Chapter 7

The VIP floor of New York General was locked down. Men in black suits stood at every corner, checking badges and scanning faces. The Velasquez security team had turned the hospital into a fortress.

Kailey walked onto the floor, Tessa trailing behind her with a stack of charts. She stopped at the door of the corner suite.

Inside, Kristen Lindsey lay in the hospital bed, her skin as white as the sheets. Jack sat beside her, holding her hand.

"Jack, I'm scared," Kristen whimpered, her voice thin and reedy. "This place is so loud. I liked the clinic better."

"It's only for a little while," Jack said softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "The best doctor is here. She's going to fix you."

Kailey knocked once and stepped inside. "Good morning, Mr. Velasquez. Miss Lindsey."

Kristen looked up. Her eyes, though weak, held a sharp, calculating gleam that vanished as soon as it appeared. She looked Kailey up and down, taking in the white coat and the stethoscope.

"This is the doctor?" Kristen asked, pouting slightly. "She looks so young."

"Dr. Randall is the Deputy Chief of Neurosurgery here," Jack said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I've seen her work. She's highly skilled."

Kailey walked to the bedside. "Miss Lindsey, I need to perform a neurological exam. It won't take long."

She pulled out her penlight. "Follow the light."

As Kailey checked her pupil response, Kristen kept her gaze fixed on Jack, her hand gripping his tighter. "Are you going to stay, Jack? I need you here."

"I'm right here," he said.

Kailey moved on to the reflex tests. She tapped Kristen's knee with the hammer. The leg kicked out. She checked the Babinski sign. Normal.

Jack watched Kailey work. Her focus was absolute. She didn't seem to notice the tension in the room, or the way Kristen clung to him. She was entirely consumed by the science of the brain.

He found himself mesmerized by her hands. They were quick, precise, and gentle.

"The preliminary exam confirms the MRI findings," Kailey said, making a note on her chart. "The tumor is pressing on the motor cortex. We need to operate soon."

Kristen's eyes filled with tears. "Am I going to die, Jack?"

Jack's face hardened. He looked at Kailey. "I'm paying for the best. I expect the best results."

"Medicine isn't a business, Mr. Velasquez," Kailey said, not looking up from her chart. "I can't guarantee a 100% success rate. I can only guarantee 100% effort."

She closed the chart and tucked it under her arm. "I'll have the surgical plan ready by tomorrow. We'll schedule the OR for Thursday."

She turned to leave. At the door, she paused. "Mr. Velasquez, my office. Nine AM tomorrow. We need to discuss the final terms."

She walked out, leaving Jack staring after her.

Kristen waited until the door clicked shut. She tugged on Jack's sleeve, her face crumpling into a mask of fear and insecurity.

"Jack, she's so cold," Kristen whispered. "Does she even care if I live or die? She looks at me like I'm just a... a problem to solve."

Jack frowned. "She's a doctor, Kristen. That's how they are."

"But what if she makes a mistake?" Kristen pressed, her voice rising. "What if she hates me because of you? She was looking at us so strangely."

Jack's eyes narrowed. He hadn't missed the tension either, but he had attributed it to professional arrogance.

"She doesn't know you," Jack said firmly. "And she works for me. She won't make a mistake."

He stood up, adjusting his cuffs. "Get some rest. I'll be back later."

Kristen watched him go, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across her face as soon as his back was turned.