17. Olivia
“This is completely unprofessional. We’ve scheduled this checkup for days, and he should be here on time.”
Bryan Wells looks at me like it’s my fault, his scowl darkening his features. I don’t know what to say. I’ve already informed him that Luke’s in the middle of an emergency surgery and it’s running longer than anticipated due to some complications—and we already informed Bryan this morning, too, which makes this the second time.
I clear my throat and try again.
“I’m sorry about this, Mr. Wells. We didn’t expect Dr. Jennings to handle a surgery today, but it can’t be postponed. Rest assured, though, that he will cater to you first thing as soon as the new appointment is set. If you could kindly tell me when you are available again?—”
“I’m available now. I came here expecting the checkup now.”
I pause. “This morning, we sent you an email informing you about the situation and?—”
“Are you his secretary?”
I blink, not missing the condescending tone. My shoulders stiffen, but I keep my tone mild. “I’m his medical assistant.”
His gaze narrows. “And you’re the one who sent the email, correct?”
I nod warily. “Yes.”
The man huffs…then, folds his arms and gives me a defiant, smug look. “I didn’t receive one.”
What?
“I sent it around?—”
“I didn’t receive one.” He repeats it harder, then shrugs. “But what should I expect? You’re just some glorified secretary. I should feel insulted that he let you handle this instead of handling it himself, but you should also know that I won’t tolerate your incompetence.”
I’ve heard people call medical assistants that, but this is the first time it’s directed at me. I take a deep breath. “Mr. Wells, I’m sorry. As much as we would both like for Dr. Jennings to be here right now, he’s still in surgery. I would be more than happy to reschedule the appointment or?—”
“Do you even know who you’re talking to? Who the fuck is your manager?”
Alarmed at his increasing aggressiveness, I barely stop myself from taking a step back. “Mr. Wells?—”
“I want to speak to your manager. Or whoever hired you. I want to file a complaint about your rude and unprofessional treatment…like how you failed to send me an email and are denying me my doctor now.”
He’s serious. I can see it in his eyes—and I know his name well enough to know he does donate here and has some weight to throw around. For the first time, my nerves get to me.
“Mr. Wells…”
“Now. Get your damn manager. I want you to?—”
“I want you to get out of my office until you learn how to calm yourself down, Mr. Wells.”
We both whip our heads in shock at the sound of Luke’s voice before he strolls in, already scrubbed out but with signs of weariness that I’m already familiar with after every one of his complicated surgeries. I know he’s been in that operating room for hours. But he faces Bryan with calm…no, with intention, the look on his face sending a shudder down my spine.
Perhaps the man sees the look, too, as he changes tactics and immediately adopts a soft, pitiful tone.
“Dr. Jennings! I’m so glad you’re here. Your secretary here was very rude to me. She’s even lying about sending me an email. She dared to?—”
“As I’m sure she already told you, she’s my medical assistant, not my secretary. And I know she sent you the email to reschedule first thing in the morning, so you would have had plenty of time to see it.”
I expected polite Luke, like he is with most patients—not this Luke who’s defending me and giving his patient a cold, hard stare. Bryan gasps.
“But she’s lying?—”
“I have the email right here, Mr. Wells. She blind-copies me in all her emails.”
Bryan opens his mouth, then closes it. I can tell he wants to ask what blind-copy means, but something else comes out of his mouth instead: outrage.
“This is ridiculous. I want her fired immediately.”
Bryan stands up. I don’t realize I’m still that close to him until he towers over me, but before I can get intimidated, Luke is sliding himself in between us. He’s even taller than the man and now towers over him.
“And I want her here because she makes my work easier. Now, if you want to keep insisting, I can ask security to pull up all the records, including your attempts to lie in my office. We do have surveillance cameras. Please remember aggressions like this are completely prohibited on hospital grounds.”
No, we don’t have surveillance cameras—at least, not in this office. I’m stunned at the lie, but it works as Bryan pales.
