Chapter 8 - The Emergency Board Meeting
We all turned toward the sound.
Striding down the intensive care corridor was a tall, imposing man in a tailored charcoal suit, accompanied by two junior legal associates carrying leather briefcases. It was Arthur Sterling, the managing partner of the hospital’s primary benefactor board and a close personal friend of Richard Reynolds.
Sterling didn't look at Daniel or Barbara. His cold, calculating gaze locked directly onto me.
"Dr. Carter," Sterling said, his voice carrying the polished, razor-sharp authority of a man accustomed to owning rooms. "I need a word with you immediately regarding the surgical intervention performed on Mr. Reynolds this morning."
I raised an eyebrow, my fatigue instantly hardening into defensive professionalism. "My surgical team and I just spent six hours repairing a Type A aortic dissection, followed by a successful resuscitation from a cardiac arrest ten minutes ago. If you want a debriefing, Mr. Sterling, it can wait until I've written my post-op notes."
Sterling stopped a yard away, his expression grim. "It can't wait. We've just received an anonymous ethics complaint filed with the state medical board and the hospital's executive committee."
Daniel stepped in front of me, his anger flaring instantly. "An ethics complaint? Are you out of your mind, Sterling? My father is alive because of her!"
"Your father's company holds a controlling financial interest in this hospital's endowment fund, Daniel," Sterling retorted sharply, his eyes flashing with bureaucratic coldness. "The complaint alleges a severe conflict of interest: that Dr. Carter performed high-risk cardiothoracic surgery on a direct family relation—specifically, the father of her fiancé—while harboring documented, publicly displayed personal animosity from events that occurred earlier this same day."
Barbara let out a sharp gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. "That's absurd! I'm the one who... I'm the one who caused those problems! She saved his life!"
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"It doesn't matter what caused them, Barbara," Sterling said coldly. "The state board requires an immediate administrative suspension pending an emergency review of her surgical privileges."
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