Everything that could possibly sparkle, did. The air had pure fragrance, not overly sterile but just clean. In the background played soft music to give patients a good emotional boost. The hospital was simply enthralling considering it was a public teaching hospital.

"Is everything up to your expectations, Dr. Bravucci?" A fairly short nurse with freckles splattered across her full cheeks and a curly bob politely inquired from the supposedly new chief of surgery who was completely rapt in the tour being given.

Leonardo had nothing specific to complain about. Sullivan Teaching Hospital was one of the greatest places any sane surgeon would ever want to be. It was one of the most trusted medical facility and well known for their unconditional love and absolute dedication to medicine. He scanned the place taking in the scenery in front of him, very much impressive.

Leonardo's mouth morphed into a smile that usually left most straight women swooning and the nurse was clearly not an exception. She suppressed a shy smile of her own and Leonardo could already tell from her rosy blush that she fancied him.

"I can work with this, nurse Rosanna." Dr. Bravucci replied gently as he inspected the modernized office he was going to be taking over from Dr. Vince. "You think I'll be fine here?"

The nurse wasn't expecting him to ask her for an opinion concerning the hospital and that made her turn even redder. "I—I think the hospital in general is fine though it could use a simple touch of your elegance."

"Hmm," he hummed mindlessly. "That can be arranged. Thanks really, nurse Rosanna."

"Okay, I guess I'm done here. Unless there's something else you want me to help you with?" The nurse said, her eyes voyaging around the chief's chest area and below his belt.

"I don't think there's anything else you can help me with. But I do appreciate your kindness."

"Are you sure there's nothing else?"

Leonardo's face contorted into a frown. He was used to people endlessly flirting with him but this was going to be hard if his co-workers didn't show some form of boundaries. He needed to instill boundaries. "

"Like I said before, there's nothing else you can help me with, nurse Rosanna. I don't fuck my co-workers, even if I did. You're not really my type. No offense whatsoever."

The nurse's mouth was almost too dry to speak after being called off straight up like that, she nodded grimly. "None taken."

"Great." Leonardo said, and the nurse scuttled back to her previous duties.

Ten minutes sailed by and Leonardo sat inside his new office as he patiently waited for Dr. Brad. Leonardo had a lot to digest and a lot to get accustomed to. The sudden change of environment was something he hadn't planned himself. He was very content in his private surgical practice located at the heart of Los Angeles and had never accommodated the idea of ever leaving the place—it was home.

The man had a perfect life back in LA. A lavish penthouse, a supportive family with enough love in their hearts. Coming to San Francisco was now starting to feel like a huge mistake. He already felt detached from his usual comfort bubble wrap, obviously a bad feeling.

"I never thought you'd actually come you know?" Finally, Dr. Brad.

Leonardo scoffed. "Like I had any other choice."

The two men shared a warm embrace as they exchanged their heartfelt greetings. Leonardo and Bradley were very tight friends since they grew up neighbors. Depended mostly on each other for everything, their friendship even got tighter during college where they later followed each other to Med School. Whenever Brad was feeling sad Leonardo would just offer him a beer and a spot to sulk and the neurosurgeon would do the same for him whenever there was need. When ready, they talked about the problem. They studied together, hung out together and even shared a dorm room at one point.

After Med School Leonardo decided to stay in Los Angeles which is where his family had moved to. They went on separate pathways for their internship program but never lost contact. The blue eyed blond watched his Italian friend amused whilst making himself comfy on the office couch.

"So, why did you come then?" Brad started.

"You needed me here, no?" He simply uttered, a smirk crawling on his features.

It was true. Sullivan hospital was in desperate need of an attending cardiothoracic surgeon but not just any other Tom, Dick or Harry. The board had set their eyes on the Italian hotshot and there's no way they were taking no for an answer. His mere presence showed a harsh battle won.

"Touché." Brad chuckled lightly. "How are you liking San Francisco so far?" As much as Brad's face looked aloof, his voice was condensed with concern.

"There's a bit of adjusting that needs to be done on my part but I'll be fine."

Both men were a little bit startled by a sudden knock. "Come in." Leonardo answered in a monotonous voice not liking the idea of people interrupting catch up time with his friend.

The door was then sliced wider, making room for a male resident whose whole facial frame was almost colonized by a huge set of black rimmed glasses. "Sorry for interrupting, Dr. Brad a word?"

"Sure thing Seth, go on."

The resident seemed a bit hesitant to discuss a patient in the presence of a third party but spoke anyway, "I think I now have a lead to what's causing Amanda's seizures." he handed over a file which contained recent results from an MRI scan.

Shock was an understatement when Seth's eyes finally decided to spare the third party a proper look. What were the odds the man who blew him to heaven and back in a dark alleyway just three nights ago was sitting just there, at his workplace.

Just pretend you didn't see him and walk out.

"You shouldn't be thinking if you want your attending to take you seriously doctor." Leonardo pitched himself into a conversation that had absolutely nothing to do with him earning himself a side eye from Brad who was busy scanning through the patient's results.

