Harriet tilted her head as she spotted Zoey standing in her office doorway. She clicked her tongue, standing up and leaning against her desk with a playful smile.
"Well, look who finally decided to visit my office," Harriet said, extending her arms. "Come here, give me a hug."
Zoey rolled her eyes but walked over, letting herself sink into Harriet's embrace. Harriet chuckled, pulling her in closer. "Power recharge," she murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of Zoey's head.
"You're way too clingy," Zoey laughed, but she buried her face in Harriet's chest all the same.
Harriet smirked. "You're the one who lets me," she teased. "So, I heard you got promoted?"
Zoey pulled back a little and nodded, a bright smile lighting up her face. "Yep! Chief of Staff now," she said, beaming.
Harriet grinned, ruffling Zoey's hair. "Congrats on the promotion, sweetheart," she said, pride evident in her voice.
Zoey smirked back. "Congratulations to you too, Director," she said, watching Harriet roll her eyes.
"I didn't even want it," Harriet grumbled. "But apparently, getting suspended was the key to a promotion in their eyes. Go figure."
"Hey, it's not like you were suspended for anything serious," Zoey replied, cupping Harriet's cheek. "You stood up for what you believed was right." She tiptoed, pressing a gentle kiss to Harriet's lips. "Well done, Doc."
Harriet smiled, her arms wrapping around Zoey again. "Well done to both of us."
"Right," Harriet said, spinning Zoey around and gently pressing her back against the desk. Zoey's eyes widened, Harriet's voice barely a whisper. "Do you...need anything?"
Harriet leaned in, caging Zoey between her arms with a mischievous grin. Zoey tilted her head, smiling as she pulled Harriet in for a kiss. Harriet chuckled, kissing her back while keeping her arms firmly on the desk. Suddenly, Zoey gave her a light push as they heard a knock on the door.
Clearing her throat, Zoey quickly straightened up. Harriet stifled a laugh, turning around just as Nurse Sam stepped hesitantly into the office, her face turning pink at the unexpected scene.
"Oh! Sorry, Dr. HarrietâI didn't realize you had company," Nurse Sam said, covering her mouth in embarrassment.
Harriet chuckled softly. "No worries. What's up, Nurse Sam?" She glanced over at Zoey. "Have a seat, sweetheart. It'll just be a moment," she said with a wink.
Zoey gulped and took a seat, noticing how the nurse seemed to regain her composure, biting her lip to keep herself from blushing further. Harriet walked over to Nurse Sam, who handed her a document.
"The patient from your last surgery is in stable condition now," Nurse Sam reported, and Harriet nodded as she reviewed the chart.
"Is the patient conscious yet?" Harriet asked.
"Not yet, but there's been a significant improvement in her vitals. I'm closely monitoring her," Nurse Sam responded.
Harriet sighed in relief. "Good. Keep me posted, and keep her under observation. If any changes require my attention, let me know immediately." She signed a few lines on the document. "Also, let's start lowering the dosage of her meds. The improvements show it's time to adjust."
Nurse Sam nodded, taking the paperwork back. "Got it, Doc. Thank you." With a quick nod to Zoey, she excused herself and closed the door behind her.
As soon as she left, Zoey looked at Harriet with admiration. "You look amazing doing your job," she said, grinning.
Harriet winked, leaning back against the desk. "This role suits me, don't you think?"
Harriet leaned forward, her arms resting on the table as she watched Zoey talk to the waiter. They'd decided on a Chinese restaurant for dinner, indulging Zoey's desire to try something new.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zoey asked, glancing at Harriet after placing their order.
Harriet blinked. "Looking like what?"
"Like a teenager with a crushâyou're practically blushing," Zoey teased, chuckling as she settled back in her seat.
Harriet laughed softly. "Maybe being in love is my secret to looking younger." Then she raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you were fluent in Mandarin."
Zoey shrugged. "I picked it up during university, aside from my degree, of course. I worked as an online tutor back then and ended up getting a language certification."
Harriet nodded. "I heard you had a lot of scholarship offers too, didn't you?"
Zoey looked at her, surprised. "Are you stalking me, Dr. Pierce? You know a lot of details."
Harriet shrugged, a smile playing on her lips. "Maybe you just caught my attention. I remember hearing that Briar University even offered you a full scholarship. That's rareâyou must've been quite an asset."
Zoey clicked her tongue. "Maybe," she said, glancing around the restaurant. Then she leaned forward, meeting Harriet's eyes. "So, if you weren't a surgeon, what would you be?"
Harriet grinned. "Dead," she joked, chuckling before raising her hands in mock surrender when Zoey squinted at her. "Kidding! Honestly, maybe a songwriter or producer. But I don't know... I tend to go with the flow."
Zoey tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, you could definitely make it as a songwriter or producer. You have the talentâremember that performance you gave at the bar?"
Harriet smiled, taking a sip of her water. "How about you? Why did you go corporate? Was it a career shift?"
Zoey laughed, thinking back. "Maybe it was the salary offer?" She chuckled. "But really, I just got bored and decided to try something new. Applied for an open position at BioSynthix, and now here I am, still here, for better or worse."
Harriet leaned forward, studying her. "But if you had a choice, what would you rather be doing?"
Zoey sighed, her eyes softening. "Honestly? I'd want to travel, maybe start a business here or abroad, get filthy rich, and see the world," she said, leaning back in her chair.
"Why not start now? You've got a good salary, a perfect setup for some adventure," Harriet suggested.
Zoey smiled. "I'd love to, but I have my priorities. Remember the plan I told you about? That's my focus."
Harriet put down her glass, her gaze steady. "Must be important if it's your priority."
Zoey nodded. "It is. I want to rebuild my family's business. They lost it because of me, and I want to give them that future back." She looked down, then back at Harriet with a smile. "And I hope that when I finally do it, you'll still be by my side."
Harriet blinked, a soft smile forming as she looked at Zoey. "I've already told youâI'm not going anywhere. I'll be right here beside you."
Zoey sighed, glancing away. "I don't know... Just sometimes, I wonder if maybe, along the way, you'll lose interest."
Harriet's gaze turned serious, her voice dropping to a low murmur. "You're not comparing me to your ex, are you?"
Zoey raised an eyebrow, then chuckled. "Why would I ever compare you to Markus? You're... miles better," she said, lowering her gaze as a blush crept over her cheeks.
"Well, glad to hear it," Harriet replied with a grin, giving her a playful thumbs-up. "Nice to know I've got the edge."
Zoey laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable, honestly."