The next few days, Lila's condition grew more critical. Its seems that the prescription given to her wasn't the right dosage. Needless to say, my mood was rather shitty by the time I arrived at the conference room to meet Alexander and the professor so we could discuss the research paper further and the resources provided to us by the medical staff in the children's hospital.

Then again, I'm always much more sombre when I leave my children behind. I am leaving my daughters for another Sunday morning as I endure my time with the professor. My only solace is that I know it won't be for much longer and that I'm leaving them in good hands. My father loves them immensely, and they love him. The nurses are equipped to handle any medical difficulties that could acquire.

"But you're my Mama. No one takes care of me the way you do."

I hear Lila's sweet words in my mind as I arrive at the conference room. I feel her small arms around my neck as I lay beside her in the hospital bed after a rough night a few hours ago and said goodbye. I close my eyes and see her emerald eyes smiling up at me, sparkling like glittering gems through the pain.

Abruptly, the face around the eyes transforms, morphs into more substantial features; a square jaw displays a demanding intensity my daughter doesn't yet possess. I see him behind the glass window.

My nostrils flare because it's his fault I had to cut short my time with my daughter, his fault I'll be missing her.

Usually, I would've stayed with her on Sundays. But thanks to Professor's need for a Sunday meeting to discuss. "Scholarly Projects Program ground rules." I had to come to the meeting.

I went inside the conference room. Despite my inner efforts, even though I know I earned my spot, my heart still races in my chest. The Professor's opinion still mattered to me, yet I didn't really require it.

The conference room was tiny in comparison to the lecture room. As I walk in, I pass a brown-haired, blue-eyed lean build figure sitting at the opposite side of the conference table. He looks up at me with a grin; I felt at peace as I sow Alexander's simper.

But then my eyes meet a pair of green ones, and my peace escapes me.

Yilmaz is in the middle of saying something to Alexander, but his eyes remain on me. His words seem to halt mid-stream for a second, yet his features stay relaxed and controlled. Alexander turns and sees me, and then both men look at me as I enter.

"Wahaj," Alexander grins.

"Ms Muhammad," He smiles, "it's great to see you again."

"It's great to see you too, Professor."

He looks freaking impeccable, this beautiful bastard. The custom suit shows off strong, broad shoulders that narrow into a lean, ex-military torso. His copper hair once again takes me by surprise due to its length. The rest of him is tailored to perfection, all but his hair... with no direction, it gives him an air of youth and carelessness. His tie is striped in emerald, bringing out his eyes and they're so much like Lila's that my chest tightens.

But I grin as the beautiful bastard pulls out my chair next to him, but I go and sit next to Alexander in the round table for six.

"Ms Muhammad," He says, "I hope you don't mind that we've already started the discussion. I have a tight schedule today."

I adjust my chair. "That's fine, professor, and I hope you don't mind that I asked Alexander to join us for this meeting. I thought it would be a good idea to have an extra set of ears around to help us... navigate "Scholarly Projects Program ground rules."

The Scholarly Projects Program (SPP) links medical students with faculty mentors to explore an area of medical practice or research to create new knowledge. Most people who undergo this problem are either seniors or grad schoolers. But here we are as I sit beside the professor who had chosen three more students to do this as part of his class, and the rest of my classmates will have the exams.

"That's no problem at all, Ms Muhammad. I understand completely if you feel that you need your supervisor's help and support with navigating through this, especially as this will be your first big piece, first publisher."

"I can assure you, Professor, I am quite capable."

"I'm sure you are." His eyes laugh at me. "Now, I've assigned two of my students to conduct clinical research. While you and the other student,". It seems that he has already forgotten the other student name.

He smiles brightly, which means the next part of the sentence will make him happy and devastate me, "will have to work in the children's hospital to generate hypotheses to identify the genes that cause Premature Birth."

"Which hospital ?" I remain as calm as him as I ask the question.

"Yilmaz's hospital that Mrs chamberlain corrupts to it generously." He responds. His face remains stoic, though of course.

"Oh really!" I answer, he knows I'm faking it, but I'm not here to play this game with him.

"You look a bit tired," The professor states, then brushes lightly under an eye. "You've got some puffiness around here."

Effin' ell.

