Chapter 64
[ 474 words ]
Chapter 64:
Melanie slowly raised her wrist and tapped the face of her watch.
“Well, well, well,” Melanie announced, her voice loud enough for the entire floor to hear. “Look who finally decided to grace us with her presence.”
Four other nurses stopped charting and turned to stare.
Melanie took a sip of her coffee, a nasty smirk twisting her lips. “Rough night, Thompson? I guess when you’re busy climbing the social ladder in a billionaire’s bed, the hospital rules don’t apply to you anymore.”
𝖨ո𝗌𝘁аո𝘵 а𝗰𝗰е𝘴ѕ 𝗼𝘯 g𝗮𝗅𝗇𝗼𝘃е𝗹s.𝗰o𝗺
Caroline’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the pen. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to remain flat and professional.
“There was a delay on the red line,” Caroline said coldly. “I will stay fifteen minutes late to make up the time.”
“Oh, you think you can just make your own schedule?” Melanie sneered, stepping closer. “That’s a slap in the face to everyone here who actually respects their job. You think you’re untouchable.”
The other nurses began to mutter in agreement. The resentment that had been building since Jarrod’s display of power was finally boiling over.
The commotion caught the attention of Dr. Cromwell.
The Chief of Staff stepped out of his office, his brow furrowed. “What is going on out here?”
Melanie instantly spun around, her face morphing into a mask of righteous indignation.
“Dr. Cromwell,” Melanie said sharply. “Caroline is fifteen minutes late. She is disrupting the shift change. We are demanding that standard disciplinary protocols be followed. We can’t have special treatment.”
Cromwell looked at Caroline. A flash of pure panic crossed his eyes. He was terrified of Jarrod Romero, but he was also facing a mutiny from his entire nursing staff.
Caroline saw the fear in the doctor’s eyes. She knew if she fought this, she would draw more attention to herself. She had to play the part of the helpless intern.
“I was late, Dr. Cromwell,” Caroline said quietly. “I accept the consequences.”
Cromwell let out a heavy sigh of relief. He gestured toward his door. “In my office, Caroline.”
Caroline walked into the sterile office. Cromwell sat behind his desk and pulled a bright yellow slip of paper from a drawer.
It was a formal write-up. A permanent disciplinary mark on her record.
“I’m sorry, Caroline,” Cromwell muttered, avoiding her eyes as he filled out her name. “I have to appease the floor. It’s just protocol.”
He slid the yellow paper across the desk.
Caroline picked up the pen. Every fiber of her defensive instincts screamed at her to snap the pen in half and walk out. Instead, she swallowed her pride and signed her name on the dotted line.
She walked back out to the hallway holding the yellow carbon copy.
Melanie was waiting by the med carts. She looked at the yellow slip in Caroline’s hand and smiled a vicious, triumphant smile.
“This is just the beginning, Thompson,” Melanie whispered as Caroline walked past. “We’re going to break you.”
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