As Josh’s gaze landed on Jessica, the middle-aged doctor interjected hastily, “Mr. Campbell, we don’t usually allow visitors here. She’s only here because she’s Kylee’s assistant.”
Josh paused at this, his eyebrows arching in surprise. “Kylee’s assistant?”
“Yes,” Kylee replied, standing a little straighter, as if to reinforce her claim.
Josh scoffed lightly, his skepticism evident, and then turned his attention back to Jessica.
Jessica sighed inwardly. She had hoped to remain inconspicuous, but with Caiden’s assistant now addressing her directly, her hopes for a low profile had evaporated.
“Are you settling in and getting along with everyone already?” Josh asked, his tone polite but curious.
Jessica pressed her lips together, choosing to remain silent.
Josh turned to the rest of the room and spoke clearly. “Let me officially introduce Jessica to all of you. She is our new resident physician in the Cardiac Surgery Department and will report to Deputy Director Darlene Mitchell starting today.”
His announcement stunned the room into silence.
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Shock and Reactions
“A resident physician?” Kylee’s voice broke the quiet, thick with disbelief. “She’s joining as a full-time staff member?”
“Of course,” Josh replied firmly.
Kylee’s disbelief quickly turned to outrage. “How can that be?” she exclaimed. “Jessica hasn’t even passed her licensing exam! She only has a bachelor’s degree, and her academic record is mediocre at best. It’s absurd that she could secure a position at Grand Plains General Hospital!”
Her voice had risen, sharp and incredulous, her face flushing with emotion.
The room grew heavier with tension.
Jessica had, indeed, been appointed as a full-time doctor at the Grand Plains General Hospital—a position Kylee herself had yet to secure despite her year-long tenure.
Kylee’s face shifted from pale to crimson as her earlier confidence faltered, her words echoing back at her with an air of irony.
Jessica met Kylee’s outburst with a derisive snort.
So, Kylee is already showing her true colors, she thought.
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Mixed Reactions
The other doctors in the room exchanged uneasy glances.
They had always viewed Kylee as the doting elder sister, protective and nurturing toward Jessica. Yet now, Kylee was airing Jessica’s supposed inadequacies for all to hear, her voice growing more heated with each sentence.
Still, they couldn’t entirely dismiss Kylee’s reaction.
It was well-known that Kylee, despite her connections and year-long apprenticeship, had not yet secured a permanent position. Jessica’s sudden appointment as a full-time resident physician seemed unfair in comparison. Kylee’s frustration, they reasoned, was not entirely unwarranted.
Kylee seemed to realize she had spoken too much. She softened her tone, turning to Jessica with a strained smile. “I’m sorry, Jessica. That came out wrong. I was just surprised by the news and curious about how it happened.”
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A New Challenge
At that moment, one of Kylee’s allies, Talia Holland, a middle-aged doctor, stepped forward.
“Mr. Campbell,” Talia began, her tone edged with skepticism, “isn’t it a rule here that all new hires must pass the hospital’s internal exam to join? Those exams take place in January, and it’s already June. The exam season is long over. How did she get in?”
Another doctor chimed in, her voice sharp with doubt. “Yes, Mr. Campbell. Our hospital is famous for its strict admission standards. We pride ourselves on having no space for nepotism or shortcuts. Could you clarify how she bypassed the process?”
All eyes turned to Josh, awaiting his response.
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The Answer
Josh remained calm, his expression unfazed by the murmurs of discontent. “Jessica’s position was secured through Deputy Director Rodgers, who personally evaluated her credentials. As for why the usual procedures were bypassed, that is something you should address with the deputy director himself.”
The room fell silent again, though the tension lingered.
Kylee’s face betrayed her simmering frustration, but she bit her lip, saying nothing further. Talia and the others exchanged knowing glances but chose to drop the matter—for now.
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Jessica’s Quiet Resolve
Through it all, Jessica remained composed. She had no intention of justifying herself to the room, nor did she owe anyone an explanation. Let them think what they wanted—she was here to prove herself through her work, not through words.
She met Kylee’s gaze briefly, her expression calm but unreadable, before turning her attention back to Josh.
“Shall we continue?” she asked.
Josh nodded and motioned for her to follow, leaving the tense office behind.