“Hi Dr. Bauer. Sure, what’s up?”
“I have some good news. I got a call from one of my colleagues at our sister hospital in LA. You know, the one that runs the fast track program?” He sits down next to me.
“Of course.”
“He let me know that they’re opening up two additional slots in their program, and he wanted to know if I had any surgeons here who might be good candidates. I gave him your name as my recommendation.”
“Y-you did?”
Bauer nods. “I sent him your résumé, and he was thrilled. Offered you the job on the spot.”
I suck in a sharp breath, surprised. Three weeks ago, I had to beg him to let me work on any traumas at all, and now he’s recommending me for one of the top programs in the entire world? I should be over the moon about this. It’s exactly what I wanted, but something feels off and I can’t shake it.
“Wow! That’s…great! Why are they opening more spots?” I ask. That isn’t usually how these things work. You have to apply years in advance, and programs don’t just open up more spots without a lot of funding and resources. It doesn’t just magically happen.
Not to mention I’ve been more cautious of Bauer ever since I found out what happened with Roman. It’s a big coincidence that all this falls into place so soon after Dr. Bauer found out about Roman and I.
“I’m not sure exactly, but it doesn’t matter. This is an incredible opportunity. I’ll draft up the transfer paperwork for you.”
“How long do I have to decide?”
The rush also makes me feel skeptical. They’re in the middle of a cycle right now. Why would they be introducing new people?
Dr. Bauer gives me a strange look. “Decide? What do you mean?”
“How long do I have to decide if I’m going to take the position or not?”
His eyes widen, like he’s completely baffled. I would even suggest such a thing. “Madison, this isn’t the kind of thingyou pass up. And I certainly hope you’re considering declining because of your relationship with Mr. Molanari.”
“That’s not—”
“This is an incredible opportunity, Madison. It could set your entire career back if you don’t take it.” His expression is hard, not leaving any room for protest. I wonder why he’s so adamant about this, and where his sudden change of heart came from. He’s right, it is an incredible opportunity, and I hate that it’s tainted by these doubts. Hopefully, I’m making something out of nothing.
Regardless, Bauer and my father are cut from the same cloth, and I know this is another argument I won’t win today. “You’re right. Thank you for putting my name in.”
He nods. “I’ll get the paperwork for you as soon as I can. In the meantime, I have a few first-years who need observation time in the emergency department and I just don’t have the time. They’re going to follow you around today.”
I press my lips into a firm line. “Great.”
He waves a group of students over; all three of them look like they have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into. They’re wide eyed and timid, and I can already tell this is going to be a long day.
Dr. Bauer says goodbye, and I head toward the emergency room with my new entourage.
We are immediately hit with three patients. A suture job, a little girl who fell and potentially broke her wrist on the monkey bars, and a man with alcohol poisoning from the night before.
Two of the students watch eagerly, paying attention, and taking notes while I work, but the other one hangs back. I don’t notice at first because I’m distracted by the LA news, but it doesn’t take me long to realize that he’s not like the others. He doesn’t even know the basics of medicine, and he hesitates when I ask him to hand me a scalpel and gives me forcepsinstead. Something seems odd about him, and my suspicions are confirmed when I notice a tattoo on his forearm. It matches one that I’ve seen on Roman’s chest.
Unbelievable. He’s one of Roman’s men.
He mentioned sending someone to watch over me at work a while ago, but it never came up again, and I didn’t think he’d do it without at least talking to me first.
The last thing I want is one of his men playing bodyguard and following me around the hospital. It’s already nerve-racking enough, and the guy isn’t even a decent actor. It’s a matter of time before someone else realizes he isn’t a medical student. I can handle myself, and this is a hospital emergency room for crying out loud. It’s crawling with the police and security. What exactly does he think will happen while I’m at work?
When the other two students are out of the room for a minute, I take my opportunity. “How long is Roman making you follow me around for?” I ask, snapping my gloves off and tossing them into the trash.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, ma’am.” He’s stone faced, not making eye contact with me at all.
“You can tell Roman that I don’t need to be babysat. This is ridiculous.“
