Dr. Nicca James Alfarone

"Steve, what the hell is this?!" I shoved the card in his face but he refused to look at it, pushing it away and back at me. "Don't worry about Nicca." Steve rolled his eyes, fixing the cuff of his navy blue Giorgio Armani suit. "I have no idea what that means. It's probably just a prank some kid is trying to play on you. Don't be fooled by it." He ran a hand through his freshly gelled hair, taking a sip of his coffee.

"...right." I rolled my eyes, shoving the card back in my pocket. I didn't think some kid would be that dumb enough to walk up to someone else's house. What could would even write a note like that and what motive would they even have? To scare an adult out of their skin? That would most likely be that reason. "I just don't like how you're acting all nonchalant, like you just don't care." I scoffed, shaking my head. "It's whatever. I'll keep it to myself." I muttered, standing up to put my empty cup in the sink.

It bothered me how he wanted to come talk to me about all of his problems and things he dealt with in the real world, while I couldn't be bothered to talk to him about one simple card that had to mean something because it just had to. But he didn't care as usual. "Don't be a baby, Nicca. I do care." Steve sighed, reaching for me but I wiggled away, deciding that it was time for him to go to work. "It's past 7:30. I think you should leave so you can get there on time. Don't want you to be late, now do we?" I hissed icily as I rinsed my cup. 

I honestly really liked Steve and I wanted everything with him, but it seemed like he was only for himself, like a narcissist. I felt like he had some selfish tendencies, only wanting to do things that he wanted. He never asked me if I wanted to do anything, which bothered me but I had never said anything.

God, I was pathetic but I couldn't deny that I didn't harbor deep feelings for Steve. He made me feel special, made me feel things no other person has made me feel before and it shocked me to my core. But I wasn't so sure if it was love or not. We did everything together that a couple would do but it was surprising that we still haven't had sex yet but he told me that he was a sex maniac, meaning that he always wanted it.

So how come we haven't done anything dirty yet? I mean, I wasn't bad looking. I'd like to think that I had some appeal about myself but he hasn't once looked at me in that way that I hoped. Only fleeting kisses and warm hugs here and there, but nothing too special.

"Nic, babe don't be like this." I rolled my eyes, shutting the water off. "I'm not being like anything. I'm just merely telling you that work is important." I stated in a stoic tone and nothing has ever pissed him off more. "Listen Nicca, I'm getting tired of your attitude!" I looked at him with my eyebrows raised and a smirk dead set on my lips. "What attitude? The only one with an attitude here, is you." I pointed to him. "I'm relaxed as I could ever be." I smiled with a tilt of my head. "You're fucking pissing me off, Nicca! STOP BULLSHITTING ME!" He glared at me, his eyes filled with anger and I was almost afraid of him, but I had seen worse.

"Why are you so angry?" I asked, chuckling internally. "I was upset but now I'm not so I don't appreciate your tone." I stated calmly, my hands intertwined together as he stood to his full height. "I don't like pushing unnecessary shit onto my plate, like I give a fuck about it!" Steve ran a hand through his hair. "So what if someone gave you a random fucking note? Let it fucking go, damn! You're so needy with this fucking shit." He hissed and I clenched my fists. "Get the fuck out." I waved my hand towards the door. "I don't even have the energy to yell at you. Just go and get the fuck out." I huffed, wondering when he started acting like a baby.

I heard him growl a bit before snatching his belongings up and heading for the door. He made my blood pressure rise through the roof and I needed to calm down. This wasn't the first argument that we've had, no. Actually, we have been through many. We argued for weeks about the fact that he refused to meet my parents even after a month of dating. If this relationship was to go anywhere, he would have to meet the parental figures and I would have to do the same but it seemed like that wasn't a priority for him.

I really liked Steve and I really enjoyed being in his presence but I couldn't take a step further if he was not on the same page as I was. I had to know that my voice was being heard in this relationship. He would have to be understand and respectful of my terms if he saw whatever this was going further down the road.

 Chicken wing, chicken wing, hot dog and bologna

I recoiled at the disgusting ringtone Jose picked out for himself as I answered the call. "Hey Jose." I said casually and he snorted. "You sound dumb, Nicca." He cackled through the phone and I almost threw my phone against the wall. "Let's try that again." I muttered and he snorted. "Hi, Jose. How are you doing?" I wiped my nose as it was itching. 

"Hey asshole." Jose murmured through the phone. "Kaiden came through with some information. Pop up at Rosa's in 10, homie." That was all he said before he hung up on me. "How rude." I turned my phone off to the lock screen as I grabbed my keys and my lab coat. Tonight would be a night for me.

