His Big Reveal: An Interracial BWWM Billionaire Romance (BWWM Alpha Males) (28 page)

Chapter 3

The next morning, Declan left earlier than her. He kissed her at the door, her eyes still half closed. She didn’t have time to go back to sleep, so instead she made a pot of coffee, took a shower and got ready. She sat curled up on her couch pouring through her medical textbooks until it was time for her to leave.

By the time she arrived, Declan was already there. He was briefing them on the day, something that had become routine at this point. They still weren’t sure what Dahlia, the platinum haired teen, had, but they were being pressed to work on it even harder. That was fine by Brionna, she wanted the girl to get better.

“There is one more thing I’d like to discuss before you leave out to do your rounds,” Declan announced. “Upon my arrival this morning, I found out that someone hasn’t been properly documenting their medicine usage. We can’t have medicine just disappear. Please, please document the dosages correctly. If you do not, you could very well be accused of stealing. Nobody wants that. Let’s get to work.”

They spread out quickly. Brionna was on her way out after the group when she felt a hand pass over her hip. She glanced back to Declan. He winked. A shiver passed through her body. Why did he have to do that? He smacked her ass quickly as she walked out of the door making her shake her head.
He’s trouble.

The door was normal as far as Brionna was concerned. She checked charts and files, went over treatment plans, did a few exams. The amount of freedom that she and the other interns were being given was amazing. Bri could feel the euphoria of being a real doctor. It was amazing. Helping someone, saving someone’s life. What could be better than that?

Besides that, she and Mack seemed to get along better than anyone she knew. They sat together to eat every chance that they got. His tales of med school were different than hers, filled with mayhem and mischief.

“You sound like you were a handful,” she said as she stabbed a fork into her salad.”

“I was. At first I was only going to med school to make dad happy. I know, cliche. Then, I don’t know. Something just clicked. Now, I love it. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”

Brionna smiled. “I know the feeling. My brother is the reason I got into medicine.”

“Oh yeah?” Mack asked as he bit into his cheeseburger. “Why?”

“We haven’t been able to find out what’s wrong with him for years,” she said slowly. “I’d like to be the one who does that.”

Mack nodded. “That’s really sweet of you.”

Bri smiled. “I love him. I’m just doing what any big sister should do.”

“No,” Mack said crumpling up his napkin. “You’re awesome.” He checked his watch. “We better get back to work.”

Bri nodded, then paused. “Oh my god.”

“What?”

“I know what’s wrong with Dahlia!”

“What?”

“We have to tell Dr. Andrew and Dr. Declan. This is good news if I’m right.”

“What is it?” Mack asked as he tried to catch up with her.

Brionna was much too excited to answer. If she was right, this would be her very first medical case solved. Excitement tore through her as she ran to Declan’s office. She knocked on the door hard before she heard his come in. Pushing the heavy door, she dashed inside, Mack on her heels.

“I know what’s wrong with Dahlia!”

Andrew and Declan were both leaning over his desk, papers in front of them. They looked up, eyes round at her words. Declan stood from his seat.

“And what do you think it is Ms. Jackson?”

“I don’t
think
,” she said irritation in her voice, “I know. Dahlia has Opsoclonus Myoclonus. She has all the symptoms. Rapid eye movement, tremors, psychosis, malaise. See, I was looking through her charts. According to her mom, she was bitten by a mosquito that made her really sick about a year ago. The mosquito gave her St. Louis Encephalitis. We can treat with a corticosteroid.”

“Holy crap,” Andrew said quietly, “that would make sense. We didn’t think to look because…”

“It’s so rare,” Declan finished. “Good work, Brionna. Let’s go talk to her right now.”

Brionna beamed. She wasn’t sure she’d ever been so happy in her life. Adrenaline flooded her body. They walked together to talk to Dahlia, along with Mack. When her mother heard the good news, that it might be reversible, she was overjoyed. 

“Thank you so much,” the woman said as she hugged each of them in turn. “Thank you for helping my daughter.”

Declan started a round of medication for the girl, before he patted her on the shoulder. Dahlia looked happy too, her broad smile more than enough reward for Bri. They walked out of the room together.              

“That was amazing,” Mack said as they strolled down the hall, “how did you figure it out?”

Bri shrugged as if it were nothing. “I knew something was off, but I couldn't figure out what. When I went back to my texts, I found it.”

“You’re brilliant.”

Bri grinned. “Stop it.”

“You are,” Declan cut in, “you’re going to go places here. Let’s go get lunch.”

“What about work?” Bri chimed in quickly as she was still beaming.

“We’ll be back. Mack, you come along too.”

Mack and Bri high fived as they headed to the locker room. The joy that Bri felt wasn’t easily rivaled. She thought about the night before. Declan’s hands roaming over her body, his lips on her skin. She grinned.

Brionna dialed in her combo. She couldn’t believe things were going so well so quickly As she popped open her locker, empty vials sprang out and littered the floor. She stood in disbelief.

“What the hell?”

“Brionna?” Declan asked as he walked over.

He saw the empty bottles and his eyes narrowed. Brionna gaped. The look on his face was enough to destroy her. The accusation in his eyes was terrible.

“I didn’t put these here.”

“In my office, now.”

“You can’t think she’s the one that did this,” Mack called as Declan marched her out of the locker room.

Declan’s office had never seemed so cold. He sat behind his desk, fingers laced as he stared at her. She squirmed in her seat. They were waiting for Andrew, the witness necessary. When he stepped in, the man was straightening his lab coat.

“What’s going on?”

“We have a problem,” Declan said. “The missing medicine was found in Brionna’s locker.”

“It wasn’t me!”

“Be quiet!”

