Matron Adele was walking in front of her while Isabella followed. She would be the happiest person if that man was somewhere in the ward, attending to patients and they didn't get introduced to each other.

She sighed softly for relief when she didn't see him cross paths with him as they arrived at the door with a large inscription "MD's private lounge" a broad smile spread over her face.

Normally she was supposed to meet the MD before settling down in her cubicle. That should be the proper procedure to have followed. Now she was going to be working with Dr Rian, the MD and yet, he hadn't met or known her.

She watched as the matron knocked and a deep masculine voice answered her from within, ordering her to come in. Matron Adele walked in and Isabella gently followed behind.

She didn't look around but bowed her head. She was going to be introduced to the MD and she needs to act modestly. The room was cold, and somehow, Isabella's body shivered.

"Sorry to interrupt your rest Dr Rian and Dr Rodrigo..." Isabella heard the matron say. Dr Rodrigo? She hoped he was not that man she'd silently wished not to meet or cross paths with?

"...our new intern Nurse needs to know you personally before she can resume work properly. Sirs, this is Isabella Green, a fresh graduate from Z-city university..." matron Adele introduced.

An uneasiness descended upon Isabella while Mrs Adele was still introducing her. She felt eyes were scrutinising her and she raised her head just in time as Mrs Adele concluded introducing her.

Her complexion paled at the sight of the man who laid leisurely on the couch with his long legs spread over the table in front of him. His gaze was cold and bland, so indifferent and giving off a compressing aura.

They locked eyes and Isabella could see the resentment in those eyes, they were not different from what they were that night after he pulled out of her and referred to her as a casual woman, a prostitute.

Her heart slammed against her ribcage as if it would jump out of her body. Her breathing is hard and irrational. She couldn't hold gaze with him and quickly turned her gaze away. Despite not gazing at him, she felt his eyes on her body.

"This is Dr Rian Whiteson, the Medical director of the X-city hospital and the one you will be working with for the first week" Matron Adele introduced, tucking Isabella to look in the direction she was gazing at.

Isabella forced a smile and looked in that direction and her gaze rested on the man again. She shivered, her palm became sweaty and beads of sweat had risen on her temple.

Why is the room suddenly hot, isn't the air conditioner working again?

She couldn't say a word as her complexion was not normal again nor her composure. She wanted to force a word of courtesy out of her mouth but she couldn't, a lump was stuck in her throat.

To cover up, she nodded and quickly turned her gaze in the direction where she felt the air conditioner should be. Why was it not working again? The atmosphere suddenly became hot and stuffy.

Matron Adele smiled, hiding her observation and continued "And this is Dr Rodrigo Campbell, the assistant to Dr Rian" she concluded.

Isabella turned and gazed at him, this time she's not so tense, she smiled and wanted to speak when Rodrigo beat her to it "It's nice having you here, Miss Green. Welcome to X-city hospital.

Rian saw Isabella's smile and the calm expression on Rodrigo's gaze and he was furious. Had she already started seducing his friend before him? This lose, casual woman wants to get fucked by Rodrigo as well?

"Thank you sir" Isabella found her voice briefly. She was relieved, she thought she'd suddenly gone dumb for the sake of her one night lover. She avoided meeting the gaze of this man-Dr Rian and was going to leave when he said:

"I hate the faces of some women that come before me and yours is definitely one at the top list. I hope you know your place and keep every relationship here, strictly professional" he said.

There was a loud tone of resentment in those words. Even Matron Adele frowned, feeling unsatisfied how the MD talks to a new intern Nurse, of course every relationship here had always been professional.

"Huh.. I'll keep that in mind sir" Isabella declared with a forced smile. Oh her days, one night, one careless night of love making had reduced her into someone who lost her self esteem and composure.

As Matron Adele led the way out, she held Isabella's hand and said "Dr Rian has always been this strict, no nonsense kind of person but this is the first time he talked to anyone, especially a female before me like this.

