And I was delighted at the show.
* * *
I made it back to my office before Dr. Rice ambushed me.
She entered without knocking, blowing past Rowan. The door hit the wall hard enough to rattle the framed certificates. She closed it behind her with a deliberate slam.
“I need to know why you sent that man in to attack Mrs. Hart and her attorney.”
I set down the pen I’d been using, clasping my hands on the desk. “I did not send anyone anywhere to do anything. Iprepared materials for Dr. Vaughn to use in his defense, as per your instruction. What he did with them was his decision.”
Her nostrils flared. “Don’t play games with me, Harper. You knew he was bringing Vincent Cross to that meeting.”
I swallowed, then quietly admitted, “Correct.”
“And you didn’t think that was relevant information to share with me, with Legal?”
“Dr. Vaughn’s decision to retain counsel is his business, not mine. My job was to?—”
Dr. Rice leaned in, slamming her palms flat on my desk. “Your job is to protect this hospital’s interests. Not to arm a physician with materials to use against us.”
“I didn’t arm anyone with anything.” I stood, my eyes meeting hers across the desk. “I provided Dr. Vaughn with the same documentation I provided to you and Legal. The timeline, the protocols, the medical justifications. Everything I prepared was factual and objective.”
“You helped him build a defense.”
“That is what you asked me to do, Liz. I sent those documents to you and you blessed them.”
Dr. Rice stared at me. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Ms. Sutton. From where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve decided to protect Dr. Vaughn at the expense of this institution.”
My hands curled into fists at my sides. “From where I’m standing, it looks like this institution is trying to sacrifice a competent surgeon to appease a connected family. I will not be part of that.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to make the decision about what you’ll be a part of, Harper.”
“Then fire me, Liz.”
Dr. Rice sucked in a long breath and straightened. Smoothed down her skirt. “Excuse me?”
“If you think I’m not doing my job, if you think I’m compromised, then fire me. But I’m not going to step aside while you railroad a skilled surgeon for doing exactly what he should have done.”
My pulse thrummed in my ears and her perfume was giving me a headache as we stared at each other across my desk.
“You’re walking a very thin line.”
“Oh, I’m tap dancing on it.”
She turned, stalking to the door in heavy, angry stomps, yanked it open, then paused. “Vincent Cross embarrassed this hospital this morning. Embarrassed me. That doesn’t ever happen again. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.”
The door slammed shut hard enough to make my desk lamp shake. I dropped into my chair and tried to breathe. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
What the fuck did I just do?
My phone buzzed against the desk a few minutes later, bringing me back.
Cole:
Hey. You good? What’s the mood around there?
