Page 23 of Drake Eternal

“Ha,” she said and shook her head. “Some resistance. I remember we kissed in the hallway after a late night.”

I shook my head, anger building in me. “You kissed me. I stopped it and told you we couldn’t. That we had to wait until you were done your rotation.”

“Selective memory,” she said. “You’re a hypocrite.”

Then, she stormed off down the hall. I went into my office, glad that she was gone and that hopefully, it was settled.

I sat down at my desk and opened my laptop, hoping to get caught up on my emails. When I opened it, I saw an email from Sam.

I opened the email and read with hesitation.

Drake:

You are such a huge lying hypocrite. I could send Michael some incriminating evidence that you were fucking me when we were still supervisor/resident. He was wrong to listen to you, of all people, when it comes to ethics and morals.

Sam

I sent her a response and put Michael on a bcc, so she didn’t know I’d copied him. The email included hers, so he’d see the entire exchange.

Sam:

I know you’re upset, but you and I didn’t start our relationship until after you were finished your rotation in neurosurgery. You wanted to, and made an advance towards me, but I rebuffed you and told you no, if you recall. I told you we would have to wait until you were finished your neurosurgery rotation. You have no incriminating evidence except your own attempts to seduce me, which I resisted. I think the email and text message chain will prove that. Don’t contact me again about this. Just move on and things will be fine.

Drake

Then, I sat back and exhaled, before deciding to see if Michael was in his office for a little talk.

I walked down the hallway to his office and luckily, he was in and alone, going over some files in his filing cabinet.

I knocked and peered inside. “Do you have a few moments? Something’s come up.”

“For you, always. Come in.”

I closed the door behind me and sat at the chair across from his desk.

“Check your emails.”

He closed the file drawer and sat down. “Sounds important.”

He moved his mouse so he could open his email. He clicked a few times and then leaned closer, reading the email through his reading glasses.

“Ahh,” he said and sighed heavily. “Trouble in paradise, I see. What is wrong with her?” He glanced at me over his reading glasses and shook his head. “She’s not in trouble or being punished. Why is she complaining? They can still have sex now that he’s not her resident.”

“She’s just mad at me for existing.”

“She has to grow up,” Michael said and waved his hand. “Don’t let it worry you. If she says anything else, she will get penalized for harassing you and making a false claim. You were only doing your job.”

I shrugged. “Tell her that.”

“If she persists, I will. We need her to be giving her whole attention to the job, not being distracted by petty animosities with other medical staff. It’s not acceptable for her to be emailing you, threatening you, lodging a false complaint about you. She must stop, or she will be in trouble. Keep me in the loop.”

I stood up. “I will. Hopefully, she was just letting off steam and that’s the last I’ll hear of it.”

“Let me know. I won’t tolerate it. I want this to quiet down so we can look after patients in need. That’s why I came here — not to settle staff disputes and petty squabbles.”

I nodded and left Michael’s office, determined to put it behind me and focus on the work — the important life-saving work — at hand. I’d had enough staff intrigues and gossip for a lifetime and wanted to move on. If I never saw Sam and Paul again, it would be too soon, but I’d have to smile and act like nothing happened if I ran into them in the hallways.

I went back to my office and sat behind the desk, hoping to go over a few CVs we’d received from hopeful neurosurgeons who were interested in the position. For the next hour, I was able to forget entirely about Sam and her anger. When the time came for me to go to the cafeteria for a meal, I saw that she and Paul were seated at a table along the wall, leaning close together, talking. I almost turned around and left, deciding to wait until they were gone, but I took in a breath and forged on.

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