17. Sametra #2
Janet exchanged a look with Rebecca before opening one of the folders. “We’ve received several reports regarding your relationship with Dr. Malik Holloway. Reports alleging that this relationship began while your son was under his care, which could constitute a serious ethics violation.”
“Ms. Andrews, has your relationship with Dr. Holloway been consensual, or has there been a quid pro quo arrangement? We take that type of thing very serious.”
“Excuse you?” I blinked hard, heat crawling up my neck. “And several reports? From who?” My blood ran cold as I stared at her like she’d just called me a bitch to my face. The nerve. It was both , I thought. Consensual and reciprocal—he was good to me, and I was good to him.
“We can’t disclose the source,” Rebecca said smoothly, sliding a sheet of paper toward me like she was handing over a death sentence.
“But we do have documentation suggesting the relationship began before your son’s treatment ended, including photos that appear to show intimate moments between you and Dr. Holloway. ”
“This is insane.” My voice cracked. Today was feeling like the day from hell.
“There’s more,” Janet added. I groaned. “We’ve been made aware that your son’s father filed a formal complaint as well.
He reported a physical altercation involving Dr. Holloway during a recent visit.
He’s seeking a financial settlement, though we’ve had trouble locating him since receiving the complaint. ”
I stared at the paper in horror. It was a screenshot from that viral kiss cam video, but there were others, intimate photos from our first night together that made my stomach lurch.
Someone had been watching us, violating our privacy in the most disgusting way possible.
I grabbed the trash can beside me and emptied my lunch into it.
“This is from a basketball game,” I said weakly, wiping my mouth. “We weren’t hiding anything. And my son’s treatment isn’t even finished…” My voice got stronger as the reality hit me.
“Which is exactly the problem,” Janet interrupted, her voice softer than Rebecca’s but still firm. “Dr. Holloway is still providing care for your son. The timing of your relationship raises serious concerns.”
The room started spinning. “You’re sitting here using illegally obtained photos to destroy a good man’s career. Because we did what do grown individuals wanted to do. How is that ethical? How is this affecting you? How is it stopping this hospital from providing care?”
This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. Not to us. We’d just come from the most amazing trip; life was supposed to be smooth sailing from this point.
“It’s about liability. Today things are fine and then the next you’re suing for emotional distress. We have to be careful.”
“This is some dumb ass shit. What now?”
“We’ll need to speak with Dr. Holloway as well,” Rebecca said, already reaching for her phone. “I’ll have him called up immediately.”
I watched her press a few buttons and sit back with a satisfied expression. Janet looked at me with sympathetic eyes, but Rebecca, this woman, was clearly enjoying her little gotcha moment, like she’d been waiting for an opportunity to take down someone like Malik.
“He’s on his way,” Rebecca announced. “This shouldn’t take long.”
All I could do was sit there, staring at those horrific photos, wondering who hated us enough to sabotage our relationship, threaten our future like this.
I was upset for myself, seeing myself in grainy photos didn’t feel great but I was really upset for Malik.
I knew what he’d said about finding another job, but we were grown and shouldn’t be in this position to begin with.
I felt and smelled him before he walked in, that familiar cologne mixed with wave grease that just gave him a delectable scent.
He spotted me immediately and kneeled beside my chair, grabbing my hand.
“Look at me,” he said softly. He hadn’t even addressed them.
I turned to face him, tears already blurring my vision.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered as his eyebrows bunched together.
“Hey, don’t do that. I love you and I’m not worried about none of this bullshit. Just you.”
He stood and took the seat beside me, his presence immediately making me feel less alone even as my world was crumbling.
“You rang?” he said to Janet and Rebecca, his voice calm but with an edge that made both women sit up straighter.
“Dr. Holloway, we’ve received reports about your relationship with Ms. Andrews,” Janet began carefully.
“I don’t know what the problem is. We are two consenting adults.” He gestured toward the photos on the table. “What you have before you is a failed attempt at extortion.”
I jerked my hand away from his, my head snapping toward him. “Extortion? What are you talking about?”
