Chapter 2
A man in a dark gray suit stepped out. He was tall and lean, with sharp, chiseled features.
"Dr. Grant," he said, nodding at me. "I've heard a lot about you."
Charles Goodman, CEO of Harmony Health Group. Thirty-five, and notoriously hard to please in the industry.
I shook his hand. "Mr. Goodman."
He looked at me, holding my gaze for a beat longer than necessary.
"You're younger than I expected," he said.
"Being young never gets in the way of getting things done," I replied.
He smiled, stepping aside. "This way, please."
The legal team was already waiting in the conference room.
We ran through the contract terms. Nothing jumped out at me as a problem.
As I signed, Charles watched me.
"Dr. Grant, I have a personal question," he said.
"Go ahead," I replied.
"Are you Dr. G?"
I paused mid-signature.
"Word is," he said, "the person who came up with the device for minimally invasive heart surgery is actually one of the best in the field at performing the procedure."
I finished signing, then clicked my pen shut.
"You've got your sources, Mr. Goodman," I said.
"That's not a denial," he replied.
"Not an admission, either," I said.
He let it go.
He got up and reached out to shake my hand again.
"Looking forward to working with you, Dr. Grant," he said.
As I stepped out of the Harmony Health Group building, my phone rang again.
It was an unknown number.
"Hello, Ms. Grant. This is Lewis, the Quinn family's butler. Mr. Quinn would like to see you," he said.
"Not interested," I replied.
"Ms. Grant, Mr. Quinn's health—"
"The Quinn family has nothing to do with me anymore. If he needs surgery, let Lily handle it. Goodbye."
I took a cab home.
On the way, I got a message from Lily.
[Evelyn, don't mess with an old man's life just because you got divorced. Who are you to say Dr. G won't go? Who do you think you are?]
I replied: [None of your business.]
Lily replied instantly: [I'm a PhD from Metropolitan University School of Medicine. My mentor knows Dr. G. Who are you in the medical world? Just someone with a two-year degree?]
I didn't bother replying.
I tossed my phone into my bag.
A PhD from Metropolitan University School of Medicine?
I earned my doctorate in surgery at Johns Hopkins University ten years ago.
Whatever. Not worth explaining.
That evening, Nina called to give me an update.
"Dr. Grant, someone from the Quinn family showed up at our office," she said.
"Who's there?" I replied.
"It was Michael himself. He wanted to see the CEO, but the front desk wouldn't let him in. He has no idea you own the company," she said.
"Of course not. The company name isn't my name. It's just the business name. He wouldn't know it's mine," I said.
"He said he wants to partner with us and asked if we could help him connect with Dr. G," she added.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"So, what did you tell him?" I asked.
"Just stuck to company policy. Told him we only handle device sales and don't do doctor referrals," she replied.
"Good. Just ignore him," I said.
I hung up.
Michael was trying to partner with my company?
He could search the whole city, but he'd never figure out that the ex-wife he looked down on was the Dr. G he was practically begging for.
This irony wasn't something I planned.
It was simply the way events unfolded.
On the third day, things started to get interesting.
Lily posted on her social media: [Great news! Thanks to my mentor, I've connected with Dr. G's team. Mr. Quinn's surgery is finally set!]
People started liking her post.
Michael commented: [Thanks for your hard work, Lily.]
Catherine commented: [Lily, you really know how to get things done! Unlike some people who are absolutely useless.]
I was lying on the couch when I saw her post, and I almost burst out laughing.
'Connected with Dr. G's team?' I thought to myself.
My team hadn't heard a thing.
Who did she even contact?
I called Nina.
"Nina, has anyone reached out to our medical team lately about scheduling a surgery with me?" I asked.
"Nope. Not a single person. The only inquiries we've had recently are about the Harmony Group collaboration," she replied.
"Got it," I said.
So Lily was just bragging.
She might've gone through some middleman, or maybe reached out to an assistant on my team who had no idea what was really going on, but she never got to me directly.
There are fewer than ten people nationwide who can actually book me for surgery themselves.
Lily, a fresh PhD grad, is nowhere near qualified.
But I wasn't about to call her out.
I'd let the drama play out a little longer.
Over the weekend, I got a call.
"Hey, it's me, Mandy," came the voice on the other end.
Mandy was the only one in the Quinn family I could actually get along with during those three years. She was Michael's cousin.
"Mandy? What's up?" I asked.
"Evelyn, they've really crossed the line. At the family dinner today, Catherine stood up in front of everyone and called you an ungrateful wretch.
"She said you spent three years in the Quinn family without doing a single thing for them, and now that you're divorced, you're even cursing Grandpa Jonathan," she said.
"When did I ever curse him?" I shot back.
"She's telling everyone you did it on purpose. She said you told Grandpa Dr. G wasn't coming just to freak him out, and that's what made his blood pressure spike and landed him in the hospital," Mandy said, sounding frustrated.
I rubbed my temples.
"Mr. Quinn's in the hospital?" I asked.
"Yeah, he was rushed to the ER this afternoon. His blood pressure was through the roof, so the doctors said they have to move up the surgery," Mandy replied.
"When's the new date?" I asked.
"Next Wednesday," Mandy replied.
I was quiet for a few seconds.
Jonathan had always treated me well. In those three years, he was the only one in the Quinn family who never gave me attitude.
But the rest of the Quinn family...
"Evelyn," Mandy lowered her voice, "Lily never actually got through to Dr. G.
"At dinner, my dad pressed her a bit, and she just kept stammering about still 'coordinating.' Honestly, I think the surgery is still up in the air," she said.
"That's not my business anymore, Mandy," I replied, keeping my tone flat.
"I know, but Grandpa really—" Mandy's voice was soft, almost pleading.
"I'll think about it," I said, though in my heart, I wasn't sure if I wanted to get involved again.
I hung up.
I stood by the window, staring out at the city lights.
Three years ago, when I married into the Quinn family, everyone gave me the cold shoulder.
But Mr. Quinn was the only one who took my hand and said, "Kid, I know this isn't easy for you."
I'd held onto those words for three years.
I picked up my phone and texted my team, [Looks like we might have a surgery next Wednesday. Not set in stone yet, but tell Dr. Wilson and Dr. Carter to be ready just in case.]
Nina replied: [Got it. Is this for the Quinn family?]
I answered: [Not confirmed yet.]
She didn't ask anything else.
Whether I do this, when I do it, and how I do it, those are all my calls.
They don't get to call the shots. The Quinn family has zero say in this.