Page 25

Ellie

Next, I went over the list of reasons other governments wanted ASH to become a UN hospital.

All to benefit their pockets since all of the money we made would be reverted to them.

Our government made a lot of money off of us in taxes and the others wanted that money.

UN hospitals were basically neutral zones or embassies.

And they wanted what was most of Atlanta to become that? Just because they said so?

No, over my dead body, and even then it wouldn’t happen because the founder had it in several clauses and charters. If the move was ever truly tried, ASH would be no more. Governments were not to control medicine like that or there was no point in keeping the doors open.

Again, the anchor and people in the studio were horrified, but I thought it was best to lay it all out.

While they were still in shock, I brought up the next file that showed our costs for the sinkhole crisis. There was also a list of departments that hadn’t gotten updated numbers or we ran out of time to get all the invoices that vendors would bill us for the extras later.

“That is the cost of the South American government’s neglect to allow a town to be built where it was.

For not having their own trauma center able to help.

First responders not ready to give aid or a cohesive plan like our FEMA.

And their administration has the audacity to try and force a UN hospital label on a private hospital in another country?

“That’s their answer? They want to distract attention and try and get the win that they have full access to ASH instead of fixing their problems?

Or apologizing for this huge misstep the government made?

It’s ludicrous.” I snorted. “I have people warning me to tread carefully or let some of this go.

That I have no leverage or way to fight a government.

“That’s ridiculous. There is always a way—starting with canceling all hospital services and appointments with citizens of their country. Also, cutting off the blood supply. No longer selling it to them. Those of us at the top of ASH have been killing ourselves to increase the blood supply we sell.

“Mostly so we can give discounts to our military, law enforcement, and first responders. We could easily if we cut off South America.” I shrugged when the anchor dropped his pen.

“ASH is not government-run. We are for profit. We pay an exorbitant amount of taxes. I am not allowing crazy from their politics to try and take over my hospital.”

“Yes, but—” he tried to interject.

I looked at the producer. “Roll the footage I gave you. Show how we’re flooded with uninjured South American citizens and their government isn’t doing anything.

They said we agreed to help so handle it.

How? ASH isn’t a resort . We’re a massive hospital and these people aren’t injured.

I’ve been told it’s my duty to handle this.

“Unless the gods come here and tell me that themselves, no one else gets to tell me and my people what our duty is. We made an oath of do no harm. That is a medical oath while taking care of a patient, not a promise in blood to give everything of mine to others.” I saw the video was playing and gestured to the screen. “They need showers.

“Beds we don’t have. Basic necessities. It’s been days and they have no idea about their homes.

The few people from the South American government have only shown up to yell at me that we’re a UN hospital like that senator who physically assaulted me.

Others yelling that we’re not doing enough.

” I snorted again. “Enough? No, we’ve had enough of this situation. ”

“What about all of these people?” the anchor whispered as he watched the footage.

I shrugged. “They’re getting upset. Validly , but we didn’t do this.

This is not the fault of my people and it will become a mob fast. I wonder if that’s not what their government wants.

They promised there would be ‘punishments’ for me if I didn’t agree to what they want.

Are they inciting these poor people to become a mob? In another country?”

There was so much more to unravel and I had no problem doing it. Showing the numbers and listing the doctors and more who came from all over our country to help and yet not one offer from those in South America. It was beyond ridiculous.

We had help from Asia and Europe but not from the country of the crisis.

Enough was enough and I said as much.

They thanked me when it was all over, switching to a different segment. Someone had just come to take my mic off when my phone rang… From a South American number.

I waved for the producer and her assistants to follow me and moved into the hallway.

Then I answered the call on speaker and let them hear the disgusting onslaught of insults and threats I received from someone in the South American’s cabinet.

I recorded it and let them get it all out, not saying anything which they eventually noticed and demanded I answer for myself.

So I did. I hung up.

