Prologue
MARIE
I’m getting reamed out, and not in a fun way.
“Doctor,” I begin again, pressing my lips together as Dr. Gallagher continues on his tirade.
I begin to reply to him in my head since he won’t allow me a word in edgewise.
No, Doctor. I’m not incorrect on the dose you told me to give Mr. Smith. In fact, the dose you chose would have killed him, so I staffed it with another doctor to discuss the correct dosage. No, you’re welcome that I saved your ass. It was nothing.
There. Isn’t that so much better?
“I’m sick and tired of you overriding my authority,” he growls, his hands fisting as I raise my brow.
I’m sorry, who does he think he is? The only person who throws me around is my big brother because he can’t control his damn temper.
I fully intend on getting even when I get around to seeing him again.
His omega sent me a stun gun in the mail because they’re illegal to have in Chicago.
There’s someone walking around the Loop punching people, and she got concerned when she heard about it.
Have I mentioned that Cerenity is too good for my brother? Because she absolutely is.
Taking a deep breath across from Dr. Gallagher, I have to fight not to wrinkle my nose. He smells like sour milk and a sweaty football player’s socks had a baby. He’s really pissed off because his fragile ego received an ass kicking by Dr. Smith after his mistake.
“You’re just a nurse!” he screams, making me flinch from the strength of his voice. Fuck, I’ll never get used to getting yelled at. Stress tears burn in my eyes, but I refuse to allow them to fall.
“Doctor,” I begin again. “The dose you asked me to give him was incorrect. It would have killed him.”
“No, it’s not my fault if you can’t read my handwriting,” he denies, his hand shaking. The alpha really needs to lay off the sauce. He’s not even a functional alcoholic at this point.
“I can bring you the prescription you gave me,” I say, shaking my head. “I didn’t read it incorrectly.”
I continue to bite my tongue as I desperately want to tell him to get into rehab or retire. If he wants to drink himself into an early grave, the least he can do is lessen the collateral damage.
“I don’t think this is going to work out,” he growls, slashing his hand in the air as he leans in my face. The noxious fumes make me weave on my feet as I begin to feel nauseous. “Miss Madden, your time with this hospital is over. I will also make sure that you can’t work anywhere else—”
“You can’t do that!” I scream back at him.
I no longer care that we’re in the middle of the hallway.
If I’m being fired anyway, then I’m going to make sure everyone hears the truth.
I’m petty like that. “Does the chief of staff know that you’re three sheets to the wind?
The alcohol is seeping out of your pores. One day, you will kill someone!”
“Marie!” Nurse Stafford hisses, coming closer. “That’s quite enough.”
“Is it?” I sniff, tears beginning to roll down my cheeks. “Do you want the blood of these patients on your hands? It’s just a matter of time before someone doesn’t catch his next mistake.”
“Dr. Gallagher is a very responsible and respected doctor,” she lies, her nose twitching as his sour scent wafts over to her.
“I can’t work here anyway,” I sigh. “At least you fired me so I can get benefits. Thanks, Dr. Gallagher. Let me just go report this to Human Resources.”
“Wait, did I fire you?” he asks, confused. God, this is so fucked.
“Yes, you did,” Nurse Stafford says staunchly. “We all heard you.”
“Thanks for the unemployment pay,” I say, pretending to be excited before I roll my eyes.
Dashing away my tears, I walk my ass to Human Resources.
“I’ve been fired by Dr. Gallagher for arguing with him about an incorrect dosage he gave me,” I report to Nancy Osea.
She’s a hard ass and I fully expect her to be petty or smug about my situation. I’ve worked here for three years, and it only began to get difficult when I started working closer with Dr. Gallagher.
I was really excited when I changed hospitals to come here because everyone spoke so highly about it. I guess I made the wrong choice for my career. My mother would have a field day with this. It’s why I don’t intend to tell her because I can’t live with the disappointed comments that she’ll make.
Nancy’s brow raises and I can see that her entire body is tensing. It doesn’t look at all comfortable, and I bet her sphincter is also clenching. I give her a bright smile and a cheeky thumbs up to go with it, because I can’t be fired twice, right?
“I’m going to be registering for unemployment, and as per my contract, I am making sure to tell you before I leave. I’m not taking anything that doesn’t belong to me, and I’ll be changing into my clothes before I leave,” I continue.
I’m no longer crying, but I know there is a mango boba tea with my name on it once I leave here. I would usually have a really big glass of wine, however the very thought reminds me of Dr. Gallagher. Ugh, I think he may have ruined wine for me!
The fucker.
“It sounds like you have it all figured out,” the HR manager says.
I don’t but I smell a trap. “Is there exit documentation I need to complete?” I hedge.
I’ll be damned if I forget something that’ll keep me from receiving my money.
“I know how difficult Dr. Gallagher can be to work with,” Nancy sighs. “Here is the packet to fill out and then you can leave. There’s no trick. I expect he was in quite the mood when he spoke to you.”
“He yelled at me,” I grumble under my breath, taking a seat to fill out the pack of paperwork she hands me. I’m honest to the point of excess, knowing it isn’t going to matter. “Here you go. Can he bar me from working at other hospitals?”
“Absolutely,” Nancy says with a smile. It’s as if someone told her that the sky was raining hundred dollar bills and she’d forever shit gold. She’s going to give me whiplash. “Dr. Gallagher knows all the head doctors in Chicago.”
“That’s adorable,” I breathe, standing.
Well, Chicago. It’s been real. Real shitty.
I can’t afford to keep my apartment here without a job, and I refuse to take handouts. Fuck it, I’m taking the damn scrubs. Marching out of the office, I pick up my shit from my locker and leave the hospital.
Time to pivot.