‘The criterion for picking a case to report is that it’s out of the ordinary,’ Layla continued. ‘From what I’ve heard, this one was all that everybody talked about at the time and the staff involved in the recent follow-up appointment were thrilled by Matthew’s progress. I also heard that you’re writing the case up for a top journal. I thought it would be nice to share that.’ The occasional triumph shared at the meeting was good for everybody. A counterbalance for the heart-breaking cases.
‘Shine the spotlight on someone else, Layla,’ Alex growled. ‘Somebody’s going to wonder why you picked on me and I’ve been talked about more than I’m comfortable with around here lately.’ Alex turned to look out of the window again as he spoke but then his gaze swerved back to Layla. ‘Gossip about the Kirkpatrick case was bad enough. What happens when people start talking about the fact that I was having an affair with a married woman at the time? How do you think that’s going to help my reputation?’
The glare Layla received would have intimidated anyone.
Layla straightened her spine.
‘I came to Angel’s for a fresh start,’ Alex ground out. ‘I won’t allow you to drag my name through the mud.’
Oh … Lord …
OK. The plan had been to make this a public gesture of thanks, whether Alex liked it or not. She knew that this case would earn him even more respect from those colleagues who didn’t know all the details of the case, even though it had been breaking news on the grapevine in the months before she’d come to Angel’s. She had also known that it would be a public statement of her own faith in his abilities.
But it was a huge leap to go from not wanting her gratitude or public support to accusing her of being prepared to damage his reputation. The attack was unjustified. Unfair.
‘You’re not the only one who’s come here for a fresh start,’ Layla snapped. ‘And I’m sure you haven’t forgotten but I was the married woman. I don’t want that being common knowledge any more than you do.’
‘So stay away from me, then.’
Layla let out an incredulous huff. ‘You’re the one who came storming into my office.’
‘Because this needed to be dealt with.’
‘What needs “to be dealt with”,’ Layla responded, ‘is the fact that we find ourselves working in the same hospital. Again.’ She took a deep breath. ‘It’s unfortunate, I agree, but you had your chance to get rid of me. You could have let me get fired.’
‘I didn’t do it to protect your job and keep you here, if that’s what you’re thinking.’
No. That idea had been farfetched enough for Layla to have dismissed it at the time.
Almost.
‘So why did you do it?’ she asked quietly.
‘Because I’m not going to let my past dictate my future. The Kirkpatrick case did enough damage already. I stood up for you because … because it was the right thing to do.’
Thanking him had seemed like the right thing to do, too, but he wouldn’t let her. Now Layla wasn’t even sure she wanted to thank him. Had he just been facing his own demons? Making them a part of a past that didn’t matter any more?
She had to look away. ‘Well … we’re going to have to work together. I’m not about to leave a job I’ve only just started.’
‘Neither am I.’
He was still angry. Layla could feel the waves of it reaching her across the distance she’d been careful to maintain between them. She could also feel other currents mixed in with the anger. Like his determination to succeed and the fierce intelligence with which he was assessing his options. And beneath all of that she could feel his raw magnetism and power. The charisma that Alex Rodriguez wore like a second skin.
There seemed to be nothing left to say.
They were at an impasse. Both of them struggling to take control of their present by focussing on the future and dismissing the past.
Could it be that easy?
Layla had to make an effort to swallow. ‘Fine. Then let’s start as we mean to go on from now on. I’ve set the agenda for the meeting. I’ll look forward to hearing your presentation, Dr Rodriguez.’
Alex said nothing. With no more than another searing glance, he turned and left her office.
Two days later and people were filing into the small lecture theatre tucked away on an upper floor, along with the operating theatres. Some were carrying Styrofoam cups of coffee and paper bags containing sandwiches and some were reading messages on their pagers. All of them would have a notebook and pen available.
Fellow Texan, neonatal doctor Tyler Donaldson came in, protectively ushering his now very pregnant fiancée, Eleanor, into a front-row seat where she would have plenty of room. Eleanor smiled at Layla.
‘Don’t mind me if I have to sneak out to the bathroom,’ she said. ‘My bladder capacity is shrinking by the day.’
‘Yeah …’ Tyler beamed proudly. ‘And that little rodeo rider in there likes to work out and use it for a punching bag.’
Layla returned the smile but said nothing. She wasn’t in the mood for baby talk and Tyler might be an old friend but it wasn’t exactly professional to sit there holding hands with Eleanor, was it?
There was a quiet buzz of conversation going on and seats were being filled but there was still no sign of Alex. Layla gave Ryan a questioning look, her head tilted towards the door. As Alex’s second-in-command, surely he would know where the senior neurosurgeon was? But Ryan merely shrugged and then turned to his companion, a smile on his face as he responded to some comment. The atmosphere in here was relaxed and why wouldn’t it be?
There was no blame, no shame for unsuccessful cases but the discussion could get robust. What could have been done differently? What would be done differently next time? Hindsight was a wonderful thing when it could be used for a good purpose. You could never say they didn’t learn from mistakes around these parts.
Could Layla say that about herself?
Professionally, of course she could.
Personally? Layla suddenly became aware that she was tapping her foot impatiently. How long had she been doing that? Had anyone noticed? Her foot stilled.
Of course she could say that she learned from personal mistakes.
She hadn’t got married again, had she?
She had challenged Alex, though. She hadn’t heard a peep out of him since that tense exchange in her office and she’d been left wondering if he would back down and appear to present his case. Surely he would guess that a non-appearance would start people talking even more than if he’d shown up as her star turn of the day?
There was an air of expectancy in the room now. These were busy people. They only had an hour to spare and they were all giving up their lunch-breaks to attend. There were a few empty seats but that was normal. Some people couldn’t make it on the day, even if they were rostered to present a case, but that was OK, too, because they always had more cases lined up than they ended up having time to discuss.
She’d give Alex exactly one more minute to show up.
‘Aren’t you supposed to be at Monthly Report?’
‘Yep.’ Alex Rodriguez was facing his half-brother, Cade. Both men were semi-crouched and already sweating in the midday September sunshine that bathed the small area out the back of the ambulance bay where a basketball hoop was attached to the wall.
Alex had control of the ball right