Please don't put it to heart, he can sometimes act so clumsy or annoying but aside that, he can also be a great guy. Don't let his words make you develop an unnecessary kind of caution when relating with colleagues..." she coaxed.

"Alright, thank you Mrs Adele" Isabella appreciated. Her palms were sweaty and she needed to get to her cubicle and wipe the sweats off.

She's less worried about his words, her main worries is how she was going to work with such a man under the same roof and in fact be his personal attending nurse?

What calamity had befallen her here again? Why does she always have to go through hard times?

In the private lounge, Rodrigo turned a frown on his friend when the women left "that statement of yours, what was it meant for?" He doesn't need to show his resentment towards the woman. Whatever he feels, he should keep it within him

"I wouldn't allow a whore walk into my hospital and seduce my male doctors, especially you, Rodrigo," Rian snapped at him. He saw her smile and he must agree that they appear so sweet and innocent, but he knows that there was more to it.

"What are you insinuating?" Rodrigo asked, his fury surging within him. He knows where his statement was heading but he needs to hear him spill it out first.

"You are not allowed to get seduced by the woman I once fucked! She's a whore and I wondered how a waitress who worked as a prostitute as well ended up as a nurse, in a noble profession as a nurse.

Keep your distance and don't you ever think of drilling your dick into that hole I was fucked, did you hear me, Rodrigo?" Rian Whiteson sneered and his gaze was fierce.

"You are mad, Rian," Rodrigo declared.

An hour later, Isabella was dressed in a green scrubs and everything carefully laid out for a surgery. She knows the one she was going to be working with is that man, the one she wished she'd not met. The sterilised equipment needed were properly placed aside too.

The patient has been wheeled in and soon the tall figure of Dr Rian walked into the theatre. His gaze fell on Isabella first and he snorted silently. He walked over, trying to find errors with her work and arrangements and found none.

Two other doctors joined them and another nurse and the surgery was done. In ten minutes, it was over and the patient was wheeled out of the theatre. Isabella stayed behind and cleared the equipment and the hospital attendant was surprised at her simplicity.

He was an older man, probably in his thirties. Other nurses would just go and leave other things they have to do behind and he asked "Why are you helping to clear the operating table?"

"Because there are my colleagues waiting to receive the patient into the recovering bed. So I felt I should just give a hand, I hope you don't mind?" She asked, smiling and just then Rian walked in

"Oh no...I don't mind, I'm grateful,thanks" he said and Dr Rian interrupted them "What are you grateful for, what is she offering you that you wouldn't mind having?" he snapped at the attendant, his gaze cold and freezing, glancing from the man to Isabella and back again.

"I offered to help clear the operating table and..." she was saying when Rian Whiteson interrupted her. "I wasn't asking you the question. I don't have patience for women who happen to be loose for everyone and anything in trousers at any time..."

Isabella Green was shocked. What has been loose got to do with this? She turned her gaze on the attendant and he locked eyes with her before saying "Please leave Miss Green, I'll just finish up soon"

Isabella Green turned and stepped out. She changed into her uniform and returned to her cubicle. Why does she feel her stay in that hospital will be short. Is he indirectly calling her a loose woman?

The phone on her desk rang and she answered it quickly "Come over to my lounge immediately" he ordered and hung up. Isabella sighed softly, she's already exhausted just from the first day at work. She knew who called and the lounge he wanted her to come immediately.

As she arrived at his lounge, she knocked and the now familiar masculine voice invited her to come in. She stilled her heart and went in. She saw him standing with his back to her.

"I'm here sir" Isabella said and scanned his back view. He is a tall, well built man. His designer shirt showcases his perfectly ripped body and a glance at him, one would tell he does workout a lot.

"I know" he replied and gently turned himself to face her, a glass of coffee in his hand. His gaze was still the same cold ones like she'd always known and again, he glared at her from her head to her toes.

"I called you here to warn you, stay professional with all the male employees in this hospital. There are a lot of them here. I don't trust you with them, you are a whore and you can do anything provided you get paid.

