Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Part Six

An old flame

A previous girlfriend or boyfriend; a former romantic partner, especially one for whom one still has romantic feelings.

Chapter Fifteen

Victoria eyed Darrell who was sat across her and was beside Felicity. She turned to the Doctor Harvey who happened to the owner of the hospital and the one whose wife was hosting the party.

"Doctor Darrell has presented the issue of gossip to me. We're here to save lives and not chit chat all day,  nurses I know it's a habit that's been present since the dawn of time but can you all keep it to a minimum?" Doctor Harvey said a playful smile on his face.  His eyes met Victoria who was looking very livid now.

"Actually Doctor I don't mind the chit chat,  it's the intrusion I mind.  Intruding on one's personal life, and some nurses don't even have the decency to knock sometimes" Darrell said his eyes settled on Victoria who bit her lips seductively.

He'd caught her rummaging through his office drawers yesterday when he got back from lunch, that was the last straw. He went over to Doctor Harvey and reported, Doctor Harvey decided then that it was best to have a meeting and call everyone to order.

"Unless you're hiding something, why do you need privacy all the time doctor Darrell, is there some secret you would like to share with us?" Victoria asked.

Darrell ignored her and turned to Felicity who was trying hard not to laugh. This meeting was ridiculous as far as she was concerned.

"Also Doctor Harvey isn't there a rule that prohibits a doctor and a patient's affair? " Victoria asked her eyes resting on Darrell.  The man who had turned her down for a childless , married woman. He was either stupid or high on cheap drugs, she decided haughtily.

"None that I know of Victoria, do you plan on dating a patient? I'll give you my blessings honey,  believe me I think it's time for you to settle down.  Have you found someone?" The doctor teased knowing how promiscuous Victoria could be.

Felicity chuckled earning a glare from Victoria. "Yes I have found someone, there's just a petty road block on the way. I plan to get rid of it soon" Victoria said venomously earning a few concerned stares.

"There is nothing against a Patient and Doctor relationship in my hospital, although I advise that the patient is in good shape first and the relationship should be kept out of the hospital. We all know that a relationship between the workers here is highly prohibited right? I will not tolerate it among my staffs, is there anything else you would like me to address?" Doctor Harvey asked looking at everyone's faces.

"I don't see anything wrong with a doctor marrying a nurse, Doctor Harvey. Your wife was a nurse here when the hospital was still owned by late Doctor Gambo yet you married her." Victoria protested petulantly.

Doctor Harvey rolled his eyes exasperated "Is there a doctor here who has proposed to you Victoria? come on, out with it, a doctor who would like to marry you? " Doctor Harvey asked.

Felicity burst out laughing now, enraging Victoria the more.  "I have a lot of work to get to, can we be done with this meeting already?" she asked.

Doctor Harvey looked at everyone and saw their agreement, only Victoria looked offended. "Very well then,  meeting dismissed" Doctor Harvey said.

"Darrell can I talk to you privately?" Victoria said following Darrell to his office after the dismissal of the meeting.

Once they were in his office, Darrell groaned and turned to her "Victoria what do you want?" he asked her slightly irritated.

"Why do you hate me, did Halal tell you something bad about me?!" Victoria all but screamed at him.

Darrell was a little startled by her outburst, but only for a second because the next second, his cool demeanor was back.

"Why do you think I hate you?" Darrell asked her. Victoria sighed placing her hand on his shoulder "The way you treat me these days, when you came we were getting along just fine. I could feel the chemistry, then Mrs Amity became your patient and everything changed. I'm not entirely stupid, she must have said something terrible and untrue about me" Victoria said pouting.

Darrell gaped at her, did she just  say chemistry? God....she was not entirely stupid, but she was stupid alright. Anyone who interpreted pure irritation as chemistry was stupid.  How did this girl graduate from nursing school with the kind of brain she possessed?

"Whatever she told you is a lie. I want to take care of you and nothing more, you made me feel so alive when you came and I only want to return the favor. Gosh! you make me feel so hot in my insides all the time, can you feel it Darrell, the connection between us?" she asked cupping his face and kissing him roughly.

