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Ellie

We made it through helping with the earthquake and slowly transferred stable patients back to Asia.

I was more than a little annoyed with the hospital we were dealing with given how much help we’d been.

It wasn’t the time for them to be petty, but apparently people took any chance to get more for themselves.

But I wasn’t losing our super nice patient beds we were transporting them in and getting back cheap, falling-apart gurneys in return. It was ridiculous, and I wasn’t going to allow that disrespect and theft after all we’d done.

The president wanted me to let it go, but after I told him how much each bed cost us, how many had been stolen, and asked if he was covering the cost—his answer changed.

I wasn’t surprised, but it led to me having to threaten the head of the hospital with going to the press that during the disaster and tragedy where people lost their lives they were stealing from us.

And I had the receipts to prove it, and the media loved details like that and images like video of crumbling gurneys coming back through the portal.

The lecture I received about how I was too selfish and not willing to share when they were hurting and still in crisis irked me.

“No, you don’t get to turn this around and play the victim when you didn’t ask for help but stole from my hospital and then dismissed me and my staff,” I said evenly though I was seething.

“If you had asked, we would have helped. You just thought yourself special and helped yourself to what wasn’t yours and we’ve done enough. Ask other hospitals for new beds.”

We went back and forth a few times, but finally he agreed to return all our beds by lunch our time or I was giving an interview to show our forty missing beds. And they cost ten grand a pop with our bulk discount and other niceties but more at normal price.

So no, they didn’t get to steal half a million dollars in our equipment and bitch I was being selfish for demanding it back. Pathetic.

And if that wasn’t enough to tell the day to fuck off, my next phone call was from an irate member of the board. I pinched the bridge of my nose and let her go off for a good ten minutes before I ran out of patience.

“If you ever yell at me like this as if I’m one of your children, it will be your last day on the board, Ms. Boyd,” I told her evenly, but icily.

That shut her up immediately, and I was glad because my head was throbbing.

“You are also yelling at the wrong person , Ms. Boyd,” I pushed before she could recover.

“You need to yell at your colleagues on the board . You were there when I objected to their stupid rule. You sat right there and nodded along with them—the men and their sexist drivel. So go look in the mirror and let out that tirade.”

“I beg your pardon, but I don’t even know—”

“They were tired of the world whining about sexual harassment and every little thing being an issue, always with us silly women,” I reminded her.

“So any valid sexual harassment or issues had to be reported within twenty-four hours to even be considered. Because if it wasn’t bad enough to report right away, then they were just getting lost in their hormones and blowing it up.

“And there had to be an open HR investigation which basically embarrasses anyone filing the complaint. That part is even against the law and we don’t allow it, but that was what the board demanded and you agreed with.

So you helped them rig the system to shame any victim from reporting it and letting the doctors and staff run wild.

“Now you care because it’s your niece who got caught up in it all.

I also find it less than amusing that you call me to handle it all when she snorted at me the other night that I was actually in charge around here.

So your niece is part of the problem and toxic culture listening to Dr. Hastings a bit too much that everyone’s too professional.

“And I have reports that she constantly whines that she has to even work and can’t just marry a rich husband yet.

So she wanted to become a successful doctor’s wife and jumped into bed with one and now is calling foul because he didn’t put a ring on her finger.

However , he should not be sleeping with all of the staff so carelessly. I agree with you on that.

“I said that from the beginning and how this toxic environment the board has created has hurt us over and over again. We lose talented staff because they don’t want to be the subject of constant sexual gossip like your niece now .

It is the main reason for turnover, and even people who aren’t involved don’t want to work somewhere where people behave like this. ”

She cleared her throat. “I wasn’t aware it was such a problem. I will—”

“Convince the other women on the board that it’s enough and we will be changing the policy to follow the law and other hospitals,” I finished for her firmly.

