GIRL WITH THE MASK 23

💥😷**GIRL,

With The Mask*** 😷💥

Authoress FG,

CHAPTER 23

"How can you be this cute even when confessing your feelings?" Alina asked as she wiped off her drool.

"What! What's that expression? I just confessed my feelings to you Alina. Won't you at least shy off or maybe say something intense but you're complimenting me instead. You're weird" Nolan said as he blushed hard and Alina stood up and caressed his hair gently.

"I was supposed to cover up my mouth with my palms or even stutter but I'm different. This is the first time someone's confessing their feelings to me at 27 years of my life. I'm also confused on what expression to have on my face right now but this is the best I can come up with. Since you didn't ask me out, you only told me how you felt" Alina said and Nolan looked away feeling so embarrassed.

How come it didn't cross my mind? Nolan questioned in his head.

"Alina, does it even matter?" Nolan asked and she nodded.

"Of course it matters. That shows you don't have any intentions of going out with me. I've accepted your confession and thank you for loving me. I'm off to work, Nolan. I won't be going with your car today. I will take the bus or taxi" Alina said and left the apartment.

Alina got out of the building and held her chest that was beating so fast and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach.

"That was so romantic" Alina gasped with a smile.

I should have said something more positive but I'm so confused right now, I don't even know about how I feel. I've got a mixed feeling, am I supposed to feel this way? Alina said in her head with a sad look on her face as she head to the bus stop.

.....

"She left just like that. It's not like she was wrong to begin with. She has a point, I guess I rushed things and it might take a while before she reciprocate my feelings towards her" Nolan said and sighed frustratedly.

His phone started ringing.

"Hello, Michael. Good morning" Nolan greeted on taking the call.

"Good morning Nolan. I've got some updates for you about your mother's report" Michael said over the phone and Nolan stood up anxiously.

"Please tell me, what's the current status of her health?" Nolan asked curiously.

"I went through all her reports and records in the hospital but she's perfectly fine. She only comes to the hospital for checkups and she seems to be in a perfect shape" Michael informed and Nolan exhaled sharply.

"Thank you so much for this, man. You have no idea how much of a damage you just prevented from surfacing. Thank you. Allow me to treat you out when I visit" Nolan said with a smile.

"I will be waiting for your arrival eagerly. I've got to go now, Nolan. Any more reports about your mum, I will let you know" Michael said.

"Thank you" Nolan said and he hung up.

If mum is perfectly fine then why did she come up with such a silly lie. This makes me feel stupid. Nolan said in his head with a frown.

He placed a call across to his mother.

Nolan picked up his bag from the couch and head out of the apartment with his phone on his ears waiting for his mum to take his call.

"Nolan, why are you calling so early in the morning?" His mum asked sluggishly on taking the call.

"Mum did you drink last night?" Nolan asked seriously.

She cleared her throat.

"What are you saying son? Why would a patient drink alcohol?" She threw in.

Nolan came out of the elevator heading to his car.

"Oh mum, quit the act. I know everything already. How could you play with my mental health like that? You've got other reasons to force me down there to come see you so why did you lie to me about your health? Why mother? Why?" Nolan yelled angrily.

"I'm sorry Nolan. I had no idea what to say to you that will be convincing enough to get you here. If you always visited like you promised then I wouldn't have been tempted to tell such a lie. Your mother is lonely out here and you don't even pay her a visit. It feels like I've been deserted, do you have any idea how that feels. It feels suffocating to be alive" She yelled in tears and Nolan clenched his fist.

"How can you say such a mum? You've got everything you wanted and you've got lots of boyfriends as well. Do you think I have no idea about all that? I only turned a blind eye to it because I know, how lonely you must be feeling but please can you not take my kind and fragile heart for granted. I'm a doctor here and I've got lots of responsibilities on my shoulders. I will call you back when I get off work. I'm not letting go of this your actions that easily" Nolan said seriously then hung up.

He got into his car and drove off.

********

ARIA'S APARTMENT....

Aria was seated on the couch with her legs crossed against each other on the table as she watched the TV. She had a cup of popcorn on her hands.

"Oh no, he acted like a loser" Aria laughed as she watched the TV and suddenly her doorbell rang.

"I'm not expecting anyone. Today's supposed to be my day off" Aria complained and sluggishly stood up from the couch.

She got to the door and opened the door without looking at the camera at the side of the door.

"Jimmy, today's my day off so get lost" Aria said swiftly as she opened the door.

Matt pushed her aside and came inside her house.

"What are you doing? You can't just barge into my apartment without invite" Aria yelled as she followed him.

"I'm sorry but I don't have any other option" Matt said.

"What do you mean?" Aria asked.

"I came so we would watch the show together on TV. The director said it will be airing today" Matt said and Aria ran back to her couch and changed the channel swiftly.

"You're eager to watch it as well right?" Matt smiled and joined her on the couch.