“I can’t just get a new neurosurgeon!”
“And I’m not asking you to…unless you do this again. But we’re not having our checkup today because you’ve already been sent the email to reschedule.”
“But I could die!”
They go back and forth, with Luke sternly telling Bryan that in no way did he ever mention that the man is dying. I don’t realize it’s Luke’s way of stalling until a security guard named Bert appears, quickly assessing the situation before escorting Bryan out. Bryan attempts another round of threats, but this time, he has no power as Luke accompanies them out and repeatedly shoots down the man’s lies.
When they’re gone, my knees give way and I collapse on the chair, still rattled. I don’t have time to steady myself as Luke is back within seconds, closing the door and striding over toward me.
“Liv, what did he say to you? Can you give me the exact conversation?”
I press my lips together, hesitant about telling him. But the look on his face dares me to lie, and I don’t want to be like Bryan. Still, I go about it slowly, watching as his face turns darker when I recount Bryan’s insults.
Silence fills the room when I’m finished. I play with my hands, unsure how I should go about with my apology for not handling the situation better.
As if he read my mind, Luke gives me a warning look.
“Don’t you dare apologize for that bastard.”
Heat brims in his tone, and I’m alarmed. “Luke, what if he reports you to the heads? And me?”
“He can, but he won’t. The hospital knows how I treat my patients and this isn’t the first time he’s been rude to staff. It’s my word against his.”
“But he donates and can influence?—”
“So do I. And I daresay I donate more and I have more say in the matter.”
A hand cups my cheek, gentler than ever. Concern hums from him now, but maybe it was already there as soon as he entered the room and defended me.
I lean into his touch and sigh. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There’s no need to say anything. Besides, it’s not just about you. I expect professionalism from everyone who works with me, but I also expect common decency from my patients. They don’t get to be rude to the staff under my watch, so they can either look for another doctor or play by my simple rule.”
I shut up, finally realizing that he really does have this handled. Then, it occurs that I should be on my feet and finishing up work, not acting this shaken. But as if he already knows what I’m planning, Luke takes my wrist and keeps me in place.
“Stay. Work can wait.”
I search his gaze, realize he will argue over it, and relent. Then my curiosity wins over. “You’ve encountered patients like him frequently, haven’t you?”
“It comes with the job. Do you want to know my first ugly encounter?”
I nod and listen as he regales me with the story of a patient who almost got him fired when he was still fairly new, then another who made up accusations, only to be proven wrong when surveillance footage was produced. They’re horrible stories, but I can’t deny that they make me feel better as his message cuts across clearly each time: that this isn’t my fault.
By the time he’s done with the stories, I realize that my body is already leaning against him and he’s supporting most of my weight. He doesn’t seem to mind as his arms wrap around me. Awareness comes and I stiffen, but just like before, he keeps me in place.
“Luke, someone might walk in on us. I don’t think this particular position counts as a boss-assistant relationship.”
“It doesn’t.” He holds me tighter, then reluctantly lets me go. I promptly miss his warmth. “I just miss this.”
I shoot him an amused look. “We’ve only had this during one date.”
“For now. Speaking of…Riley’s playdate. Can we have it this weekend?”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll let her know you’ll come by.”
“Actually, I was thinking of taking her out.”
“Oh, okay. Is it a whole day thing? I’ll pack her stuff ahead.”
“Actually…it will be a whole weekend thing. And I don’t just mean her. I mean you, too. Us three driving off to unwind.”
I stare at him. “Driving off where exactly?”
“The Hamptons. I have a house there. It’s private so there will be no one from the hospital who might see us. And it’s peaceful and quiet.”
Holy shit. Every time I forget just how rich this man is, he reminds me with invitations like this. I open my mouth, about to decline before I realize…why exactly am I declining?
I can use some unwinding. Luke probably needs it, too.
And Riley? She will go anywhere her mom or dad goes.
My no turns into a smile. “Sounds intriguing. We’re in.”