Page 71 of Ellie 1

“He should be,” I grumbled, hugging her again.

“That might be the end result, but it’s best for us that this gets cleaned up a bit too,” she grumbled. “We’re not looking to fill his position.”

“You’re not?”

She snorted. “Yes, but we’re hiring more surgeons, not trauma ones. If they have that experience, great, or honestly Alan likes to train them.”

“I honestly want more training so I can jump in on disasters or crazy coming in. I had a surgical fellowship, so I’m qualified.”

“Talk to him. He’d love someone to help with the random early morning trauma call in and we’re both big advocates of cross-training.”

I promised her that I would and handle everything tonight so she could relax. But to let me know anything else so I didn’t worry when she was going through this.

She gave me a look that I might be overstepping and yeah, I could see that… If the situation wasn’t crazy like this. This was nuts.

I think she accepted that.

“Oh, Ha-joon!” a female voice called out and I bit back a groan.

I turned to find Mandy walking with several of the attendings and at least one department head.

She glanced over to where I’d been coming from and smiled. “Were you going over to give my referral and talk me up? You really are the sweetest.” She turned to the others. “He is. Ha-joon is all the green flags and exactly—”

“No, I wasn’t, Dr. Tate,” I cut in firmly. “I didn’t even know you were applying here, and since I haven’t talked to you in ten years, we’re not close enough for me to give you a referral. I was discussing the renovations for my practice.” I nodded to the shocked doctors with her. “Have a nice day, everyone.”

She mumbled something to them and hurried after me. She called my name, but I kept going.

Unfortunately, she was willing to run, and I wasn’t going to run away from her.

Bitch.

She grabbed my arm when we were alone in one of the tunnels connecting buildings. “Hey, what was that about? You said you were going to give me—”

“No, no, I didnot,” I snapped as I turned to face her. “You instructed me to like you have any right or control over me. I didn’t give you my new number. I didn’t invite you here. You are an unwelcome crasher to my new job, and you’re trying to use me for something. I’m not playing this time. You’re not manipulating or spinning things around.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “Geez, you’re always so angry. You said fine when I asked you to and—”

“No, I didn’t,” I repeated. “And stop gaslighting me that you heard me say something. I didn’t because I won’t and never planned to.”

She frowned, searching my eyes. “I know I hurt you, but it’s time to move forward from our past as kids. I’m moving here and want us—”

“I don’t care what you want, Mandy.Youdon’t get to decide anything forus. I’m involved with someone, and you’re running your mouth that we’re getting back together. Who the fuck gave you that permission? You can just decide that for us? I dumped you decades ago because you’re toxic. And you just show up here and declare all of this? Yeah, still toxic.”

“You’re with someone?” she demanded, darkness filling her eyes. “Not according to everyone in the pack.”

I smirked at her. “Didn’t ask my family? Oh right, they all hate you. So, yeah, the pack is hundreds of thousands of people. Geez, how could they not know my personal business?” I snorted at her. “Just leave with whatever dignity you can, Mandy. You’re pissing me off, and I’m not the kid you can walk all over anymore.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re Alpha and—whatever. You’re nottheAlpha of the pack or next in line. You act like—”

“No,youact like that’s all that matters and always tore me down about it.” I frowned at her. “Listen to how you’re treating me right now. I’d have to benutsto want to get back with you. And I’m not. Also, I was talking about being a successful doctor. What the fuck does being an Alpha wolf have to do with my career at the hospital you’re trying to fuck with?”

I gave her one last look that she deserved before going back to my practice. We were busy with appointments, still helping out dermatology while they got everything reworked.

I managed to get my mum on the phone in between appointments and warned her that I only had a few minutes. I apologized for being rude, but she was used to it given all of our family—my father especially.

“What has happened?” she worried. “I can feel the anxiety in your voice.”

“Mandy Tate is here,” I answered. “We’re not getting back together and I hate her. But she’s telling everyone we are and I basically asked her to come get a job here. Funny for how long we haven’t spoken.”

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