Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
I walked them to the elevator at the end of the lobby. “I’ll be in touch to schedule the surgery, along with instructions for what needs to be done to prepare for the procedure. If you have any questions, feel free to email. I’m attached at the hip to my phone, so I can get you any information that you need at any time.”
“Thank you.” Angelica gave me a weak smile, her eyes still wet after the long discussion. “I just can’t believe this is all real, that Dr. Hamilton is going to be taking care of my husband. I felt like a crazy person cornering his father like that, but I was desperate.”
I gave a nod in understanding. “When it comes to the people we love, there’s no line we’re afraid to cross.”
“I’m so glad his father talked him into returning to medicine. I know everything about him because of all the research I did, and even if he can’t save my husband, there are so many other people who need him.” She released a heavy sigh as her tears welled up more. “I’ve seen so many doctors, you don’t even know, and none of them give a damn. None of them listen. None of them are anywhere near Dex Hamilton.”
Marc gently gripped her arm and directed her to the elevator doors after they opened. “I’m sure his assistant knows how brilliant he is, honey.” They got into the elevator together and then disappeared.
I went back to the front desk and saw Andrea sitting there.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
“Pretty good…I think.” I returned down the hallway to the corner office and saw Dex exactly where I left him.
He sat on the couch and looked over the paperwork, the data he’d looked at dozens of times, the energy around him contemplative and quiet. When he heard me, his eyes lifted. Those brown eyes stared at me for a few seconds before he threw the papers back onto the pile.
I sat on the couch across from him and gathered the paperwork to organize it and return it to the folder.
Dex relaxed into the couch and looked out the window again.
I stacked everything neatly before placing it in the folder. “Should I get the surgery on the schedule?”
After a long pause of silence, he turned back to look at me, his brown eyes still hard, his jawline tight like he was in discomfort.
I was afraid he might say no, that he might call off the whole thing.
“Yes. We need to get him in within the week, so have the hospital prioritize it. And set me up on a call with Dr. Northridge because he’ll need to assist me with this surgery.”
“Of course.” I was so happy that he’d decided to pursue this, that he’d become dedicated to Marc and Angelica rather than uncertain. “You were great today, just so you know.” It wasn’t my place to say anything like that because I didn’t know the medicine. I had no idea if his diagnosis or approach was appropriate. But I did see his heart behind his eyes…and saw what really mattered.
He stared at me for a while, his face devoid of expression. “His numbers are getting exponentially worse, and if an intervention doesn’t happen soon, his heart will shut down. It’s now or never. And if I don’t do this, no one will.”
“Why won’t another doctor operate on him?”
He shook his head slowly. “It’s a really complicated procedure. I’m going to be in the operating room for a while. There’s so much that can go wrong, and when the risks are too high, doctors are unlikely to take a procedure because they’re opening themselves up to a potential lawsuit.”
“And that doesn’t worry you?”
He shrugged. “I don’t get caught up in the bureaucratic bullshit that comes along with medicine. Every new doctor is motivated to be the hero everyone needs, but they get weighed down by administrative policies, greedy lawyers, and all the other shit that just drains the life out of you. I choose to focus on what matters and ignore that stuff as much as I can. That’s why I opened my own practice instead of working for a provider. I call the shots and deal with the consequences. I learned that from my father, who started his own company a long time ago because he got frustrated by the repetitive dogma in medicine. He wanted to implement changes, but that sort of thing happens slowly, so he just did his own thing. He’s saved a lot of lives that way.”
The affection for his father was audible in his voice, despite his demeanor. “Yeah, I’m sure he has.”
He continued to rub his hands together, a look of consternation on his face.
“Have you ever been sued?”
His answer exploded from his lips. “Yeah.”
I was so surprised that I didn’t say anything for a while. “When?”