I saw your gaze on Dr Rodrigo the last time and now, are you flirting with Grey as an attendant as well? How did you become a nurse in the first place? Did you pass through college by offering your pussy to earn marks...?" He was saying when Isabella interrupted him.

"Dr Rian, please you should respect yourself and the medical profession. I don't goddamns understand what your problem and resentments are towards me. I wasn't the first who had a one night stand with a mystery lover and neither are you the first.

You don't know me and you said horrible words to me that night after you forced yourself into me. Did you even know that you lost your senses and begged me to fuck you forcing me against the wall when I brought your orders?

It was you who begged me and couldn't control yourself. You forced me and started kissing me. I didn't take up a case against you because I don't know your identity and at least your name. And I let it go because it was my first sexual experience and we both had a satisfied pleasure from it.

If you keep taunting me, you will force me to take..." Isabella was saying when Rian's fury got loose, he threw the glass of coffee against the wall with a shattering noise and walked closer to her., his fury surging within him like a volcano.

"Are you threatening me? Are you for real, threatening Rian Whiteson? Are you courting death?" He demanded, holding back his fury as his palm formed into a fist. Doesn't she know who he is?

"How could I have begged you for sex if I wasn't drunk? If I didn't lose my mind, why would I go for a whore like you? I requested for a prostitute and you were sent to my room and I paid you for getting into your cunt.

If you dare to threaten me again, I'll make sure you disappear from X-city for the rest of your miserable life. Did you understand me? Now get out" Rian bellowed.

How dare she threaten him, who does this poor tramp think she is?

Isabella walked out of Rian's office but her mind was in turmoil. Manager Paul sent her to give a client an order, despite it was already past the closed hour for the day. She'd changed from her uniform into her home wear when he sent her there.

He sold her out to a client? He actually knew everything that happened that night? How can he betray her that way, how can he?

For the rest of the day, Isabella couldn't concentrate on anything else. And when she closed from the hospital, she returned to the club where she worked as a waitress.

Manager Paul was surprised when Isabella charged him "how much did he promise you that made you send me to his room with this assumption that I was one of the call girls you use?"

Paul shivered at Isabella's words and was remorseful "I'm sorry. He is a powerful person in society and he was in need of a woman. His assistant came to me and requested for a woman and I had no one at hand..." he trailed off, refusing to complete his statement.

"So, you sold me off to him? What makes you think that I will agree...Isabella paused, she remembered something. Why couldn't she resist him when he begged her and forced her against the wall?

"You drugged me to be vulnerable?" She asked and Paul turned his gaze away, avoiding to meet her gaze "I didn't mean to. I didn't want to lose such a client and I know how you work hard to pay your father's hospital bills.

At that moment, I could only think about the gains of my selfish ambition and I did that to you. I'm sorry, Isabella..." he apologised.

From that moment, Isabella quit her job in the clubhouse. She can no longer work in a place where her wellbeing and dignity is not a top priority. She requested for her payment and just before leaving she turned her gaze on Paul and promised "I will never forget this betrayal and I won't forgive either"

Her work went well in the hospital. In a matter of days, every patient she attended to, fell in love with her. Some called her the new Nightingale and that makes Mrs Adele happy.

Dr Rian was secretly observing her work and was dazed that she was good at her work. Looks like the whore was destined to be the best in whatever she does. She's exceptionally skillful, either as a prostitute or as a nurse.

He'd slept with women before her but he can't shake off that night of rough sex and passion with her. It left an indelible memory in him. She was good in bed just as she is good in her profession.

They both avoided each other like a plague. She worked with Rian and they hardly exchanged words and Rodrigo was observing. He'd never seen someone that was capable of making his friend Rian so self conscious like Miss Green.

She doesn't appear like a whore that Rian describes her to be. Her composure, words and actions could describe her as a decent woman with self esteem. But one question kept lingering in his heart, why was she doing jobs at a clubhouse if she's not what she was described as?

