THE DIRECTOR'S CALCULATION
The surgical floor of Sterling Hospital was buzzing, but not with the usual medical jargon. The nurses were whispering behind clipboards and even the patients were glancing at the television in the waiting room, where a drone shot of a red-balloon-covered plaza was playing on a loop.
Fay sat in the locker room, her head in her hands. The adrenaline from the confrontation had faded, leaving only a hollow, throbbing ache in her chest.
"Dr. Fay?" a junior nurse poked her head in, looking nervous.
"Your father… the Chief of Board, He's in his office. He wants to see you immediately."
Fay sighed,
smoothing her scrub top. She expected a lecture on professional conduct. She expected to be reprimanded for the scene on the hospital steps.
THE EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE
Dr. Arthur Sterling sat behind a heavy oak desk that looked out over the very plaza where Kei had made her stand. He was a man of silver hair and iron clad reputation, the kind of man who moved through life with the absolute certainty that he was the smartest person in any room.
He didn't look angry. In fact, he looked remarkably pleased.
"Sit down, Fay," he said, gesturing to the leather chair. He was scrolling through a tablet, his eyes gleaming.
"Have you seen the morning headlines? 'The Billionaire's Heartbreak at Sterling Hospital.' We've had three major groups call us in the last hour asking how they can 'support the hospital that caught the eye of the Luz Group CEO.'"
"Father, it was a circus," Fay said, her voice strained.
"I've already spoken to security. It won't happen again. I've made it clear to Kei that she is not welcome here."
Arthur Sterling looked up, his expression sharpening.
"And that, Fay is where you are being incredibly short-sighted."
Fay blinked. "Excuse me?"
"The Luz Group is currently the most talked-about company in the country," her father said, leaning forward.
"And K-Street is the fastest-growing luxury brand in the city. Kei Luz isn't just a 'distraction.' She is a gold mine. Our new oncology wing is $50 million short of its funding goal. A single endorsement or a 'charity gala' hosted by Kei would bridge that gap".
"I am not a bargaining chip for the hospital's budget!" Fay snapped, standing up.
"She hurt me, Dad. She left for fifteen years. You of all people should understand why I want her gone."
THE CHANGE OF HEART
Arthur's gaze flickered for a fraction of a second a shadow of a memory passing through his eyes before he regained his composure. He stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the street where the last of the red balloons were being cleared.
"People change, Fay," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft, almost hauntingly so.
"Fifteen years is a long time to harbor a grudge. She was young back then. She was… nothing. But now? She has built an empire. She has proven her worth to the world. To us."
He turned back to his daughter, his tone becoming persuasive, paternal.
"Maybe she didn't just come back for a 'moment of weakness.' A woman doesn't spend that kind of money or risk that much public ridicule unless she is truly desperate to fix things. Don't be so quick to throw away a woman who is willing to move mountains or cranes for you."
"Are you actually telling me to date her for sponsorships?" Fay asked, horrified.
"I am telling you to be a professional," Arthur countered.
"And perhaps… to be a bit more forgiving. The hospital needs a benefactor and you, Fay look like you haven't slept in a month. Maybe you should let her take you to dinner. For the sake of Sterling Hospital and for your own sake."
Fay stared at him, feeling a strange chill. Her father, the man who had always demanded perfection and distance, was now pushing her into the arms of the woman who had shattered her heart.
"I have rounds," Fay said coldly, turning toward the door.
"Think about it, Fay," Arthur called out after her.
"Sometimes, the best way to heal a wound is to let the person who caused it provide the cure."
As the door clicked shut, Arthur Sterling sat back down, his face unreadable as he watched the Luz Group becoming more famous on Social media.