"I now know what's causing Amanda's spontaneous seizures, Dr. Brad." Seth paraphrased his statement eyeing Leonardo carefully, sort of weighing his thoughts. Was he thinking about what happened between them? Relax, maybe the guy was drunk and he forgot about the whole incident.

Just don't panic!

Leonardo smirked at the resident knowingly, "That's more like it kid."

Seriously, kid?

Seth unconsciously rolled his eyes before focusing on explaining the MRI results to Brad. "Amanda plays basketball though her parents are not fully aware of this fact, she fell and hit her head on hard concrete. According to these results there's a bruise on her brain that has been causing some swelling and hematoma. She also has a skull fracture but this should be from a previous fall when she was still a neonate."

Dr. Brad was impressed with Seth's newly found information and research work. "I have a place for you in my specialty, you know that right Dr. Mickelson?"

"I just need some time." Seth muttered not missing the daggers being thrown his way by an over scrutinizing and unbearably hot stranger.

"Take all the time you need." Brad advised though he wished to have the young resident in his OR of course. Brad wanted Seth in neurosurgery, after all he possessed the qualities of an ideal neurosurgeon. He couldn't force him to specialize though he was still keeping his fingers tightly crossed. Seth always said the brain fascinated him during open surgeries; it had to count to something, right?

As Seth was about to leave, Brad remembered to introduce the two men who were secretly glaring at each other. "Dr. Mickelson, this is Dr. Leonardo Bravucci," He said pointing at the Italian whose face remained completely stoic and expressionless. "Our new chief of surgery and head of cardio."

A pause then, "Dr. Bravucci, this is Dr. Seth Mickelson, one of our brilliant residents from Oxford."

Seth wasn't particularly paying attention.

Oh my God! The man is your boss! Good job Seth, now you've managed to screw yourself irrevocably over. Just great!

Seth remained silent with his lips pressed together. He took his precious time drinking in the older man. Three nights ago everything was super rushed he'd barely allowed himself to really look. He hadn't gotten the chance to analyze but now that he was...

Leonardo was a walking cliché of a villain from those soap operas. He probably had a driver's license that could be hung in the Louvre. Seth always respected another man's grind and he had to admit, those frequent visits to the gym were clearly paying off for the guy.

Disgustingly gorgeous, that's what he was and the last thing Seth should've been thinking about was Leonardo's tousled dark onyx hair long enough to run fingers inside and to clutch on during a heated kiss.

Those dark eyebrows which furrowed into a serious expression made the man look enigmatic. Mystery—an attractive feature you could ever find on a male. In short, Seth could only describe his new boss as a walking temptation.

Walk away right now...no, run the fuck away from this temptation if you know what's good for you.

Thank God Seth remembered to extent his right hand which was formerly tucked inside his scrubs pocket for a perfunctory hand shake. For some reason, Leonardo just had to squeeze the resident's hand making him slightly whimper.

A whimper. Jesus.

Leonardo was a whole friction to Seth's type of men. But now that he had tasted him, he wanted more. Maybe he could pin me on this desk and pound me from—

Oh for God's sake stop thinking about him like that! He's your freaking boss. Get that in your head.

There was something electrifying about Leonardo though, his confidence had Seth's body blazing in a fiery flame. Seth chose not to say anything because at this point in time he did not trust himself with words. The last thing he wanted to do was giving Dr. Brad a heart attack because of his none subtle slutty behavior.

"I hope we'll work together in peace and harmony." Leonardo said in his professional voice.

That's going to be very—very hard.

The resident's gaze slid sideways. He could feel the older man's intense stare burning him down to ashes and he couldn't keep up with him. He was now peculiarly conscious of the Italian man standing a few inches in front of him. Seth felt exposed, on display for everyone to see and judge him accordingly.

"Yes Dr. Bravu—" Seth's reply was rudely interrupted by an intercom blaring Dr. Brad's presence in fifth floor who then immediately ducked out of the office leaving the two other men almost in stalemate.

Leonardo shot Seth a raised brow as if he was giving him the platform to finish off his statement.

So he did, "Of course Dr. Bravucci."

The older man's lips twitched into a torturous smile as if daring Seth's sexual arousal and desire. What the hell is happening to me? Since when can I not handle a guy? He's not just a guy—the same guy who blew you is now your boss dammit!

"So, you're Dr. Mickelson." It wasn't a question and that made Seth tense up.

"The last time I checked." He calmly replied despite his heart beating ferociously inside his chest.

Leonardo looked like he was pondering for a second. "I hope one drunken blow job won't be a problem between us. We're both grownups, aren't we, Dr. Mickelson?"

Seth stiffly nodded. "It won't be a problem."

"Good, because grownups don't run from situations even if they're uncomfortable."

It sounded like a jab for Seth's refusal to spend the night with him. But Seth didn't have any means to confirm the theory lingering inside his head. "Right." He his voice sounded strained. "I'll be on my way now."

"Don't make me stop you from doing your designated job, Dr. Mickelson."