“You’re welcome,” I chuckled when the producer realized what I’d been up to. “Go ahead and report it. I’m done. The fact they just called a powerful citizen of another country like that…” I shook my head. Disgusting.

Which was why I also sent it to Alan and the president. They needed to be read in, and my president needed to handle it whether he wanted the drama or not.

I hadn’t been the one to start it. I was only protecting myself and my people.

“Fuck today,” I grumbled after coming through the portal. The last thing I wanted to do was drive home and then I frowned, not even sure whose vehicle was at ASH. Mine? No, I rode with Ha-joon that morning.

But I thought he drove my SUV?

“I need a fucking vacation,” I sighed, rubbing my eyes and trying to remember this morning.

“You do, but I can’t give you that right now, so tell me how to help,” a deep voice said with a sexy accent.

I glanced over my shoulder and smiled at Ha-joon. “You drove my SUV today? I can’t even remember and was trying to think about getting home.”

“Yes, and I promised to wait for you,” he reminded me, giving me a worried look. “We need more rest.”

I snorted. That was the truth. “And less stress.” I nodded when he sighed. Yeah, I didn’t think that was going to be happening anytime soon.

But something to ease my stress would help and that was a text from the president apologizing.

He had no idea things were remotely that bad with thousands of uninjured using ASH like a damn camping park.

He said he’d given the order to our military to start getting those people through a portal to our embassy in South America.

And they would reenter their country from there. No more playing. No more bullshit or trying to get them to the border or whatever games their government would try next. He didn’t know what the goal of the South American President really was with this, but he was done playing.

Especially because the President of South America was a warlock and we now knew a lot of the witches and warlocks who helped that day to bring everyone here were of his family. Not the good ones, the local ones who truly saved people.

Some dying because of it. No, the smirking assholes who just kept bringing more and more uninjured people like we were a resort for them to find peace at after their crisis.

I told Ha-joon while he drove and he nodded as his grip on the steering wheel tightened. It was so bad I was worried about my damn SUV his knuckles were so white.

“What am I missing?” I worried.

“I’m just upset that I can’t bash that fucker’s face in,” he mumbled.

“All of their faces in. Hearing what they’ve been saying to you now that I’m not in surgery saving their citizens—getting caught up has been hard.

I can’t imagine how you’ve been shouldering it all and always. You’re really amazing, Ellie.”

Oh wow, I hadn’t seen that coming from him. I liked it, but… I hadn’t seen that coming.

“Wanna see how amazing I am on my knees while we shower?” I asked, trying to keep my tone as innocent as possible.

He looked at me so fast that I heard his neck pop.

“Traffic!” I yelled when we came up on brake lights.

“Shit, sorry,” he growled as he slammed on the brakes and paid attention, his arm shooting out protectively.

“So you almost rear-end someone in my SUV and you cop a feel as your reward?” I drawled, looking down at his arm over my breasts.

“Ellie, that wasn’t—I can’t even get mad. My brain melted and now I just want what you—how much longer until your condo?” The ramble he said that all in and so fast was fucking adorable.

How was a huge, sexy Alpha werewolf also so damn adorable?

Yeah, I was in trouble… And naked the second we were in my condo.

“Don’t even joke about being subtle when you asked what you did,” he said with a growl when I opened my mouth.

Fair enough.

The shower wasn’t fully warmed up when he pushed me inside, the smirk on his lips letting me know that it was intentional.

Fine, I closed the door in his face.

He laughed. He burst out laughing and just opened it back up. He moved me against the tiles and blocked the water until it finished warming up and then made sure every inch of me was soaked.

Yeah, that wasn’t difficult, but it took a bit for my hair given there was so much.

He placed soft kisses all over my body, the touches driving me mad and we both knew that was intentional.

“I was already horny when I offered,” I chuckled. “You don’t have to wind me up.”

“I like when you get out of your head for me, Ellie.” He pushed his wet hair back out of his face, absolutely showing off his muscular arm and toned body.

And that his dick was standing proud and ready for my attention.

Yes. Please.