“Sir, we’ve received several reports,” Rebecca interjected, clearly enjoying the tension she’d just created. “Even from co-workers.”
“You mean Moniece?” Malik’s voice was ice cold. “The same Moniece I’ve been turning down for a year. The one who’s been bitter ever since I made it clear I wasn’t interested? Can’t be but continue.”
Rebecca’s confident expression faltered slightly, but she pressed on. “That’s just one source. We have documentation showing that your relationship with Ms. Andrews began while you were treating her son, which violates our ethical guidelines regarding relationships with patients’ families.”
“My son isn’t a patient anymore,” I said, finding my voice. “He’s been cleared for months.”
“But Dr. Holloway is still overseeing his physical therapy,” Janet said gently. “Technically, the professional relationship is ongoing. And Dr. Holloway we will need a statement on your fight with Ashe Lowe on…” she said checking her notes. “On, June 15 th .”
Malik leaned forward, his college-educated voice coming out.
“Show me the hospital policy that specifically prohibits relationships with family members of patients. Not the general ethics guidelines—the specific policy. Secondly, I don’t have a statement because I never put my hands on him while at work. That didn’t happen.”
Rebecca shuffled through her papers, and I could see her growing flustered. “Well, it’s not explicitly stated, but…”
“But nothing. Either there’s a policy or there isn’t.” Malik’s eyes were sharp, focused. “And since there isn’t one, we’re talking about a judgment call, not a violation.”
“Dr. Holloway,” Janet said, her voice taking on a warning tone, “the board of directors takes these matters very seriously. While there may not be a specific written policy, the appearance of impropriety…”
“The appearance?” I stood up, my anger finally overriding my shock. “Let me understand this, we’re being punished for how things look, not for anything we actually did wrong?”
“Please sit down, Ms. Andrews,” Rebecca said condescendingly.
“Don’t tell me to sit down.” My voice was rising; I didn’t care about being in this office.
I’d been respectful but I didn’t back down from anyone.
“You called me here, disrupted my day, showed me private photos that someone clearly obtained illegally, and now you’re telling me it’s about appearances?
When no one cares but y’all? And this bitch right here cares too damn much.
Don’t get your eyes knocked straight, Rebecca.
You been on some other shit since I walked in.
Be careful playing with, or my mugshot is the next picture you’ll see. ”
Malik reached for my hand again, but I pulled away. The word “extortion” was still ringing in my ears. He’d known about this. He’d known someone was threatening us and hadn’t told me.
“Ms. Andrews, we understand this is difficult,” Janet said, trying to regain control of the situation. “But pending a full investigation, Dr. Holloway you will be suspended without pay.”
“Suspended?” Malik’s calm facade finally cracked. “Based on what? The word of a vindictive ex-colleague and some illegally obtained photos?”
“Based on the need to maintain the integrity of this institution,” Rebecca said with the same satisfied tone she’d been giving. “You’ll surrender your badge and access cards immediately.”
“Y’all better hope I calm down and don’t seek legal counsel while y’all make your mind up. Seeing that I’d rather lose my career than lose her, I’m respectfully bowing out. Jobs are replaceable, she’s not. Do what you gotta do.”
In the back of my mind, one thought kept circling: Malik had known this was coming and hadn’t warned me.
The room fell silent except for the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. Everything we’d planned, all the time we’d spent, the routines we’d created were being ripped away by strangers in suits who didn’t know us, didn’t care about us.
I wanted to be upset with him, to stand united against this bullshit they were putting us through.
I wanted to be his ride-or-die at this moment, but how could I fight beside someone who’d kept me in the dark?
But I’d learned the hard way that love without accountability was just pretty lies wrapped in good intentions.
I’d spent seventeen years rebuilding myself after someone else’s betrayal, I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself, even with a man I loved this much.
Partnerships built on secrets always crumbled when the pressure hits. And right now, I felt more like a liability he’d tried to protect than the woman he’d chosen to build with.
I was fucking livid.