Page 25 of Ellie 1

“Your mother is—”

“Both my parents are great,” I told her firmly. “They are. They’ve always done the best they can wearing too many hats while having the lives of many on their shoulders. It’s my siblings.” I shrugged. “I honestly hear they’re great to other people, but they’re fucking gits to me.”

“Why are you telling me all of this?” she asked, studying me again.

I opened my mouth but then closed it, frowning and scrubbing my hand over my head. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know because I never tell anyone that much about my family. Mostly because they’re always curious and want the dirt on them given who they are.” I met her curious gaze. “But you don’t give a single shite and for some reason that makes me feel safe.”

She bobbed her head and pushed to fully sit up. “Okay, well, glad you got that off your chest and you feel safe at ASH. We’ll chalk this up to a day of learning too much about each other and move on.”

It was a bit dismissive of her to say that, but I scented her discomfort, so I let it go. “Youare not moving on until you get another IV and blood bag.” I stood and crossed my arms over my chest when she opened her mouth to object. “Doctor’s orders.”

“Ha ha,” she drawled. “I’m fine and—”

“I can call Dr. Carpenter right now and he’ll make me follow you around like a duckling and watch you. So behave, and if you’re steady on your feet, I’ll let you go with an IV pole and hover only a bit.”

She sighed, knowing she was bested. Good.

She was a strong woman who shouldn’t let people push her around, but there was no reason to be difficult just because. I hated when people called women stubborn for not listening or doing what they were told by people who had no right to boss them around. I’d seen it too much in my mum’s culture and side of the family.

My aunts were always stubborn when they didn’t just obediently do what their husbands wanted. Who the fuck were they to tell grown women what to do? Their partner?

Sure, that worked if they did thesame.

And they didn’t.

So no, my aunts weren’t stubborn, and I’d gotten in trouble with my grandparents the last time we’d visited and I’d said as much. My father was the only one who actually looked proud of me while my siblings were just annoyed that I’d opened my mouth. My mum had defended me but also looked a bit embarrassed.

I wasn’t mad. She grew up to be a filial daughter and always listen to her parents. They were always right and to be obedient.

Luckily, I had better parents who didn’t demand respect but had earned mine. Plus, they always respected their children. It was a shame that my grandparents hadn’t been taught better to learn that was important in a family.

My grandfather had kicked me out of their house when I’d said that.

“What are you so angry about?” Ms. Reed asked after I called for a nurse and what I needed.

I snapped out of the past and blinked at her. “Sorry, lost in my head about my family now that I brought it up. Just thinking about how sexist my mum’s side can be and—sorry.” I sighed and rubbed my hand over my hair.

“This is one of your first times dealing with this kind of disaster response, isn’t it?” she asked gently.

“From this side like this,” I admitted. “I was—it was different and it’s been a while.”

“You did well,” she praised, smiling at the nurse who came in. She chuckled when I just stared at her. “Don’t be so shocked, Dr. Clark. I give compliments all of the time.” She frowned when the nurse snorted. “Well, clearly, your lack of professionalism is why you haven’t experienced it.”

The nurse didnotlike being called out on her behavior and looked like she had a lot to say… But wouldn’t to Ms. Reed’s face. She’d beboldand say it all later behind her back.

“I guess no place can ever be perfect,” I said dryly as I took the supplies. “You’re much more patient than the administrators at my previous hospitals. There’s a bit too much cattiness and immaturity I’ve found shadowing Dr. Tai.”

Ms. Reed did a double take that I’d not only sided with her but spoken up. “When you’re fully acclimated, I’d like to hear your perspective and maybe you can even speak to the board. According to them, I’m sensitive and have an inflated ego when I’m just a paper pusher.”

I laughed so hard that I had to stop what I was doing. Seriously, my stomach hurt I laughed so hard. It really wasn’t that funny, but it was the stress of the disaster and lack of sleep too.

I shook my head. “You’re practically the mayor of Atlanta running this place, and you don’t have the same amount of support staff. My father has aides always hurrying after him and he’s only in charge of the wolves of London and the surroundingareas. I would bet you have more people under you than that and handle more.”

She couldn’t seem to get her mouth to work… Nor the nurse who stared at me like I’d grown another head. That pissed me off.

I focused on her while I switched out Ms. Reed’s IV. “I don’t know who has been filling your head with nonsense, but I suggest you take some time for self-reflection and to reassess. Ms. Reed is seen as a rock star and an amazing leader to other hospitals around the world. Every hospital would drop a senior attending to be able to afford her.

“Mine tried several times. And the attitude of some of the support medical staff around here is like she’s the cashier at the damn parking garage. It’s ridiculous when the heads of departments treat her with respect and understand she’s their boss. I don’t know who these fools are that push these ideas or—”

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