Drew sat in the exact chair he’d occupied at this time last Monday when he and the Trident team were introduced to hospital staff. In the week that followed, their team faced some skepticism, but for the most part Drew gathered that the people working at Travis County Hospital didn’t care whether their paychecks came from the state or a private entity. As long as the paychecks continued and their work conditions remained the same or improved, they were happy.
At least that was the consensus of most of the staff.
There was a small but vocal contingent, led by the woman who had been in his bed every single night this week, that was adamantly opposed to the hospital being taken over by the private sector. They were also highly suspicious of anything the hospital’s administration endorsed. With good reason. Drew had encountered several stories of the administration reneging on promises they’d made in the past. It only made his job harder.
He never brought up the audit when he and London were away from the hospital, respecting her request to keep their personal and professional lives separate. But their professional encounters were about to become a lot more frequent.
Drew nervously tapped his pen against the edge of the table as he waited for the hospital personnel who had been selected to work more closely with Trident’s team to file out of the room. They’d chosen people from every area of the workforce, from janitorial staff and paraprofessionals, to nurse practitioners, phlebotomists, and surgeons. The plan was to have these well-respected staff members become ambassadors for the cost-cutting measures Trident would eventually recommend implementing.
London had missed the meeting, having been called in for an emergency hernia repair just prior to its start. It worked out perfectly as far as Drew was concerned. He’d suggested from the very beginning that they meet with her privately. He understood how influence worked; if London had been in the meeting with the rest of the staff, everyone would have waited for her reaction before deciding how they felt about Trident’s proposal.
London didn’t seem to recognize just how much power she wielded with the staff. It went deeper than normal admiration. She wasn’t afraid to buck the system on behalf of her colleagues and had earned their devotion in return.
London’s obliviousness to the clout she had here at the hospital was both surprising and refreshing, given the Texas-size ego she’d had fifteen years ago. She would walk into a room just knowing she was the smartest person there.
The thing is, when it came to London, she had the chops to back up all that arrogance. Because she usually was the smartest person in the room. He’d told her at the reunion that she owed him for pushing her to do better when they were in high school, but it was the other way around. That big, beautiful brain of hers had fascinated him. He’d done all he could to impress her, busting his ass in every single subject his senior year to keep up with her.
Instead of being impressed, she’d labeled him a threat.
It never failed. She inevitably took the inverse position of what he was shooting for. Case in point, engaging in these impersonal, unemotional hookup sessions after work instead of taking the time to reconnect in a more meaningful way. He didn’t expect her to share her deepest, darkest secrets with him, but her ability to remain so detached after the hours they’d spent in bed this week had begun to grate on his nerves.
Although, despite her declaration that she wanted only sex from him and nothing more, Drew had persuaded her to at least have a drink and talk for a bit before they got undressed in the evenings. But it was mostly casual conversations about things happening in the world around them, nothing too personal. He’d learned that she hated discussing politics, even with people who shared her political views. And that she hadn’t seen a movie in a movie theater since the first Black Panther.
He’d also discovered she didn’t keep in touch with any of their former high school classmates, even though she’d remained in Austin. He hadn’t kept up with many of them because he’d known them only a short time, having transferred to Barbara Jordan High halfway through his junior year, but London had gone to school with most of their classmates for the entire four years.
She talked more about the two friends she’d met because of the guy who’d been dating all three of them. It was as if she were closer to people she’d known only a few months than those she’d gone through four years of high school with.
Maybe he should recruit her two friends to help convince her to work with Trident’s team. He was willing to try anything. Drew had no doubt that if news of Dr. Kelley sanctioning their audit hit the hospital grapevine, others would hop on board.
First, he had to ensure that she was on board. And having Frederick Coleman in the room probably wouldn’t help his case. Drew had heard rumors about the tension between the administrator and London. There was no love lost there.
“Dr. Coleman,” he said, striving for an air of perplexed concern. “I have a question about Dr. Kelley.”
“Ah, yes,” Coleman said. “The superstar darling of the pediatric unit.”
If the patronizing undertone of Coleman’s words hadn’t told him enough, the snide lift to the man’s lips sure had.
“She does seem to be well-liked among hospital personnel,” Drew said.
“She’s a bit too unorthodox for my taste—and too mouthy—but the staff listens to her. That’s why Doug—Dr. Renault—wants her on this team. I don’t think you’ve had the chance to meet Doug yet, have you?”
