I wrap up my last check-in on the ward, writing a few notes, before I head toward the corridor I hear a familiar voice.
My father’s.
I freeze.He’s not talking to me.But I can hear my name.
“She’s smart, but I can’t give him chief if he’s getting involved with her.”
My spine stiffens.
He keeps going, not even bothering to lower his voice.“I worry he’s only with her to get the position.”
I don’t breathe.I don’t blink.
I just listen.
“That’s a hell of an assumption,” a woman replies.Dr.Hawk… I finally place the voice.“You really think he’s manipulating her?”
“I think it’s possible.And I’m not rewarding it.”
The hallway spins for a second.
I want to step in, to defend Harrison, to shoutThat’s not what this is!But my feet don’t move.I just stay hidden, heart pounding, mouth dry.
“Then who do you want?”Dr.Hawk pushes.“You’ve only got days to decide.”
“Dr.Gould,” he says.
My stomach sinks.
“Dr.Gould’s good, but is he the better fit?”Dr.Hawk sounds skeptical.
“I’m thinking about options.”
Options.
That’s all I am now.A complication in his decision-making process.
Guilt slams into me.This isn’t fair to Brant.If he ever heard what my dad just said…
I swallow hard.
Maybe we need to cool it.Just for a while or at least until things settle and he becomes chief.I’ll change my dad’s mind.I have to, even though I don’t want to pull back, but I can’t let this cost him everything.
I step back quietly, ready to sneak away unnoticed, when my pager buzzes.
Shit.
Dad turns.His eyes land on me, eyebrows raised.
“Perfect.I was hoping to catch you,” he says smoothly.“My office.”
Dr.Hawk nods to me as she leaves, face unreadable.
I follow Dad inside, knowing I need to deal with the consequences of the page.My hands curl into fists behind my back.
“I’m assigning you to work with Dr.Gould this week,” he says, motioning to the chair across from him.
“Starting today?”