Darrell pushed her away immediately "Victoria, are you freaking crazy?" He yelled at her.

"Crazy about you, since you won't admit that you want me,  I've decided to make the move myself" Victoria said moving in for another kiss again but this time she was interrupted by a knock.

Darrell glared at Victoria before answering "Who is it?" he asked.

"Secret Santa and I brought presents" the answer came causing Victoria to roll her eyes. Her competition opened the door with a huge grin on her face, she completely ignored Victoria this time.

"Halal,  I wasn't expecting you till later" Darrell said breathlessly. God,  she looked beautiful. Halal was dressed in a baby pink full skirt that stopped below her knees and a white cotton Guess top.  Her hair was swept up in a bun and she looked like every fantasy he'd dreamt of as a teenager.

"Yeah,  I went to the mall with Daria. So, I decided to stop by,  I brought steak" Halal replied dropping her shopping bags on the chair. Victoria sucked in her breath irritated before turning to Darrell.

"Oops, looks like I stained your lips with my lipstick. I didn't know you were such a great kisser, too bad we were interrupted" Victoria glared at Halal before stomping out of the office.

Darrell turned to Halal who looked expressionless "I didn't kiss her,  she kissed me...I pushed her away immediately. You know how she is,  she's crazy" Darrell rambled feeling the need to explain everything to Halal.

Halal chuckled "Relax doctor, I know what the shark is capable of. You're just shark bait here" Halal said sitting down on an empty chair.

Darrell nodded relieved "Thanks, for interrupting and for bringing me lunch" Darrell said gratefully.

"You know me, superwoman. I'm always here to save the day" she said handing him her silk handkerchief to wipe off victoria's red lipstick off his lips.  He took it gratefully and got rid of Victoria's leftovers.

"So what are you doing tonight? Want to hangout, my place or yours?" Darrell asked.

"We should dine out tonight, I'm the mood for crabs"  Halal said licking her lips. The act only enticed Darrell the more, he smirked.

"You're so tiny, yet you eat like a beast.  How do you do it,  do you like work out immediately after food consumption?" Darrell asked.

Halal chuckled "Please, stop flattering me" she said fanning her hand over her face. Darrell laughed as she watched her.  "You're something else woman" Darrell said.

Halal's lips curved into a charming smile.  "Thank you sir" she said.

In that moment  Darrell realized one thing, he was still in love with Halal. Honestly, he didn't know if he ever stopped. For a such a long time he made himself hate her, allowed so much pent up anger within him and now he wasn't feeling any of those.

Just love, love that didn't matter anymore now because she was married. She was married and all she cared about was having a child to make her husband happy.

Darrell heard the clicking sounds of Halal's heels before she appeared in her living room. "How do I look?" she asked twirling in front of him.

"You... You look... " Darrell stopped his eyes taking in the white skin tight lace dress that clung to her body. "Too much? I didn't want to buy the dress but Daria insisted it was fine. Should I change into something else?" she asked looking worried.

Darrell shook his head immediately "No, Halal you look beautiful. Angelic actually" he smiled. Despite the fact that her face was make up free, her beauty was priceless.

"Thanks, alright let's go already" Halal said picking up her champagne gold clutch that matched her gold colored heels from the sofa. "Yeah....Let's go" he said his eyes still fixed on her bare back. 'Wow' he muttered in disbelief.

"So where's the venue? You never told me" Halal asked while adjusting her hair bun in the car. "Protea hotel, is that white shoe lace in your hair?" he asked smiling a little. Halal grinned "Yeah, you know a young man once told shoe laces make good hair ties" Halal said.

Darrell grinned back "He sounds like a very smart man" Darrell said smugly. "He is" Halal repeated biting the inside of her cheek.

"Wouldn't it be odd, me being your plus one? I mean, most people know I'm your patient" Halal asked. Darrell shook his head "I don't know and I don't care. No one will say anything about it, they know never to mess with me" Darrell said.

Halal poked him playfully "What are you feeling like? Mr Macho" she said rolling her eyes.