Declan’s angry expression along with his stern voice was enough to stop Bri, but she bit her lip. Tears formed in her eyes. How could she prove that it wasn’t her? She bit back tears that threatened to spill. She refused to break under his steady gaze.

Bri couldn’t believe what was unfolding in front of her. Why had she ever believed that Declan could be anything other than cold and cruel? She was angry with herself, but she was livid with whoever was doing this to her. Still, she couldn’t name anyone in her place. Who would want to see her fail so miserably? She hadn't even lived in Phoenix for that long!

Her mother’s words echoed in her head. ‘You’re just going to run into trouble there.’ Bri pushed that thought away quickly. No, her mom was wrong. She was completely capable of making it on her own. Still, as she looked from Andrew to Declan, she couldn’t help but to slightly question that logic.

“We found the empty vials of medicine in Ms. Jackson’s locker.”

Bri started shaking her head, but Declan’s angry gaze stopped her. She looked over to Andrew, her eyes begging him to help. On one hand, she understood why Declan would be so angry, the betrayal he felt was portrayed on his face. Still, she was getting more angry that he wouldn’t believe her.

Andrew shook his head. “Brionna, why would you do this?”

Bri’s mouth dropped open. “It. Wasn’t. Me!”

She wanted to scream the words. Why wouldn’t they believe her? A tight knot in her stomach twisted. She was sure she would be sick if this continued. How had such a good day taken such a horrible turn?

I could end your career right here. After what I’ve seen,” Declan said folding his arms over his chest, “you could be in jail.”

Brionna
was
crying now. “I didn’t do it. Declan please.”

Andrew raised an eyebrow. “That’s awfully familiar,” he said with a grin, “is this your girlfriend now? The medicine thief. I never figured you for the type of person to fall for a pain drug addict.”

Brionna laughed bitterly, her hand running over her eyes. She stood up quickly almost knocking the heavy black chair over. Her hands were trembling, fingernails biting into her palms.

“How dare you?” She mumbled. “How dare you accuse me of that? I got into medicine to help people. NOT to do drugs. I’m leaving.”

“Bri,” Declan called, “wait.”

“No!”

“Brionna.”

Something in his tone of voice made her pause. She turned on her heels. The look in his eyes had changed. What anger was there had faded. She stood still, holding her elbows, pressing her arms against her body for comfort.

“What?”

Declan ignored her however. “Andrew, how did you know the empty vials were pain medicine? We have plenty of drugs here that aren’t pain meds.”

Andrew shrugged, but his mouth had gone into a straight line. “I don’t know. I was just making a guess.”

Declan smiled. It wasn’t the normal, soft smile that she’d become accustomed to when they were alone. This one was scary, terrifying really.

“How did you know?”

Andrew scowled. “It was just a guess, Declan!”

Declan laughed. “I don’t think so,” he said as he pressed a button on his phone.

Two security guards walked in. Andrew’s eyes went wide as he gazed between them and Declan. His words fell out in small, outraged shouts.

“You can’t be serious! I didn’t do this! Declan, it wasn’t me.”

Declan was standing now. “My instincts are never wrong. I might have just fired you if you hadn't tried to pin it on one of our interns, but you went too far.  Detain him, call the police.”

The guards nodded as they pulled Andrew out of the room who was now hysteric. Bri could hear him yelling from down the hall. Declan turned to her slowly.

“Come here.”

Bri shook her head. There were still tears on her cheeks, she was still shaking. Declan raised a finger, crooked it towards him. As much as she wanted to tell him to fuck off, she also wanted him to make everything better even if it was only for a moment. She walked to him slowly.

When she was close enough, Declan wrapped his arms around her. The smell of his cologne, smooth and sweet, filled her nose. She was stiff against him for a moment before she melted into his arms. This time, she cried. The sounds of her sobs filled his office as he held her tightly. In a matter of moments, she’d thought that her career was over. It was terrifying.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled into her hair, “I'm so sorry that I didn’t believe you, even if it was only for a little while. I was wrong.”

“How could you think it was me?” She sniffed.

“You were the last to arrive here, that’s all. It was just logic, I didn’t want to think that it was you. I’m so sorry,” he said again.

Hearing those words flooded Brionna’s body with warmth. He wasn’t the cold, ruthless, tyrant. He was a man. She melted against him. Declan’s mouth pressed kisses into her hair, against her forehead, on her cheeks. He didn’t seem to care that he’d kissed her tears, but it meant more than enough to Brionna.

“I don’t know if I’m ready to forgive you yet,” she said.

“I’ll make it up to you tonight. How does that sound?”

Bri grinned. “Deal,” she hit his arm. “You better never think a bad thing about me again.”

“I won’t,” he said as he rubbed his arm, “I promise.”

Without warning, Declan pulled her forward. His lips hovered over hers as if gauging her reaction. She didn’t pull away, what would be the point? As his mouth captured hers, she leaned against him. Her hands slipped up to his face, ran through his thick black hair. She could feel her heart thudding against her chest wildly.

When they pulled away from each other, Declan grinned at her. The look in his eyes was enough to make her knees tremble. No matter what happened between them, she thought, Bri was pretty sure they’d weather the storm, together. Declan pressed another kiss to her forehead. It was so gentle and sweet that she smiled.

“Get dressed,” he mumbled against her skin. “I promised you lunch.”

“Oh, that’s still on? I thought I’d be going to jail,” she said teasing him now that she’d calmed down.

He swatted her ass, grabbed it firmly. “Don’t start trouble, Ms. Jackson.”

“I think I’m owed a little trouble,” she mumbled against his mouth.

Brionna could feel the fire consuming her. Now that she wasn’t in trouble, she needed to get rid of the residual anger that lingered. Declan looked more than willing to appease her. He pushed her onto the desk, his hand shoving things out of his way.

Bri squealed. “What are you doing?”