Episode 10
Title: Heartbeat.
Everyone
left the office of Wole except Lola. He told her to wait. The moment they
stepped out of the office, he spoke to her.
“You look
worried.”
“Not really
sir.” she said in a softened tone. “I only hope Dr. Duke is not angry with me.”
“No, he is
not. He just doesn’t agree to your opinion. The boy will be scheduled for the
surgery tomorrow.”
“Can I see
the boy?”
“Of course.
You can inform Dr. Wendy and she will direct you to where he is.”
“Thank you
sir.” Lola stood up to leave.
Wole Bello
asked. “How is your family?”
“My family
is fine sir. Thank you for asking.”
“If you
need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me.”
Lola smiled
faintly. Thank you sir.” She stepped out of the office and brooded over why the
CEO was being nice to her.
*******
Before
going home, Duke had plans to check on the old man that needed a kidney
transplant. Yvonne had informed him his surgery was postponed without giving
him any reason. On his way out of his office, Yvonne opened the door and
entered. She closed the door.
“What are
you doing here?” He asked her. “I was about to leave.”
“I know you
are angry with Dr. Lola,” she said. “Dr. Wole Bello is not considerate.”
“He was not
the only one that agreed to her decision and I am not angry with her. I don’t
like her verdict, that’s all.”
“Yours was
better. There is nothing special about Dr. Lola.”
“Dr.
Yvonne, if you have any issues with her, you have to talk to her about it.”
“The only
issue I have with her concerns you.”
Duke gazed
at her surprised. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“She has
been all over you for the past few days. She has taken my place.”
“I am confused about what you are saying. No one took anybody’s
place.”
“We no longer sit and chat like before. You avoid me.”
“It has always been like that before Dr. Lola came to this
hospital. I don’t avoid you. I respect the union called marriage. You are a
married woman.”
“But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“Dr. Yvonne….
“Call me Yvonne. Call me by my name.” She motions to hold
him but he held her hands.
“This is an office. I can’t be with you or anyone right
now.”
Yvonne appeared puzzled. “Have you and Daniela broken up?”
“Yes and I am single and not searching.” Duke opened his
door and left Yvonne in his office.
********
Lola saw the frail looking boy. He was with his parents.
They stood up and gestured towards her.
“We heard you fought for our son.” The father said to her.
His wife was crying quietly.
“I believe he deserves to have the surgery as soon as
possible.” Lola said.
“Thank you doc.” the mother said.
“You’re welcome.” Lola stared at the boy. He was sleeping.
There were medical devices inserted on his body. “I will check on him when he
is awake by tomorrow.
“Will you be among the surgeons to operate on my son?” The
father asked.
“No. The surgeon in charge, Dr. Wendy is the best. She will
do everything she can to save your son.” She placed her hand on the mother’s
shoulder. “Be strong.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Lola rapidly walked out of the room. The appearance of the
boy almost made her want to cry in front of his parents.
********
Duke went to the man that needed a kidney transplant. He
moved closer to the bed to talk with him. He picked the patient’s file to read.
“How are you feeling sir?” Duke asked him.
“I’m trying to be strong but I feel weak.”
“I know. You will be strong after you get the transplant.”
Lola entered the room, Duke turned to her and back at the
man.
“But I wasn’t told why I won’t get the transplant tomorrow.”
Duke cleared his throat and Lola looked at him. He spoke to
the patient. “There was a mixed up about the finance of the transplant but in
three weeks’ time, you will have your surgery.”
“I am looking forward to it.”
“Best of luck.” Duke dropped the file and walked out of the
room without staring at Lola.
Lola forced herself to smile at the man to cheer him up. She
assured him, she would be there during his surgery. The old man liked her and
told her if she could stay with him for a little while. He told her he was a
widower, lost his wife many years ago.
“What about your children?” She asked him.
“I have only one daughter but she has abandoned me.”
“That’s very sad to hear. I am sorry.”
“Thank you.”
“Does she know you want a get transplant?”
He shook his head, almost in tears as he shut his eyes
tightly. When he opened his eyes, tears surrounded them. “No. She doesn’t pick
my calls. The last time I called her, her number was switched. I am sure she
has changed her number.”
“That means you have no idea how I can reach her.”
“No.”
Lola felt pity for him. She was beginning to feel bad she
didn’t request for him to have the surgery.