"You mean doctor Macho" Darrell smirked. Halal groaned "Oh you're so full of yourself, I don't know how I cope with you" Halal rolled her eyes.

"You know you love me" Darrell said smugly. Halal rolled her eyes "It's all in your head Doctor" she said playfully even though her heart was thumping loudly at the mention of the 'L' word.

Victoria sighted Darrell the minute he entered into the hall, it was impossible to not notice him. His magnetic aura had settled in the atmosphere, his broad shoulders along with his height was another thing. As she admired the delectable chocolate candy wrapped in a black suit and an Ankara bow tie, she noticed there was something else stuck to his side.

How dare she show up here? She flared up and was about to march up to the duo when Felicity held her back. "Would you let him be woman? you will only embarrass yourself further. I get that you want the man but take a break Victoria" she chided.

"Take a break? There is no break for me until I get what I want. And right now, what I want is to get that slut off my man!" Victoria spat before marching off to the duo.

Darrell turned to Halal the minute he sighted Victoria coming towards them in the shortest red dress he'd ever seen. "Shark alert" he whispered to Halal before pulling her away to the dance floor. Halal giggled when she saw the angry look on Victoria's face.

"Someone is not used to rejection, what's her deal anyway? She knows you're engaged, why won't she leave you alone?" Halal asked following Darrell's lead.

Darrell shrugged "Maybe she found out that was a lie" Darrell said. Halal paused "You're not engaged?" she asked surprised, pulling away from him.

"You thought I was?" he asked incredulously. Halal nodded feeling a little stupid, of course he would have told her if he was engaged. "I haven't found any woman who is worth spending eternity with, just you. Well, now you belong to someone else" Darrell's hand fell to her waist.

Halal frowned "I'm not a property" she said angrily. "I didn't say you were, I just mean you're a married woman now. I shouldn't want another man's wife, that's wrong" Darrell said. "Of course, Mr always doing the right thing" Halal said a little disappointed.

"I'm going to the bar to get a drink, I'll be back in a few" Halal said distantly. "Are you okay, did I say something wrong?" He asked concerned. Her cheerful mood had suddenly gone sour. "No, I'm fine. I just feel parched" Halal said walking away from him.

"Mrs Amity, what a pleasure to see you" Victoria said joining Halal at the bar. "What do you want?" Halal spat irritated at Victoria's disturbance.

"Oooh, someone is not in the mood tonight. He finally rejected your advances, doesn't fancy you anymore, or did he finally realized you're lacking something every woman should be able to give?" Victoria asked a devious look on her face.

"Go to hell" Halal said glaring at the minx, she left the bar more upset than ever. Victoria who wasn't done with Halal followed Halal who was heading for the restroom.

"Go away Victoria, I'm not in the mood to deal with your pettiness" Halal warned the minute she entered the restroom.

Victoria didn't budge, instead she glared at Halal. "Shouldn't you be wearing black Mrs Amity? I mean you just lost a child" Victoria said slyly putting her hand on her jaw.

"Wait, was it a dead child or a miscarriage this time? I can't remember, I only remember you are cursed with dead child syndrome" Victoria hissed.

Halal stared at her in shock for a few seconds before regaining her equilibrium. "What did you just say to me? Say that again, I dare you" she said.

Victoria met Halal's eyes unafraid. "You're a childless bitch, you can't have...." Victoria began but was unable to finish her statement because Halal delivered a hot slap to her face.

"Did you just hit... " Another slap followed. Victoria screamed "Don't you dare touch me again!"

Halal chuckled manically and pushed Victoria with so much force that she fell to the floor. "I'm going to teach you a lesson your mother didn't teach you at home. Never disrespect your elders, you little bitch!" Halal spat taking off her shoe .

Victoria tried to get up but Halal pushed her back to the floor.

"What did you call me? you stupid petty bitch" Halal took off her second shoe before sending a blow to Victoria's jaw.

Victoria tried to fight back, her long nails viciously attacked Halal but Halal managed to ward off her feeble attempt of defending herself. She sent another blow to Victoria's face, a blow that hit her nose.

