Page 54 of Nine Week Nanny

"We'll reduce overhead by eighteen percent while increasing premium services by thirty-two percent." I gesture to the chart. "The net result is this upward trajectory."

Dr. Kowalski, Chief of Surgery, leans forward. "And staffing cuts?"

"Surgical departments remain intact. Cuts will come from administrative redundancies and underperforming specialty clinics." My answer leaves no room for debate. "The numbers speak for themselves."

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Once, then stops. I continue without breaking stride.

"By quarter three, we project?—"

The vibration comes again. Same pattern. When I have several calls so close together, naturally, I wonder if it is important.

I check my watch, allowing a flicker of annoyance to show. I'm almost certain this is the number for Dana Black, the court-appointed administrator.

Pressing my tongue against my teeth, irritation simmering, I signal for my VP of Operations to pick up the presentation and step out into the hospital hallway.

"Excuse me for one moment," I motion to the room as Caleb smoothly takes over where I left off.

I step toward the door, the rhythm of my presentation suddenly broken. The contrast is jarring, from complete command to this unexpected interruption.

I close the boardroom door behind me.

I swipe to answer. “Carrigan.”

“Mr. Carrigan, this is Dana Black, the court-appointed guardian ad litem for Lennon Lopez.”

"Hi, Ms. Black. How can I help you?"

“How’s Lennon doing? How’s the transition been?”

I pinch the bridge of my nose and keep walking, trying to level my tone. I don't have the time or patience for a catch-up session. “He’s fine.”

A beat passes. I can hear myself being short, but I don’t fix it. I make a note to have Lenoir write an email asking forspecific meetings to be planned in advance, so I don't worry that something is wrong when she is just impatient.

"That's good to hear. He's such a sweet boy."

“Is there a reason you’ve called three times, Ms. Black? I don't mean to be curt, but I'm in the middle of an important meeting.” I try to soften the edge in my voice, but I know my annoyance is coming out in spades right about now.

Her reply is immediate. “Yes. I wanted to tell you directly. Chris Carrigan filed to contest guardianship.”

I stop walking.

I force my voice level. “Will you please repeat that?”

“I’m required to notify you that Christopher Carrigan has filed a petition with the court to contest your temporary guardianship. A preliminary hearing has been set for ten days from now.”

My grip tightens on the phone. “He filed?” The bastard.

“Yes. My role is to represent Lennon’s best interests. I’ll be meeting with you, Mr. Carrigan, and Lennon in the coming days to prepare my report for the court. If you could give me some dates and times that would suit you, I will coordinate with my office and Mr. Christopher Carrigan to come up with a date that works for all parties. Would you be able to bring Lennon to meet at my office in Jacksonville in the next couple of days?”

I pace three steps, my reflection sliding across the glass wall of the boardroom. Mother fucker. No, Ms. Black. I don't have the fucking time to fly up to Jacksonville to fight my father for custody.

“I'll make it happen. What happens now?”

“You’ll be receiving formal notice from the court, including the hearing date and requirements. I strongly recommend you retain family law counsel as soon as possible. I can’t advise you beyond that. And, of course, the three of us will have to meet before the hearing date.”

My jaw aches from the grind of my teeth. “You’re telling me Chris thinks he can just swoop in now, after everything he's done and not done for the last seven years, and take him?”

“I’m only relaying the process, Mr. Carrigan,” she says evenly. Her voice doesn’t change, and she remains as steady as stone. “I’ll be in touch to schedule a time to meet with Lennon. That’s all I can share at this point.”