When Kylee stepped into Turner’s office and closed the door behind her, the weight of her anxiety finally broke through. Her face was flushed with panic, and her voice trembled as she exclaimed, “Mr. Ortiz, how could you agree to Mr. Rodgers’ proposal? I—I…”
Her words faltered, replaced by a defeated sigh as she slumped into a chair. “What am I supposed to do now?”
Turner, ever composed, leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together. “Given the circumstances, Kylee, I didn’t have much of a choice. If I hadn’t agreed, the issue would’ve dragged on unresolved. I had to act in the moment.”
Kylee’s lips quivered as she bit down nervously. Her face had gone pale, and her voice dropped to a near whisper. “But… with my current skills, there’s no way I can handle a type-B aortic dissection surgery on my own.” Her tone was laced with fear, the daunting reality of the challenge before her sinking in.
She was painfully aware of her limitations. Not only had she never performed a surgery solo, but taking on such a complex procedure with just a week of preparation felt utterly impossible.
Turner gave a soft chuckle, his tone unexpectedly encouraging. “Kylee, who hasn’t started from zero? Every doctor has faced their first big hurdle. You don’t want to stay stuck as an intern forever, do you?”
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes steady. “Look, I know it seems overwhelming, but don’t worry. I’ll personally teach you everything you need to know. You’ll be ready. And even if you can’t complete the surgery in a week, it’s fine. Jessica won’t succeed either. All you need to do is perform it successfully before she does.”
Kylee’s furrowed brow relaxed slightly as she absorbed his words.
She thought about it for a moment and had to admit Turner had a point. If she struggled with the surgery, Jessica surely wouldn’t fare any better. At least Kylee had spent over a year at Grand Plains General Hospital, observing numerous surgeries under Turner’s meticulous guidance.
In terms of both experience and skill, Kylee believed she had the upper hand.
The thought brought a small sense of relief. Her breathing steadied as she began to feel a spark of confidence reigniting within her.
Turner, noticing the change in her expression, pressed on. “Think about it, Kylee. If you succeed, you’ll become a full-fledged resident physician. No more exams, no more waiting. Isn’t that exactly what you’ve been working toward? This is your chance. Are you really going to let it slip away?”
Kylee pressed her lips together, her earlier panic giving way to a look of determination. “Don’t worry, Mr. Ortiz! I’m going to succeed—no doubt about it.”
A satisfied smile spread across Turner’s face. “That’s what I like to hear. I have complete faith in you.”
After a brief pause, he added, “For the next few days, don’t worry about coming to work. Focus entirely on practicing your skills. I’ll arrange everything.”
Kylee nodded firmly. “Understood.”
________________________________________
Meanwhile, on the Other Side of the Hospital
Jessica stepped out of the office and found a quiet spot in one of the hospital’s less frequented hallways. Pulling out her phone, she quickly dialed Caiden’s number.
The moment the call connected, she didn’t hold back. “Caiden, what were you thinking earlier?” she said sharply, her voice brimming with frustration.
On the other end of the line, Caiden let out an awkward chuckle. “Star, I know I was wrong this time. I broke my promise. But you saw the situation—I didn’t have a choice but to agree.”
Jessica sighed, exasperated. “Fine, you agreed. But why on earth did you throw in that nonsense about promoting me to attending physician?”
Caiden’s tone shifted to something firmer. “What else was I supposed to do? You think we could just sit back and let them walk all over us? No way.”
His conviction was unmistakable, as though he genuinely believed his actions were the only logical course. “If we’re going to fight back, there has to be something on the line—rewards, penalties, stakes. Those are the basic rules of a proper competition.”
Jessica raised an eyebrow, her tone growing colder. “You could’ve just offered your bonus and left it at that.”
Caiden paused for a moment before laughing awkwardly. “Uh… that didn’t exactly occur to me at the time.”
“Oh, really?” Her voice dripped with disbelief, laced with irritation.
“I swear, it’s the truth!” Caiden said quickly, trying to placate her. He sighed, then spoke more earnestly. “Look, Star, the bet’s been made, and the wheels are already in motion. Complaining about it now won’t change anything.”
Jessica remained silent, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
Sensing her lingering irritation, Caiden hesitated before adding, “How about this—consider this a mess I dragged you into, and to make up for it, I owe you a favor. Anything you need, I’ll handle it. Does that sound fair?”
Jessica mulled over his words. The offer was unexpected, but the situation was already out of her control. After a long pause, she finally responded. “Fine. You owe me big for this, Caiden.”
Caiden exhaled in relief, his voice lightening. “Deal. Just trust me on this, Star. You’ve got this.”
Jessica hung up, her emotions still a jumble of irritation and determination. One thing was certain: the week ahead wasn’t going to be easy.