"Get off me, you crazy bitch. Somebody help me!" Victoria screamed, fear evident in her eyes. She tried to attack Halal with her hand again but Halal grabbed her hand and twisted it, she screamed.

Her screams increased when Halal broke her nail. Halal got up and pulled her roughly by the hair. "I'll show you just how crazy I am. Call me childless bitch one more time, I dare you. Say it!" Halal screamed at her dragging Victoria by her hair into one of the toilet stalls.

"Somebody help me, she's going to kill me!" Victoria screamed. "You stupid idiot, the walls are freaking soundproof no one is going to hear you!" she kicked Victoria roughly again.

Victoria didn't stop, she kept on screaming even when Halal grabbed her neck roughly and pushed her towards the toilet bowl.

"When I'm done with you, you won't ever think of saying anything to me even in your next life you disrespectful bitch!" Halal said livid with rage.

"Hey, Fella...did you see any slim,fair woman in a white dress? She had a gold choker on her neck and her hair was in a bun" Darrell asked the bar man when he didn't see Halal lingering around the bar.

"Yeah, she came by. I was making her drink when this other hottie in a red dress came by. They left together, I think they headed towards the restroom" the man said nonchalantly.

Red dress? Victoria was the only woman who had worn a red dress.

Victoria and Halal together? the thought scared Darrell as he headed towards the restroom a little afraid for Victoria.

He knew Halal could be very violent when provoked, he hadn't seen her that way since her mother's funeral when her father's sister came in and was swearing all over the place, insulting her mother.

Halal had gotten so mad, that it shook the whole house. She scared almost everyone out of the house, her father on the other hand just sat by with a small smile on his face as if he'd been proud of her.

"Why are you heading towards the female restroom, up to something freaky?" Felicity winked joining him.

"Halal and Victoria are in there right now" Darrell rushed. "Oh my God, how did that happen?" Felicity followed him hastily. She knew how much of a bïtch Victoria could be and hoped she hadn't done anything rash.

"I don't know, but I hope nothing has gotten out of hand. Wouldn't want anyone to end up hurt" Darrell said. He refrained from saying Victoria, but he knew within him that Victoria was no match for Halal.

"My place or yours?" Halal whispered against his lips. "Wouldn't it be wrong to go to your place?" Darrell asked pulling away from her.

"I don't know, it feels right to me" Halal said. She wanted to make new memories in her gloomy house, even if it was with Darrell .

Darrell shrugged "Alright, let's go" he said. Halal smiled and quickly slipped on her shoes, she felt a little light headed as she clutched on the Darrell's arm.

What exactly was going to happen? So they'd kissed, what next? Were they just going to pretend, she wasn't married?

Halal couldn't answer those questions and she didn't want to know the answers to them. She just wanted to live in the moment to go home with Darrell and allow the magic of the night to take them.

The both of them walked hand in hand to Darrell's car. "Are you sure, you want to go to your place?" Darrell asked. "Yes I want to, but if it makes you more comfortable, let's go to yours" Halal rolled her eyes getting into the car.

Darrell smiled and followed her lead, "anything the lady wants" he muttered turning on the ignition.

"Oh no" Halal groaned hitting her hand to her forehead as they got to her house. "What is it, Did you forget anything at the party?" he asked. "No" Halal cleared her throat.

"Then what?" he asked her curiously turning off the ignition. "I think I'm on my period" she lied looking at her bedroom window, the lights were on. She rolled her eyes, of all the days for him to show up. Valentino decided to come home tonight, she didn't want to tell Darrell that.

'Should have just gone to his house' she muttered to herself. "And so? we don't have to have sex Halal. Honestly I wasn't planning to, I just enjoy having you in my arms. You know that, I wouldn't mind a few kisses in between though. Come on let's go in" Darrell said.

Halal shook her head "No, I'll really just like to be alone now. Do you mind?" Halal asked nervously wondering how the night would play out if Valentino were to come out of the house.