"It was a long night, Professor, made longer by the fact that I had to work on a Sunday morning while the other students got their assignments on Friday. I had to come at 6 in the morning to be able to accommodate this meeting with you." I smile tightly. "Therefore, I apologize if I don't look quite up to standard."

"You've got a bit of a cocky manner there, don't you, Ms Muhammad? What brings it out? Because I'm sure I didn't pick up on it the night of the conference." He grins pleasantly, he wants to play his game.

My mouth tightens into a straight line as I try to hold myself from exploding in his face.

Alexander clears his throat. "Wahaj, If you are tired. You could have asked for another day."

"Thank you, Alexander, but I assure you that I'm fine and quite ready for this meeting. As long as my manner or any puffiness under my eyes doesn't offend the professor too much, we should be alright."

"I'm not offended at all, Ms Muhammad," the Professor answers smooth grin in place, holding my gaze.

"Alrighty then," Alexander says, clapping his hands together. "Let's get down to business!"

I blink and look away from Yilmaz.

A few hours passed, the thesis seems to consist of a blank paper since all the professor managed to arrange was to get on my nerves.

"This is my schedule for the week, Ms Muhammad – or should I say our schedule."

"Thank you," I murmur as I peruse it carefully. It's quite busy, I note. We'll be at the hospital after his lecture for the first three days of the week, followed by a private session on Thursday. Included are also the passes you'll need to gain entry into the hospital, as well as your lab passes."

I look under the itinerary and find passes with my name and image, incredulously enough.

"We'll need another set of these," I say, touching the passes. I'm met with silence, and when I look up, The professor is watching me slowly, but his eyes are tight. He looks between Alexander and me.

"I apologize, but I wasn't aware that you and Mr O'Hare come as a package deal."

Alexander chuckles heartily while I quietly rage.

"We don't, Professor. I believe Wahaj is referring to passes for the other student."

Of course, he would have forgotten about the other student if he still doesn't even know her/his name.

I smile at Yilmaz and nod. "Yes, professor, the other student. We will both be with you, won't we? Do you think you'll be able to obtain these passes for him by the morning?" I ask innocently, pretending I don't see the ice in his eyes.

"The other student. Of course. I will give to her once I obtain the necessary information,"

Her name.

"Thank you, Professor," I grin sweetly.

He nods; his expression blank.

"Now, Ms Muhamamd, Mr O'hare has filled you in on why I wanted to meet with you today before we begin this program."

"Yes, he has, professor," I respond, still perusing through the schedule.

"I wanted to set down some...Scholarly Projects Program ground rules."

I lift my eyes to him, slowly raising my head. Putting aside the schedule, I lace my hands together over the table.

"What sort of ground rules did you have in mind?"

Yilmaz leans forward in his seat and mimics my pose.

"First, as you can see, this is going to be a hectic week. I'd like to ask you to please let me proceed with my obligations, and if you have any questions, we can talk about them at the end of the day."

I nod. "That sounds reasonable."

"Second, if you're going to speak to any of the physicians at the hospital, please consult it with me first so that I may make sure that he or she may spare the time."

I nod again, though more slowly this time. "I suppose that it also sounds...fair."

His expression is serene, but he observes me. "Thirdly, Ms Muhammad, once you complete your article, I'd like to see the final version before it's published."

I grin wryly. "May I ask why?"

He was going to watch my process the final piece will be shown at the presentation with the rest of the faculty and most of the students. He seems to want me to hide something to remove something that I may notice under his supervision.

"I'd like to reserve the right to have certain parts removed if they don't meet with my approval."

I feel my fingers digging into the back of my hands, my mouth tightening into a straight line once more.

"Do you have something to hide, Professor ?"

"I have nothing to hide, Ms Muhammad."

"Then, I don't see the need for that third rule."

Out of my periphery, I can see Alexander's eyes on both of us, back and forth, but he sits back against his chair and says nothing.

"Ms Muhammad, I simply want to make sure that everything meets the standards of a student of mine."

I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly, smiling coolly. "Professor, though I am a first-year medical student. I've spent the past couple of years studying under biochemists and publishing three articles and second publisher. I have a degree in biochemistry, but my degree is actually in Medicine since I was only short one year of getting my degree."

I see a small smile spread across Alexander's amused face.

The Professor's expression remains calmly emotionless.

"I want the final word on the article, Ms Muhammad, or there will be no study, and you can join the other students in receiving an exam."