Page 40 of Twisted Ruck

"I'm not trying to be difficult," I said, aware how tight my voice was. "You're the one who called my credentials into question. Frankly, I find that unprofessional. I have a great deal of respect for Doctor Stuart, and for you and your experience." I was toeing a line here, but I wasn't going to roll over for him, or anyone.

"As you should," he said. "Between us, we have a great deal of it. I would have hoped to have more of it on the team." In other words, he would have chosen one of the other candidates for the position. One Bruce might have preferred.

"I guess you're one of those people who expect someone to have experience without being given a chance to do the job," Isaid dryly. Apparently my last fuck of the day was gone now. I made a note to stock a few extra for next time. Or not, because I didn't owe him anything.

"Experience is great, but it's not everything," I said. "That's why Doctor Stuart hired me. Dominic King agrees with him. They're both willing to give me a chance to prove myself." Let him think that by dropping King's name, maybe I was working with him too, outside of the team. He might back off a bit then.

A girl could hope.

"As am I," Skinner said. "I asked if you were capable of observing training, did I not?"

"You did," I agreed. "And I agreed I am." I glanced at my watch. "Which I'm going to be late for if I don't get going."

I had six or seven minutes to get downstairs and out onto the field. Coach Stanley might wait, not wanting the guys to train without a medic present, but I didn't want to put him in that position. Especially not when I barely started working here. Keeping him waiting would definitelynotbe a good look.

"Turning up for training late would be unprofessional," he said, as if he wasn't the one holding me up. "But better you turn up late with humility, than on time with an overly large ego."

I bit back an angry response and forced a couple of breaths in and out. "I don't have a large ego, Doctor Skinner. I have confidence in my abilities, that's all. And like I said, if I get stuck, I'll call you to help me."

"You did say that," he said. "Right before you accused me of indifference."

What was this guy's deal? Everything I said, he twisted around backward. If I suggested the sky was blue, he'd find a way to prove me wrong. Or try to make me feel bad about being right.

I quickly counted to ten in my head, trying to regain some semblance of calm before I lost my shit with him.

"I didn't mean to accuse you of anything," I said. "I know you care about the players. I know you're passionate about developing new methods to help them regain and maintain their fitness. I'm passionate about that too. I got angry and I spoke without thinking. I'll do my best to make sure that doesn't happen too often."

I wasn't going to promise it wouldn't happen ever again. If he kept pushing me like this, chances were it would.

"You have to be here long enough for it to happen again," he said.

Was he threatening me again?

"I plan on being here for a long time," I said firmly. "Maybe even longer than you."

I was tempted to suggest he'd retire long before I eventhoughtabout working somewhere else, but he'd most likely take offence at the implied dig at his age. It seemed like I managed to give him enough ammunition as it was. I didn't want to give him any more.

"We'll see," he said. He didn't look convinced. His mouth was set in a firm line and his eyes were cold. A vein in the side of his forehead visibly throbbed, a sign of his annoyance.

Frankly, I didn't give a shit. If this was his attitude toward his co-workers, that was his problem. I'd do my best to be polite and keep the peace around here. I'd definitely do my best not to let him provoke me. If Atlas was wary of him, then who knew what he was capable of?

"If you'll excuse me, I better get down to training," I said.

"Miss Miller," he said after I took a couple of steps away.

I stopped but barely glanced over my shoulder.

"If I was you, I'd watch myself," he said. "You must know our jobs are very sought after. Competition is fierce. Even with the positions filled, people will be after them. Some would take great steps to take the place of one of us. Perhaps all of us. They'd wantto prove their experience does, in fact, matter more than your enthusiasm."

I turned around slowly, well and truly done with him, and this conversation.

"That's Doctor Miller." Heels clicking on the floor, I walked out of the infirmary before I said something I'd really regret.

My irritation must have been obvious, because the moment I stepped out onto the side of the field, Frost trotted over to me.

"You okay?" he asked. "Did Atlas—" He looked over to where the inside centre was warming up with the rest.

"He didn't do anything," I said quickly. "I will be fine. When I get a chance to cool down."

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