Page 7 of Ellie 1

“You know yourself best. If anyone gives you trouble, send them my way.”

He chuckled. “Everyone knows you protect the administrative staff like a momma with her cubs. None of the medical staff ever bully us.”

“If only that was true,” she drawled before patting his shoulder and walking off.

“You’re really good to your people,” I muttered, trying to fill the awkward silence since she wasn’t going to bother giving me a tour. I mentally winced when she didn’t even reply.

Crap. This was not going well.

Once we were in her large office, she closed the door behind us and clicked a few buttons. Then she gestured to one of the chairs in front of her expansive desk and told me to sit.

And for the next several minutes we sat there in silence while she studied me.

“I apologize for going about getting my foot in the door this way, but I had to take the chance to get a meeting with you even if I knew what they were trying,” I said, cracking first. “I have tried several times to—”

“Yes, I know, Dr. Clark,” she cut in. “You would think my repeatedly passing over your applications and resume would have been a very loud message that I didn’t think you fit thishospital. Apparently, you missed that and simply care only about what you want.”

I winced, unable to hide that the shot she took landed. “Look, I know that’s how things are coming off and I’m sorry. I truly am, but I’m not—please just give me a chance. I promise I’m not the guy—I’m not thedoctoryou think I am. I’m a good doctor.”

“You are, or I wouldn’t care if the board or the gods demanded you be here, I would show you the door,” she said firmly. “The board wants you here to—”

“Bring fame and wealth to the hospital. Yes, I’m aware, and they weren’t subtle. They think I’ll change the policy somehow about outside donations. I don’t want to change that—”

“That is the second time you’ve lied to me, Dr. Clark. If there is a third time, I will not only show you the door, but drop-kick you out of my hospital,” she said firmly, her tone and face even.

But the fire in her eyes made it clear my death was also on the table. Wow.

And she wasn’t a vampire. They couldn’t sense lies. She had to be a witch with some type of rare magic to know if people were lying. It was very useful in her position.

I was simply shocked she was upset enough to let that slip.

I let out a slow breath and recentered myself. “Yes, the board gave me an official offer. I knew it was bullshit, and I will give you everything. I just used them to get this chance. I’m not their guy.” I waited until she gave a nod that she believed me. “I do not think there should be the donor bullshit my hospital had. It’s part of why I want to leave.”

Relief filled me when surprise flashed in her eyes and her anger toned back a bit. She was more powerful than me, and as an Alpha wolf, that anger was a challenge which could be a problem.

Except it wasn’t. It made my wolf agitated like when my mom or Alpha was upset with me. Which was… Odd. Very odd. So she was more powerful than me but something more.

“I do think there could be an anonymous donor pool for more research or risky cases that cannot pay for their own expenses. We had that at the first hospital I joined and it’s one of the best teaching hospitals because of it. That’s it. That’s what I meant when I told some of the board that I agreed ASH could use more donations.”

Again, she nodded, still studying me.

And again, I broke. “I cannot help that I’m a good doctor and have been involved in some big cases. I know how the hospitals I’ve worked at have framed it and pumped up that I’m a rock star or whatever. I honestly hate kissing babies at donor events.

“I honestlyloathethat, but a few of those cases were groundbreaking and shined a light on conditions we didn’t know were hurting the community. It’s led to some interesting research, and—I want to keep working on those kinds of cases. I want to be at the forefront of medicine. I want to do it here and push the barrier, not have my name sung or hog glory.”

She sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her large breasts… That I failed in trying not to notice. Clearly, I failed.

“If you’re going to be blunt with me—which I genuinely appreciate—then I’ll be blunt with you, Dr. Clark,” she said after a couple more minutes. “I have enough egotistical and problematic doctors around here. The position is vacant because I just got one out. I now understand the board was playing nice with me the past couple of votes and issues—”

“Because they wanted to pull this fast one on you. Yes, I now understand that too, and I’m not a fan of being that much of a pawn,” I admitted with a bit of growl. “I knew I was using a bit of discourse to get in front of you, but I’m no one’s puppet, and thelevel of them thinking I would kiss their asses for the position was—I’m also not an intern.”

“Welcome to my life,” she drawled. “I’m merely a lowly administrator.” She frowned when I snorted.

“Ms. Reed, you aren’t ‘merely’ anything,” I said firmly, realizing I needed to explain. “This hospital is amazing. Most Alpha wolves couldn’t have applied here over and over again after being rejected out of pride, but being a part of this place is more important than my stupid pride. And you run it. Screw the crap about admins—you run this monster.

“And flawlessly. Our board and department heads would brush off your accomplishments whiledrippingwith jealousy that they can’t do a fraction of what you’ve done. Or you don’t work for them. You are the best coach and leader of any hospital in our world and—”

“I’ve already said that I won’t block your hiring, Dr. Clark,” she cut in. “There’s no need to butter me up or—”

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