“I don’t want to know what really transpired between both of
you but she deserves to know.”
“I was not a good father after her mother died. I pushed her
away.”
“Do you know where she works?”
His eyes were visibly surprised. “I do.”
“I will need the address and her name.”
“But it’s against your profession.”
“I know but I want to help. You are not meant to be alone. I
will send a nurse to get a pen and a paper for you to tell him what to write.”
“I am only doing what I think is right.” Lola said.
*********
Zara and Melvin were at the doctor’s lodge, chatting. It was
a small room where surgeons go to when they don’t have a patient.
“I don’t think what we planned worked.” Zara told him.
“It didn’t work for Dr. Jidenna. We haven’t tried Dr. Duke.”
“It won’t work. I think Dr. Jidenna really likes her.”
“So what do you want to do?”
“I want to be among the top two and I don’t want Lola
among.”
“That is why I wanted us to corporate. I want Lola and Ahmed
out of here.”
“What makes you think I want you here? I prefer Ahmed.”
Melvin appeared surprised. “But you don’t respect him. You
don’t like him.”
“I don’t like the three of you.”
“Why are you so bitter?”
“I am not bitter.” Zara replied. “I am real and true to
myself. If Lola has gotten herself Dr. Jidenna, I will get Dr. Duke. He will be
mine.”
Melvin chuckled as if he was mocking her. “I hope you can
get him.”
“He is human and blood flows through him. I will get him.”
Zara stood and walked out on him.
*********
Dr. Duke was on his way out of the hospital when Jidenna ran
to meet him.
“Are you already going home?” Jidenna asked.
“Yes. I don’t really have anything to do until tomorrow.”
“I never asked you how you sorted things with Daniela.”
“We are no longer together.”
“I am sorry about it.” Jidenna said. “That means you are
free to mingle.”
Duke chuckled lightly. “I am not ready for that.”
“But I hope I can come for relationship advice anytime you
are free.”
Duke gave him a curious look. “I thought you are not in a
relationship.”
“Well, very soon I will have a girlfriend in this hospital.”
“Again?”
“Do you think it is a bad idea?” Jidenna asked in a worried
tone.
“Oh no. I’m just surprised you want to date someone working
in the same hospital. You know how the other one ended.”
“This one is different. I really love her.”
“Who is she?”
“Dr. Lola Bello.”
Duke blinked his eyes. He never saw it coming even though he
used to see them together. Jidenna was waiting for him to say something with
the kind of look in his eyes.
“Dr. Duke…” he called his name.
“Oh, I never knew you liked her.”
“I love her and I want her to be my girlfriend.”
“Have you told her?”
“Yes. I took her to dinner on Saturday.”
It felt like a shock to him but he acted as if he was cool
with it.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Duke didn’t like the way his heartbeat pounded. It was
beating fast. He didn’t want them to be lovers. “I hope you had a nice time.”
“Yes I did. I am expecting her to give me a reply soon.”
“I hope she will give you the response you want.”
“I know she will. I will see you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I am not a relationship expert but if you need my advice,
my door is always open for you.”
“Thanks.”
Duke shook his hand and turned towards the direction of his
car.
Jidenna walked back inside the hospital with a bright smile on his lips.
*********
On her way going home, Lola checked the time. She knew it
would be impossible to find the old man’s daughter at her place of work at
7:35pm. Her name was Patricia Oni. Lola planned to go to her office, a bank
very early in the morning.
She arrived home and didn’t meet her mother. She called her on
the phone and Bidemi informed Lola she still had customers at her restaurant.
Lola prepared dinner, ate and showered. She went to her room and thought about
Mr. Oni.
Lola hoped if only her father accepted her before he died. If
she were to be in Patricia’s shoes, she would be there for her father. She
would never leave him alone in a hospital. Lola felt sad.
Bidemi returned home
and used her key to enter. She was going to her room when she heard Lola
crying. She rushed to open the door without knocking. Lola quickly wiped the
tears off her face.
“Lola, what is it?”
“Nothing.” She turned her face away. Bidemi went closer to
look at her.
“You can’t tell me nothing,” she said and sat beside Lola on
the bed. “Why have you been crying?”
She looked at her. There was no need hiding her face
anymore. “Mom, I said nothing. I am fine.”
“You are not fine. Did something bad happen at the
hospital?”
“No.”