“Otherwise, I wish you the best in your next endeavors because both you and your niece have acted as anything but professional. So you will rectify this mistake and start being shining examples or you’re both out, savvy? ”

“Yes, yes, I think I understand you quite clearly, Ms. Reed,” she said with simmering rage in her tone. “I still expect you to handle the situation as best as you can within your limitations. You’re a talented woman who can rein in your people.”

“Not when both of my hands are tied behind my back, but they won’t be much longer.

And yes, I will handle the doctor who behaved so badly.

You have my word. I will make it clear he is the reason this change is coming about and make it known the list of personnel who have quit over this reason.

Even the list of those he’s slept with. Use the ammo this time. ”

“I will. Thank you for your time, Ms. Reed.”

It was hard not to cuss out the phone after she hung up, but I was above that.

I should be above that. Seriously though, what a bitch to not even apologize for chewing my ass out like that.

I took a potion for my headache and hydrated knowing it wouldn’t make up for the lack of sleep from handling the disaster, but I needed to push a bit longer. I had to.

I decided to tap into a few of the million favors the president owed me and called him while messaging the doctor I needed to.

I wasn’t surprised I only had to hold about five minutes before I got to talk to him personally.

I filled him in on the half million dollars of stolen merchandise and updates before getting to what I wanted.

“Ellie, just take out your damn board already,” he sighed. “You’ve got the ammo and even I know that—”

“Thank you, sir, but I want it to be obvious to even idiots when I make the move, not just those with brains,” I said firmly.

“Just have one of your aides put what I send you on letterhead and sign it, okay? I need the assist on this and for the hammer to fall hard on it. I’ve got the right ammo and notice now.

I’m exhausted and now have to coordinate blood drives because somehow—”

“I know, I know, Ellie,” he said gently.

“And the London pack doing a blood drive is huge. Others will follow and take the heat off of you. Many hearing that the full supply and reserves were exhausted during this smaller disaster kicked people in the ass. Too many are apathetic because life is too easy. I’m sorry it’s falling to you and yes, whatever you need. ”

Right answer.

I thanked him and hung up, quickly typing up a rough idea that I would show Alan later before sending it off.

There was a quick knock before my door flew open and Tommy blew in, slamming the door behind him.

“I don’t know why you let the board push you into hiring that hotshot, Ellie, but he’s seriously a pain in the ass.

I don’t care how famous or connected his family is—since when does that win you over or push the scales with you? ”

He went on another couple of minutes, not hiding his criticisms behind sweet words or kisses but clearly stating them.

“ Dr. Fitz ,” I cut in, raising my voice to cut through his elevated level.

“I don’t know your problem with Dr. Clark, and I don’t care what it is.

You were called here because of you causing trouble and to be reprimanded.

I thought we could handle this quietly without involving the head of HR, but if you cannot control yourself, we can move this meeting there. ”

He blinked at me a full minute before seeming to finally breathe but still didn’t appear to know what to say.

“Sit,” I instructed, pointing to one of my chairs as if he was too dense and needed the guidance right then. I waited until he plopped down, still looking at me with shock. “I warned you that your behavior was going to bite us both in the butt and to behave better going forward or—”

“Clark. Clark reported something and started shit, right?” he demanded. “How can you side with anything that little prick says over me, Ellie? I don’t know—”

“Dr. Clark had nothing to do with this and please keep your head,” I snapped, too tired to be calm.

I let out a slow breath and rubbed my forehead.

“I seriously don’t understand your issue with him, but leave me out of it.

You did this. You are— two department heads reported you and I just got chewed out by a member of the board. Clark is not involved. At all.”

Again he went back to shocked, but at least then he was quiet.

Thank the gods.

“Apparently, you did not heed my warning but decided to double down,” I informed him as evenly as I could.

“You walked into the attending’s lounge and ran your mouth about people being too sensitive and everything being blown out of proportion.

That it was normal and healthy to talk about one’s sex life and even expected of men. ”

“Wait, that’s not exactly what I said or—” he tried to defend, clearly knowing exactly what I was talking about.