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“The strange thing is that I don’t even know who sent the complaint, and the office wants to leave it anonymous.”
Meanwhile, Lee was on the bench lifting a two-hundred-weight bar and Martin was standing around in case his friend needed his help to lift the weight off his chest.
“That’s crazy man,” Martin declared. “They even took away your right to defend yourself by refusing to tell you the identity of the person.”
“Exactly,” Lee forced out. “You should demand to know the person’s name.”
“Yes,” Martin took over. “What they’re doing to you is unfair.” He kept his eyes on Dereck, not on Lee who he should be helping with the weight. “It’s like they’ve already convicted you and using the investigation as a means to punish you.”
Dereck sighed and his shoulder dropped.
“This is just retaliation for calling them out on their improper practices last year,” Lee said after replacing the weights and putting his body in a seated position. He was sweating heavily, and it soaked through his muscle t-shirt. “I told you that was going to come back and bite you in the ass.”
“Still, you did the right thing,” Martin replaced Lee on the bench as Lee handed him a weight. “Those things shouldn’t have been overlooked in a hospital. People could have died.”
Dereck was finished with the weights and walked over to the bench where his friend was struggling with the weight Lee was just lifting. His voice quivered and his hand was unsteady.
“Don’t let it put a damper on you so much, man. You may have someone out to get you, but at least you have a pretty woman on your side.” Lee said, taking a step backward. “Focus on that. The rest would sort itself out.”
“Funny,” Dereck gave a slight chuckle. “That is exactly what Alina said.”
“She is a wise woman,” Lee said, smacking his friend on the shoulder. “You better make that commitment before she realizes you’re not as charming as she thinks.”
Dereck shrugged off his friend's hand from his shoulder. He gave a one-sided smile as he teased, “At least I have charm.”
10
Alina held onto the cup of coffee with more paint on her clothes than there was on the canvas. She was hoping for a date with Dereck later that evening and hopefully a night of lovemaking. That didn’t seem possible. She had to finish this painting today if she wanted to meet her deadline, which meant she had to cancel with Dereck.
Alina sighed, making a whining cat-like sound before dialing her lover’s number. “Hi, Dereck. It’s me,” she said when he answered.
“I was just thinking about you,” Dereck declared, and Alina wondered if he really was thinking of her. That line seemed to be something that men said when their woman calls unexpectedly. Nevertheless, it did its job of making her feel special. “I can’t wait to see you later,” Dereck continued.
Alina breathed out heavily. “That’s why I’m calling.” She rest the coffee on the small table that stood below her window. “I’m nowhere close to finishing this painting…” she waved her hand at her art as if Dereck could see what she was pointing out. “… and it has to be completed today. I’m sorry but I don’t think I can go on a date tonight.”
Dereck’s tone of voice dropped, but his words remained positive. “That is perfectly fine, Alina. Take all the time you need to complete your painting.”
Alina pushed out her lips and twirled the phone cord around her finger. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear from Dereck. She was happy for his support, but knowing that he was dying to see her as much as she was him would be much more satisfying. “But I was really looking forward to our date.”
“Me too,” Dereck said, and Alina smiled broadly. “But I’m not going anywhere. We can do it another time. Your work is important to you, therefore it is important to me. Plus, I am eager to go to that gallery and boast that the amazing artist is my girlfriend.”
Alina smiled even more on the other end of the phone. This was the first time Dereck had called her his girlfriend. “But I was looking forward to it. I really wanted to go,” she whined as she held the phone and carried it to the couch where she sat with her feet beneath her.
“And you will. Just not tonight, okay?” he spoke with conviction.
“Fine,” Alina said, throwing herself back onto the couch in a lying position. She rest her head on one chair arm and crossed her ankles on the other. “I guess I have no choice.”
“No, you don’t,” Dereck agreed. “You have to finish this tonight so I’m going to leave you to it.”
Alina was reluctant to leave the phone. Ending the call meant she had to go back to painting, and she just didn’t want to. That was the problem. Her passion, her drive for painting, and her love of the craft had simply disappeared. At that moment, painting actually felt like work and not the uplifting career that got her through her troubling days.
“What will you do tonight?” Alina asked Dereck, delaying the end of the call.
He thought for a minute. “I’ll probably head to a bar.”
Alina smacked her hand against her forehead. “I can’t believe I’m wasting your night off. Our schedule hardly coincides and I’m tossing away a free night.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Dereck said matter-of-factly. “There will be other days. As for now, you need to stop stalling and get back to work.”
