Chapter 10 HARMLESS LUNCH
"YOU DON'T HAVE a car like this, do you?" Derek asked as they got down to the parking lot.
Elias shook his head.
"It's the latest Corvette model," Derek said with a smile. "Maybe someday, you will earn enough to be able to afford one."
"Someday," Elias agreed, hiding the amusement in his voice.
Derek seemed to think Elias was just as gullible and naive as he pretended to be, so he had a broad smile on his lips as they got into the car and drove away for lunch.
THEY GOT TO a restaurant filled with the city's rich businessmen, billionaires, and dignitaries. Derek asked for a private table for two, and a waiter led them to a secluded table at the far end of the room.
"I also wanted to thank you for saving my old man..." Derek said as he poured a glass of wine for Elias.
"It's nothing," Elias replied. "I would have done it for anyone."
"Hmm." Derek gave him a mischievous look. "Or you just did it because you knew he was Charles Bellamy and would be able to reward you."
Elias laughed dryly. "I just got out of prison. I don't know how educated you are, but information from the outside world is scarce behind those walls. I assure you, I neither knew nor cared who you or your family were."
Derek looked slightly shocked by the comeback, but he quickly regained his composure. He took a sip from his glass and said, "Well, thank you." He swirled the drink around before continuing. "Even though it would not have been a bad thing if you had let him die."
Elias kept the shock from showing on his face.
"See how hardcore you are," Derek said with a smile. "You didn't even react. That's what prison does to a man, eh? It makes you not feel anything."
Nothing but hate and rage, Elias thought to himself.
"I mean, think about it," Derek said, leaning closer. "The old man has had it coming all along, am I right? He has lived a long time."
"Isn't the chairman just a little over sixty?" Elias asked.
"That's a long time, Doctor Barton," Derek said dismissively. "Don't lecture me about the worth of life, or your morals and code. I know you are not really a doctor."
He smiled knowingly, clearly pleased that he knew something Elias wanted to keep secret.
"How so?" Elias asked calmly.
"I did my research and made some calls," Derek replied. "No medical school has graduated an Elias Barton in the last ten years..."
Elias nodded slowly.
"So that would only mean one thing. You are unlicensed, and you are a fraud."
"And yet I saved your father," Elias said. "And I saved the man in the emergency room this morning."
"I don't know how you did that," Derek admitted, to which Elias merely laughed.
Their meals arrived, cutting the conversation short as they waited for the server to leave before continuing.
"I have a healthy inheritance awaiting me," Derek said after taking a bite of his lunch. "Think of what even a small percentage of it could do for you if we were friends."
Elias simply smiled. "Hmm."
"You won't even have to keep deceiving yourself and everyone else by doing this job," Derek said. "Besides, does Harper know that you're lying?"
Elias froze ever so slightly, but Derek picked up on it and smiled.
"I take it she doesn't know. And she doesn't ever have to know. She would absolutely hate you."
"We are going to be friends," Elias said.
A wide grin spread across Derek's lips as he raised his glass again. "To friendship," he cheered.
"To friendship," Elias toasted, but he did not drink. He placed his glass back on the table. He knew what Derek's idea of friendship would mean.
"My father has a small surgical procedure next week," Derek said. "I want you to be there... just be there, you know..." He gave Elias a look before he continued. "Things happen in the theatre, tragedies happen, and no one would even blame you." As he spoke, he cut into his steak casually as if they were talking about a bad investment and not his father's life.
With all this talk of inheritance, Elias knew what Derek truly wanted. Derek wanted Chairman Bellamy dead, and he was going to use Elias's help to achieve his goal.
THEY GOT BACK to the hospital a few hours later. Nurse Lilly was waiting for Elias in his office with a file in her hands.
"I just got notice that I have been transferred to you, sir," she said.
"Yes, yes," Elias said, nodding as he took off his jacket and draped it over the hanger. "I liked your work ethic this morning..."
She blushed slightly, unused to receiving compliments from young, handsome doctors.
"I just did my job, sir."
"Yes, but you did your job without looking down on me, unlike most other people here," he said. "So I requested that you become my personal nursing assistant for any operations I have. Is that fine by you?"
"Erm... yes. Yes, sir," she stuttered.
"And it comes with a significant pay increase and additional bonuses," Elias added.
"Thank you, sir." She bowed, extremely grateful.
"Take a seat. I have your first assignment for you."
Elias rubbed his hands together.
"I want you to write the operation report for the surgery I did this morning."