“Are you crying because of Dr. Duke?”
Lola gave her mother a look and shook her head. “No.”
“So, what is it?”
Lola knew her mother would never give up until she would
open up. She told Bidemi about the old man.
“Is that why you are crying?”
“No.” Lola started to cry again. “It makes me think about my
father.”
Bidemi eyebrows flew up. She appeared apprehensive.
Lola added. “Even though he rejected me, I find it hard to
hate him.” She turned to her mother and held her hands. “Mom, is there a way
you can get his picture?”
Bidemi opened her eyes. “Why do you need his picture?”
“I just want to know how he looks like. Mom, please help
me.” Tears started to flow down her face.
Bidemi had never seen her cry like that. She was beginning
to feel bad.
“I don’t have his picture.”
“What about his family? Is there a way I can locate them? I
don’t need anything from them. I just want to know what he looks like.”
Bidemi wiped the tears from Lola’s face. Tears started to float
around her eyes. “I hate to see you like this. I can’t keep it away from you
anymore. I can’t continue to lie. Your father is not dead.”
Lola widened her eyes. She was stunned. She left the bed instantly
and faced at her mom. “What did you just say?”
“Your father and I had a complicated relationship. It didn’t
work out between us and I had to take care of you all by myself.”
“You told me my father never accepted me and he died.”
“I lied and I am sorry.”
“You are sorry? Just like that? For many years, I thought he
was dead.”
“He is dead to me.” Bidemi said with no emotion in her
voice. She rose on her feet to face Lola. “Your father and I did not work.”
“Even if your relationship did not work, did he really
reject me?”
She turned her face away and heaved a sigh. She sniffed her
nose and looked at Lola.
“Answer me, mom.”
Bidemi quickly thought for an answer. “Yes.”
“I will like to ask him why?”
“I have told you our relationship didn’t work out. He pushed
me away when I was pregnant. He didn’t want to be a part of your life.”
Lola was heartbroken. “Where is he now?”
“I don’t know where he is.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I swear I don’t know where he is.”
“What about where he lived and worked when both of were
dating?” Lola asked.
“It was a long time ago. I heard he relocated abroad and
sold the house. I don’t think he is in the country.”
“You have been lying to me ever since I was born. Why should
I believe you now?”
“Lola, you have to believe me now because it is the truth. I
am sorry.”
Lola pointed at the door. “Leave my room.”
“Lola…”
“I said leave my room!”
Bidemi walked out in tears. Lola locked the door and erupted
into a bowl of tears.
********
“Don’t you think you are in love with her?” Duke’s brother
asked him over the phone.
Duke told him about Lola. “I am not in love.” He was in the
bedroom, preparing to sleep.
“So why call me to tell me about her. Admit it you have
fallen in love with her.”
“That’s not true. I like her. She is a good surgeon.”
“But you don’t want her to date Jidenna.”
“Jidenna is my colleague and a friend. He is a good man but
I feel Lola deserves better.”
“Duke, she doesn’t deserve better. You think she deserves
you.”
“But I am not ready for another relationship. I just came
out from a toxic one.”
“Thank God you broke up with that girl you called Daniela.
The day you sent me her picture and told me who her father was, I knew both of
you won’t last. Thank God you didn’t introduce her to the family.”
“I tried to tolerate her but she and her father messed
everything up.”
“To hell with her father.” he said to Duke. “Let’s talk
about this Lola. I think I like her.”
Duke beamed. “Mike, you haven’t seen her.”
“It doesn’t matter. You have never called me to talk about a
woman like this. My brother, if you have feelings for this woman, tell her. She
will either reject you or accept you. You need to act fast.”
“I don’t want to come between Jidenna and her.”
“Bullshit. She hasn’t said yes to him. You still have a
chance with her.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t know what I feel for her yet.”
“You better know what you feel before it is too late.” Mike
said. “I have to go now. I have to check on the kids in their room. My wife
travelled.”
“That’s okay. Hug your kids for me.”
“I will. Goodnight little bro.”
“How many times will I warn you not to call me that?”
Mike laughed hard. “Goodnight Duke.”
“Goodnight.”
*******
Lola made sure she left very early in the morning so that
she won’t see her mother. What her mother said about her father was not going
to stop her from working or achieving her aim. She had plans to eat breakfast
at the cafeteria. Lola took a cab to the bank where Patricia worked. She got
there around 8:05am. She walked towards the counter and approached a woman. The
woman smiled and greeted her. Lola told her she was looking for Patricia Oni
and the banker pointed at the customer service desk.
