Falling For The Mob

03 Delegate

Sam

"You're late," the warning in her voice irritating me more than usual.

I was hoping for a peaceful morning, but what I walk in on is my space being invaded by Addy, my father, and two women I have never seen before.

"What can I possibly be late for at seven-thirty in the morning?"

"Our meeting with the SHH board," she crosses her arms over her chest, ready for whatever protest I may throw her way. I am on the verge of rolling my eyes at her when I remember there are strangers in the room. I show no emotion.

"Our meeting is scheduled at nine, and all I need to do is ride the elevator down a few stories."

"No, that's not all you have to do," my father interrupts. "As discussed, you are now working on a different schedule, and this includes more offsite appearances. Your meetings with SHH have all been moved to their facilities. They have fine conference rooms, and their director wants to take you on a tour of the entire hospital today. Addy has already cleared both your schedules."

The urge to break something is overwhelming, but I keep my composure. "And they are?" I point towards the two women who have been listening in without a sound.

"They are your new stylists," Addy taunts, knowing I will not react in their presence. "You can't walk around wearing all black everything anymore, it makes you too intimidating."

Says the woman who is always dressed like a circus tent in those bright-colored floral dresses. I look Addy up and down once more, showing my clear distaste in her own style. I would shoot myself between the eyes before I let them dress me up like that.

My father hops out of his chair and places his hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. "I know that the changes we are forcing upon you are less than comfortable, so we agreed to only make mild adjustments to your wardrobe. As long as you wear one item that isn't black, we both can live with that."

The two women immediately get to work, and soon it becomes clear why I was late according to Addy. I cannot agree on any of the items they bring out. An hour passes before I settle on a white blouse, black skirt, and red sole black heels. Red counts as 'another color,' and given our lack of time, they both are forced to give in. We still have half an hour to get to the hospital, and with light traffic, it's only a ten-minute drive, but I want to be early.

Nico holds the door open for us to step inside before getting behind the wheel. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself, but years ago, my father began insisting I take a bodyguard and still has not changed his mind on it.

As the drive begins, Addy opens a folder on her lap. "Since you were late, we'll have to run through everything one last time on the way."

"No need," we both know that my prep work was done, and as always, I was walking into this meeting with my mind already made up. Once I make a decision, it does not change. I am not ever persuaded, so a tour around the hospital and this entire meeting is just an unpleasant formality.

"Yes, I know, but I have a few more things I want to go through," she hands me a small stack of papers with pictures and bios on them. I quickly study the stack, impressed by the depth of her research. Every page is filled with the information of an older man, probably all surgeons with a god complex, who will take one look at me and decide that I am too young to challenge them on their views.

"You've already met Henry Walsh, next is Dr. Parks. He is the head of the entire hospital and an actual friend of Jack. He is known to be a very kind man, so be nice to him. The rest of them are all department heads of the hospital, I have no idea who will or won't be on the board, but these are the most likely candidates."