"About your jacket, I sent Jimmy to get it for you so don't worry about it" Aria said nervously with her eyes fixed on the TV.

"I spoke to Jimmy on the phone before getting here and he told me nothing about the jacket so that means you still have it"

Aria couldn't reply, she kept quiet for some minutes.

"I couldn't risk it by giving it to someone else. How can a jacket be that expensive? I can buy an apartment if I sell that jacket" Aria said flabbergasted as she looked at Matthew and he laughed.

"It's not that expensive. I got it at that price because I'm an embassador of the VMB brand"

"You call that not expensive. I've always thought, I wore the most expensive brand in my company but after seeing the price of the jacket. I guess I lost in that aspect" Aria said as she swallowed hard.

"The show's about to start" Matt reminded and they both fixed their eyes on the TV.

Aria placed the popcorn on her thighs.

"Can I?" Matt asked referring to the popcorn and she nodded.

Matt sat closer to Aria. She smiled as she noticed the whole sitting room have been covered with Matthew's perfume fragrance.

"The director did a great job. He made us look like a couple on the show. We actually look good together, don't you think?" Matt asked still looking at the TV and Aria swallowed hard.

"I'm perfect so it's impossible for anyone to think otherwise and that was his motive for the show. He wanted us to play the role of couples while cooking. His plans worked out perfectly"

"Luckily, we had an experience of being in the kitchen together so that helped us to achieve the concept we were looking for" Matt said staring at her.

"You were obviously flirting with me there as well" Aria pointed out and Matt wrapped his arm around her shoulders bringing her closer to him.

"If I was indeed flirting. I would have done this as well because this is my favourite position with a girl I'm interested in" Matt said softly.

Aria's heartbeat skipped and she shoved Matt off.

"You did that when you arrived at the shooting site so does that mean you were flirting with me?" Aria asked as she avoided eye contact.

"Of course, I was" Matt said in a deeper tone and Aria swallowed hard.

"Come on, relax. Don't give me that serious face. I was only being friendly, is there anything wrong with that?" Matt asked and grabbed some popcorn as he continued watching the TV.

Aria stole glances of him.

"You might get tired of the face if you keep on staring" Matt said out of blue.

"What are you saying? Who's staring at you?" Aria asked.

Matthew looked at her and smiled.

******

MARGOLIS HOSPITAL....

The shareholders and directors of the hospital are gathered at the conference room.

"I'm in support of the chief director's decision but that doesn't mean that was a good one. I don't think professor Nolan is suitable to be the next heir of Margolis hospital. He's still young and he doesn't have enough experience to take on the hospital. Putting him in seat will be risking our shares in the hospital. I don't think it's a wise decision" The director said and Nolan fixed his eyes on his phone.

How come she hasn't dropped me even a single text message. Is she waiting for me to drop her something sweet instead. Nolan uttered in his head.

"Nolan" The chief director called out drawing his attention and he turned to him, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Don't you have anything to say or add anything to the issue at hand" One of the board members asked.

"I'm sorry but I see no sense in what the director just said. I have more than enough quality to run this hospital. Just because I'm the youngest here doesn't mean I can't run the hospital perfectly. Age shouldn't be a barrier for success and that's what we're all here for, SUCCESS" Nolan said professionally.

"You want to run the hospital but you can't even stick to one of the most important rules"

"What do you mean director?" The chief director asked curiously.

"Professor Nolan is having an affair with a nurse, right here in Margolis. If he can't control his emotions or feelings in his work place then he doesn't deserve to be the head or leader of this board" The director said seriously.

"Why are you bringing in my personal life into this, just so you can take me down. Does that rule even make any sense? This hospital is our place of work and we spend almost all our lives right here inside the hospital and you expect us not to find our spouses here. If you think falling in love at the hospital is a crime then tell me why most of the board members right here are married to their fellow doctors and nurses?" Nolan asked seriously as he stood up.

The board members whispered to themselves as they nodded in agreement.

"I also find that rule absurd. It should be abolished" Some of the board members uttered in chorus.

..........

Alina was walking past the nurse's table when she heard their conversation.

"I heard, the conference meeting isn't going in professor Nolan's favour. The director seems to be on his neck" The nurses gossiped.

Nolan are you okay? I hope you're fighting this head on. Alina said in her head worriedly.

She head to the conference room lobby.

Alina panted walking from end to end nervously.

The board members came out of the room and lastly Nolan came out with his uncle right next to him.

"No matter what, I will be right behind you" The chief director said.

"Thank you uncle" Nolan said and his eyes landed on Alina that was steps away from him.

"Alina" Nolan gasped out and quickly walked to her and grabbed her into his embrace.

"Thank you for coming here. I couldn't see you for a few minutes and it felt like I was about to lose my mind" Nolan said passionately and Alina wrapped her arms around his back.

TBC....

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