Chapter 4

Ethan called me around noon. "Ms. Chase, I've compiled all the info on Healthwell Medical Center."

"Just the key points," I replied.

He explained, "Richard holds 38%, BrightRise Capital has 22%, and the rest is split among minor shareholders, making up the remaining 40%.

"At the end of last year, BrightRise Capital transferred half its shares to Unity Trading Co., so now both BrightRise and Unity Trading Co. each hold 11%."

"Unity Trading Co. is David's company," I said.

"Yeah," Ethan paused, then continued, "Ms. Chase, about your connection to the Grant family..."

"Go on."

"At the end of last year, Healthwell Medical Center also issued a round of convertible bonds totaling 13 million dollars. Right now, those bonds are held by a firm called SilverTrust Asset Management."

"What are the terms for converting those bonds?"

"The holders can choose to convert them into shares before June 30th this year. If they do, based on the current valuation, that would be about 12% of the total shares."

I did the math in my head.

Richard owned 38%, the minor shareholders had 40% scattered among a dozen people, BrightRise Capital held 11%, and Unity Trading Co. held 11%.

"Ethan, do we have any business ties with SilverTrust Asset Management?" I asked.

"Yeah. MedCore Group did some supply chain financing for them last year. We get along pretty well," he replied.

"Set up a meeting with them this afternoon."

"What's the topic?"

"I'm buying those convertible bonds."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Then Ethan asked, "Ms. Chase, are you trying to take over Healthwell Medical Center?"

"I want my mom to have a bed where she can actually get treated," I replied.

After hanging up, I went back down to the third floor.

My mom was eating lunch. Hospital food was on a stainless steel tray.

She only managed a few bites before pushing the tray aside. "I don't have an appetite."

"Is there anything you feel like eating? I can go grab it for you," I asked.

She shook her head. "Victoria, you should focus on your work. You don't need to watch over me every day. I'm really okay.

"Your dad left us early, and you've had it rough. Don't let my sickness mess up your job."

I picked up her soup and gently blew on it to cool it down. "Mom, try to have some soup first."

She took it and slowly sipped a couple of mouthfuls. "Victoria, where's Michael? I haven't seen him around these past couple of days."

"He's busy."

"Is he treating you well? Did you two have a fight?"

"No, Mom, don't think about that."

She gave me that look, one that had watched over me my whole life.

She always saw right through me, but never said a word.

"You were like this when you were a kid," she said softly. "Whenever you got hurt, you always shouldered everything alone."

I set the bowl back on the table. "Mom, I promise you I'll get your bed back."

*****

At five that evening, Emily got a new attending doctor.

Before, Oliver was juggling both the regular wards and the ICU, but now Richard had personally assigned an assistant director for Emily.

This assistant director was Adrian Harris, forty-five, one of Richard's trusted subordinates.

The first thing he did after taking over was to write Emily a brand-new prescription.

It listed three imported medications.

One of them was the exact heart valve drug my mom had depended on all along.

Julie, the head nurse, pulled me aside and whispered.

She had been at Healthwell Medical Center for nine years. She was one of the rare few here who still had a conscience.

She murmured, "Ms. Chase, I really shouldn't be saying this, but there were only six boxes left of that imported heart medicine your mom was using.

"They handed them all over to the patient on the fifth floor. Emily doesn't have a heart problem. Giving her those meds is a total waste."

"But why?" I asked.

"Dr. Barnes said so, and who's going to argue?" Julie replied.

I nodded. "Julie, can you check when the next shipment of those imported meds is supposed to arrive?"

"At least two months. They have to get approval and go through customs," she replied.

"Two months," I echoed.

"Yes," Julie said, looking at me like she wanted to say something but held back. "Your mom can't wait two months."

I knew.

Oliver had put it gently that morning, but the message was clear. If my mom couldn't get back on those imported meds, and with her condition as it was, the window for surgery would keep shrinking.

In two months, surgery might not be an option anymore.

Because by then, it'd be impossible.

I stood in the hallway for a long time.

The windows in the hallway faced north.

My mom always loved the rooms with south-facing windows.

My phone rang. It was Ethan.

"Victoria, I talked to SilverTrust Asset Management. They're ready to sell those convertible bonds," he said.

"How much?" I asked.

"They're asking for a 15% premium."

"Fine. Draft the terms tonight. We'll sign tomorrow."

"One more thing. I checked out those scattered minority shareholders at Healthwell Medical Center. Three of them together hold 14% of the shares, and they're all strapped for cash right now. They're probably looking to cash out."

"Talk to all of them. Offer no more than 120% of the valuation."

"Understood," Ethan said.

I called out, "Ethan."

"Yes, I'm here."

"The sooner, the better."

"How soon can you get it done?"

"If everyone's on board, three days."

"What about after three days? My mom's meds might actually run out by then."

"I'll pull an all-nighter if I have to. I'll get it done tonight."

I hung up the phone.

At the end of the hallway, the door to Room 308 was left slightly ajar.

I could see my mom propped up against the headboard, reading an old magazine by the light from the hallway.

She couldn't make out the small print, so she had to hold the magazine way out in front of her.