Page 19 of Ellie 3

“Nope, but it won’t get any easier so might as well just get it done,” I grumbled. I smiled when people politely chuckled and we headed out.

I walked into the massive lecture hall first, flanked by a posse of leaders from the hospital and around the world. People couldn’t hide their shock at who was with me and blinked like they thought they were seeing things or needed more coffee.

I should have been surprised when the president went off script and headed right for the podium… But I honestly wasn’t. He was all passion and theatrics. Alan snorted from behind me, and we decided just to take our seats on the stage.

“I was severely disappointed at the pettiness and selfishness a hundred and forty-two citizens of North America displayed yesterday,” the president started. “All to save your own skin as a last-ditch effort instead of doing better and being the future of ASH.Instead, you are pushing to drag it down and kick the owner on your way out.

“And I cannot just be quiet on that. Not when the owner of ASH saved my life.” He stared out at the large room. “I’ve said it many times, praising ASH and how far our medicine has truly come. I’ve always been an advocate for doing better and savinglives, not just ignoring health care because we are supes. Health care isn’t just for humans who die too young.

“It’s for all of us. It’s amiraclewe need to respect and always value. The hundred and forty-two of you failed in that yesterday, and as the first child the founder of ASH saved from childhood vampiric leukemia, I demanded to be the one to introduce the owner if this was happening. I also wanted to look into the eyes of such selfish people who would risk such a good person.

“The founder of ASH has performed medicalmiracles. Not just savingchildrenbut changing how vampires consume blood by discovering the additives ASH puts into their blood. The threats against the owner because of that gold mine are endless, and all of you risked that person because you areselfish.

“Nothing Ellie Reed has proposed is horrible. Do your jobs like professionals with grace and dignity while acting like adults instead of petty teenagers. And forthat, so many fight against her tooth and nail. First, the stupid board who brought nothing to ASH and now you childish fools. Youblindfools because the answer was always right in front of your faces.”

He gave them a moment with that, staring around the room and shaking his head.

“How many of you know who the owner or founder is? Everyone on this stage does. How about the rest of you?”

I was shocked how many hands went up. I shouldn’t have been maybe, the handful of attendings had been there for over fifty years. Or Dr. Joyce Tai was my best friend and smart. She… Yeah, it made sense she knew. A few department heads that we hadn’t told pieced it together.

Some others in security. Okay, paying attention was their job.

But it was definitely more than I’d thought.

He nodded, glancing around. “Well, I thank all of you for being the best of us and protecting the person who founded ASH, this mecca of medicine, and my savior—the savior of many of us.” He turned and smiled at me. “It’s my greatest honor to present the founder of ASH, Dr. Ellie Reed-Miller.”

I stood and met the gaze of the attending who started the coup. “Surprise.” Just to be an extra shit, I added jazz hands.

Nope, I didn’t regret that. It felt fucking delicious.

6

Ha-joon

She fucking did jazz hands.

She. Did. Jazz. Hands.

And I fell a bit more in love with her. I wasn’t the only one who burst out laughing. I saw Joyce and several who loved Ellie were enjoying it just as much as I did.

I was a lucky bastard that she could love a git like me. That was for damn sure.

“You never change,” the president said as he walked over and kissed her cheek.

People went quiet and slowly turned to look at me, making me realize I was growling. Rather loudly.

“Oh, so that’s the lover I heard about, huh? I get to meet him after you spank the kiddies?” the president teased. “I hear he’s some hotshot that’s impressed all the department heads and more.”

Ellie snorted. “He impresses me all the damn time. Mostly by putting up with my crazy, but that’s up to him and his schedule.” She waved him off when he went to say more. “I’m a bit busy. Behave for once, yeah?”

I swallowed a groan. Only Ellie would tell the President of North America to fucking behave.

And he did with a chuckle, several of the previous presidents who had joined her softly, half chuckling as well.

She took the podium and extended her arm like she was going to click for a slide but then stopped. “I have all the proof. All the documentation that shows I own the land and the hospital’s trust is in my name. All the steps and legalities but…”

She set down what was in her hand and moved from behind the podium, shaking her head. Instead, she stared out at us, meeting my gaze after a moment.

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