Everything went well with Isabelle after quitting her part time job at the clubhouse. She'd also secured a job as a sales woman in a reputable grocery shop. She is on a permanent evening shift and this particular day, she'd been paid by the X-city hospital and together with her daily pay from the grocery store, she'd gotten enough to pay her Papa's hospital bills.

When she arrived home, she saw from the distance that the sitting room was brightened up with lights. Why isn't her mama sleeping yet? It's close to midnight and she shouldn't stay awake at such a time. But as she drew closer, just before stepping at the threshold, she overheard a conversation:

"...do you think she would agree to accept the proposal? What If she didn't?" That was Isaac talking, he is Isabella's stepbrother. After her adoptive mother did, her Papa remarried a single mother. And this single mother is now her stepmother and she has a son, Isaac.

"Of course, she will agree. That fool thinks that I love her father and I was going to do everything for him. She is my trump card and I will use her to get everything that I ever needed...." She was saying when Isabella shrugged it off.

Who on earth is her stepmother talking about? Anyways she felt so tired that she couldn't think anything straight right now. She needed to get in, take a dinner and rest her head for the day.

As she turned the doorknob and got in, her stepmother was shocked, her complexion temporarily turned pale and she exchanged glances with her son. Did she eavesdrop on their conversation?

Not observing her looks, Isabella asked "Why aren't you asleep, it's about midnight" she scolded. If her mother isn't resting well, how can she look after her Papa?

Relief washed over Jane Green. Thank goodness, she didn't hear anything. She immediately put up her act "I was worried about you. You're not back from work and you haven't had your dinner, how can I possibly go to bed?" She asked, in a shaking voice.

"You didn't stay awake in the past, why would you start today? I'll simply take my dinner and get into my room..." Isabella was saying, sinking into the sofa, she's so exhausted and worn out.

She pulled out the bundle of the money she'd earned, both from the hospital and from the daily pay of the part time job and handed them over to her mom "this will cover dad's hospital bill for another month plus"

Jane Green collected the money and placed it aside, swallowing hard. She wore a broad smile and her excitement was all over her until Isaac said "We are really unhappy how you work your fingers to bone just to pay for dad's bills. We hope for a miracle sis" he said, a feigned concern on his face.

"Yes, Isaac is right" Jane agreed, her tone filled with worries "Your father's condition calls for concern and now, we got a good Samaritan who is willing to send your dad abroad for a surgery and he will be responsible for the treatment. So why wouldn't I stay awake, waiting for you?" Jane briefed.

Isabella's eyes brightened up "what did you say mom? Someone is going to help Papa with his surgery?" She asked, her tired body got energised and she sat up properly, a Megawatt smile spread across her face.

"Of course, Isabella" her stepmother assured, coming over to sit beside her and taking her hand in hers. The two women stared at each other with a broad smile. This is a miracle.

"Who is this person helping us mom?" Isabella asked. Her dad had a brain injury and they could only keep him alive by Life support while they raise money for the surgery.

"Mr Grimmard, our neighbour opposite the street," Jane replied. She smiled but saw Isabella's eyes flicker when she mentioned that name. Is she suspecting anything already?

Isabella felt a gush of uneasiness. My Grimmard is an old man in the neighborhood but he was also a terrible person. Since her father met with the unfortunate condition that left him in comatose, the man had never stopped by to say hello.

Is he suddenly interested in helping them now?

Seeing Isabella was silent, Jane quickly continued "he felt sorry for your dad and wished he would get alright and return home. I pleaded with him to help us and he agreed. He will take care of the hospital bills, the flight, surgery and the medications, everything 100%..." she hurriedly explained.

Despite not being convinced, Isabella shrugged. Despite being a terrible person, perhaps, he might have a bit of humanity in him and decides to help them.

"Alright, tomorrow morning, before going to work, I'll stop by to thank him," Isabella declared. Maybe after appreciating him, he'll ask them when they want the surgery to be done.

"That won't be a problem. But he gave a condition and I already agreed. I am willing to do anything just for my husband's wellbeing and recovery" Jane added, now holding Isabella's hands and cuddling her.

Isabella squinted, a condition?