“Oh my God, Norah, were you behind those messages in the group chat?” Jolie asked, her voice filled with curiosity. Norah nodded slightly.
Jolie moved her chair closer, her curiosity piqued. “Did you really take Aikin down? You seem so gentle, yet you’re so tough! You must have been the one to post those messages. Did you handle it by yourself, or did someone help you?”
“Well, yeah…” Norah hesitated, not wanting to delve into the details of what had happened in the grove. Picking up on Norah’s reluctance, Jolie wisely retreated to her desk.
Aikin, sore from the encounter, returned to his department, enduring the mocking gazes of his colleagues. One of the doctors who had previously mocked Norah interrupted, “Who’s Dr. Wilson’s so-called boyfriend? Who beat you up so badly?”
“It just shows that those who can’t win with integrity resort to spreading rumors. Fellow doctors, beware of Dr. Rivera’s charm offensive.”
“Come on, why would Dr. Wilson bother with Aikin? I’m much better looking. Should we alert security?”
Silence took over the chat, with no one brave enough to continue the conversation. The last message read, “Why’s everyone quiet? I’ve already called.”
Witnessing the chat history, Norah had to hold back a laugh. The idea of calling security when no one else dared to type was utterly absurd.
Norah discarded the phone onto the ground and gently tapped Aikin’s cheek, offering advice. “Listen, Dr. Rivera, your value is only as much as your bank account. Don’t overestimate yourself. You’re merely a bug underfoot that I could easily squash.”
Her voice was cold, devoid of warmth, causing Aikin to feel dread. His thoughts stalled, and he shivered uncontrollably.
“No, I wouldn’t dare,” Aikin stammered. “Dr. Wilson, you have my word, I’ll steer clear of you.”
As Norah lifted her foot, Aikin breathed a sigh of relief, his gaze fixed on her retreating figure, filled with fear and awe. Norah had an unexpectedly intimidating presence-savage and formidable.
Back in her department, Norah saw Jolie giving her an approving nod and a thumbs-up. “Oh my God, Norah, were you behind those messages in the group chat?” Norah nodded slightly.
Jolie moved her chair closer, filled with curiosity. “Did you really take Aikin down? You seem so gentle, yet you’re so tough! You must have been the one to post those messages. Did you handle it by yourself, or did someone help you?”
“Well, yeah…” Norah chose not to delve into the details of what happened in the grove.
Picking up on Norah’s reluctance, Jolie wisely retreated to her desk.
Sore from the encounter, Aikin returned to his department, facing the mocking gazes of his colleagues.
The doctor previously mocked by Norah interrupted, “Look who it is, Dr. Wilson’s so-called boyfriend. Who beat you up so badly?”
“It just shows those who can’t win with integrity resort to spreading rumors. Fellow doctors, beware of Dr. Rivera’s charm offensive.”
“Come on, why would Dr. Wilson bother with Aikin? I’m much better looking.”
“But seriously, Dr. Wilson is incredible, handling Aikin by herself. Let’s see Aikin try to smear anyone’s name now!”
With his head hung low, Aikin walked to his desk, only to be greeted by a tap from another doctor as soon as he sat down. “Gil is asking for you in his office.”
After a scolding from Gil and shutting the office door behind him, Aikin couldn’t shake off the feeling that luck wasn’t on his side today. Everything seemed to be going wrong. First came the physical confrontation, followed by a reprimand. Was his job next on the line?
Aikin only agreed to Madeline’s proposal because she painted a picture of Norah coming from a struggling family background. And Norah, with her stunning beauty, had enchanted him. Now that the lesson was learned, he hoped that by setting the record straight, Norah might let him off the hook. As for Madeline, he intended to work out a settlement to cover his medical bills.
Norah released her anger by beating Aikin up, finally feeling a sense of release from the frustration that had built up inside her.
Norah scoffed. Did Madeline believe she was some pushover after two years of being obedient within the Carter family?
Later, when Gil called Norah to the Neurosurgery Department, he commended her boldness. “Norah, some people will push boundaries if you show them a bit of leniency. I’ve given Aikin a piece of my mind as well. Let’s move on from this incident. I wanted to see you to discuss a particular case.”
