Page 46 of Judge Me Not

I point at Dr. Nelson. "You convinced the board not to allow the new treatment for children with leukemia to start until the new year. You're going to have an emergency board meeting right now and override this decision, or I'm not only pulling all my funding, but I'm also going to get up on the stage with a microphone and tell everyone in this room the situation."

"What situation is that?"

"A little girl is dying without the treatment, and I'm sure other children are, too. And you're the guy allowing her to die."

"I've done no—"

"You are."

"There are logistics for treatment. We have to receive the medication."

"It's in the hospital. I've confirmed it."

His eyes turn to slits. "From whom?"

"None of your business. Your decision is stopping the treatment. So fix this immediately, or you'll see I don't make threats. I implement them."

His face turns red, and he scowls.

Dr. Petri clears his throat. He looks across the table. "Roy. Peter. Get Jenson and Hanover behind you. Board room in fifteen minutes." He scoots out of his chair. "I'll gather the others."

"Why?" Peter asks.

"Emergency meeting. Don't be late so we can get this over with." He walks off.

I lean into Dr. Nelson's ear. "If you fuck this up, I'm taking it personally." I pat him on the back again and walk off.

When the members start to leave, I follow them and wait outside the door.

I pace the hallway but not for long. Five minutes later, the door opens. Dr. Nelson sneers. "You got what you wanted."

"Send notice to the pediatric ward."

"Now?"

"Yes, now," I growl.

He sighs, takes out his phone, and sends an email. "Happy?"

"With your greedy ass?"

He glares at me. "I'd like to get back to my evening now."

I refrain from punching him and go down to the billing department. An older woman with blonde hair and oversized blue glasses is at the counter. She smiles. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to pay off an account."

"Name?"

"Abby Barello. Her mother's name is Jasmine."

She types quickly, and her eyes widen. "How much would you like to pay toward it?"

"The balance."

Her expression turns sympathetic. "Sir, it's almost one point two million dollars."

I pull out my wallet and put down my card. "Please run it in full."

---