Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
T he next day dawned bright and sunny, and I was glad for some clear skies for a change. When I arrived at the hospital, I stopped into the cafeteria for a coffee and bagel, and saw Sam there with Paul, of course. They were in line ahead of me, so I hung back and examined the muffins for as long as possible to avoid any contact between us.
They paid and went into the cafeteria, so I made my way to the cash register, paid, and then went back out the entrance, hoping to avoid Sam.
It worked — at least temporarily.
I almost made it to my office before she caught up with me.
“I filed a complaint against you,” she said, her expression murderous.
“Michael told me last night. You know it’s a lie. Just like the lie you told claiming that you were my resident when we had a sexual relationship. You were Michael’s resident. I was a visiting surgeon. I was not your supervisor. You need to get your story straight and stop making shit up.”
“I was young and inexperienced and vulnerable,” Sam hissed, her eyes narrowed. “You took advantage of me as someone who was older and in a position of authority. I could have filed a complaint about you then, trying to get me interested in bondage and dominance.”
“I was in no position of authority over you, unlike you with Paul. You’re the one who’s breaking the rules. And you are the one who’s filing false complaints.”
I went into my office, and she remained outside the door, thankfully.
“You’ll get what’s coming to you,” she said, almost growling.
“Is that a threat?” I turned to face her, not budging.
“It’s a promise.”
Then, she turned on her heel and stormed down the hallway.
I watched her disappear and then closed the door, glad that our little confrontation was over.
I sat behind my desk and ran my hands through my hair, scrubbing my face like I was washing to get off her dirt.
She was crazy.
She was also very smart and competent as a surgeon, and we were in dire need of her skills right now, so I didn’t want Michael to fire her — not until we had a replacement. The last thing I wanted was for my stupid petty drama to affect the hospital and patients. Sam needed to grow up and just knuckle down and forget about it. She still had Paul under her thumb despite no longer being his supervisor, so I didn’t know what her problem was other than embarrassment that she was discovered breaking the ethics rules.
So, I didn’t say anything to Michael when he called me into his office to discuss a particularly difficult case we had before us.
I went to his office and sat across from him, waiting for him to get off the phone. When he finally did, he closed his laptop and turned to face me, his arms folded.
“Tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
He raised his eyebrows. “What has Sam done now? Your cheeks are flushed.”
I exhaled heavily. “She said I’d get what was coming to me.”
“That is a threat. Tell me exactly what she said. All of it.”
I took in a deep breath and tried to remember what happened — everything in order and in detail.
“This morning, I went into the cafeteria to get breakfast. Sam was there with Paul, so I paid for my food and left the cafeteria so I could avoid them. She followed me to my office and confronted me. She informed me that she filed a complaint against me. I told her she was lying about it and that I never harassed her or had a relationship with her when she was a resident, and I was her supervisor. She made a threat towards me. Her exact words were ‘You’ll get what’s coming to you.’ When I asked if that was a threat, she said it was a promise.”
Michael shook his head. Then, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.
I waited, frowning. “What are you doing?”
He held up his finger to stop me. “Hello, George? This is Michael. I want to proceed with the matter we spoke about earlier. Yes, unfortunately, it’s come to a head. I need you as soon as possible. Tomorrow, if you can get here by then. If not, on Monday would be great.”
He listened and then nodded, smiling. “Great. So glad I have such good reliable friends to take advantage of whenever I need them.” He laughed. Then, he became serious again. “Thank you once again. See you soon.”
He hung up and then turned to me with a smile on his face. “George Atieno is on his way. He said he had to pack a bag and he would be here tomorrow.”
“You’re going to fire her?”
“Consider it done. I’ll call her in when you leave and break the good news.” He made a slashing motion with his hand across his neck. “She’s gone. I’ve had enough of her bullshit.”
I gritted my teeth, unsure that I wanted her fired because of me. I worried it would make her even angrier and blame me for it. I worried that she might decide to get back at me in some way that I couldn’t anticipate.
That was the last thing I wanted.
“Are you sure? I’m worried she’ll retaliate against me and or the hospital.”
“Don’t worry. She’s a trifle. I won’t have medical staff jeopardizing the safe and effective functioning of the hospital and the wellbeing of our patients. I could have fired her for the inappropriate relationship with her resident alone but held off. It was a mistake. Go. Don’t give it another thought. We have patients to see and a hospital neurosurgery department to run.”
I shrugged and exhaled. “Okay. Thanks for having my back.”
“Always,” Michael said and nodded.
I left his office and went back to my own, still not sure that it was the right move, but Michael was set on it. It would be nice not to have to worry about Sam, but at the same time, I didn’t want to create an enemy.
I realized I already had. I didn’t want to make her a worse enemy.
I tried to focus for the rest of the day, but it wasn’t easy. On my way to the break room for a second cup of coffee, I saw Sam walking down the hallway towards the elevators.
She was carrying her backpack and was accompanied by one of the security guards.
When she saw me, she turned and pointed at me. “You’ll pay.”
“Come on, let’s go,” the security guard said and motioned to the open elevator doors.
She went inside, giving me the darkest look.
Yes, I was hoping I didn’t regret my decision to tell Michael about her indiscretion with Paul. Something told me I might need security.
I got my cup of coffee and went back to my office. I sat back behind my desk and decided to call up the security office’s manager and see if he knew anyone with a security background who could work for me at least while I was in Nairobi.
“Hey, there,” I said when Daniel Uduike, the head of hospital security answered. “How are you?”
