Falling For The Mob

04 Keep happy

Zoë

I wasn't told about a speech or presentation before today. The fact that I have to be part of the board wasn't even known until last week, so I have no idea where to even start. I appreciate the opportunity Dr. Parks is giving me, but again, I am stumped on how to live up to the expectations of a department head. I don't even know what the Claymore group does or why they decided to start this project. If it's publicity they are after, their best option is to stick with cancer research or any other department that doesn't need as much help as mine.

I look up one last time and let the hot water wash over my face and relax my entire body. As much as I am enjoying this, my time is up, and I have less than an hour to prepare.

I find a pair of proper clothes in my office and put on a light amount of makeup, just some eyeliner and concealer to cover up the dark circles that have taken up permanent residence under my eyes.

Pleased with myself, I walk back to the floor. Three hours of sleep and a shower did wonders, making me look much more presentable than the mess that broke down the conference room door this morning. This is my chance to make a better impression, and I won't ruin it.

I still have no idea what I am going to say to her. I think it's best to let my department sell itself. Sam Claymore may be intimidating, but she can't hate children, even if she has something against me.

Twenty minutes later, I somehow manage to again forget the task at hand and get lost in my work. The file I'm looking through belongs to a five-year-old who has been fainting at random moments of the day. So far, none of her doctors could find the cause, and the parents are becoming desperate.

I take a seat behind the nurse's station computer to see if my hunch could pan out when Tony pops up beside me. "Mami, you didn't tell me that the investor is Sam Claymore."

I raise myself off the chair just enough to peek over the nurse's station and find the investor walking in with Henry in tow, practically sticking to her side. Behind them are this short Auburn-haired pregnant woman and a large, scary-looking gentleman with a shaved head.

They were in the room with us earlier, probably her assistant and maybe her bodyguard?

"They're early." I look back at the screen with the plan of quickly finishing up, but Tony grabs my hand before I can do anything.

"What are you doing? You can't keep the most powerful woman in the city waiting." I look at him wide-eyed, regretting not being better prepared. "Have you even opened a newspaper or looked at a screen in the last three days?"

He already knows the answer. I haven't seen the outside world in almost a week. This new information makes her even more intimidating, being the most powerful woman in the city explains the 'untouchable' aura she is radiating. My scene from this morning plays over in my head, she and Henry probably already had a good laugh about it.

Swallowing my pride, I get off my seat to begin to prepare for what will most likely be painful to watch. I make my way over to find that Henry had walked off with her, leaving the assistant and bodyguard behind.

Relieved to have a few more seconds of breath, I walk over to them with a smile.

"Hi there, I'm Dr. Zoë DeLuca, head of the pediatrics department." I stretch my hand out to the man, to which he folds his arms behind his back and takes a few steps away from me. I'm a bit stunned and stand frozen before the small woman begins to giggle.

"Don't take it personally, Nico doesn't speak much to anyone." I smile back at her in an attempt to regain myself.

She takes my hand in a firm shake. "Addison Claymore, nice to meet you."