#mykey

I didn’t understand why my boyfriend would nag me to bring him lunch today when he always told me he would eat something at work. Before, I would offer to make him something so he doesn’t have to spend money everyday but he would turn it down. What made it so special he asked today? He didn’t give me anything specific to work with, so I cooked him one of his favorite foods. I had arrived at the hospital not too long ago, the staff were kind to let me through even though I didn’t have an appointment.

As I was waiting for the elevator, there was someone approaching me from the corner of my eye. I turned my head to see someone I never thought I’d run into again.

“I didn’t know you worked here, Zayne.” I spoke to him as he stood next to me. His body stiffened a little before turning his head to look at me, and his body relaxed soon after.

“What are the odds we’d run into each other today.” His suave yet deep voice sent little shivers down my spine, when was the last time his voice sounded this mature? “What brings you to the hospital today, are you unwell?”

I shook my head, bringing up the packed lunch in my hands for him to see. “I’m fine, but my boyfriend wanted me to bring him lunch today. So I made him something.” His brows furrowed in confusion, slightly tilting his head to the side.

“You have a boyfriend?”

“Yeah, his name is Erick. Erick Johnson.”

Zayne raised his eyebrows in surprise before covering it up quickly, I thought I had imagined it. The elevator soon arrived and we got on together. I told him what floor I was going to and he pressed it for me. We stood in slight awkward silence, before shyly asking him if he knew my boyfriend.

He nodded his head. “Dr. Johnson is a colleague of mine. Though we work in different departments, I’d say he’s a fairly good doctor.”

“Is that so? A shame he didn’t mention you, I would’ve come by to visit more often.” I chirped, ecstatic to run into an old friend today.

“Oh? Under what pretense? Do you have a primary care physician here?” Zayne asked, a bit of playfulness etched into his voice.

I let out a small laugh. “Not this hospital, but is it bad to visit an old friend from time to time? I haven’t heard from you in years and this is where you’ve been! We could’ve met up sooner.”

Before Zayne could say anything else, the elevator arrived at our destination. I was about to say goodbye but he insisted on walking me over to Erick’s office. I didn’t object to it, happy to speak with him more. Maybe I can ask for his number so we can keep in touch?

As we approached the office, I was about to knock on his door before hesitating. What if I came at the wrong time or he was busy? But it was close to lunchtime and he said he was having his break soon. So with enough courage, I knocked on his door and heard Erick’s voice on the other side. Grabbing the handle with one hand, I bid Zayne goodbye before he opened his mouth and spoke.

“If you’re still here within the next hour, my office is just upstairs. Turn left and it's the fourth door down to the right, it would be nice if we could speak a little longer.” He told me.

“Got it! I’ll be there.” I responded to him. He left soon after with a wave of his hand, and I entered my boyfriend’s office.

He wasn’t alone and the strong smell of perfume wafted into my nose, making me crinkle it from the intensity. There was a nurse there who was fidgeting nervously, I don’t know why. Meanwhile my boyfriend looked a bit stiff, even with that smile on his face. I looked back and forth between them, noticing the slight tension in the room. Should I…leave? I mean, after dropping off his food of course.

“Did I come at a bad time? Uh, here…I brought you lunch like you asked.” I hesitantly stepped forward and placed his packed lunch on his desk.

“Why didn’t you text me you were coming?” Erick’s cold voice cut me off, making me freeze midway from placing it on his desk.

“I-I did, I sent a message on the way here, didn’t you get it?” I said to him, confused by his sudden coldness. He continued to eye me coldly and it was making me uncomfortable. “S-So did you want your lunch or-”

“Don’t act sassy with me, leave it here and go. I’m having a bad day as it is and you being here is making it worse.” I flinched at his harsh words, placing the tupperware on his desk. The nurse in the room giggled and I shot her a glare. “Treat my coworker with respect, she did nothing wrong.