"Are you sure you're alright? You seem a little off" Darrell stated looking a little worried. "I'm fine, I'm just..." the bedroom lights went off and that caught Darrell's attention.

"There's someone in your house Halal" he said squinting a little. Halal swallowed the bile in her throat "Yeah, I noticed. Turns out that Valentino is back" she said dryly.

"Oh... So that's why you've been acting weird. Why you want me gone...." Darrell said coldly.

Halal turned to him "It's not because I want to be with him rather than you, being with you tonight has been special for me Darrell and I don't want anything else to taint it. I want you to leave before Valentino gets out and ruins everything" Halal said taking Darrell's hand.

"It's a little too late for that" Darrell murmured his eyes fixated on the entrance door. So this was the husband, he felt anger rising within him.

"Oh shît, just stay here Darrell. I'll handle this" Halal said unfastening her seat belt.

"Actually I'd like to say Hi" Darrell said gritting his teeth, his anger escalated when he saw Valentino was holding something that looked like a baseball bat.

"Darrell, please don't interfere. I'll handle it" Halal said getting out of the car. Darrell refused to let her talk to the man alone, even if he was her husband. He got down from the car and walked towards Valentino.

"Why are you holding a bat, what's the meaning of this Valentino?" Halal asked the minute she got to him. She saw mad rage writ on his pretty face, "I was hoping your boyfriend would come with you, won't you introduce us to each other my dear cheating wife?" Valentino asked scowling.

"Valentino stop this nonsense, he's not my boyfriend. He's my gynaecologist, you're embarrassing me" Halal whisper yelled.

"That's not what I heard!"Valentino yelled swinging the bat as he walked towards Darrell who looked like he was ready for a fight.

"I heard he's fùcked you on every surface in the hospital and that he was hoping to get you pregnant because he believes your husband has a weak sperm!" Valentino yelled.

He stood in front of Darrell now "You're the one who's been sleeping with my wife, I'm glad you're here, so we can handle this like real men" Valentino said staring daggers at Darrell who only smirked in return.

"If you really want to fight Mr, you'll drop the bat and face me like a real man would. With your fists" Darrell said clenching his knuckles.

"Only losers fight fair" Valentino said and swung the bat, missing Darrell who ducked with sharp reflex.

"Darrell don't touch him, he's drunk. You'll kill him, just get into your car and go home" Halal pleaded moving to the duo.

She caught Valentino's arm before he could swing the bat again. "Don't fucking touch me!" he pushed her away roughly. Before he could react again, Darrell pulled the bat away from him and flung it behind him.

"Fine, I'll fight you with my fists" Valentino said moving closer to Darrell who only had to punch him right in the head to knock him out.

"I'm so sorry, Darrell. I'm so sorry" Halal gasped moving over to him. Darrell scowled "This is the scum bag you married, this thing. I'm so disappointed Halal, what the fück were you thinking. Were you even thinking at all?" Darrell hissed.

Halal stared at him quietly. "No, I wasn't thinking, it doesn't matter now. Please just go, I'll see you tomorrow" Halal said.

"No, Halal. If you want to keep seeing me, this man can't be in your life. Make a decision, and this time, think" Darrell said before turning to leave.

"Please help me carry him inside, I can't do that myself" Halal muttered. Darrell turned to her with narrowed her eyes, he cussed loudly before moving over to Valentino.

Halal smiled a little "Thank you" she said. "Don't thank me yet" Darrell said carrying Valentino into the house, he dropped him unceremoniously on the couch.

"Goodnight" he said gruffly. Halal nodded "Goodnight, please text me when you get home" she said. He didn't reply her, he just walked away.

Halal slumped on the couch, she glared at Valentino who was out cold. "What a douche bag" she scoffed before getting up to leave the living room.

Darrell's voice was still echoing in her head 'This time, think' she sighed before hopping on the bed. She couldn't sleep till her phone chimed.

'Got home safe, go to bed' she smiled before shutting her eyes. Reality was right there in front of her, she loved Darrell, he loved her too. The main question now was what exactly was she to do? Leave her husband for her ex lover? What would society brand her?