Chapter 382: New colleague

After a few days of rest, Aria had finally recovered and she was excited to go back to work. Staying at home, with Noah and her father supervising her every move had got on her nerves and all she wanted was to get back to her normal life, where she had the freedom she wanted. Although Noah wanted her to take a few more days off, she was done resting and it was time to get back on her feet.

"Do you really have to go?" Noah questioned as they drove towards the hospital. "You know you can take two days off. I would not mind." Noah offered and stared at her with puppy eyes. However, it had no effect on her and she rolled her eyes at his meek attempts.

"That is not going to work on me. I am not taking any more rest. I am done resting and rusting. Now it is time for me to get back into the battle." Aria deadpanned, allowing him no room for objection. 

"But..."

Aria gave him one serious look with her eyebrow raised and Noah immediately shut his mouth and turned his gaze away from her, not wanting to anger her more. They reached the hospital soon and Aria got down, excitement and happiness evident on her face. However, her excitement only made Noah sulk and he stared at her in despair.

"I'll get going. Will see you at night." Aria pecked him on his cheek and left him even before the man could respond. 

Taking a good look at the hospital she had missed dearly, she went near the entrance. Seeing the people coming in and out of the hospital as well as the staff who seemed to be busy, Aria sighed lightly. "Ah, how I missed this!!"

She was just about to enter when she heard someone call her from behind, making her eyes go wide. She was all too familiar with the voice and surprise took over her after confirming who it was. "Stuart." She exclaimed seeing the man grinning at her.

"The one and only." The man bowed at her and spoke in a perfect British accent, and Aria laughed seeing his enthusiasm.

"What are you doing here?" She queried as she pushed back her bag that had slipped off her shoulders.

"I am here at work." Stuart raised his eyebrows, giving her a cryptic smile.

"Work? What work do you have here?" Aria put forth another question which Stuart was eagerly waiting for. He knew that she had no idea what had happened in the hospital the past few days.

"The same work you have at the hospital." His ambiguous reply made Aria frown and she looked around wondering what was wrong.

"What do you mean? I am a doctor here and I work here." 

"What if I say the same? I am a doctor here and I work here." Stuart revealed and observed the girl's expressions which changed from confusion to shock and finally settled on joy.

"Really? Do you really work here? When did that happen? How? I mean that's good news." 

Stuart chuckled at the girl's excitement and scratched his head. "Umm, I got a call from Dr. Davis that there was a requirement for a doctor and he asked me if I was interested. And here I am." Stuart spread his hands in a cool manner. However, Aria was lost in thoughts to notice his sauce pose.

'There was a requirement for a doctor? When did that happen? And if I am not wrong, there is still time for the next appointment. Why did the hospital change its decision?' She pondered.

"Aria, Aria," Stuart snapped his fingers in front of her, and Aria's thoughts vanished at once. "Aria, I guess you are not that happy to see me here." He donned a sad face and pouted.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Why will I not be happy to have you as my colleague?" 

"Then, why do you look sad?" Stuart queried and Aria narrowed her eyes when she noticed the mischievousness in his eyes.

"I was actually hoping for a sexy, dashing, and smart doctor as my colleague. Who knew it would be you?" She countered and Stuart's face fell. "But it's okay. I'll make do with you for now." She replied as though she was doing him a favor and now, it was Stuart's turn to glare at her.

"Aria, you do realize that you have a boyfriend, right?"

"So? How is this even related to him?" 

"What will happen when he will find out whatever you have spoken today?"

"Oh then," The next second, her mind went back to the time when Noah had punished for calling Ethan hot, and tingles spread through her body just by remembering what had happened behind the closed doors in her room. "The man will become the king of vinegar," She muttered under her breath and Stuart missed it completely.

"Did you say something?" He queried, he had heard her mumble. But he could not comprehend what she had spoken.

"Ah, no. Nothing. Let's go in." 

Aria and Stuart resumed their duties at once and separated at the reception as they belonged to different departments. Seeing Aria return to work, all the hospital staff welcomed her warmly, and their gesture touched her. Although she met Ian daily, Ian too welcomed her with a hug. 

"Welcome back, Dr. West."

"Thank you, Dr. Davis. How I missed this!!" Aria sighed and wandered her eyes as though it was her first time at the hospital.

"You could have taken a day or two more."

"What!! No way. Was not my father enough, now even Noah has joined hands with him? With them around, I'll go crazy if I stay at home."

Ian chuckled listening to her exaggerated words. "It cannot be that bad."

"Oh, you have no idea. They are too worried about me even though I am perfectly fit and fine. And the amount of food they have fed me in the past few days is enough to last me for a fortnight. My pants do not fit me now and I need to reduce weight." Aria huffed and Ian gave a helpless laugh.

"I understand. Noah can be a little overbearing at times. But I cannot help it. You were the one who chose him. Bear with it for life." Ian sympathized with her and Aria could only cry inwardly at her fate. She could see her future clearly with the way Noah would be pampering her and loving her, while he fed her until she became chubby. And just the imagination was enough to give her a fright. But she was also glad to have found someone who loved her and cared for her dearly.

"I wanted to ask you about Stuart. Why did the management decide to hire him this suddenly? There is still time for the next assessment, right?"

"Yes, there was. But one of our doctors left us and we needed a replacement. So, we had no choice."

"Who left us? Is it someone I know?" Aria frowned after listening to Ian's words.

"Oh, you know him well, very well indeed. You even punched him in the face for misbehaving with you."

"Don't tell me. Mason?"

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