The cardiothoracic ICU was already active by the time Diana stepped onto the floor.
Like any other hospital.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Nurses moved between stations with tablets and medication trays while telemetry monitors pulsed steadily above patient suites. The muted scent of antiseptic and expensive floor polish lingered through the corridor as attendings exchanged overnight reports near the central station.
Private hospitals like these didn't run loudly.
They ran precisely.
Dr. Jason Malik stood near the nurses' hub reviewing post-op charts with two junior residents beside him. His posture was calmer now than it had been months ago when she went into labor.
A leftover survival instinct.
Because she was aware of how surgeons overlooked his skills as if he was another amateur.
He wasn't.
He was trained under the best capable hands in the hospital.
No resident had seen the beauty of any OR and cases better than him.
That's why they were insecure.
The same way they were when she did her first triple bypass.
They were doing the same thing they did to her before she grew a spine.
Frustrating him.
Not openly enough to leave marks.
But enough.
Questioning his decisions during rounds.
Pulling rank unnecessarily.
Making comments like 'No one is here to protect you'.
The usual politics insecure surgeons resorted to when talent threatened them.
Jason looked up first.
Immediately straightening.
"Morning, Dr. Pierce."
The two residents beside him nearly stiffened too.
Diana's eyes swept over the charts in his hands before landing on the potassium values.
"You let this sit at 3.1 overnight?"
One of the residents swallowed. "We were monitoring before replacing-"
"Monitoring it long enough till it eventually it becomes a code blue." Her tone remained calm. "Correct it."
"Yes doctor."
She moved on without another word.
Not cruel.
Not warm either.
Precise.
Jason followed beside her naturally.
"The senator's drainage reduced significantly after four a.m. His oxygen demand is improving and neuro is intact."
"Good. Are his top tier visitors still here playing doctors?"
A faint smile tugged at Jason's mouth. "Not exactly."
"Of course, why would i assume otherwise."
As they approached the VIP recovery suites, two senior cardiothoracic surgeons stood near the glass reviewing scans quietly.
Dr. Hoffman.
Dr. Charles.
Big names in the hospital.
YOU ARE READING
His greatest love.
RomanceGiovanni De Luca is the wealthiest man in the business world... and the most feared name in the underworld and the business world. Dr. Pierce isn't just a surgeon - she's the best the world has ever seen, a miracle worker with a scalpel and a spine...
