Page 78 of Ellie 1

Sure enough, she did.

“Look, clearly, we’re getting off on the wrong foot.”

“No, you have, and it’s no longer amusing or simply annoying,” I told her over my shoulder. “You can’t bully or lie your way into a position. Please stop embarrassing yourself.”

“Me?” she hissed as she moved closer, clearly upset at how loudly I said that. “I understand you’re the chief admins officer or whatever but you’re—the heads of the department hire people. That’s how hospitals work and—”

“It’s not howASHworks,” I said bluntly. “And the department head you would be under hasn’t asked me tointerview you. So this is completely of your own fancy.” I stopped and turned to her. “Do you really think you’re the first smooth talker and liar we’ve had try to push their way into our hospital?” I gave her my best condescending smile. “You’re not even good at it.”

Then I kept walking. It was hard not to roll my eyes when she basically lectured me on how to do my job and about my place in life. I let her go on and on and essentially tear me down and threaten to humiliate me if I didn’t give her what she wanted. Her lies about her backing and referrals that were pouring in to me about her were beyond insulting.

Finally, when we were in the main lobby by security, I spun on her. “You areunhinged, Dr. Tate. None of that is true. I haven’t received one—notone—referral for you from anyone in this hospital. On the contrary, I have received warnings and people asking to make sure you never work here. And I don’tcarewhat you believe about how hospitals should work.

“You’re lying and begging for a job here at the hospitalI run. I do. Not you. Not anyone else. I have sole discretion on who is hired. Everyone here knows that. They know who gives them their offer letters and raises. For you to ramble this whole time that I’m full of myself and need to learn my place—please, learnyour place.

“You’re hundreds of years younger than me and so disrespectful that I can say with complete certainty you are not ASH material and will never work here. You have been walking around here for days lying and trying to manipulate my people. None of themfellfor it, but we’re busy and don’t have time for you or your games. So please leave and do not come back.”

Her eyes were huge as she switched gears to try something new next. “I-I didn’t—I’m not sure what I did to offend you, but I certainly wasn’t—you misunderstood what I said.”

“No, I didn’t, and I’m not an idiot,” I chuckled darkly. “I get you’re used to trying to manipulate people—you might even be good at it, but this is the big leagues and as I said, you aren’t the first to try and push themselves into a position here. You won’t be the last, but this will be the last time you hassle anyone at ASH.”

She glanced around and the anger came back to a level she couldn’t hide. “I did no such thing and—”

“You are aliar, Dr. Tate,” I said evenly while wanting to pound her face in. “You walked in here and said you were invited to interview. Except no one invited you. I’ve talked with everyone who could even have done that. The remaining board didn’t even know you were coming. Yourreferralswon’t put their reputation on the line for you.

“All of this is a con. I don’t know why, but I suggest you leave quietly before I find out and really get annoyed.” I stepped into her personal space. “Go ahead and try to turn this around that I’m a monster and you’re the victim. It won’t change anything and I don’tcare.” I smirked at her shock. “I don’t. Fine, I’m a monster. Say what you want.”

“That’s not—”

She was done talking and I didn’t even let her finish. “But I am the protector of the staff and patients at ASH. That’s my role, not some paper-pushing lackey of the board who needs to understand the way things work. I know how they work. I helped build them before you were even born. So I don’t know how else to say it but no, you cannot work here. Ever.”

She glanced around for help but clearly found none.

All she saw was security moving in closer.

“I’m sorry you feel that way, Ms. Reed. We’ll have to clear this misunderstanding up another time and talk when there’s an opening since apparently you don’t have one in my department.”

Oh, that’s how she was going to spin it? I laughed in her face. “We have a few—I make positions for talented doctors. But you are not a fit. You were never a candidate. I don’t deal with liars and people who are toxic. It’s not good for the people I protect and you are toxic. The fact you just spun that around like you’re letting me down easily is—get out. Seriously, just leave.”

I turned to leave and nodded to security to handle her. I added to revoke any guest passes she’d weaseled for herself and even block her from ASH unless she came in as a trauma patient.

“That’s enough, Ms. Reed,” she snapped. “I’m a respected doctor who—”

“You are?” I countered. “Funny, because your current hospital isn’t responding to my requests for information and your employment history.” I chuckled when she went pale. “Yeah, nothing suspicious there. But hey, I’m just a paper pusher. What would I know, right,Doctor?”

“We’ll handle it, Ms. Reed,” the head of security said firmly as he joined us.

“You always do, and I appreciate it. Good work.”

And goodbye Mandy Tate.

19

Ellie

I decided to handle HR now that Mandy was figured out. I swung by there and handed in my form declaring my sexual encounter with Ha-joon and that we were going to have a relationship. “Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t get out. If it does, I will find out how and they will be fired. None of these forms get out.”

“I’ve cleaned house now and I’m confident it won’t,” Beth said from behind me.

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