“I always have mail, Miss Potter. That’s why we have a mail system. And designated mail times. This is not a designated mail time.”
“Yes, but this isspecialmail.” She set a cream-colored envelope in front of me with a flourish. “From TED.”
The room went silent.
Then exploded.
“TED?” Gabriel leaned forward. “As in TED Talks?”
“Oh, this is good,” Quinton said, grinning. “This isverygood.”
I picked up the envelope as if it might contain anthrax. “I didn’t apply for anything.”
“You were nominated,” Winnie said, looking far too pleased with herself. “Dr. Richardson from Yale put your name forward. They want you to speak at their medical innovation conference in Las Vegas this coming weekend. It’s quite an honor.”
“Las Vegas,” I repeated.
“Sin City!” Fitz crowed. “Oh, this isperfect.”
“I’m not going.”
Five heads swiveled toward me in synchronized disbelief.
“I’m sorry,” Nathan said slowly. “Did you just turn down a TED Talk?”
“I did.”
“ATED Talk.”
“Yes, Nathan. I’m aware of what I said. I said it approximately four seconds ago. My short-term memory is intact.”
“But it’s a TED Talk,” Gabriel said reasonably. “It’s... Julien, it’s a TED Talk. People spend years trying to get invited to speak at TED.”
“Then they can have my slot.” I set the envelope aside and picked up my agenda. “Now, as I was saying, Gabriel, your Wednesday schedule—”
“Hold on.” Hayden held up a hand. “Why aren’t you going?”
“Because I have patients. I have surgeries scheduled. I have a clinic to run.”
“We all have a clinic to run,” Fitz interrupted. “That’s why there are six of us. It’s called ‘delegation,’ Darcy. You should try it sometime.”
“I delegate constantly.”
“No, youmicromanageconstantly. There’s a difference.”
My jaw tightened. “I ensure things are done correctly.”
“You ensure things are doneyour way,” Quinton corrected. “Which, granted, is usually the correct way, but still. The man has a point.”
“I’m not leaving you people unsupervised for an entire weekend.”
“You people?” Gabriel raised an eyebrow. “Julien, we’re all board-certified physicians.”
“You’re also the same group of individuals who, last month, turned the break room into a putting green.”
“That was a team-building exercise,” Fitz said defensively.
“You put a hole through the drywall.”