Drew shook his head.
“If you ask me, Doug is the one responsible for Dr. Kelley thinking she’s the best thing that ever happened to this hospital. He wined and dined her to get her to join our residency program, and now she thinks she walks on water.”
Drew was stunned that a man in Frederick Coleman’s position would discuss another colleague in such terms, and to someone he barely knew. If a member of his staff ever did something like that, Drew would immediately escort them out the door.
He still wasn’t clear on what the beef between London and Dr. Coleman was about, but he would be on her side even if he wasn’t having sex with her.
Shit. It just occurred to him that if she did join his team, she may decide to end their little post-workday escapades altogether. Maybe she would see it as a conflict of interest, even though they both had the same goal—saving County.
The door to the conference room opened and a tall, slim Black man with a bald head and a white goatee walked in. London followed right behind him. They were both in their blue hospital scrubs and white coats.
“Ah, Doug. Glad you could make it.” Dr. Coleman gestured to the older man. “Dr. Douglas Renault, this is Drew Sullivan from Trident Health Management Systems. He’s the head of the consulting team.”
“Happy to finally meet you,” Dr. Renault said. “I was out much of last week in Sonoma, walking my youngest down the aisle.”
“That’s right,” Coleman said. “How did that go?”
“It was the wedding of her dreams,” Renault said. “That’s all that matters.” He looked at his watch. “I have a consult in another twenty minutes, so why don’t we get down to business.”
London had taken a seat next to Renault. Drew followed her eyes as she took in the room’s occupants. He noticed the barest hint of confusion, but she played it off well.
“Drew, why don’t you take the lead here,” Frederick Coleman said.
Of course, Coleman would have Drew run point at this meeting. For all the man’s bravado, Drew suspected Coleman didn’t enjoy going toe to toe with London. Lucky for him, Drew did. There came a point back in high school when he relished their confrontations—especially once he realized that she was never going to see him as anything but her academic rival. These days, he had more pleasurable things to do with her than locking horns.
But this was the job he had been hired to do. He couldn’t allow his and London’s relationship—he used that term in the loosest way imaginable—to get in the way of it.
“Earlier this morning, I presented the results of Trident’s initial assessment to the hospital’s board of directors and the executive committee,” Drew began.
“We did that Zoom thing,” Coleman interjected. “That’s how we were able to get everyone in the meeting even though they weren’t physically here.”
You gotta be kidding me. Drew wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually uncovered that Frederick Coleman was the number one reason behind County’s archaic technology. They’d had to strong-arm him into using Zoom for the meeting, and now he was touting it as some type of marvel.
He acknowledged Coleman with a tight smile before continuing. “The good news is that Trident is confident that with the right strategies in place, this hospital will be able to remain a publicly funded health-care resource for the people of Travis County.”
London’s mouth fell open for a moment before she quickly shut it. “That…that’s great,” she said.
If this were anyone else, Drew would have been disappointed in that subdued reaction. From London, it felt as if he’d hit gold.
He hated to take any of the shine off the news he’d just imparted, but also knew he needed to be straight with her.
“However, in order to achieve this, we must implement a number of cost-cutting measures,” Drew continued. “We’ve pinpointed several key areas of County’s overall operations that we believe should be addressed as quickly as possible. To do this, we will need buy-in from all hospital personnel.” He listed them on his fingers. “Medical staff, clerical, cafeteria workers, everyone.
“One thing we’ve found in doing this work is that personnel tend to listen to fellow colleagues they know and trust a lot more than they listen to a bunch of suits brought in.” He tried to gauge London’s reaction. Her face remained impassive. “The best way to achieve buy-in is to employ ambassadors.” He picked up the document with the names. “Members of the administration have come up with a list of people who they feel will be the best to help champion these ideas.”
“Ah, and you see me as one of these ambassadors?” London asked.
“Yes, we do. People listen to you, London,” Dr. Renault said. “They’ll get behind this if they see that you’re on board. But if you dismiss the work that Trident is doing, there are many on this staff who will do the same without even taking the time to hear them out.”
She folded her hands and smiled serenely at Dr. Coleman. “Hmm…I wonder why that is.”
“Because you’re loud and cause a ruckus every other week,” Dr. Coleman said.
