Harriet rubbed her brow as she sat in the conference room, her patience wearing thin. The medical advisory board was reviewing the surveillance footage from the previous night, and the tension in the room was palpable. Across from her, her father watched silently, his expression unreadable. She glanced at her wristwatch, feeling the weight of their scrutiny.
"Based on the surveillance footage," one of the board members said, eyeing her carefully, "it appears that Doctor Harriet intervened to protect a woman being harassed by a man."
Harriet raised her hand before they could continue, unable to hold back any longer. "If I may, ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice steady but firm, "the woman in question is not just anyone-she's an employee of BioSynthix, Maggie Pierce's secretary, and she also assists Riley Pierce, the future CEO. Isn't it our responsibility to protect our employees, regardless of the situation?"
Her father sighed softly, murmuring her name under his breath, clearly hoping to temper her tone.
"While that may be true," another board member interjected, "as a doctor, and particularly a surgeon, your hands are a vital part of your profession. Our duty is to save lives, not endanger them."
Harriet barely suppressed an eye roll, though her thoughts ran wild. Endanger lives? From just punch? It's not like I ruined his face-there wasn't much there to begin with. Even Nyx couldn't fix that, she mused, biting her tongue.
The board member continued, their tone stern. "Had your hand been injured, it would have serious consequences, Doctor Harriet. You are a critical asset to this hospital, as our heart surgeon. We cannot afford to have you out of commission."
Harriet sighed, nodding. Despite the absurdity of the situation, she knew they had a point. The board's focus was on protecting her role, but all she had been thinking about was protecting Zoey.
"As per the board's decision, Doctor Harriet Pierce, you will be placed on medical suspension for one week while the investigation is conducted," one of the board members stated firmly.
Harriet opened her mouth to object, but her father's stern look silenced her. He shook his head slightly, signaling her to accept the decision. She exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "I understand," she muttered, her fists clenched tightly. Her hand wasn't even injured, yet they were suspending her? Might as well enjoy the free time, she thought bitterly.
The meeting concluded, and Harriet glanced at her wristwatch, feeling the pressure of her impending date with Zoey. She quickly gathered her things and was about to leave her office when a soft knock at the door caught her attention.
"Come in," she called out, removing her coat and tossing it into her bag. A chuckle escaped her as her father walked in, closing the door behind him.
"Harriet," her father greeted, his voice light with amusement as he approached her.
"Dad, if you're here to nag me, spare me the lecture," Harriet said playfully, raising her hands in mock surrender. She heard him laugh, his shoulders shaking with humor.
"How could I nag you when I know you did what you thought was right?" William, her father, said with a smile. "Though, I'll admit, your actions were a bit... risky. Take this week of suspension to relax. It's not like your license is in danger," he added reassuringly.
"Suspension means no paycheck for a week," Harriet teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked at him. "Adopt me again, Dad. I'll be poor."
Her father chuckled and extended his hand. "Let me see your hand," he said. Harriet placed her hand in his, and he gently examined her knuckles. He'd been a physician before becoming the hospital president, so his touch was precise but tender.
"Does anything feel off?" he asked, still inspecting her hand.
"Dad, it's fine. It was just couple of punches," Harriet said with a grin. "I know my limits. My hand's steady, and I know how to take care of myself."
William nodded, satisfied. "Good to hear. I guess I'll see you at home later?" he asked, then grinned knowingly. "Looks like you've got a date with someone special."
"Dad!" Harriet groaned, her face flushing with embarrassment. He waved at her as he laughed, walking out of the office with a spring in his step. Harriet clicked her tongue, shrugging to herself, and gathered her things. It was time to meet Zoey.
Zoey entered the bar, glancing around until she spotted Sienna waving and smiling at her. She waved back and made her way over to them.
"Glad you could make it," Sienna said, tapping the seat beside her. "Come sit. The three Pierce siblings aren't here yet, though," she added.
Zoey sighed as she looked around. "Well, they're always busy," Vera chimed in, chuckling from across the table. She tilted her head, giving Zoey a sweet yet knowing smile.
Zoey gulped. Vera had a knack for reading people's behavior, and it made her nervous. "So, I heard you're dating the cold-hearted one?" Vera teased, her smile widening.
Sienna turned to Zoey, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Wait, really? You and Harriet are dating already?" she asked, leaning in closer.
"I... uh... I guess so?" Zoey stammered, smiling awkwardly. Sienna and Vera were kind-hearted, and it was no surprise that Riley and Nyx were head over heels for them. Not to mention, they both came from wealthy families.
Vera clapped her hands together in delight. "Well, look at you! Finally taming the cold-hearted Harriet. It's about time," she said with a grin.
"Right," Sienna nodded in agreement. "I've never seen her date anyone-well, aside from my sister. It's great that she's trying to open up, especially with you, Zoey," she added warmly.
Zoey squinted her eyes in disbelief. "You really think so? Because, honestly, Harriet feels way out of my league," she said, rubbing the back of her neck, clearly uncomfortable.
"I don't think Harriet's out of your league at all. Come on, don't be so hard on yourself," Sienna said, trying to encourage her. "Besides, I don't think any of the Pierce sisters care about people's status or wealth."
"Exactly," Vera nodded. "After spending so much time with them, I can tell you they've never judged anyone based on money or status. What you see is what you get with them. They're all pretty open, especially since they work in healthcare."
Zoey smiled a bit, their words easing her nerves slightly, though the idea of dating Harriet still felt a little intimidating.