Lola thanked her and motioned towards the desk. There was a good-looking
woman sitting there. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She responded with a smile.
“You are Miss. Patricia Oni, right?”
“Yes but I no longer bear Oni anymore. I am married now.”
“I am sorry. I never knew.”
“That’s okay. Customers still call me by my maiden name. Please
sit. What can I do for you?”
Lola sat down. “I am Dr. Lola and I came here to see you
because of your father.”
Her expression changed. “If he sent you to me, tell him you
didn’t see me.”
“He didn’t send me to you. I came here on my own. Your
father is in the hospital and he will be having a kidney transplant in three
weeks’ time.”
“That is his business.” She said with no compassion.
“I don’t really know how he treated you but he is your
father. No matter the pain he caused you, he is sorry. He needs you.”
“Please, if you are only here to talk about him, I will
advise you to leave. I have work to do.”
Lola brought out a pen and paper from her bag and wrote on
it. She extended the paper to Patricia. “That’s the name of the hospital and my
phone number in case you want to reach me and see your father.”
Patricia refused to take it.
Lola decided to drop it on her desk. She rose up. “I will be
expecting your call.”
Patricia said nothing and Lola walked out of the bank and
boarded another cab to the hospital.
********
Lola went to the dressing room to change and checked on the
boy. He was name was Timothy. He was awake and two nurses were there to monitor
his condition. His mother was beside him. He appeared very weak to talk. Lola
moved closer to them.
“This is the surgeon I told you about.” His mother told him.
He smiled weakly at Lola.
With a smile on Lola’s face, she touched his hand. “I wish
you good luck.”
“Thank you.” The mother said.
Dr. Wendy entered with the case file of the boy. Lola and
the woman greeted her and she answered courteously. She checked on her patient
and faced the mother.
“Your son will be taken to the OR by 12:30pm. The surgery is
going to take hours and I need you to be around.”
“I am not going anywhere. My husband is already on his way.”
“That’s nice. I want to assure you that I am going to do all
my best to save your son’s life.”
“Will he survive?”
“I am sorry, I cannot promise you anything but I will do my
best.” Wendy smiled at the boy and left the room.
*********
Bidemi entered into the ward and gestured towards a nurse.
Her phone beeped, she took her phone from her bag to check the message. She
began to walk and unknowingly hit a surgeon.
“I’m so sorry.” She quickly said and gripped her phone hard.
It almost fell from her hand.
“I’m sorry too. I hope you are okay?” Duke asked her.
“Yes. Please, I am looking for Dr. Wole Bello. I urgently
want to see him.”
“Do you have an appointment with him?”
Bidemi quickly surveyed around, trying to avoid seeing Lola.
“No but if you mention my name, he will agree to see me.”
“It’s not proper for me to do that.” He said calmly.
“I know but you have to help me. Please.”
He looked at her sympathetically. “I will take you to him
but I hope he will be happy to see you.”
“Yes.” She looked at his identity card handing around his
neck. She wanted to know his name. She was surprised. “You are Dr. Duke?”
“Yes. You sound as if you know me.”
She smiled graciously. “My daughter is a surgeon here. She
talks about you.”
“I hope she talks good things about me.”
“Yes…”
“Mom?” Lola said as she sighted her mom from the left side
and motioned to her.
Duke gazed at Lola. “Is this your mom?”
“Yes.” Lola said without looking at him. Her eyes were on
Bidemi. “What are you doing here?”
“I… I came to see you.”
Duke gazed at her puzzled. “But I thought…”
“Never mind, Dr. Duke,” she quickly said. “I have seen my
daughter. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.” Duke walked away with an uncertain
look on his face.
Lola grabbed her mother’s hand gently and whisked her away
from the ward. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you. I was worried. I could not sleep last
night. I know you are not happy with me.”
“You didn’t have to come here. We are going to talk about it
when I am ready.”
“Lola, you have to forgive me.”
“Mom, this is where I work. I can’t forgive you now. I have
to think of my life before I can forgive you for lying to me for twenty eight
years.”
“I know.”
“Go home and rest or you can go to the restaurant.”
“Will you come home today?”
