Fated to Him

The man was there in a suit, with his briefcase in hands and another bag by his feet, scrunched up amid hissing cats, howling dogs and even a screeching parrot. Nia was sure he felt like a fish out of the bowl, and by the annoyed expression on his face he wasn’t fond of animals. But Mondays and Tuesdays were the busiest days since they followed the weekend, and today was no exception.

“Good afternoon,” she said half an hour later. He got his belongings with a bit of clumsiness from the floor and headed towards her. “May I help you, sir?” She looked from his face to his briefcase with an inquisitive look. He wasn’t there for a pet appointment, nor did he look like a medical supplier.

“Yes please, I’m here to see Ms. Melina Karagianis.”

“You mean Melina Calimeris. The doctor is in surgery right now. She won’t be available for the next hour, but Dr. Gabriella is on. Where’s your pet?” She shot an apprehensive glance at him.

He got a big envelope, and with a dark expression on, he checked it twice, and as magic, his face softened up a little and he let go of his breath.

“Sorry, I have to see her, it’s a critical matter.”

“Can I take the message?” She looked at the envelope and then at the man.

“No, in this kind of business, the person itself has to sign it. I’m from the Courthouse in Athens…” He almost jumped out of his skin when an angry growl came from the front door, as a guy dragged an enormous dog inside. He glared in the pair’s direction and turned back to the girl. “I have to deliver this envelope in person and be on the next flight back to the continent, so please, if you can check with her?”

“Courthouse? What for?” She widened her eyes and cocked her head, just like the dogs in the clinic.

“Look, young lady, I have a long list of people I needed to see by tomorrow evening, and I can’t afford to miss the flight out of Santorini. So please, help me out here.”

She nodded to him, and the anguished look he gave her made her stand up like a robot. “Give me a minute.” After that, she disappeared inside the clinic, coming back shortly after. “Doctor Calimeris, asked if you could give her fifteen minutes, and she’ll be out, so her assistant can take over and finish for her.”

“Thank you!” And with consternation he went back to his seat between two cats and their owners, looking sketchy to those evil aliens spitting and hissing. He wasn’t an animal lover, it was written all over his face, and the animals were getting into his nerves.

About twenty minutes later, a petite woman in a light green uniform, full of paw prints patterns on it, showed up in the reception. Nia could see his eyes light up with hope.

“Nia? Where is he?” But before the girl could answer she found him, staring at her as if she was an oasis in the desert and squirming in his seat. He was a middle-aged guy, too skinny and jumpy to her taste, and something told her he didn’t bring good news. “Can you bring him to my office, please?”