Is this man being for real right now? I turned my glare to him, taking back his food. “Then you can fucking starve for all I care. She can get you food instead, asshat.” Without giving him a chance to reply, I stomped out of the room and made my way to Zayne’s. Hopefully he wasn’t busy. I followed his directions and stood in front of his door, a little hesitant to knock. But I gathered the courage and knocked three times.

After hearing him say come in, I grabbed the handle and turned, peeking my head inside. He looked up from his desk and made eye contact with me. With one hand, he gestured I could come in and I went inside, closing the door behind me. I walked over to sit on one of the chairs laid out in his office, placing the packed food on my lap. My little fight with my boyfriend earlier made me restless, but I hope Zayne didn’t notice.

It was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “Did something happen? You still have Dr. Johnson’s food in your hands.”

I tightened my grip on the food a little, before slowly meeting his gaze. “I…I had a small fight with him. Seems like I came at the wrong time because he was in a bad mood, he was being rude and in retaliation I took his food back.” I let out an awkward laugh. “Pretty childish of me, huh? But I couldn’t help it, he was pissing me off.” Now what am I going to do with this food?

“You have every right to feel the way you do, doing nothing would only make him feel like his words are justified.” Zayne spoke calmly. “What a shame, such perfectly good food is going to waste.” Although he didn’t sound remorseful at all, I caught onto the slight playful tone in his voice.

This could be wrong in so many ways, but I trust Zayne more than anyone. “Would you…would you like to eat it? I mean, if you’ve had lunch already its fine-”

“To taste your cooking? I’d be glad to.” He cut me off with a small smile, reaching out and waiting for me to give him the plastic bag. “It’s been a while, I’m feeling a bit peckish now just thinking about it.” And this is how I spent the next hour or so, catching up with Zayne made me forget about the dispute I had with Erick.

Well, until he barged into the room. He saw the two of us together and his expression turned angry. Oh no, I know where this is going and I need to stop it before it gets out of hand.

“Erick-”

“Excuse me, Dr. Zayne, I’m here to pick up my girlfriend. I hope she didn’t trouble you.” Erick cut me off, a tight smile on his face, but I knew he was irritated. I looked at Zayne, screaming an apology at him through my eyes in hopes he would understand. “(Y/N), let's go. I decided to head home early today.” While that would’ve made me happy, I felt uneasy with his tone of voice. I knew we were going to argue when we got back to our apartment. “(Y/N).”

I flinch at the way he sneered my name, staying rooted in my seat and shaking.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Dr. Johnson.” Zayne spoke up, voice icey cold. “You’re interrupting an appointment between my patient and I.” Blinking incredulously, I must’ve heard him wrong.

“Your patient? Last time I heard she wasn’t your doctor.” I frowned at the rudeness directed towards Zayne, I wasn’t stupid enough to piece together Zayne held a higher position than him.

“Well, as of today, she is.” Zayne lifted a document in his hand. I leaned in to read through a little and my eyes widened when I saw he was now my primary care physician from today onward. It was a transfer of approval from my previous PCP, granting Zayne to be mine. “So please, take your deplorable attitude out of my office.”

Erick was fuming at this point, and I was about to say something before he spoke. “(Y/N), you have a choice; me or him. Who will it be?”

His eyes bore holes into mine while Zayne calmly looked at me, patiently waiting.

My eyes moved back and forth between them, landing on Erick a little longer as I contemplated my choice. But he seemed to think otherwise.

“She chose me.” He said smugly, about to walk over but stopped at Zayne’s voice.

“Did she?” As I avoided Erick’s gaze, scooting a little closer to Zayne’s desk. He got up from his chair and walked around, standing on the other side of me. “I believe she has made her choice. Leave. I won’t say it another time.” Despite the coldness in his tone of voice, I didn’t feel threatened by it.

Peering from behind him, Erick was absolutely fuming, glaring at Zayne before meeting my gaze. “You will come home either way. Then, we’ll have a talk, (Y/N).” He then turned and left the office, slamming the door loudly behind him.