Then my phone beeped, signaling that I had a text. I had clicked the on button to see that it was Steve and I rolled my eyes once again.

I'm sorry baby. I didn't mean it. Please forgive me. x

I'll respond back to that later. Right now, I had to go find out if Jose had some serious things for me to know about him.

* * *

"So what did your boy toy say?" I asked as I took a seat in front of Jose at the famous cafe Rosa's, ignoring his usual glare as he sucked his teeth, setting his phone down on the table. "He said," Jose took a deep breath. "That there is no Steve Bardlow. No Steve in the system, no Bardlow in the system. It was as if the person never existed He said his identity may be hidden and it very well could be his actual name but he probably has things he wants to hide. He said that in this day and age, no one would actually pull an Elliot Rollins and try to have a different identity so he said no to worry yet because he's still looking. That's Kaiden West for you, trying to see the good in every situation." Jose rolled his eyes, snorting.

"But I say run for the hills. I found it odd how Kaiden was able to find me and you in the database but there was no sign of Steve. That seems a little suspect, too suspect, if you ask me." He raised a brow at me, sipping his sweet tea. "It is what it is. Maybe I'm just being a bad friend and trying to see an out in this situation. Maybe Steve is who he says he is. Maybe he's just some peculiar person afraid of bad press. Speaking of bad press, did you ask him about why he isn't on the internet? Even if you have all of the money in the world, we should still be able to find just a little bit of information about you." Jose squinted his eyes and I let out a laugh at how ridiculous he looked.

"No. We got into an argument this morning and I just wanted him to leave." I heaved a sigh, my mood dampening once again and I was in a sour state of mind. "What did he do?" Jose asked and I narrowed my eyes. "I showed him the note and he had the nerve to wave it off like it didn't matter!" I glared at the floor, wishing that it would vanish into thin air. "That's a little weird. I told Kaiden about it and he almost had a bitch fit and we aren't even dating but you and Steve are, yet he pays it no mind." He put his hand on his chin in a thinking position. "Just a little mental, if you think about it. Most boyfriends would have concern, I know I would. That doesn't strike you as odd?" He peered into my face and I took a look around the small cafe, enjoying the smells of coffee and donuts.

"I didn't know. I don't know!" I sputtered, unable to think. "I was just really pissed so I didn't think too much of it." I stated and Jose stared at me, shaking his head. "You are one sorry ass idiot." He mumbled and I flipped my middle finger up at him. "I mean it, Nicca. I sometimes think you aren't right in the head. The way you go about doing things, only idioti do that." He rolled his eyes.

"I don't know what else to tell you other than the fact that you just need to be careful and have some wits about yourself. 

The waiter had brought over a cup of a mocha, which I assumed Jose ordered for me. I smiled gratefully at him and he raised a brow in confusion as I leaned down to take a sip of it. "What are you doing with that?" He asked, his arms folded. "Drinking it?" I retorted, not understanding why he stopped me in taking my daily caffeine. "The question is, why exactly are you drinking it?" He clicked his tongue and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Didn't you order this for me?" I questioned and he sighed. "Why in the bloody fucking hell would I buy you a mocha, knowing that you prefer a cafe latte?" He sighed, exasperated and my eyes widened. "Then what is this?" I sat the cup down, staring it like bees were to come flying out of it. 

"I don't know." He looked around the cafe, almost empty. "There is not one person in here that seems suspicious." He clarified and I rubbed the sides of my head. "What the fuck?" I screeched out quietly, not wanting to look crazy. "Aye, isn't there something under your cup, mate?" He pointed to the bottom and indeed, there was something underneath it. I ripped it off, keeping the contents inside of the cup as I came face to face with another business card of mine. Someone had to have been in the hospital long enough to collect these.

"What does it say?" Jose asked because he hadn't seen the first one. I shook my head as I didn't want him to see it and start freaking out.

I let out a sigh, willing myself not to cry as I tore the card up into pieces. I hadn't had any idea of what it meant but at this point in time, I knew it was something serious and I had to get to the bottom of it before it was too late. It was scaring me because I had no idea if these were pointless jokes that someone decided to play on me because they were bored with their lives or if someone actually has a vendetta against me and actually is out to hurt me.

I wouldn't understand why because I didn't talk to many people. I tried to regulate my breathing because I was on the verge of panicking. I was afraid, deathly afraid and I had nothing else to do but stare at the broken pieces of paper that still seemed to spell out my worst enemy. 

1 day, doc.