Especially as I’ve called you in today to share some news.” His eyes twinkled. “Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair across his desk, and my gaze lingered briefly on the chair he was sitting in.
It was worn, beaten-up leather, and it was the first thing I was going to replace. I needed something with a little more lumbar support. The view, though. I glanced out of the window toward the gleaming lake. Dr. Crow had always said he had one of the best views in the city, if only he had time to enjoy it, and he was right. It was pretty awesome, even though it was only fall.
“How are you doing?” Dr. Crow smiled again, and I gave a tentative smile back.
“Pretty good, I think, but usually that’s what you tell me.”
He chuckled. “Indeed you are. Now listen, the reason I’ve called you in today is to discuss my retirement.”
I sat forward slightly as excitement prickled over my skin. I’d been pulling all kinds of random shift patterns and I’d even missed a couple of family dinners to prove I was the man for the job. Dr. Crow had as much as said this position was mine on several occasions.
My confidence wasn’t misplaced. It wasn’t simple hubris.
I waited, ready for official confirmation of my promotion.
“As you know, you’ve been under consideration for the role of chief of staff for a long time now—”
Wait. What? His voice faded to a low hum as I tuned his words out. Fucking under consideration? Hell, no. I’d been groomed for this bastard job. I’d put in all the hard work, and I’d gone over and above time and time again to prove myself worthy. I’d done everything I could to be perfect and slot right in before Crow’s chair had even cooled from the heat of his ass.
I curled my fingers into a fist, stretching my knuckles tight as I fought a wave of frustration I couldn’t afford to let loose.
I shook my head slightly and tried to keep my smile focused on Crow, forcing myself to listen to him.
“So you’re absolutely still in the running, but we also have another doctor we’ll be assessing alongside you.” He nodded, just bobbing his head up and down gently. “I guess you could say the two of you are going to have the opportunity to prove your worth.”
“My what?” I kept my voice reasonable, low, controlled. “But you already know my worth. You’ve been telling me for months the role is as good as mine. I’ve done everything right.”
Crow nodded. “Yes, your conduct has been exemplary. No one’s denying that.” He shook his head slightly this time. “It’s just another doctor threw his hat into the ring, and our hands were tied. We can’t knowingly dismiss a capable doctor from his chance at the role. Legality and morality both play their part.”
I nodded, the movement stiff as I clenched my jaw tight, trying to ignore the muscle ticking there. “Okay.”
Crow continued to speak. “He has the highest personal recommendations from doctors who’ve worked with him, his track record is unblemished, his patients give him top-score feedback. In short, Kairo, he’s every bit the doctor you are.” He shrugged and it looked like an apology.
“I know this hospital,” I said. “I was practically raised within these walls.” And it was true.
Mom had been a surgeon at the top of her game at Lakeshore General when she finally retired. I’d done my homework in her office more nights than I cared to remember as I sought quiet away from my brothers. I’d been determined to be exactly like her, to make the same difference in people’s lives as she did. So I’d applied myself and striven for perfection. And, shit. It had nearly worked.
“Who is it?”
Crow raised his eyebrows at my question, and it was a question I hadn’t needed to ask. There was only one guy who could turn my life upside down so thoroughly.
I turned around at the knock at the door, already fully aware who was about to walk through, and my stomach roiled at the knowledge. I didn’t bother to smile. I didn’t care whether Jun Park thought I was happy to see him or not.
“Come in.” Crow gave the same cheery greeting he’d given me, and I clenched my jaw tighter.
This was all just a big ol’ crock of horseshit.
The door opened, but I didn’t stand from my seat for Jun. I wasn’t feeling all too respectful or welcoming. He’d been my nemesis since med school, always treading on my heels as he chased me to try to attain every achievement he knew I wanted. Every time he saw I was doing well, he wanted to do better. Every time I was the first to achieve something, he had to try second.
Luckily, he’d always been second, never beating me, but always coming just close enough to be that constant irritation sitting right at my shoulder.
Maybe I owed him a debt of thanks—not that I’d ever tell him—because more so than just knowing Mom’s reputation, Jun ensured the pressure for perfection never went away. I couldn’t afford even one slip-up because that would have meant losing my first-place position to him. And that would never have been good enough. I knew what I wanted, I went for it, I achieved it.
And Jun had always had to make do with second place. And now here he was. Trying one more time to be my first-place loser.
I’d never gotten rid of the guy, and now it seemed like med school all over again.
Well, game on.
Get ready for book 5 in the Caldwell Brothers Series, Love Hurts!
Available Now!
Love Hurts
Get ready for book 6 in the Caldwell Brothers Series, Love Hurts!
Available Now!
Free Bonus Chapters!
Get your free Bonus Content for the Brotherly Love Series Sent straight to your email inbox. Just Click here!
Join my author page!
Join Aiden Bates; newsletter for exclusive bonus content ➜ http://aidenbates.com/author-central-signup/
Love Me Again
Brotherly Love: Book 5
Aiden Bates & Ali Lyda
© 2020
Disclaimer
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are all fictitious for the reader’s pleasure. Any similarities to real people, places, events, living or dead are all coincidental.
This book contains sexually explicit content that is intended for ADULTS ONLY (+18).