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I wanted to believe that, but I’d told Justin that I would need more time removed from it all. He seemed to understand that and left it alone.

Still, I was in shock that Tommy was going to be gone and at least for eight months if the schedule was going to pan out. It was really over.

What we had and the way he’d been trying to blow up my life and hospital since.

Thank fuck.

While I had the attention of both presidents, I floated the idea of the four-continent bunkers of blood with our additives for disasters and emergencies. I outlined where the idea was and what we were thinking for size and the basics we would require to make this work.

And that we would always have control and inspect the bunkers. This wasn’t something to hand over but a joint project with each government in the name of peace.

Both received it well, thinking the idea had a lot of promise but worried Europe would never agree if we were going to inspect and check on it. I made it clear then that they were left out. The blood had to be checked and stock rotated. No matter what we did to it, blood went bad. So we had to be able to control it or vampires could be hurt and poisoned.

And I would never allow ASH to have had a hand in that.

But I was flexible. They could pick who they were comfortable with and work on security clearance—but we had to check it and have mutual control.

Still, I was glad at least two were on board. That would make it easier to convince South America and Europe. If it wasn’t all of them… Their loss.

The aide to the Asian president made a lot of progress on Tommy’s itinerary. By the time I came into work Wednesday morning, it was pretty much done.

And ten months long. They also gave Tommy liaisons from both administrations so he had people to check in with. If there were problems, but also they were checking on him not to fuck this up and make their administrations look bad.

Fair.

I ended up emailing others involved and with that message basically outlining both knew this was a bit of a redemption tour along with helping Asia. I was honest that it became a bit political when that hospital tried to pull shit and keepingTommy safe turned into this. I gave more details than I normally would because I didn’t want it to be something laid at my feet.

Especially when putting this all together somehow fell on me when it was forhimto show he was taking things more seriously. I also added that part but nicer.

The list for the email was a bit odd for work purposes since I included Tommy’s coven leader. But it was Tommy, his coven leader, Alan, and Beth who ran HR now. Oh, and I cc’d Gerald who now ran the legal department. I wanted him looped in so we were covered and neither administration tried to cause problems later.

I had just finished up when I received a message from one of my admins informing me two people were waiting to see me… And only one was on the schedule. The other kept being an annoyance.

It was time to put Mandy the bitch in her place. Seriously. I was still waiting for information on her, but her behavior was ridiculous.

I stepped out of my office, my focus on Jackie Dillon who was being interviewed for the personal assistant position I was creating to share with the department heads. “Thank you for coming in. I’m sorry that I’m going to be a few more minutes, but apparently I need to deal with a problem.”

“Of course, I fully understand, Ms. Reed,” she accepted as she sat back down.

Then I turned to Mandy. “Let me walk you out, Dr. Tate.”

Her eyes flashed shock—and a lot of hostility that she tried to hide with a smile. “No, sorry, I wasn’t leaving. I’m waiting for an appointment with you, but they won’t schedule anything.”

I chuckled darkly. “Which was the hint that you’re notgettingan appointment with me. So yes, you are leaving. You can do it gracefully and let me walk you out or I can call security.”

She ground her jaw. “There’s been a misunderstanding—”

“On your part. Yes, there has been because I heard that I was drawing up an offer for you when we’ve not even met and I haven’t interviewed you.”

“I’m sorry, but it makes no sense why you would need to.”

It was really hard not to laugh when all of my support staff froze in what they were doing and looked at her like she’d grown another head. At least she wasn’t so stupid that she caught their reactions.

“Yes, please explain to me how my hospital works,” I taunted as I crossed my arms over my chest. “You don’t know how we do things at ASH, and people are already tired of you causing trouble. You don’t even work here and are annoying people.Theyknow how we do things, so for you to say you’re getting an offer from me when I haven’t interviewed you—they’re laughing.”

“No one has been laughing at me,” she countered, her voice ice-cold. “I have—”

“It’s time to leave, Dr. Tate,” I said as I extended my arm for her to head towards the door. I snorted when she gave me a look that it wasn’t happening and just went for the exit. She wanted my time, so she would follow.