The Royal Contract

The place he usually went to had law firms around the area, so of course, those had lawyers as their crowd. He had to mingle with his colleagues to get insights into their current cases.

But now, he just wanted to drink in peace, and this seemed to be a perfect place since he would not know anyone unless he had a client nearby. But he doubted that.

“You are new here! Are you a doctor?” The bartender asked as he walked to his side.

He wondered if he looked like a doctor. But most of those who came here probably were. Then, he was a new face. So, the man must have seen most people working in the other building.

“No. I am not. But I will have a neat scotch if you have it.” He did not need anything fancy tonight. He only wanted something that would drown his sorrow.

Then, the glass appeared in front of him in just a few seconds. “You are a doctor tonight.” The bartender said as he poured what seemed to be a good brand. “You look like you just lost a patient.” He added before nodding in his direction and walking away.

It might be worse than that.

Then, he grabbed the glass and sipped at the clear amber fluid. He looked around and saw men and women who might be feeling just as he was but for a different reason. They were not wearing their coats and uniforms, but they looked like they also needed a drink.

.....

“I guess I am a doctor tonight.” He said, smiling at the silliness of his situation. “Can you give me another one?” He said to the man, who quickly complied with his request.

He could hear laughing on the other side of the room. They seemed to be celebrating something. Good for them, he thought. At least someone was not gloomy like him.

On his third glass, someone suddenly stood on his other side. “I will have what he is having, Cris, and refill his glass. It is on me.” The feminine voice said as she took the empty seat beside him.

He suddenly turned around to check on this unknown person who was buying him a drink. Her voice was unfamiliar. He doubted he knew anybody from around here.

“Hi, I am sorry about earlier.” The woman said before he could say anything. “I am not usually that rude and grumpy, but my patient is dying, and you were sort of in the way.” She explained even if he was not asking for it.

“That is ok.” He answered, not wanting to make it a big deal. He hardly remembered it anyway, although it did hurt. “But you don’t need to buy me a drink.” He said.

“I already did, so let us just say we are even.” She stated as if there was nothing else they could do about it. “Besides, I feel terrible after what happened earlier. I hope it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

“It is fine. Thanks for this.” He said as he accepted the refill of his glass. Then, he went back to his solitude, drinking his scotch alone. And, of course, he did not want to discuss the state of his private parts, especially with a stranger.

But he felt he was not alone as she kept looking at him. It was like she had something to ask but was hesitating. But it was slightly irritating since he could feel her glancing his way as if she still had unfinished business with him.

“What is it?” He finally asked, but he did not bother to look at her. He just wanted to get it over with, whatever she had in mind. Then, he could get back to drinking in peace.

“Did someone die in your family?” She asked him as she looked at him with that solemn look.

“Did I look like someone had just died in my family?” Why did they keep asking him that? Maybe his heart just died and left him. That certainly felt that way.

“Well, you are not a doctor, a nurse, or someone working here. So, chances are, you are a family of one of our patients here.” She answered him. “And your face and how you are drinking and staring at the empty space indicated that you just lost someone.” She psychologized.

“Let me guess. You worked here for years. A nurse who thinks she has a degree to analyze people’s thoughts.” He sarcastically answered her, slightly annoyed by her nosiness.

“Yes, I have worked here for years, but why do all of you automatically assume that I am a nurse?” She shook her head. “For your information, I studied hard to become a doctor as male doctors did.”

That suddenly surprised him since he did not assume that she was a nurse because she was a female but because of her uniform earlier and what she was doing.

“I am sorry about my misassumption, but you should not be assuming as well.” He countered. “But I am not being racist to the female population. I thought earlier when you bumped into me that you were one. Probably because of the uniform.”

He could not understand why almost everyone in the hospital seemed to wear a scrub suit or something similar to it. It was getting harder to differentiate between the doctors and the other hospital staff if they were not wearing their coats.

“Yeah, maybe that was it. So, I guess we are even again.” She said, accepting his explanation. “I am sorry again for assuming too. But if you did not have a patient here, why do you look like the world collapsed on your shoulders?”

Then, she raised her hands when she saw the look he gave her. “I am sorry. I was only making conversation since you look like you need company.” She quickly drank her scotch, believing that should be enough to explain her behavior.

“Ok. What about you?” He turned to look at her this time. “Tell me your story. Why are you here and drinking alone when you could drink with your friends?” If she could ask questions, he could as well. He believed he was better at it.

Why was this beautiful doctor sitting with him, drinking when she did not seem to look like she had lost anything? But honestly, did that matter? She might be irritating, but he believed she had turned out to be perfect at distracting his attention.