Chapter 5

In the Thoracic Surgery Department, at Harmony Medical Center, this was my first time stepping into this office as deputy director.

Three things were on the desk: white coat, badge, and the surgery schedule.

The white coat was brand new.

The badge said: [Andrew Shaw, Deputy Director, Chief of Thoracic Surgery.]

I picked up the badge and clipped it on.

Charles stood in the doorway. "How does it feel?"

"Not bad. Just a little weird," I said.

"You'll get used to it. Three days to meet the team. On the fourth day, you're up for your first surgery."

"Who is it?"

"A patient with esophageal cancer. Three hospitals said it's inoperable. Take a look."

I set down the badge. "Where's the file?"

"On the desk."

I opened the file. It was a tumor in the middle of the esophagus, right next to the trachea. It had a high risk for surgery.

"I can do it," I said.

Charles raised an eyebrow. "No joke?"

I closed the file. "No joke. Give me two good assistants."

"The hospital's best two. VIP OR."

"Thanks."

Charles left.

I sat in the chair, looking out the window. Harmony Medical Center's building was taller than the Apex Medical Center, my old workplace.

The view was way better.

My phone rang, and it was the head nurse from the Apex Medical Center.

She said, "Dr. Shaw. Where are you? The hospital is in chaos."

I asked, "What happened?"

"Leo announced at the meeting that he is reorganizing the thoracic surgery department. He is breaking up your team and handing the cases over to the rookies." Her voice was shaking.

I gripped the phone. "What exactly did he say?"

"He said he wants to train new people, not let you carry the whole department."

I was silent for a few seconds before I said, "Whatever, let him be."

"Dr. Shaw, what about your patients? Some of your regulars are asking for you by name. They've gone to the admin office." The head nurse sounded anxious.

"Just tell them to come over to Harmony Medical Center."

"What?"

"Let them know I'm seeing patients at Harmony Medical Center, thoracic surgery. They can drop by whenever."

There was silence on the other end.

She asked, "Dr. Shaw, are you leaving?"

"Yeah, I'm gone." I hung up.

I stood up and walked over to the window.

Down below was Harmony Medical Center's parking lot.

A car pulled in and parked.

The door opened. Out stepped William, the head of cardiology from the Apex Medical Center.

He looked up and caught sight of me standing by the window.

He waved at me.

I nodded back.

William walked into the building.

Ten minutes later, he pushed open the door to my office.

"Andrew, you're something else. You up and left, vanished without a word." William plopped down in a chair.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"I'm jumping ship to your side. Leo slashed our cardiology bonuses on his very first day, and said he wanted to give more to the newbies."

I looked at him. "Are you ready to join me?"

"I'm here to make my position clear. If you go, I go. If you stay, I stay."

I smiled, "Alright."

William was an old hand in cardiology.

He was sharp in the OR and never left his people hanging.

With him joining, my thoracic surgery squad leveled up.

"Any news from Leo's side?" I asked.

"He's holding an all-hands meeting this afternoon to roll out the new thoracic surgery reform plan," William said.

"What's the plan?"

"Word is, he's going to tear your team apart," William said in a low voice. "He wants to scatter all your trainees to different departments."

I didn't say anything.

"Andrew, your trainees are all real talents. Leo's move is wrecking everything you've poured your heart into these past five years," William said.

I picked up my cup and took a sip. "He can't break it up."