<p>She simply smiled, picked up the child's file, and said,</p><p>“Don't worry, we’re used to this—it’s part of the job.”</p><p>She prescribed some medication and handed the boy two chocolates from a stash on her desk. That moment sparked something in the senator, and he found himself drawn to her. From then on, he visited Lagos every two weeks, just to see her. But she had no interest in marrying him.</p><p>Feeling drained, she opened her office door and stepped inside. It was empty, indicating that Dr. Sameer had already left. She removed her gloves and threw them into the dustbin before heading to the restroom.</p><p>After washing her hands, she grabbed a can of Coke and a lemon from the fridge, then settled into a long guest chair in her office. She opened her food container and started eating fried eggs while sipping her Coke. Then, she poured some tea into her flask, squeezed in some lemon, and took a sip.</p><p>She was flipping through some patient files, reviewing the cases Dr. Sameer had handled that day when the office door opened.</p><p>Dr. Sameer walked in, carrying his laptop bag, looking like he had just finished work.</p><p>He sat in the chair opposite her and said,</p><p>“Doctor, don’t tell me you’re still working?”</p><p>"I'm done, but I have a meeting today, so I stayed behind," he replied.</p><p>She leaned back in her chair, her eyes landing on a framed photo on her desk—a picture of adorable twin children, Dr. Sameer’s kids.</p><p>"You know, I'll say it again today," he continued. “That word you hate to hear—the word 'love'—Dr. Maryama, any man who says he doesn’t love you is either lying because he knows he can't have you or has his own personal reasons. Please, give me a chance to marry you.”</p><p>She smiled and shook her head while spinning her chair slightly.</p><p>“Dr. Sameer, every day we have this same conversation. It’s not that I don’t want to marry you. No. I just think you should set this topic aside and focus on your wife and twins…”</p><p>He chuckled, stood up, and leaned on her desk as if he were about to hug her.</p><p>“Are you afraid of my wife, or what?”</p><p>“It’s not about fear…”</p><p>He smiled, staring at her.</p><p>“You know, I only met you after I was already married. Otherwise, you would have been my first choice.”</p><p>She took another sip of her tea, closed her eyes briefly, and said,</p><p>“Dr. Sameer…”</p><p>He turned and walked toward the door, saying, “I know—you don’t want to hear it, Dr. Maryama.”</p><p>She smiled as she watched him leave, then lowered her gaze to her desk.</p><p>Dr. Sameer was an orthopedic specialist, married with twin children—a boy and a girl, around two years old.</p><p>As soon as he left, she leaned back into her chair and pulled out her iPhone from her bag. She turned it on and took out her laptop, placing it on her desk. She pressed a button, and within seconds, Joseph entered her office.</p><p>"Plug in my laptop for charging," she instructed while removing her covered shoes.</p><p>Joseph quickly did as she asked and also turned on the plasma TV mounted on the wall.</p><p>"Bring me those flats," she added, pointing at her office slippers. Though they weren’t far, she preferred to have them handed to her.</p><p>She tapped her finger lightly on her desk and looked at Joseph.</p><p>“Did they clean my office today?”</p><p>“Yes, Doctor, they did. The cleaner just left a while ago.”</p><p>“Okay, get the cleaner back to wipe it down again, please.”</p><p>She slipped into her flat shoes, grabbed her phones, and left the office. She was headed to Dr. Yazeed’s office, which wasn’t far from hers…</p>
