Escape from Mr. Whitman (Emma and Theodore) novel Chapter 114

Just then, Emma’s phone buzzed with a message from Dr. Fletcher.

His plans had changed–he wouldn’t be able to make his usual house call that afternoon for her acupuncture session. But, he said he’d be seeing patients at the Wellness Center that morning. If she could make it, she should come in and get her

treatment there.

With no other choice, Emma quickly gathered her things and headed out.

Her grandmother wanted to go with her, but Emma gently refused. The ride was long, and there’d be waiting once they arrived. It was far too much for her grandmother to handle, so it was better for her to rest at home.

Even though their neighborhood was out in the suburbs, getting a cab was easy enough. Her grandmother saw her off, only relaxing once Emma confirmed the driver would drop her right at the entrance of the Wellness Center.

Inside, Emma followed a nurse’s instructions and joined the line.

The Wellness Center was actually fairly new. If it hadn’t been for a renowned doctor from the capital recommending it, Emma–born and raised in Cresthaven–would never have even known the place existed.

Yet in just a short time, it had already developed quite a reputation in certain circles. The waiting area was packed, every seat taken, and Emma noticed that here, patients were treated equally–rich or poor, everyone waited their turn, right there in the

lounge.

“Please have a seat here. Dr. Fletcher’s office is down the hall. Someone will call you when it’s your turn,” the nurse said, guiding her to a chair.

“Thank you,” Emma replied. It wasn’t her first visit; she knew how things worked.

The Wellness Center had more than one doctor–according to the posters in the lobby, there were seven or eight, each with different specialties.

As Emma settled in, she tried to read on her phone, but a familiar voice caught her

attention.

Peering through the gaps in the crowd, she saw Theodore.

He was walking with Cecilia, just coming out of the consultation room across the way–the one that specialized in women’s health.

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So, Theodore had brought Cecilia to see the doctor. Maybe he’d finally stop pestering Emma about having children.

A nurse was helping them pick up a prescription. Since the medication was herbal, she asked if they wanted it prepared at the center or if they’d rather take the raw ingredients home to brew themselves.

Theodore chose to have it prepared there and shipped. When asked for a delivery address, he wrote down his office.

Normally, Emma wouldn’t have known where he put down, since she was seated so far away. But Cecilia’s sweet, high voice carried: “Why are you putting down the company address?”

Theodore set down the pen, answering with an air of absolute seriousness. “It has to be delivered to my office. Use my personal number. I’ll sign for it myself, and I’m going to watch you take it every day. If I leave it up to you, you’ll never stick to it.”

Cecilia pouted and twisted playfully in her seat.

Classic control freak.

A CEO who insists on signing for his own parcels…

Emma remembered a chilly day long ago, when she worried he didn’t have warm clothes at work and thought about sending him a jacket. She’d been too nervous to deliver it herself, and Fallon hadn’t been available either, so she considered using a courier service. Even then, she didn’t dare decide for herself and called Theodore, asking if she should give the courier his number or-

She hadn’t even finished the sentence before he cut her off, voice cold as ice: “You

want to give my personal number to a courier? What are you thinking?”

That was when she learned: successful men like him, men at the top, guarded their privacy. His number wasn’t something you just handed out.

Yet now, here he was, scribbling his private number for the courier, planning to sign for the package himself.

So much for principles–turns out, a person’s so–called rules only apply when they want them to.

And that wasn’t all. Theodore went a step further, asking the nurse if there were any dietary restrictions to follow:

He really does know his stuff…

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The nurse told him to ask the doctor for specifics.

He turned to Cecilia, “Wait here, I’ll go ask.”

Cecilia nodded.

While he was gone, the nurse handed Cecilia another packet. “This one’s for external use. Massage this oil onto your abdomen for a few minutes, then apply the herbal pack.”

Cecilia looked uncertain. “I have to massage it myself? How am I supposed to do

that?”

Emma nearly laughed. If there was one thing Theodore was good at, it was giving

massages.

The nurse reassured her, “You can do it yourself. Or, if it’s easier, your husband can do it for you.”

“Oh…” Cecilia took the packet.

“What’s wrong?” Theodore had returned.

The nurse explained again about the external treatment.

“Got it,” Theodore said as he took the herbal pack from Cecilia. “Let’s go. I just talked to the doctor–there are a lot of foods you need to avoid. Nothing cold or raw, and cut back on sweets.”

“What? How is that possible? I need my coffee and chocolate–there’s no way I can go a whole day without them.” Cecilia pouted as they walked away.

“Cut back, not cut out. This isn’t up for debate,” Theodore replied sternly, waving the herbal pack. “This is once a day, right? Before bed?”

Cecilia nodded.

“Alright, let’s go.”

As Theodore and Cecilia left the exam room, Emma found herself thinking about those hands that had massaged her leg just the night before–hands that would now be massaging Cecilia’s stomach. The thought made her stomach turn.

Her phone rang. To her surprise, it was Theodore calling.

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