Gil retrieved the medical files from his desk and handed them to Norah. “We have surgery scheduled for next Tuesday. I’d like you to review it. I’m planning on having you join me in the operation.”
“Understood.” Norah, having collaborated with Gil on numerous operations, got straight to work reviewing the files.
“This case isn’t overly complex, but the surgery will be delicate.” Taking a moment to sip his coffee, Gil elaborated, “The patient has a unique condition, and we must ensure the operation goes flawlessly. I’ve committed to making this surgery a success.” The patient was facing an intracranial aneurysm that required a delicate procedure to clip the aneurysm’s base, a task known for its high stakes and difficulty. The aneurysm’s precarious position added an extra challenge to the operation.
Gil glanced at Norah and said, “I’ve spoken highly of you. I’m counting on you to help me execute this operation successfully.”
“I’ve been feeling my age, noticing a tremble in my hands while operating,” Gil sighed, commenting. “Age didn’t seem to matter before, but now, its importance is undeniable. You’re young, Norah, capable of achievements beyond my reach. Keep up the excellent work.”
Norah was taken aback and said, “But I thought you were leading this surgery?” Was Gil suggesting she take on the entire procedure? It made sense why Gil had said those words. He was always humble, steering clear of making guarantees about surgeries with uncertain outcomes.
Particularly with a complex operation like extracting a tumor at its base.
Gil affirmed gently, “Indeed. I’ve recommended you for this surgery from the start. Norah, your extensive experience in cranial surgeries will serve you well, especially given this patient’s unique situation. It’s an opportunity to gain invaluable experience.” He added, “I’m confident in your abilities, and completing this surgery will likely quiet any rumors about you. It’s beneficial for both of us, so why hesitate?”
Norah responded with gratitude, “You’ve been looking out for me so thoughtfully. I’ve handled similar procedures before. This won’t be an issue. Thank you, Gil. I’ll do my best.”
“It’s nothing. Seeing you excel in medicine is a joy. Take your time going through the files,” Gil replied.
“No need, I’ve finished reviewing them,” Norah said, placing the files back on the desk. “I’ll return to the Cardiac Surgery Department now. Call me if you need anything, Gil.”
As Norah left the Neurosurgery Department, a doctor looked on with jealousy, noting her growing reputation. The incident with Aikin had thrust both him and Norah into the spotlight.
Curiosity drove some doctors to the Cardiac Surgery Department, eager to learn about Norah’s past and how she had managed to be transferred there, especially her collaborative surgeries with Gil.
Gil, as the director of the Neurosurgery Department, was celebrated for his exceptional medical skills. The chance to receive his commendation and mentorship was a distant dream for many. Traditionally, Gil didn’t take interns under his wing, having mentored only three individuals, all of whom had become renowned doctors within the hospital, spending time learning from him.
Then came Norah. Gil immediately took a liking to her, involving her in the surgeries he conducted in the Neurosurgery Department, a privilege that sparked envy among her peers.
“Mr. Scott, our company’s database faced a hacking attempt last night. Thankfully, we didn’t lose any data. The IT team has swiftly fortified our firewall to prevent future breaches,” the IT manager reported in Sean’s minimalist office, nervously mopping his brow, wary of Sean’s reaction.
The IT manager had been on edge since learning of the incident, rallying his team to work extra hours to evaluate the impact.
Miraculously, no harm was done. In addition to the evidence of the hacking attempt, there were indications that someone had assisted in the firewall’s restoration, which was a peculiar occurrence.
With this in mind, the IT manager reported, “It appears someone anonymously reinforced our firewall, leaving behind no clues. I’m not sure about the implications for our company.”
Sean, visibly irked, slammed the documents on his desk and said, “You’re asking me as if I have the answers. You’re here to ensure the company’s security, not to stand idly. I expect no repeats of such incidents. You may go now.”
The IT manager hastily replied, “Absolutely, Mr. Scott. I’ll enhance our data security measures.”
With the IT manager gone, Phillip handed Sean a cup of coffee, saying, “It looks like we had two factions at play: one trying to infiltrate our systems, and another mysteriously blocking their efforts. It’s peculiar. We didn’t hire any external cybersecurity help. This unknown person seems…”
Having fended off hackers trying to steal data at no cost and reinforced the firewall for free, what was there not to appreciate?
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.