“With all due respect, Dr. Coleman, the fact that I’m vocal is only one reason the staff here listens to me,” London said. “I also speak to them and not at them. And questioning hospital administration when I encounter something that is problematic is not causing a ruckus, it’s advocating for my patients.”
Coleman pushed up from the table. “I can’t deal with this. I have things to do.”
London sat at the table with a bored look on her face as Dr. Coleman made a production out of gathering the three-ring binder, leather portfolio, and the dozens of other materials he’d brought in with him—all of which could be electronically stored if the man weren’t still living in 1982.
“You and Dr. Coleman need to figure out how to work together,” Dr. Renault said the moment the other doctor left the room.
“It’s been five years. I’m not sure it’s going to happen.”
“London.” The man rubbed the spot between his eyes. He looked across the table at Drew. “Can you give us a minute?”
“No, let him stay. And forget about Coleman for now. Tell me more about this ambassadorship? What exactly would it entail?”
“Basically, Trident will work with the hospital’s administration to come up with a list of viable budget cuts. As an ambassador, you’ll sell our ideas for cutting costs to the staff,” Drew answered.
“Oh!” Her brows arched. “Is that all!” She turned to her mentor. “So, Mr. Sullivan hasn’t been around long enough to know how adamantly opposed I am to the majority of the cost-cutting ideas the hospital administration has proposed this past year, but you have, Dr. Renault. I can’t imagine you would have me champion something that I have been fighting against. I would look like a total hypocrite.”
“You would look like someone who is willing to put aside her differences for what’s best for this hospital’s bottom line,” Renault said.
“This hospital’s bottom line is not my main concern. My concern is for my patients. The budget cuts that have been proposed in the past have not been in the patients’ best interests.”
“It’s a luxury for you to be able to focus all your energy on your patients, Dr. Kelley, but there isn’t a money tree growing outside. This hospital has to make some tough choices,” Renault said.
“Will these ‘ambassadors,’” she said, making air quotes, “have any input in what gets in the budget and what doesn’t, or are we expected to just smile and regurgitate whatever the administration tells us to say?”
Drew chose his words carefully. “Trident’s charge is to conduct an assessment and make recommendations. What’s done with that is ultimately up to County’s board of directors.”
“Of which half were ready to sell the hospital. This board has also agreed on budget cuts in the past that would take needed services away from young mothers.”
Doug Renault held up his hands. “Look, London, the board of directors know how lucky Travis County Hospital is to have a resident of your caliber on staff. But having a rising star surgeon in our pediatric ward only gets us so far. Trident was brought in to try to save this hospital, and we need voices like yours to impart the seriousness of this situation to the others on staff. Now, can you please just hear Mr. Sullivan out?”
Just as she leveled her gaze at Drew, her beeper went off. She glanced at it.
“I’m needed in the ER,” she said, pushing back from the table. She spoke directly to Drew. “Hopefully, I can grab a bite to eat in my office at some point today. I’ll try to find you later.”
Drew made sure she didn’t have to seek him out. He spent the afternoon on the pediatric floor, interviewing nurses and support staff. Conducting on-site interviews didn’t fall under a managing partner’s typical duties—in fact, he and his two partners tried to refrain from getting too much into the weeds. But Samantha had flown back to New York this morning for a family emergency, leaving them one person short. Drew knew how to roll up his sleeves and do the day-to-day work when necessary.
He’d just finished a discussion with Nurse Francis, the scary-as-hell charge nurse who just didn’t seem to have the personality for working in pediatrics, when he spotted London walking through the doors of the surgical rooms. She looked exhausted as she walked up to the nurses’ station.
“Please tell me some grateful parent sent a tray of cookies, or brownies, or something unhealthy today,” she said.
The other nurse, Kia, shook her head as she pointed to a cellophane-wrapped fruit basket.
“Maybe the strawberries are sweet,” she told London.
London’s shoulders slumped and she gave Kia a thumbs-down. “It’s probably a sign that I should lay off the sweets, but I need sugary carbs after this last surgery. I’ll take my chances with something from the vending machine.” She finally acknowledged Drew. “Are you ready for the ambush?”
“It’s not an ambush,” he said, following her down the hallway toward her office. “And I can have my assistant order something from Uber Eats if you don’t have lunch.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Your assistant? Do you mean to tell me you can’t be bothered to order your own Uber Eats, Drew?”
