Page 7 of Heartbeat

“Do you understand me, Raven?” My father squinted his angry eyes at me. I sighed, giving up. Not helping my mother wasn’t worth gaining my father’s ire. It was easier to just go along.

“I apologize, Mama. Of course, I can help you. I’ll move some things around, and we can meet later this week to discuss the details.” I heard my sisters snickering like two adolescents, but I ignored them.

“It’s okay, baby.” My mother gave me an uncomfortable smile.

I stood up and kissed my mother on the cheek. I grabbed my purse and gave my family a tight smile. “It’s beennice.But I haveworkto do.” I threw my father a side-eye.

“You need to finish your meal.” My father glared at me, but I’d had enough for the day.

I waved goodbye and sauntered away. I heard him call my name, but I ignored it. I loved my family, but I was really beginning to hate my father.

CHAPTER 4

LENNOX

“Igot you an interview at BHM.” My father barged into my office with excitement dripping from his every word.

“What? Dad, what are you doing here?” I was exhausted, and surely I was hallucinating. I looked over at the clock, and it was entirely too early for my father to be here at the hospital.

“Lennox, I got you an interview with Alejandro Bishops. Well, it’s really a formality. The job is as good as yours.”

I had to shake my head to clear my thoughts. I hadn’t seen my dad since the wedding two weeks ago, and now he was in my office talking about a job interview.

“Dad? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Listen, kid, I’ve landed you an opportunity of a lifetime. But if you don’t want it, then…” My father shrugged his broad shoulders.

“No, no. Of course, I want the opportunity. I’m just confused as to how this came about and why?” I said in suspicion. My father didn’t just do anything, there was always a catch.

“It looks good for a Nash to be working in such a prestigious place. It helps get our family name on the island. It could open doors for us.” My father was smiling widely.

I nodded. I could believe this was about him. He was selfish, but I had to admit that I wanted the coveted position.

“So, when does this interview happen? I haven’t been notified of anything. I can’t just leave the patients that I have here a Washington General,” I stated, looking at my father.

I wanted to work at BHM, but I wouldn’t leave my patients without a doctor. I may have been an arrogant prick, but I always put my patients first.

“Alejandro’s personal assistant will contact you today. I just wanted to be the first to tell you the exciting news.” I didn’t think my father’s grin could grow any wider, but it did.

I didn’t miss the fact that he wanted to tell me first so he could take credit for getting me the position. It dawned on me that it would be something he could use to hang over my head. But I didn’t care. This job would do astounding things for my career, and if I had to hear my father brag about getting it for me, then it was something that I was willing to take.

“That’s great news, dad. Thanks,” I said genuinely. You needed connections to get a job at BHM, and I was going to go through Jagger since he’d married into the Bishops family. But my dad had saved me from owing him a favor. Plus, after the scene at the wedding I wasn’t sure if Jagger even liked his new in-laws, hell, I don’t think he particularly liked his new wife.

“You got this in the bag, son. Just remember who got this for you when the time comes.” My father had a way of reminding me that nothing in this world was for free, even if it was from your own father.

“Yeah, dad. I don’t think you’d let me forget,” I responded dryly.

He smirked; his green eyes practically glowed. The old man was good at hiding what he truly thought, so I had no idea what he was up to. I would just have to take my chances and hope to God that whatever he had cooked up wasn’t detrimental to my career.

After my father left my office, I finished up my day early. Just like my father said, Dr. Bishops’ personal assistant, Felicity, contacted me about an official interview. I couldn’t wait to get my foot in the door of BHM. Their Neurology department was the best, and I knew I could make great strides in the medical world if I were on their team.

I walked into my brownstone with a little more pep in my step. Usually, after a long, complicated surgery, I can hardly pick my feet up off the ground. Today’s operation was particularly tiring. There was a man in his late forties with a tumor on his spine. I worked diligently with a team of other specialists to devise a plan of action. We successfully removed the tumor, now all we could do was wait.

I was optimistic about the outcome, but the case just made me want to work at BHM even more. BHM had state of the art, groundbreaking technology that I would have access to. I would be able to do so much more for my patients with those types of tools at my disposal.

I pulled off my t-shirt and sweats as I walked into my bathroom. I tried not to wear my scrubs home from the hospital. My brothers would tease me while I was in medical school for wearing them all the time. They accused me of picking up women by dressing like Dr. McHottie. Whoever the hell that was. They called me a poser, and I’m not sure why it bothered me so much, but it did.

The hot water rippled over my head and down my chest. I needed to get a workout in today to relieve some of the nervous energy I had. I lathered up the shampoo and worked it into my dark brown hair.

---