Page 60 of Doctor Mile High
“Dove, when will you understand that anything can happen for you now? I have money. Money talks. Money buys whatever we want. If you wanted to get married tomorrow, I could give you an Italian countryside wedding and a dress custom made to fit every perfect curve of your body. The world is yours now.”
“I wouldn’t feel right doing that,” I admit in a whisper, blinking away tears when I think of my parents struggle.
“Why?” Winston brushes a piece of my hair from my face.
“My parents. They would want to help in some way, and they can’t compete with the money you have, Winston. My dad is a good man, but a proud one, and they have a mortgage and?—”
Winston stands, caging me in by gripping the arms of the chair. “Do you really think I’d let my fiancée’s parents struggle? As of this morning, they own their home and their debts have been wiped clean. They haven’t noticed yet, but they will. They’ve worked hard their entire lives. I’ve looked into them and everything your parents have done for their community. Good people deserve good things. They’re finally free, Dove.”
My head spins from the news. This can’t be true. He wouldn’t have done that without talking to me about it, right?
“You did that for me?” I blow out a breath, doing my best not to become emotional since we are in public.
“I’d do anything for you. Don’t you get that, Love Dove? If it were possible, I’d give you the world.”
“You have already.” I peer down at our son, lifting the blanket to watch him.
I still can’t believe he’s real. It’s like I’m experiencing a fever dream.
“That’s sweet.” Landon’s cruel voice ruins our moment.
Winston grips the wheelchair even harder. His knuckles turn white as he tries to compose himself.
“It’s my turn. Your scholarship idea is cute, Warrick, but you’ll never be as good as me.”
“You’re right,” I sneer at my ex-boss. “He’s better.”
Landon takes a step toward me, a fist clenched at his side, and Winston stands between us so his enemy can’t take another step.
Winston tilts his head and growls through clenched teeth. “Take one more fucking step toward her and I will kill you.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Is that a threat?” The light catches the sheen of gel slicking back Landon’s hair. “I could have you arrested for that.”
“Who would they believe? A respected doctor? Or a grifter like you?” Winston leans in and whispers, “Think a little smarter if you can.”
Landon sneers, looking Winston up and down before spinning on his heels and strutting onto the stage. The crowd claps, but it’s nowhere near the amount of enthusiasm that Winston was able to receive from them. Even the audience knows when they’re being tricked.
“Dr. Warrick, thank you so much for your kindness. We have similar idea when it comes to infants and mothers.”
Winston’s knuckles crack when his fists become tight at his side. There goes Landon, stealing another idea.
“I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself if you don’t know who I am. I’m Landon Vainton of the Vain Corporation. Unlike the amazing Dr. Warrick, I only focus on bringing the best medical inventions to medicine. I’m a multi-billion-dollar company who’s known for the artificial heart that’s able to be transplanted into a patient who needs a new heart. Our goal at the Vain Corporation is to make sure that everyone on the donor list, waiting to receive an organ, doesn’t have to wait for a match. Our products are affordable and are often covered by insurance because they are deemed medically necessary.”
“He’s a fucking liar.” Winston’s whisper is so harsh, so vile, that it causes goose bumps to rise on my arms. “I’ve been doing research, that artificial heart causes massive clots and has many patients go into cardiac arrest. Many have died, but not enough. I can’t prove anything.”
“Yet,” I add, snagging his wrist. “You haven’tyet.You will, Winston. Men like him never last. Their ugly truths will be revealed in time.”
Landon walks back and forth on the stage, the spotlight following him everywhere he goes. “It’s my pleasure to announce that the Vain Corporation is opening its very own maternity center. It’s open only for mothers, fathers, and newborns, focusing on life-saving treatment.”
It’s basically the same idea that Winston had. I understand what Winston means now when he says Landon is a thief. He likes to twist others’ ideas into his own.
“Families won’t get lost in the chaos of the hospital or forgotten with other patients. Our facility has a team dedicated to each and every patient so they have care at all times, at every hour during the day.” Landon turns his head toward us, a wicked smirk gracing his lying mouth, before turning back to the crowd. “You’ll no longer have wait times or dealing with different people. At the Vain Maternity Center, your family will be first.”
The crowd cheers, but the medical students that sit off to the side don’t. They stare at Landon like the lying asshole he is. They aren’t fooled.
“This is bad,” Winston says, rubbing a hand down his exhausted face. “This is so bad.”
I don’t understand why this center would be bad. I hate that Landon stole Winston’s idea, but there’s more than enough space in the world for more than one facility dedicated to women’s health.
