She looked up and saw a woman standing in the middle of the hallway, blocking their path. Eleanor Bennett—Sarah knew exactly who she was without an introduction.
The woman wore an ivory suit that screamed old money. A strand of pearls glowed softly at her neck. Her silver hair was pulled back in a perfect bun, and her cold gray eyes scanned Sarah with obvious disdain.
Steven bowed his head slightly and stepped back into the shadows, clearly wanting no part of this. Eleanor took a step forward, her lips curling into a thin, icy smile.
“So, this is what a million-dollar failure looks like,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “My son brought in a nurse from a public hospital.” Sarah felt the sting of the insult but didn’t flinch.
She had dealt with plenty of bullies during her years in the foster system. A wealthy woman in pearls wasn’t going to rattle her. “I’m here for the baby, not for your approval,” Sarah replied, her voice calm and steady.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. She wasn’t used to being talked back to by the help. “Listen, girl,” she said, lowering her voice to a threat, “you have no idea whose house you’re standing in.”
Sarah met her gaze. “I know there’s a child suffering here. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
Eleanor’s face flushed with suppressed anger. She stepped closer, and Sarah could smell her expensive, heavy perfume. “If you cause even the slightest problem for this family,” Eleanor hissed.
“I will make sure you never work in medicine again. I know people—very influential people. One phone call, and your little career is over.”
Sarah didn’t move. She had lost too much in life to be afraid of losing a job. But before she could respond, a deep male voice came from behind Eleanor.
“Mother, that’s enough.” Nicholas Bennett stepped out of the shadows, his face looking like it was carved from granite. He towered over his mother, and his presence immediately made the hallway feel even more cramped.
Eleanor turned, a mix of surprise and irritation on her face. “Nicholas, you can’t seriously think this girl can help. Look at her—she probably can’t even afford the laces on my shoes.”
“What I think isn’t your concern,” Nicholas said coldly. “Leave us.” “But, Nicholas…” she started.
“Leave us.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a finality that silenced her. She shot Sarah one last venomous look.
Her gray eyes were full of warning as she turned and walked away, her heels clicking like a countdown on a bomb. Once Eleanor was gone, Nicholas turned to Sarah.
His expression was unreadable, but his eyes showed a deep exhaustion that no amount of money could fix. “Follow me,” he said curtly, turning on his heel. Sarah followed, still feeling Eleanor’s eyes on her back from somewhere in the shadows.
She had no idea that the woman who just threatened her—the grandmother with the refined manners—was the source of the misery in this house. Nicholas led Sarah through a heavy oak door into his private study. The room smelled of expensive leather and sandalwood.
Floor-to-ceiling shelves were packed with books that looked like they’d never been opened. The door clicked shut, and Sarah realized she was alone with perhaps the most powerful man she’d ever met. Nicholas didn’t turn around immediately.
He walked to a large window overlooking the gardens, his hands clasped behind his back. The silence stretched on. One minute, then two.
Sarah knew exactly what this was. She’d seen it before—the power play. The bullies in the group homes, the chief surgeons who wanted to show who was boss. They thought silence would make you shrink. But Sarah just stood there, patient and still.
Finally, Nicholas turned. His gray eyes were sharp, like a blade. “I don’t care about your degrees,” he said in a low, even tone. “I don’t care about your resume or where you went to school.”
“I care about one thing: results.” He took a step forward. Every movement was deliberate and intimidating.
“Fifteen doctors have stood exactly where you are. The best in the world. They all took my money.”
“They all ran tests. And they all failed.” He stopped right in front of Sarah, so close she could see the tension in his jaw.
“If you waste my time like they did…” Nicholas didn’t finish the sentence, but the threat was clear. Sarah didn’t back down. She tilted her chin up and met his gaze.
“Threatening me won’t help your son, Mr. Bennett.” Nicholas froze. His jaw tightened, and Sarah saw a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He wasn’t used to being interrupted, especially not by a woman in faded scrubs. But Sarah kept going. “I’m not here for your money,” she said, her voice unwavering…
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