Page 14 of Revived

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“The family requested that you are on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to oversee things.”

“What?” The stunned word left my mouth as I tried to comprehend what they meant.

“You won’t be the only one working, but you will oversee everything happening in the VIP wing. After the incident with Sophie, they don’t trust the staffing choices and explained they would only agree to people you personally vetted working with Chevy Kendrick.”

“Is that… Can they?” I stopped blubbering out half questions.

“Are you willing? As you know, there are extra rooms available in the private suite they’re occupying.” That much was true. Each private suite came equipped with a central nursing station, three bedrooms, one being the patient’s room, and two additional for family or the patient’s staff, depending on what sort of VIP they were.

“You want me to stay in a room here until the boy is discharged?”

“Yes. We also want you to choose the staff that will be working with you and set the schedule so that you get plenty of rest while still being available as his primary nurse, if and when your personal attention is required.”

“This is crazy.” I hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but I knew every single man and woman around the table for our little meeting that morning heard me.

“You get a bonus, in addition to your regular salary.” One of them told me, as if to sweeten the pot. Only having one patient would make for a stress-free few days, plus bonus pay on top of that? One glance down at the paperwork in front of me told me it was a rather substantial bonus too. I’d be stupid not to sign the contract. So, I did. “I need Amanda Peters brought in from St. Mary’s.”

“We’ll make it happen,” the suit at the end of the table confirmed. “Welcome to the VIP wing.”

Had I just signed my soul away for a cushy nursing job? Probably. Now, the hospital would keep giving me VIP placement and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Chevy and his family were awesome people. I’d heard VIP horror stories though. There were assholes like our very own Dr. Clout, who thought that the nurses were on the menu just because they were celebrities or important in some way. I’d probably have to find a new job once this was over, in order to avoid being put in that position.

“Can I go check on Mr. Kendrick now?” I asked while standing and backing away from the conference table. The hospital’s big wigs and legal team all had their eyes on me as I made my way closer to the door. They felt like hungry creatures waiting to pounce.

“Just remember to keep it professional,” one of the women had the audacity to sneer in my direction.

“Just a friendly reminder,” I shot back to her, “I’m here because I was the only member of the ICU and VIP staff who managed to ‘keep it professional’.” Brenda wasn’t impressed though.

“Insubordination will still get you fired, Miss Gusterson.”

“Pointing out the obvious isn’t a termination-worthy offense, Brenda,” I snapped back at her. I turned to the rest of the team then. “Are we done here? There is a patient over there who requires care.”

A nod from Tim Shephard, the hospital’s CEO, was all that I needed to fly from the room and head to the security door of the VIP suite. Once I made it through the doors, my back hit the wall and I slumped a bit, trying to catch my breath.

“Everything okay?” Someone asked. When I opened my eyes, Gabe was standing across the hallway watching me with a weary look.

I waved his concern away. “Swimming away from sharks always takes it out of me.”

“Yeah, I actually know how that is.” Gabe glanced down at the new folder in my hands. “I take it they offered you our proposal to be my son’s nurse full-time until he’s healed?”

“That wasn’t quite what I signed on for,” I explained. Gabe cocked a brow, curiosity written in his expression. “Here,” I handed over the portfolio so he could peruse everything.

“This is not at all what we discussed,” he muttered. “Some of it is, but…” he cut himself off as he continued reading. “Those lying, conniving, thieving whores!” He shouted as he threw the contract to the floor and pulled his phone out of his pocket. I watched as he explained a few things to his lawyer and then looked at me again. “How do you feel about traveling?”

I shrugged my shoulders but didn’t get to answer since he started talking to the person on the phone again. By then, Kendra came out to see what the commotion was all about. I pointed to the paperwork strewn across the floor. Once Kendra picked it up and skimmed through, she laughed.

“No wonder he’s losing his shit. The hospital just pulled a fast one so they could keep more of his money, give you less, and they refused to sign you for anything past Chevy’s hospital stay.”

“It was supposed to be different? And what do you mean, past Chevy’s hospital stay?”

“Much different,” Kendra insisted and then she asked the same question Gabe had before his call pulled his attention away. “Are you opposed to travel?”

“Can we talk while I check on your son?” I asked as I began to make my way to his room.

“Of course. He’ll be happy to see you. The older lady who was here earlier was ‘mean’ to him and told him to stop being a momma’s boy.” We both laughed about that.

“Men do tend to make the worst patients. She may have had a point,” I joked.

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