Chapter 232 - Meet JoAnna (1)

~Seattle~

Jeff arrived in front of Franciscan Medical Center just after midnight.

JoAnna is inside, he can go and look for her. If he asks for her at reception, they will call her. What will he say? What will she think?

He looked down and noticed his heavily wrinkled pants. Looking at himself in the mirror, he looks like a mess. Jeff decided not to go in.

He went to a nearby hotel and got a room where he took a shower, shaved and changed into fresh clothes.

Jeff thought that he might get few hours of sleep, JoAnna is coming out from work at six o'clock in the morning. But he feared that he might oversleep and decided to stay awake.

At five o'clock he drove to Franciscan Medical Center and parked into parking area designated for visitors.

Panic washed over him when he realized that he does not know if JoAnna will walk out or drive. He took few deep breaths and started thinking... he knows that Sarah and Sophia are driving, so it's highly likely that JoAnna is driving as well. Jeff decided to take a chance and walked to the underground parking level, reserved for employees. He leaned on a thick pillar facing the elevator and waited. His mind was racing while sorting through possible scenarios. What will he say when he sees her? What will she respond? Will she think that it's strange for him to be there, considering that previous afternoon he was in Sarah's apartment? 'Was I supposed to get flowers? Women like flowers, right? But it's too late, it's getting close to six o'clock, I don't have time. And even if I did have time, no flower shops are open this early.' As he thought of possibilities, he was getting more anxious.

...

JoAnna was happy that she didn't see Dr. Light for the rest of her shift... Few more minutes and she can be far away from that man.

Jill and Emma are with her, chatting, but JoAnna can't focus on what they are saying. Her brain tuned them out and their chatter became random buzzing noise, just like everything else. The only distinct sound was the sound of that second hand moving on the wall clock in resting room for nurses.

JoAnna thought many times why she finds Dr. Light so intimidating, and the responses are always the same: because he has the power to destroy her career. She finds his overall aura unsettling. When she is alone with Dr Light, JoAnna feels like she is facing a ferocious beast that can pounce at her at any time disregarding her wishes and only focusing on satisfying his hunger. She wondered if he was always like that. If no, when did it start? If yes, how come she didn't notice it before?

JoAnna was relieved to see that it's six o'clock. She took her coat and headed outside with Jill and Emma. She needs to take the elevator, and get into her car, and drive home... and then she is free. As soon as she exits the underground parking, she will be free. JoAnna noticed that Jill and Emma greeted someone at the door, but she didn't pay much attention. JoAnna was focused on that elevator door down the hallway.

Someone grabbed JoAnna's upper arm and she stopped in her tracks. She froze when her eyes met a cold stare of Dr. Light.

Jill and Emma stopped few steps later and turned around to look at JoAnna. At that time, Dr. Light spoke to JoAnna with a pleasant deep voice. "I stopped by with a hope that we can discuss your next career steps." His grip on JoAnna's arm intensified and he turned to Jill and Emma, "If you will excuse us..."

Two of them didn't think much about what he said, he is her mentor, after all. They nodded in understanding and rushed to get into the elevator that was half full while the doors are still open. JoAnna didn't get to say anything, after few short seconds, the elevator door was already closing, carrying Emma and Jill to the underground parking level reserved for employees. The same elevator which was supposed to take her to her freedom was now closed, not available.

JoAnna's throat was dry, she felt that she can't speak or make a sound at all. Her heart was beating loudly in the back of her head. In panic, she put her left hand in her coat pocket, grabbed a pen shaped object and pressed "Record" button.

Dr. Light stared at JoAnna, not releasing her right arm, sinister smile was increasing on his face. "Let's wait few minutes before taking the elevator... just to make sure night shift leaves, and we have more... privacy."

JoAnna could not hide fear in her eyes. She wished that she is bold like Sophia and reckless like Sarah... this feeling of being helpless... she hates it.

...

Down in the underground garage, Jeff was clenching his fists nervously as his eyes scanned faces of people coming out of the elevator. One time door opened, second time door opened, third time... every time the elevator door opened, he held his breath and his eyes darted from one unfamiliar face to another. When he realized JoAnna is not there, he exhaled and suspicion in him grew that he is at the wrong place, and she took another exit.

One more time elevator door opened, and one more time Jeff held his breath. It was eleventh or twelfth time he did the same thing since he started counting, but he lost count now.

And there she was... JoAnna walked out and Jeff's heart raced as his eyes landed on her. At the next moment, Jeff noticed a man next to JoAnna. They walked side by side, very close... it looked... intimate. His heart stopped. 'She is the sister with a boyfriend.' With this thought he forced himself to look away. Jeff lowered his head and mumbled to himself, "Why did I come here?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.