, if I could. Unfortunately, my way out was blocked by the imposing form that was, at present, standing a little too close to me for comfort.
Lex didn't respond to Lori's departure. He was still staring at me with those intense grey eyes, obviously waiting for a response. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't think of anything to say. My brain was running slightly behind at the moment, and I was a little too inebriated to lie. And, in truth, I wasn't sorry. Anything I might have to say to Makarov right now would only incriminate me further, so I wisely kept my mouth shut.
"So you think that because I don't have a medical degree, I don't know what I'm talking about?" he prompted, when I didn't reply. I tensed, expecting him to yell, or inform me that he was going to recommend that I be terminated immediately. Instead, to my surprise, he grinned.
The smile completely changed his entire countenance. His pale grey eyes softened and twinkled in the low light of the bar, and his jaw no longer seemed as stern and imposing. Instead, he seemed cocky … almost playful.
I sucked in a shaky breath. That look reminded me of Scott, who'd always seemed to sport an insolent grin on his face. That was one of the things I found most attractive about him, and I couldn't help but feel the same way about the man in front of me now. Especially with that damn sexy accent.
If I was unsure of my unexpected attraction to Makarov earlier, there was absolutely no question of it now. A wave of lust washed over me at the sight of his cheeky bright eyes. I hated myself for it, yet I couldn't help but imagine how it would feel to run my hands through his wavy hair, messing it up as I used it to pull him forward into a dirty kiss.
"If you'll excuse me," I said, realizing that I needed to leave immediately if I didn't want to do something that I'd regret. "I really need to go as well."
Without waiting for a check, I placed two twenties on the bar and pressed past Makarov. My breath hitched at the touch of his chest against my palm as I pushed him back. His pecs definitely felt more toned and muscular that I had been expecting. Hmm, get a hold of yourself, Michelle. This guy is an asshole.
"Goodbye, Dr. Carter," he called after me. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you very soon."
God, I hope not, I thought as I practically ran for the door.
Chapter 5
Either Lex Makarov was omniscient when he ran into me at the bar, or he had already been planning on summoning me to his office, because the next day I was notified that the pompous CEO of the hospital wanted to see me.
Those hadn't been the words Dr. Grimes used to inform me of this, however. She'd simply sauntered up to me the following morning with a grin on her face.
"You really must have impressed yesterday," she said.
"What do you mean?" I somehow doubted what she said was true.
"Do you know who Lex Makarov is?" she asked. A wave of gratitude washed over me at the fact that Dr. Grimes hadn't witnessed my humiliating interrogation at the M&M conference the day before.
"Yeah. He's on the board or something, right?" I asked, trying to play dumb. "He was at the conference yesterday."
"Well, you must have made an impression, because he's asked to meet with you."
"What?" My stomach sank. Despite what Lori had said to reassure me the day before, images of Makarov firing me flashed through my head. I felt queasy.
"He wants to see you. He called down personally to talk to me about it."
"Do you know what he wants?" I tried not to sound as nervous as I felt.
"I'm sure he'll go over that with you," she said with a reassuring smile. "But you should go now."
"In the middle of my shift?" I really was going to be fired. I was sure of it.
"It's slow right now. The meeting probably won't take very long." Dr. Grimes put a reassuring hand on my shoulder, obviously picking up on my anxiety. "And don't worry. It won't be that bad. I know Lex personally. His bark is worse than his bite. He's Russian, you know. The only son and heir of Vladislav Makarov, an oligarch who made his money in oil and heavy metals when the Soviet union fell apart. Lex has homes here and in Moscow-and all over the world, I presume. He's been living in Miami almost full-time since the early 2000's, and has been heavily interested in the hospital industry. He owns several of them along the East coast of Florida."
"Okay," I replied, trying to feign confidence I didn't feel.
"He's on the top floor, room 1258. Hurry up and go while it's slow down here. I have a feeling it's going to be busy later-it's Friday, after all."
I left Dr. Grimes in a daze and wondered towards the elevators. Except for my initial tour of the hospital, I hadn't been to the top floor. I was aware that it was mostly office space. The elevator seemed to creep along, and with every floor I passed, I became more and more nervous.
The threat of losing my internship wasn't the only reason I was on edge. After taking a taxi back to my apartment the evening prior, I had been unable to get the image of his intense gaze and knowing smirk out of my head.
I'd had too much to drink to dampen my desire with reminders that Makarov was a horrible person. Instead, I had stretched out between my sheets, exploring my body with my hands as I thought about the feel of his chest beneath my palm.