There was a long round of silence and I let out a shaky breath, realizing how shaken up my body was. Zayne quickly turned around and kneeled down, taking my hands into his. “Are you okay?” His voice was soft and gentle.

“I’ll be fine.” I whispered to him, not wanting to go home after this. Not like I want to avoid him, but Erick isn’t in the right mind at the moment. Anything can happen when he’s not level minded. Plus I prefer to talk when emotions won’t get in the way. “I just, I don’t know how to face him. He’s scary when he’s angry…”

“Has he done anything to you?” Zayne’s voice was urgent and I bit my lip anxiously. He saw and narrowed his eyes. “(Y/N), did he?”

I lowered my head, nodding. “He has before, and apologized, but he did it more than once. Although he doesn’t remember it and I never told him because he was drunk. Even if I did, he would accuse me of lying and we’d end up fighting again…” I lifted my head, feeling my eyes water and my body shake from fear. “I-I don’t know what to do, I think he’ll end up doing it again since I’ve upsetted him.”

The shade in his eyes grew darker, menacingly, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. Zayne being angry didn’t scare me, because it wasn’t directed at me- but at Erick. “I suggest leaving him as soon as possible, but with how you’re reacting right now, you’ve tried.” I shakily nodded my head, feeling a sob on the back of my throat.

“I-I’ll find something-”

“Stay with me.”

“...huh?”

“I have more than enough room for you at my place. Plus, wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to make up for lost time?” The iceness in his voice melted away, back to being warm and gentle. “You’ll be safe with me, (Y/N).”

“Are you sure?” My voice was barely above a whisper, not believing he would suggest that. “I don’t want to be a bother-”

Zayne reached out to brush a tear from under my eye, making my breath hitch from the soft expression on his face than his usual aloof one. “It hurts me to see you mistreated by a man that's supposed to protect you, not harm you.” I let the tears fall and was soon brought into a hug by him, which was rare, but I’ll take it while it lasts.

He had a few more appointments to deal with before he was off, so I decided to wait for him. After his last patient left, he gathered up his things and we left his office to find a very disturbing sight.

Erick and that nurse were a little too close for comfort down the hall, and soon enough the gap closed as she leaned in to press their lips together. I know I should be more upset than I should, but I just felt…numb. It hurt to see, but with what transpired throughout the day and our entire relationship, it didn’t surprise me he would cheat on me one day. After he pulled away, his head turned and he saw me. His expression distorted into one of panic and pushed her away, speedily walking over to us.

“(Y/N), that wasn’t what it looked like-” I took a step to hide behind Zayne, who easily towered and covered me from him. “Dr. Zayne-”

“Seems like my intuition was right, you and Nurse O’Connor were always close with each other it seemed a little too intimate.” His words made my eyes widen in alarm. “How unfortunate your disloyalty was the beginning of your downfall. (Y/N) deserved better.”

“And who are you to say that? She and I haven’t broken up.” Erick sneered at him.

“Do you really think she’ll stay with a scumbag like you?” Zayne’s ice cold voice boomed throughout the hallway, where other employees and lingering patients heard it loud and clear. “You must be out of your mind if she’ll ever come back to you after witnessing it firsthand that another woman is throwing herself at you and instead of pushing her away, you welcomed it.” The silence that followed was loud, tension so thick and I could feel the pointed stares everyone was giving Erick.

Using the silence as a distraction, Zayne took my hand in his and briskly walked over to the elevator. I looked over my shoulder to see Erick rooted in place, head downcast. Nothing but bitterness is what I felt for him at the moment, he didn’t deserve my pity. As Zayne and I stood in the elevator in silence, I almost forgot his hand holding mine. I was about to pull away to save the awkwardness but he held on a little tighter, running his thumb comfortingly over my knuckle. It magically eased my nerves and I held his hand back just as firmly.