We spoke for a moment, exchanging pleasantries, and then I got down to business. I told him about what happened with Sam, and then broached the issue of hiring someone for temporary personal security services. He was understanding about the problem and gave me the name of a relative who had been an MP in the military but was now a security guard who worked as a backfill.
“He’d be more than happy to work for a few weeks full time. He probably knows someone else who’s looking for work and can be backup.”
“Thanks,” I said and took down the information. We said goodbye and I called up Daniel. Within half an hour, I had hired him and two friends to provide security detail for me for the next two weeks while I was in Nairobi.
Better safe than sorry.
Then, I leaned back in my chair and exhaled heavily. One problem taken care of.
Two, actually. I wouldn’t have to worry about having Sam around to give me dirty looks now that she had been fired, and I wouldn’t have to worry about security.
I spent the rest of the day examining CT scans of patients I would be treating and visiting with other surgeons to discuss upcoming cases. It kept me busy and took my mind off Sam and the trouble she had caused me. By the time I was ready for a late dinner, I was exhausted. All I could think about was getting back to my hotel and lying in bed to watch something on Netflix and wait for my nightly call from Kate and Sophie. But I had another couple of hours of work left before I could do that.
I grabbed a sandwich and a muffin from the cafeteria and sat behind my desk, sorting through patient files while I ate. I checked my watch and saw it was now after eight, and so I grabbed my phone and sent a text to Liam, wishing him a good night.
DRAKE: Hey, Son. How are you doing? Just a text to say I hope you are enjoying your time off. Looks like it’s bedtime in Indonesia. How was your week?
I didn’t expect to get a response right away, so instead, I gathered up my things and left the hospital, calling down to my driver so he’d be waiting at the entrance.
When I arrived at the exit, I was happy to see my driver waiting, standing beside the rear passenger door. When he saw me, he smiled and opened the door for me.
“Thanks,” I said and got inside the cool dim interior.
He drove me to my hotel, and I watched out the window as the streets of Nairobi passed by. My cell chimed and I glanced down and saw that Liam had responded to my text.
LIAM: I’m good. We’ve been spending a lot of time on the beach, and I have a tan now. I’m playing video games with some friends despite the time difference. Now that school’s out, it really doesn’t matter. Plus, I know guys from all over the world. We all play the same multiplayer games.
I smiled and texted him back.
DRAKE: Glad you aren’t too bored. Say hello to your mom and Chris for me. Kate and Sophie will be joining me in Nairobi, so I won’t be alone for too much longer. I miss you. Have a great summer. Love, Dad.
LIAM: Thanks. I will and I miss you and Kate and Sophie too. Love, Liam.
I smiled as I read his text, and exhaled. He’d be fine.
We arrived at the hotel, and I was so glad to be back and could take a nice warm shower and lie on the bed and watch news for a while before my nightly Skype with Sophie and Kate.
Once I was finished my shower and was in my robe, I laid on my bed as planned and had my laptop open, waiting for their call. On the television across from me was the news, with headlines scrolling across the bottom, the sound down. I was reading over my notes from the day when the call notice sounded, and the icon appeared on my laptop screen.
I opened it and the screen popped up with Sophie’s face taking up the entire image.
“Hey there, Sweetheart! How are you and Mommy doing? Do you miss me?”
Sophie smiled and leaned down to kiss the screen. “Hi, Daddy! We had fun today. We went to the boardwalk and had corn dogs.”
“Corn dogs again?” I said, making a mock-face of horror. “You’re going to start barking soon if you keep eating them.”
She laughed at that. “Silly Daddy…”
Kate came on the screen, smiling. “Hi, my love.”
“How was your day?”
“It was a mixed bag. Remember that problem I told you about earlier with the old staff member? Well, there was some consternation. We can talk about it later when Sophie’s off the call.”
We chatted for a while as a family, and then Sophie went back to her coloring book. That way, Kate and I could have a more serious conversation.
“Tell me,” she said, eager to hear more, her eyes wide. “What happened with Sam?”
I sighed heavily. “In the end, Michael decided to fire her. So, at least she won’t be a bother to me in the hallways anymore.”
“Oh, dear.” She made a face of concern. “That will make her even more angry.”
“I hired security,” I said quickly, wanting to assuage her fears. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll have three guys who’ll watch over me while I’m here.”
She shook her head. “I thought we’d managed to get rid of the need for security. For the first time in a long time, I can walk around without checking for a red cup on the dash or a red flower in a man’s lapel.”
I smiled, thinking about the security services I’d hired back when we first returned, and Lisa Monroe’s crazed father and brother were a threat. We’d been able to remove the 24/7 detail watching over us once both were in custody.
“Maybe someday, we’ll be able to have a normal life without security following us around all the time.”
“Maybe someday. That day couldn’t come too soon.”
We spoke for a few moments more, and then when I yawned despite trying to hide it behind a hand, Kate called Sophie back.
“Come say goodnight to Daddy.”
Sophie’s smiling face popped back into the frame. “Good night, Daddy.”
“Good night, Sweetheart. Kisses and hugs.”
I blew her a kiss and she smiled and blew one back at me.
“Good night, my love. Can’t wait until we’re together again.”
“Good night,” Kate said. “Love you.”
“Love you more,” I replied and then we smiled and ended the call.
I sighed and glanced around the hotel room. It felt so empty after chatting with Kate and Sophie.
A few days and we’d be reunited.
It couldn’t come soon enough…