A Bed Too Empty, A Boss Too Close

"Remove your trousers and lie down on the bed!" a man's voice said, low and cold, leaving no room for argument.

At the sound of it, Melinda Palmer felt her pulse stumble inside her chest.

For reasons she could not pinpoint, this humiliating illness had crept into her life without warning.

Each time it resurfaced, an overpowering craving seized control of her body, and it did not care about time or place. Because of that relentless surge, her job performance had begun to suffer, and even her daily routine had turned chaotic.

After weeks of battling both fatigue and despair, she forced herself to schedule a consultation at the exclusive hospital. Although the consultation fee was several times higher than that of an ordinary hospital, the promise of absolute privacy persuaded her to come.

To make matters worse, she had deliberately chosen a middle-aged female gynecologist when she booked the visit. Instead, a tall and strikingly young male physician now stood before her.

"Must I really remove them?" she asked carefully, her voice trembling.

Embarrassment flooded through her at the mere idea of undressing before a man she had never met. Even if he carried the title of doctor, the thought still unsettled her deeply.

Maintaining a firm and professional tone, Lorenzo Harvey addressed her concern, saying, "Tell me how I am expected to conduct an examination if you remain dressed?"

"I just..." Heat rushed across Melinda's face, and she shifted uneasily as the words refused to come.

Although a medical mask concealed the lower half of his face, his piercing gaze held a depth that was difficult to read.

Without warning, a reckless image flashed across Melinda's mind, and she imagined him forcing her onto the bed and claiming control over her body.

Horror swept through her as she briskly shook her head, trying to drive away the disgraceful fantasy that had surfaced so suddenly.

To steady herself, she repeated over and over that he was nothing more than a physician, and he likely examined countless women each day as part of his routine responsibilities.

With that reminder anchoring her thoughts, she fought down her humiliation and slowly slid her trousers past her knees before easing herself onto the examination table.

"Tell me what seems to be troubling you," Lorenzo said in an even tone as he reached for the disinfectant to prepare the instruments.

Color crept up her neck while Melinda struggled to form the words. "It is... down there..."

Because she trailed off without clarifying, Lorenzo regarded her with quiet composure and continued, "Have you been engaging in frequent intercourse, or did something cause an injury?"

From his experience, most young women who scheduled visits to the gynecology department came in for concerns along those lines.

Instead of confirming his assumption, Melinda quickly shook her head while her blush deepened. "No. I have never been involved in any sexual activity."

At that unexpected admission, Lorenzo stilled and shifted his gaze toward her with visible surprise.

An arresting