Chapter 7 - The Smear Campaign and the Board of Ethics
I stared at the screen,
the words blurring as my vision sharpened with fury.
"A cold excuse?"
I whispered,
my voice trembling.
"I was in the OR for six hours."
"I know that, Sam,"
Dr. Aris said,
his voice sympathetic but firm.
"The board knows that."
"But the public doesn't."
"This post has been shared ten thousand times."
"The hospital's PR department is freaking out."
"They’re worried about the 'cold doctor' narrative."
I looked at the picture again.
Gemma looked like a saint,
eyes downcast,
clutching Andrew’s hand.
Andrew looked like a victim of a cruel,
negligent woman.
It was a masterpiece of manipulation.
"They’re trying to destroy my career,"
I said,
the realization hitting me.
"They don't just want the house and the money."
"They want to take everything."
"Because if I'm the villain,"
"then their betrayal looks like a rescue."
Dr. Aris sighed,
rubbing his temples.
"The Board of Ethics has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning."
"They want to discuss your 'conduct' and the 'public perception' of the hospital."
I felt a cold chill run down my spine.
My medical license,
the thing I had sacrificed my youth and my sleep for,
was being threatened by a woman who couldn't even spell 'anesthesia'.
"I won't let them do this,"
I said,
my voice hard.
"I did my job."
"I saved a child."
"That should be enough."
"In a perfect world, it would be,"
a voice said from behind me.
It was Zachary.
He had been listening from the doorway.
He walked toward us,
his presence filling the sterile hallway.
"But we don't live in a perfect world, Dr. Aris."
"We live in a world of optics and narratives."
Zachary looked at me,
his eyes burning with a protective fire.
"Samantha, let me handle the PR."
"No,"
I said,
shaking my head.
"This is my fight."
"I don't need a knight in shining armor."
"I'm not trying to be your knight,"
Zachary replied,
stepping closer.
"I'm trying to be your witness."
"I was the one who saw you walk out of that OR."
"I was the one who saw you still wearing blood on your hands while you tried to make it to your wedding."
"And I am the father of the girl you saved."
He turned to Dr. Aris.
"If the board wants to talk about ethics,"
"tell them I'll be there."
"And tell them that if they even think about disciplining Dr. Miller,"
"I will withdraw my foundation’s ten-million-dollar grant from this hospital by noon."
Dr. Aris blinked,
stunned.
The Howard Foundation was the hospital's largest donor.
"Mr. Howard,"
Aris stammered,
"I don't think that's necessary..."
"It is absolutely necessary,"
Zachary interrupted.
"Bullies only understand one thing: force."
"And Samantha Miller is the hero of this story."
"It's time the world knew it."
Zachary looked back at me.
"Go home, Samantha."
"Rest."
"I have my legal team and my media consultants already working on a response."
"By tomorrow,"
"Gemma Salas and Andrew Foster will wish they had never heard of social media."
I looked at him,
feeling a strange mix of gratitude and fear.
I wasn't used to people fighting for me.
I had always been the one doing the fighting.
"Why are you doing this, Zachary?"
I asked,
for the second time.
He reached out,
his thumb grazing the back of my hand.
"Because,"
"it's the right thing to do."
"And because I want to see you smile again."
I watched him walk away,
his stride confident and powerful.
I knew the battle was far from over,
but for the first time,
I felt like I had an army at my back.
I went back into the PICU to check on Paisley one last time.
She was sleeping,
a peaceful look on her face.
May you like
She was the truth.
The rest was just noise.
