Bound to Vasiliev

GIANNA

“Okay, great job, everyone. Close the patient up and move her to the recovery room. We’ll need to monitor her closely after this,” Gianna ordered her team after performing a complicated heart surgery on an elderly woman.

She stepped out of the operating room, disposed of her scrubs, and walked toward the emergency department to continue with the rest of her shift.

“How did the heart surgery go, Doctor Moore?” Michelle, one of the nurses at the desk, asked Gianna as she handed her a few papers to sign.

“It went well. All we need to do is wait.” She smiled, a sign of victory in her hands.

Gianna Moore was the best cardiothoracic surgeon in the city, and at the age of twenty-five, she had successfully performed hundreds of surgeries, making her one of the top five most achieving surgeons in the country.

Including the youngest doctor to have performed such an amount.

She’d always strayed from her father’s business, and being the only heiress to his fortune, was a battle she tried to avoid.

She had known he had also been opposed to her relationship with her fiancé, making her do exactly the opposite of what he’d wanted her to do.

“You’re almost done with your shift?” the red-haired nurse asked, raising her eyebrows in genuine curiosity.

“Yes, and I have a dinner date with Eric later. I have to get home, take a quick shower, and get all prettied up,” Gianna replied as she handed back the clipboard with the patient’s records. “I can’t wait to see him.”

“And your father? Is he still opposed to you two being together?”

Gianna scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You know it. But I love him and he’ll have to accept him eventually. Or not, I don’t care. I’ll still marry him.”

Michelle laughed, shaking her head. Gianna was just as stubborn as her father, and everyone in the department knew, if their arguments in the middle of the lobby were anything to go by.

It had been a long day for Gianna, and she welcomed the end of her shift with open arms, leaving the stress of the day behind to be able to enjoy her date with the man she loved.

As she made her way to her apartment, she couldn’t help but smile.

Eric had caught her eye from the very first day he started working for her father, and after months of trying to get his attention, he finally decided to give it a chance.

Three years later, he proposed to her on a trip to Paris, and much to her father’s dismay, she’d said yes.

Her mother, Louise Moore, was more than happy, but as years went by, she had adopted the same attitude as William, only she was discreet about it, and Gianna wondered about her reasons for such behavior toward Eric.

Surely her father had something to do with it.

She arrived at her building, parked the car in the garage, and headed up the elevators that led straight to her apartment with just the swipe of her tenant card.

The place was luxurious but homey. Everything looked old-fashioned and she had always loved it that way.

No need to make it look modern, when it was just her little piece of heaven. Or theirs, as Eric spent most of his nights with her.

She’d planned on making some space in her closet and drawers for him, just so he could leave a few of his things for his overnight visits.

After she took her shower and chose her outfit—a blue cocktail dress with a diamond belt—she decided to go for light makeup, knowing the night might end with them in her bed. It would smear all over her face either way.

She pulled her black hair down in waves and double-checked herself in her body-length mirror, before she grabbed her clutch; at the same time, she heard the elevator’s door open.

Gianna turned around, only to see her handsome man standing there, a smirk on his face as he looked at her while licking his bottom lip in approval of her choice of clothes.

But she noticed something off about him.

His brown eyes were not as bright, and she knew how much she loved seeing them glint at the sight of her. His blond hair neatly combed to the back shone under the dimmed lights of the hallway, making him look even sexier.

“Ready to go, baby?” he asked as he pulled her against his body, leaning down to kiss her lips with such hunger, she thought they would never leave the apartment.

“More than ready. Where are we going?”

“That’s a surprise,” he replied, extending his arm.

Gianna put her hand in the crook of his elbow before Eric hit the garage level button. There was a comfortable silence and she looked at his profile. He looked…tense.

It was as if he needed to tell her something, yet he wasn’t sure what or how.

“Are you okay?” she asked, squeezing his arm gently to get his attention. Eric cleared his throat, smiled at her, and nodded his head.

“I am. Let’s just enjoy tonight. You never know what tomorrow will bring,” he said just as the elevator’s door opened.

Eric led Gianna to his black Mercedes, opening the door for her and helping her in. He leaned down and gazed at her, stroking her cheek.

“You’re beautiful, did you know that?”

“I do.” She smiled proudly, but then frowned. “You’re kind of scaring me, Eric. What’s going on?”

He didn’t give her a straight answer. Instead, he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side, getting in while trying to avoid any further conversation.

Pulling away from the curb, he made his way through the busy city streets, taking turns at traffic lights until he arrived at her favorite restaurant.

“Forgive me for whatever happens tonight. I just want you to know it’s not my intention.” Eric leaned over to kiss her cheek before stepping out of his car.

Gianna frowned at his words while she studied every movement he made, and she was not convinced he was okay.

Being a doctor had its perks, and paying attention to every detail was something she had learned over the years.

As soon as he opened the door, he extended his hand to help her out, showing her a tender smile. Her heart was beating faster, and this time it wasn’t a good sign.

After Eric greeted the hostess and gave his name for their reservation, she led them to their favorite booth, away from the rest of the patrons.

“Your server will be with you momentarily.” She smiled, walking away while they scanned the menu, deciding what to eat.

“Eric, don’t you trust me?” Gianna suddenly asked, wanting to get her doubts out of her system. He nodded, but didn’t dare look at her beautiful blue eyes, her freckled cheeks still noticeable under her makeup, which he loved.

Not wanting to delay the bad news any further, even if it meant ruining their night, he put the menu down and grabbed her hand, kissing her knuckles.

“I love you, Gianna. And I would give you the world if you asked me to.” He sighed. “But…”

“But what, Eric? You’re scaring me.” She didn’t want to think the worst, but she had a feeling it was coming.

He smiled sadly, her hand still in his. “But I can’t marry you, nor I can continue with this relationship.”