He didn’t want to admit that he didn’t know how to use the app because it would make him feel too much like Dr. Coleman, the techno dinosaur.
“Do you need lunch?” he asked her.
She shook her head as they entered her office. She sat behind the desk and opened a drawer, taking out two packets of peanut butter crackers.
“I have backup. I just wanted something sweet and unhealthy as a reward for getting through a six-hour surgery on an MVA patient with multiple traumas. That’s multiple vehicle accident,” she clarified. She opened the crackers and stuffed a whole one in her mouth, making a get on with it gesture with her hand as she chewed.
“First, this is not an ambush,” Drew started. “I won’t try to coerce you into doing something you’re opposed to doing, London. Dr. Renault believes you would be an asset to this committee, and I’m betting he’s right. But you’ve been clear about where you stand in regards to Trident’s work, and I have to respect that. All I’m asking is that you don’t purposely sabotage what we’re doing.”
She picked up another cracker, taking a daintier bite. She chewed slowly, looking directly at him the entire time. Drew didn’t understand how she could be so sexy and intimidating and aloof all at the same time. The combination turned him the fuck on, even when he didn’t want to be turned on.
“Tell me, Drew,” she said as she dusted crumbs from her fingers. “Do you believe I’m the type of person who would sink so low as to purposely sabotage Trident’s work? Do you think I have that kind of time and energy? And, even if I did, that I could be so conniving?”
Now that he thought about it, he could see why she would take offense to his statement.
“I’m sorry.” He held up his hands. “Maybe purposely wasn’t the correct word here. No, I do not think you would intentionally undermine the assessment process, but many on the staff will get their cue from you. If they sense you’re against our recommendations, then they will be too.”
London folded her hands on her desk. “Earlier, I asked if ambassadors would have any say in these recommendations we’re being asked to push to the rest of the staff, but I never got a clear answer.”
“We value the input of everyone on staff,” Drew said.
“You can value my input and still toss it in the trash. I’ve seen this before, Drew. Coleman and his cronies on the board have proposed cuts to everything that will actually improve patient care. I won’t allow myself to be used as some rah-rah cheerleader for their bullshit.”
“It’s not like that, London. Trident’s work is independent of the board and the administration.”
“You may think that, but I know how these people operate,” she said.
Drew pinched the bridge of his nose. What would it take to convince her that this was different? “Why are you still being so damn difficult after the week we’ve had together?”
“And why do you think this past week would change anything?” she asked. “Do I have to remind you that what goes on in this hospital has nothing to do with the other thing we’re doing?” She leaned forward, and in a low-pitched voice, said, “As much as I appreciate the work you put in last night, it doesn’t mean I’m going to all of a sudden play nice today. I’m still against what the hospital’s administration is trying to do here, and I see you as an extension of that.”
There could not possibly be a more stubborn person on the face of this earth, but Drew knew better than to allow those words to move past his lips.
After talking to the nurses on this floor today, Drew had no doubts that London could sway them and a bunch of others at this hospital to do whatever she said. She had just that much influence over the staff. They respected her, even though she was still a resident and one of the youngest surgeons here.
When he’d followed her into this office ten minutes ago, he’d resigned himself to the fact that London wouldn’t budge on this. But being reminded of her passion for her patients gave Drew the motivation he needed to try one more time to convince her to help him.
“You’re against what we’re doing, even after hearing from Dr. Renault how dire things are?” Drew asked. “We’re not talking hypotheticals here, London. Financially, this hospital is on life support. With crap health insurance. After just one week of examining operations, I can tell you that things are not good. I need you to help me save this hospital. Too many people are counting on County to allow it to go under.”
Drew could swear he saw the switch flip in her head. The stubborn defiance that had dominated her expression softened into pensive concern, her brows drawing together as she absently flicked at the empty wrapper from her crackers.
“I’ll think about what you said.” She gestured to the door. “I need to finish my lunch and take a twenty-minute power nap before my next consult.”
It took every bit of restraint Drew had in him to rise from the chair and start for the door. He was close to convincing her. His instincts, honed by years of closing deals others declared impossible, told him to go for the kill.
But London wasn’t a deal for him to close. He needed to step back and give her time to think. And pray that she came to the right decision on her own.