The Infamous Ellen James(28)

Could you die from embarrassment?

I hastily changed the slides and turned back to face my audience, who were currently in various states of emotions.

Shock.

Amusement.

Awkwardly gawking at me.

Holding back laughter.

"Just wanted to make sure you were all awake." I cleared my throat and then gave a small, nervous laugh.

"Well, sweetheart, you definitely have my attention," an older, heavyset gentleman said from the back of the room. This thankfully broke the awkward silence; I could hear several loud chuckles fill the room.

I somehow managed to continue on with my presentation and gave the rest of my planned speech without the assistance of the slides. I refused to unknowingly show another inappropriate picture. I'd already managed to make a big enough ass out of myself as it was; no need to add more fuel to the fire. After finishing the presentation, I hurriedly rushed through saying goodbyes and thank-yous. I gave the excuse that I had a flight to catch. I was just too embarrassed to be in the room with those people for any longer.

I practically sprinted to my hotel room and locked myself in.

I called Amy and left her a very detailed voicemail letting her know the kind of damage she'd just done with that little stunt. I didn't hold back and essentially called her every name in the book while simultaneously threatening to email the entire hospital pictures of her from the work Christmas party last year.

I started to organize the business cards that had been handed to me before I'd speedily left the conference room and notice that at least five of the cards had personal cell numbers telling me to call them.

One in particular stated, "I'd love a personal wakeup call from you."

You have got to be kidding me.

You'd think a room full of hospital officials and prestigious surgeons would have had the decency to act professional, but you show them one picture of yourself scantily clad with a twelve-inch rubber cock and they might as well have jerked one out during my presentation.

Lesson learned. When Amy emails you back and instructs you to review the slides one last time, you review the fucking slides.

Better yet, never let Amy touch any slides for any type of presentation ever again.





Chapter Fourteen



“Just remember when you let someone frequent your back door—that back door will start to show the effects of overuse. Then, one day, you might find yourself in the hospital pushing a baby out while a whole staff of 'medical professionals' are looking at you, unable to take their eyes off of your gaping, worn-out back door. Overuse can change that thing from a bank vault to a saloon door in no time.”



I'm currently on my third twelve-hour shift in a row and finding it hard to act remotely happy towards my patients. How many assholes are going to stroll into my ER with complaints of sore throats? Does anyone have a primary care physician these days? This shit gets old and I'm wishing someone would walk in with an actual emergency.

Where are the shootings and car accidents when you need them?

Yes, I'm well aware that I'm being an asshole right now.

I know this might come off cold and callus, but I'm slightly jaded these days. Sometimes I wonder if a new job is in order. I haven't seen Trent since our night out at Murphy's Pub, but we've been chatting on the phone and texting a lot. Our schedules just haven't really matched up over the past week since he's had to take over office hours and maintain his on-call surgery schedule. I'm getting kind of angry at myself for falling for a guy so fast. My heart is telling me to jump in feet first, but my brain is telling me to slow my roll and protect myself from getting hurt again.

One of these days, I hope my brain and heart can come to some type of agreement.

Another thing that makes me scared to start dating him is that Trent is only in Charlotte because he is temporarily overseeing Dr. Grey's practice while he is on a medical leave of absence. Dr. Grey was injured several months ago in a car accident. He was hit head-on by a drunk driver and somehow managed to survive. The pictures of the accident itself are completely terrifying, and he is damn lucky to be alive. He sustained several injuries that have required extensive surgery and daily physical therapy sessions, but thankfully Dr. Grey is on the mend. Last I heard, Dr. Grey was doing really well and hopes to get back to his practice in a few months.

This means that Trent Hamilton isn't a permanent fixture in Charlotte.

He is temporary.

Trent is originally from Seattle, and his current plans, that I know of, include moving back there once Dr. Grey is fully healed. So you can see why I'm extremely hesitant to start something serious with him. The heart wants what the heart wants, and I know deep down that my heart wants Trent Hamilton. I'm still trying to deny this fact and would never willingly admit my already strong feelings for him to anyone, especially Amy—or more importantly, Trent.