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“Yes. But time is stupid that way,” he deadpanned. I let out a laugh, but it chortled and caught in all the snot from my ugly-crying. Us Ramirezes—there’s a good reason we don’t cry often. It’s a fucking mess.
“This is whatI doknow,” he said. “Your mother would be so incredibly proud of you. Almost as much as I am.”
The iceover my eyes helped. I pressed the frozen spoons to the skin that had turned into bags overnight. I’d gone home after speaking with Dad and cried myself to sleep. In the morning, I was paying the puffy-eye price. Nothing about crying is attractive.
The phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, and I had to set down one of the spoons to make out the name on the screen.
When Mandy called me, it was usually either really good or really bad.
“Hello?”
“Hey, can you come in?”
“No can do. It’s my day off, and I haven’t actually taken one in a long time.”
“Let me rephrase. Youhave tocome in.”
I set the other spoon down. “What is it now, Mandy?”
“Dr. Stuart came to find me at the information desk and asked me to call you. He said he needs you in his office ASAP.”
Had someone seen Hector hugging me? Were they trying to dig up those long-buried skeletons? It had been two years. This was unbelievable. I was beyond annoyed. I was pissed. I wouldn’t let them do this again. I had more leverage, and I didn’t have a single thing to lose anymore. Not more than I already lost: the best mentor I’d ever have in my career.
I actually saw the smoke coming out of my nose. “I swear to god, Mandy, if they are trying to bring up this old bullshit again, I’m taking my next trial to another hospital.”
“Take me with you?” she asked.
“You got it. Please tell Chief Stuart’s secretary I’ll need an hour to get there.”
Let him wait. I wasn’t going to go in there, making demands and taking names, in my pajamas. I would look my best. I put on a pair of dark blue slacks and a crisp white shirt. My hair went up into a slick ponytail, and I put on the brightest red lipstick I could find. I wasn’t one for makeup, but if I was quitting my job today, I was going to do it in style.
Three men waited for me—the chief, Hector, and a third I didn’t recognize. They all stood when I entered the office.
“Dr. Ramirez, this is Dr. Drake.”
“Hello, Dr. Drake.” I shook his hand. “Have we met before?”
“No, we haven’t, but you may recognize the name. I’m Chief of Oncology at Peak View Metro in California. We have two physicians administering your trial there.”
“Is something wrong with the trial?” I asked, my heart lodged in my throat. Why would someone make the trip otherwise?
“Quite the contrary,” said the chief. “Dr. Drake got on a flight as soon as his team got the report on phase two of the trial.”
“Oh.” I pressed my palm to my chest. This was good.
“I’m sorry if we scared you,” Hector said, making his presence known once again.
“What can I do for you?” I asked.
“Dr. Drake would like to speak with you,” said the chief. “He afforded me the respect of coming to me first before giving you an official offer.”
I looked among the three men. They had been discussing me. Hector had a guilty expression on his face, and Dr. Stuart shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I wanted to talk with you about your plans when your contract is over here at Heartland Metro,” said Dr. Drake.
“I was hoping to continue,” I said. “I have something similar in mind for a breast cancer treatment trial. I was also thinking about adding a psychological component—”
“That’s great!” Dr. Drake interrupted me. “I’m hoping we can compete with Heartland Metro. I trust you will find our offer more than generous.”
The way Dr. Drake’s long neck moved slightly when he talked made me think of a snake. He was tall and slender, and his movements were precise but unnatural. My instincts were to step away from him, but I forced a smile. I’d never willingly work for a man who interrupted a woman mid-sentence simply because he could, but he was giving me leverage with Chief Stuart. The more the chief thought I was interested in going to a top-tier hospital in California, the better.
“Why don’t you give Dr. Drake a tour of the hospital?” said the chief. “I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about. I’ll submit Heartland’s competing offer by the end of the week. Hector, mind staying behind for a bit?”
Dr. Drake and I were dismissed. By the time the tour was over, I had him convinced that I was sincerely interested in the offer. I imagined him slithering his way all the way back to California, thinking he had tempted me.
