Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 His Demand

"Dr. Thompson, you've got company," a nurse hollered over the hum of the hospital's morning rush. The place was a zoo, especially the plastic surgery department during the summer madness.

Ellie, known as Dr. Thompson around here, pushed through the break room door, her eyes landing on Alex Warren, her foster brother, who was parked by the window, phone in hand.

Now, Alex was the kind of guy who could make even the most mundane of mornings a little brighter.

He stood out, tall and confident, with a style that was all his own. His dirty blonde hair was always perfectly messy, like he'd just stepped off a magazine cover. And that black diamond earring gave him a touch of bad boy charm that was hard to resist.

As if he could feel her staring, Alex glanced up, his gaze colliding with Ellie's. It had been years since their paths had crossed, and his eyes seemed to have a new depth to them, a kind of intensity that made her look away first.

With a playful smile, Alex closed the distance, leaning in to get a better look at her. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence. The wanderer returns, and not a word to her family."

Ellie's heart did a little dance at the familiar scent of him—a mix of sandalwood and a hint of tobacco.

She'd been the Warren family's foster kid, always toeing the line until she chose a college out of town, breaking the mold. The day she left, he'd totally got angry, tugging at her ear in that brotherly way of his.

Shaken by the memories, Ellie turned to get Alex some coffee.

The sound of Alex's footsteps echoed in the room as he caught up to Ellie. "Hey, Ellie," he said, a playful tone in his voice, "you and Haley still tight?"

Ellie turned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Always," she shot back, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"Think you could put in a good word for me?" Alex asked, his gaze hopeful.

But as the words left his mouth, Ellie felt like she'd been hit by a truck. Her mind went blank, and she barely registered the hot coffee spilling over her hand, the pain a distant echo.

"Oh, Ellie, you okay?" Alex was by her side in an instant, his hands guiding hers under the cold tap. He grabbed a tube of aloe vera from the first aid kit, his fingers deftly applying the soothing gel.

Then he looked into her eyes and continued, "If you can help me with Haley, I'll give you one thing you want. Anything you name it."

Their eyes locked, and Ellie bit her lip, a storm of emotions brewing behind her calm facade.

Alex let out a snort, a mix of amusement and annoyance, as he smoothly pulled Ellie's phone from her pocket. With a firm grip, he pressed her thumb to the screen, unlocking it with ease.

Then he sneered with disdain in his eyes, "How much does an intern make in a day? I'll spot you ten times that. Your day is mine now. Go get that time off."

Ellie's cheeks flamed, her fists clenching at her sides. That look in his eyes always stripped her of her defenses, leaving her feeling raw and exposed.

He was Jaslands' golden boy, the epitome of wealth and power. She was just a girl making her way through the world. The divide between them was as vast as it was insurmountable. Her feelings for him had always been a line she dared not cross.

She took a step back, her voice steady. "It's not about the money," Ellie said, meeting his gaze.

Alex's expression turned thunderous, his voice a growl. "Bold of you to defy me."

The courage Ellie had mustered crumbled under Alex's stern gaze. She looked away, unable to hold his eyes, but she didn't back down. "Professor Bell has surgeries today. I'm his assistant. I can't just take off."

Alex loomed over Ellie, who seemed to shrink under his scrutiny. His eyes narrowed, but he remained silent, his gaze unwavering.