Page 30 of Getting Off

“If that’s what you want,” Lucas finally said.“But I’m worried you’re making a mistake.”

“I’m not.Trust me on this.I can handle it.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Monday

“After this PR disaster,” Dr.Gibson said, his fingers steepled together as he stared at Brooklyn, “I think it’s best if we withdraw your candidacy to run NLVMC’s new traumatic brain injury center.”

Gibson was sitting behind his desk in his office.He watched her with those pitiless eyes.She knew he was judging her, seeing how she dealt with this blow.

“Sir,” she said.“I’m still the most dedicated and qualified candidate.I know this hospital.All the other candidates are from other parts of the country.I’ll help make our new center one of the leading ones in the nation.Imagine what that will do for our funding.”

She was playing her last card here.Trying to tempt Gibson into letting her have her shot at the top slot with the implied promise of better funding, bigger donors.As final hopes went, it was pretty weak.He had been against her from the beginning.They had fundamentally different ideas of what was important in modern medical care.

She wanted to help and heal.Gibson paid more attention to bottom lines, profit margins, donors, fundraisers, and media events.

Dr.Gibson looked unimpressed by her plea.“Unfortunately, I don’t think you are right for the position at this stage in your development, Dr.Foster.That was shown very clearly when I viewed that video of your…reckless joyride—” Dr.Gibson’s nostrils flared in outrage “—and your obscenity.I was forced to make a tough decision.”

“And you decided my private life, my personalfun, should disqualify me from consideration.”She was so angry she could barely talk.This was incredibly unfair.

“All factors of a candidate’s professional and personal life are evaluated when considering a candidate for promotion to this level.Especially when it reflects upon the hospital.This is part of your physician’s employment contract.I’m sorry you are upset.You’re a valuable asset to this medical facility.But for now, we will focus on what is best for the hospital.At this time, that is not you.”

She wanted to protest.To kick this up to the next level.But she knew it would be impossible.Pushing it might make Dr.Gibson even more hostile toward her.He could make her life and career difficult in a thousand different ways.She didn’t want to lose her position here.It meant too much to her.

So that was it.Her brief fling with wild fun, getting dirty and having a dirty mouth, had ended her chance at the position she desperately wanted.It was so stupid she could hardly believe it was really happening to her.

Dr.Gibson leaned forward, his face earnest.“I find this whole thing regrettable, Dr.Foster.But I know there’s a path forward.One where you continue to do what you do best—treat patients—and one where the hospital finds the perfectly rounded candidate we need to bring in donors and fundraising and keep North Las Vegas Medical Center untarnished in public opinion.That’s all.Thank you.”

Brooklyn nodded and left his office.Her legs felt numb.She had feared this since the call yesterday had interrupted their dinner.She had barely slept last night because she’d been so worried, and she’d done her best to hide that worry from Lucas and Dylan.

She desperately wanted to see them now, to talk with them, but she couldn’t.She had work to do and patients who were counting on her.

Brooklyn held her head high as she left the administration offices to get back to what she did best.Helping her patients, the people who needed her.With all the gossip that would be flying around the hospital after this, she knew she needed to focus on what really mattered.

She’d had her fun.Now she had to act like a professional again no matter what the cost.

* * *

Dylan wasn’t really a morning person, but this had to be the best morning ever.

He was standing in Lucas Fox’s swanky high-rise office, holding a check in his hands.A check for two hundred grand.It was a sponsorship for him to turn pro.

He’d never been this close to that much money.Dylan had been living hand to mouth for most of his life.But this?Thiswas a game-changer.It was a chance for him to achieve his dream.

“Don’t usually see you speechless,” Lucas said.

He sounded so casual about this.Of course, Lucas probably wrote checks for a hundred grand every other day.But this meant the world to Dylan.

“Things don’t usually shock me like this,” he finally managed to say.“Man, I don’t even have any words.”

Lucas stood from behind his desk and moved closer to Dylan.“I don’t want this to be weird.You earned this.I don’t need thank yous.”

“To hell with that,” Dylan said.He reached out to pull Lucas into an embrace.“Thank you.”

Lucas laughed against him.“You don’t follow directions well, you know that?”

“True.But damn, this is way more money than I need.”

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