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Ellie

I was heading over to Carla to leave something with her, using the excuse to stretch my legs and clear my head a bit.

Instead, I walked into a situation.

“Oh, there she is,” Dr. James said with a smile but then looked around. “I’m not sure the conference room off of the emergency department will hold all of us.”

“All of us?” I hedged, glancing around and seeing all the department heads gathered.

Along with the remaining members of the board of directors.

And Dr. Mandy Tate with them.

“She wasn’t invited to the meeting,” Dr. Carla Greer seethed. “Her email is wrong on here. It’s ‘read’ instead of ‘reed’ in the address.” She shot the board a look. “You tried to trick us all into meeting thinking it was something Ms. Reed had approved.”

“May I?” I asked her as I held out my hand. I quickly read over the email on her tablet, getting the gist fast. I gave it back and studied the remaining board members. “Another coup? Really? The last one didn’t end well for people.”

“That was about power, this is about what’s best for the hospital,” Leroy Gordon interjected.

“Yes, so much so you had tolieto get people together,” I drawled before glancing at Mandy. “And you picked thewrongperson to make this move with. But go ahead. Take your best shot. I’m fine with ending this today.”

Rage filled his eyes at being dismissed and mocked. He went into a lecture about my unprofessionalism and discrediting doctors—my complete contempt for them. That my jealousy and even mymisogynybecause I was jealous of female doctors was the problem with the hospital.

“They’re all doctors, Ms. Reed,” Leroy Gordon finished, gesturing to the department heads standing behind me that I could feel rage coming from. “Doctorsshould run a hospital. Dr. Tate is definitely right about that. Your qualifications are lacking, and you’re not fit to run this hospital. The board agrees after how things have spiraled out of control.”

“You’re right, doctors should run a hospital,” Dr. Alan Carpenter said firmly as he stepped forward from the group of department heads. “You are right, and this mistake should be corrected. Today even.”

I bit back a laugh and glanced at all of the department heads. “Are you in agreement? You agree with that to make this move?”

“Beyond ready,” Dr. James bit out.

Leroy Gordon seemed shocked but then smiled. “I’m glad the department heads all agree. That’s reasonable and—”

“We’re having two different conversations here,” Alan chuckled as he walked over to him. He clapped him on the shoulder hard enough to almost knock the man over. “We’re agreeing that the board should be dissolved since none ofyouare doctors. You’re right that people who aren’t doctors shouldn’t be involved in running a hospital.”

“We are talking about Ms. Reed,” he seethed. “We’re business advisors on the—”

“You’re parasites who take money away from funding we could use better and your egos make you useless,” Dr. Renee Bass cut in. “And you keep making these stupid plays without the right information, also not doing your research. It’s theatricsand unbefitting of your positions. You should be removed from them.”

“And it’s just ridiculous since we’re all on her side. We’re onDoctor Reed’s side,” Alan added.

“You’re supposed to be on the hospital’s side and—what?” Gordon did a double take and then frowned. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No, you don’t,” I sighed as I pulled out my wallet, glad I had it since I was going to swing by the vending machines. I opened it and easily found my medical license ID card and handed it over to Gordon. “Your entire premise is faulty, though the hypocrisy that I would need to be a doctor as CAO and you don’t as the board is a joke.”

“And don’t even bother trying to say it’s fake,” Alan chuckled. “I’m the one who certified her ongoing accreditation as a surgeon.” He gestured to the other department heads. “Several of them do the same.Weknew she was a doctor.”

Gordon blinked at it like he couldn’t fathom what he was seeing. “You’re licensed in several fields? There’s aliston here.”

“I am,” I confirmed, meeting Mandy’s gaze. “More than you, Dr. Tate.” I took it back from Gordon and held it up to the other board members. “I warned you that your days were numbered if you made another play. You should have made it good if you were going to try another coup.”

“This makes no sense. Why would you ever push everyone to call youMs.Reed if you were a doctor?” one of the members snapped.

I raised an eyebrow at him. “People used to call me Doctor. When I worked here even. But decades ago, there was still a bit too much sexism in our world—especially in the hospital and medical field. Any time I asked anything, too many of the doctors saw it was a challenge because of the letters after my name.”

“It was always drama and power plays,” Dr. Bass confirmed, gesturing to the board like they were exactly the problem as well.