“I don’t know.” Lola said. “It depends.”
“Okay my daughter, I will call you later.”
“Alright.” Lola turned to the direction of the ward without
saying goodbye.
Bidemi had no choice but to leave. Thank God, Lola did not
catch her. If she knew the reason she came, Lola might hate her forever.
********
In his office, Duke sat down to think. He wondered what the
reason might be for Lola to talk about him with her mother.
Did she like him?
The way the mother smiled at him could mean Lola might
actually like him.
What am I going to do? If she likes me,
why did she agree to have dinner with Jidenna? He questioned himself.
Duke felt he might be infatuated with Lola. He wasn’t sure
if the feelings he felt were real. He also thought there must a reason her
mother came to see Wole Bello and didn’t want Lola to know.
Is Lola Bello related to Wole Bello? I
will look for a way to find out.
*********
Lola went to eat lunch at the cafeteria. After that, they
left and met Jidenna. He informed her that Timothy has been taken to the OR. She
went to the lodge to wait with Ahmed. In the operating room, Wendy had other
intellectual surgeons to assist her. Yvonne was also there.
The parents of the boy were panicking at the waiting room.
Lola didn’t want to go there. She felt the same way. During that time, Zara,
Melvin and Jidenna had patients to treat. Duke came out of his office to check
on Wendy and left. It didn’t take up to the hours they expected the surgery to
last when Wendy and the others came out. On her way to see the parents of the
boy, she bumped into Lola.
Lola didn’t like the expression on her face. “How did the
surgery go? How is Timothy?”
Jidenna sauntered towards them.
Wendy spoke sympathetically. “His heart couldn’t take it.
Before I was able to finish the surgery, his heartbeat stopped. I tried to
revive him. I’m sorry we lost him.”
“No.” Lola lips shuddered.
Wendy walked away and Duke came out from one of the rooms.
Wendy looked at Duke and shook her head. Duke sighed heavily and put his hands
on his waist. He shook his head. He saw Jidenna trying to hold Lola but she moved
away from him and marched out of the place. Jidenna followed her.
Wendy went to break the sad news to the parents. They broke
down in tears.
Lola came out from the hospital and went to a spot at the right side of the building. It was the only quiet place there. There were flowers around the place. Lola started to cry.
Lola came out from the hospital and went to a spot at the right side of the building. It was the only quiet place there. There were flowers around the place. Lola started to cry.
“Why? He did not have to die!”
Jidenna moved near her. He touched her shoulders. “It’s
okay.”
“It’s not okay. He was just a little boy.”
“I know. Wipe your tears.”
She gently cleaned her face with her hands. She inhaled in
and out. “I wish I could have done something to save him.”
Duke decided to check on Lola. He didn’t care if Jidenna was
with her. As he wanted to step where they were, he halted to listen to what
Jidenna was about to say to her.
“God knows best.” Jidenna said. “May his soul rest in
peace.”
She faced him. “Amen.”
“It hurts me to see you cry. I love you Lola. I really want
us to be together.”
When he mentioned those words, that moment, she knew she
couldn’t tell him those words. She didn’t love him. She wanted someone else to
tell her that. She wanted that person to be Duke. She craved for him. She feared Duke might hate her for what had
happened. If only she had agreed for the old man to have the surgery. Lola was
going to take her mother’s advice. She probably lost Duke and she didn’t
want to lose Jidenna too even though she had no love for him. She only liked
him as a friend.
Lola looked into Jidenna’s eyes. “I will be your
girlfriend.”
Duke bit his lower lip hard. A huge spasm of jealousy hit
him hard.
Jidenna smiled cheerfully at Lola. He was happy. Duke peeped
and saw Jidenna kissing Lola. It hurt Duke to his bones. Lola felt nothing as
she kissed him back.
Duke turned back. His brother was right. He had fallen in
love with Lola. He loved her.
Was it already late for him to get her?
Has he lost Lola for forever? He questioned himself as he gestured back inside the
building.
Lola Bello had become Gerald Duke’s Heartbeat.
***********
The End of season 1.
The season 2 will commence after Partners in crime Season4. (8
episodes)
Thanks for reading. God bless!
Thanks for reading. God bless!
I don’t like the ending jooor,this is a big suspense I prefer duke to Lola.thanks carina j,God bless you.
ReplyDeleteHehehe. God bless you too.
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