Future Investment: (Taboo Romance Series) (Forbidden Fruit Book 2) Read Free Page B

next to her for hours on end.
    Surely she was taken.
    She had to be.

Chapter 3
    Elizabeth
     
     
     
    My knee bounced uncontrollably as I sat in the chair just outside of Dr. Martin's office. My advisor had been a huge part of my success, and was undeniably my biggest fan and my strongest supporter, but that didn't mean that the woman didn't intimidate the hell out of me. She did.
    A million thoughts ran through my mind, but I forced myself to focus on the simple fact that I'd graduated at the top of my class for my M.D., and I could do anything I put my mind to. Dr. Martin would make sure that I was paired up with a top surgeon for my residency, and would continue to take care of me. She had promised as much the last time we spoke. It was time to share the good news with her, and talk through who she felt was the best match to become my mentor.
    "Elizabeth?" She poked her head out of the open door of her office. "Come on in."
    Her dark hair was in a loose bun, her makeup beautifully on-point, and her slacks and button-down shirt professional. She was stunning, and I couldn't help but feel mousey in front of her. I had too much of my father in me to feel petite or feminine.
    "Thanks for seeing me today." I sat down and pulled the letter from my portfolio that was clasped tightly in my hands. "I have good news."
    "So I've heard." She smiled and extended her hand. "Let me see it anyway. This is the fun part."
    "I agree. I was so nervous that I would have to move to another part of town, or even to another city. St. Mark's is so busy, and hard to get into." I moved back in my chair a little, but kept my posture and forced myself to keep my chin in the air. Dr. Martin's loyalty was hard- earned, and she expected the best of all of us, every moment of every day. There was no rest in medicine.
    "Well, St. Mark's only takes the best of the best, and then a few whose daddies pay a pretty penny to get them in there. We know how hard you've worked. It's well-earned, Elizabeth." She set the paper down and leaned back as a smile lifted her lips. "I've been thinking a lot about this moment."
    "Why is that?" I brushed my hands down my black slacks, but kept my attention fully on her.
    "Because we had a department meeting last week to talk about our top M.D. grads, and of course your name came up. Most of us had an inkling that you would get the residency with St. Mark’s." She tapped the table as her expression tightened just a little. "What we couldn't agree upon was your mentor."
    "Oh." I lifted my eyebrow as confusion rolled through me. "I thought that you were the one to determine who I'd be working under for my residency."
    "I usually am, but with your high marks and your strong personality, the Dean of Medicine wanted to discuss options." She shrugged. "It's rare that he gets involved, but it’s a good thing. It's impressive, and telling of your future. You're going to be quite successful if you just keep your nose to the grindstone."
    "I plan on doing just that. Tell me who I've been assigned to. Please." I smiled.
    She nodded before pulling out a pair of glasses and perching them on her nose. "I wanted to have you work with Peter Fallwell. He's a brilliant neurologist, but your specialty is going to be cardiology. The dean believes you should work for Aiden Crawford."
    "I'm not familiar with either of them. Should I be?" I relaxed a little as she leaned back again.
    "Yes and no. Dr. Fallwell is new to the area, so I thought it might be good for you to meet someone from another part of the world. You've grown up here and gotten all your degrees here. It just seemed a healthy option. You don't have to work in neurology to have your mentor there, but you know that."
    "Yes, ma'am." I pressed my hands to my thighs and leaned forward a little. "Do you have a bio or CV on Doctor Crawford?"
    "I do, but let me warn you," she bent over and pulled a folder out of her bottom drawer. "The man is a pain in the ass."
    I held my tongue and