Chapter 5 - THE NURSE WHO REFUSED TO BE BOUGHT
Three days later, Vanessa offered me fifty thousand dollars.
Cash.
In a white envelope.
She waited beside my car after my shift.
I stopped ten feet away.
“What are you doing here?”
She smiled.
“Trying to resolve an unpleasant situation.”
I looked at the envelope.
“No.”
“You haven't heard my offer.”
“I don't need to.”
Her smile vanished.
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
I stared.
“For what?”
“Resign.”
I laughed once.
She stiffened.
“What's funny?”
“You think that's enough to buy my career?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Everyone has a price.”
I stepped closer.
“Then you're going to be disappointed.”
Vanessa looked around the parking garage.
“Alessandro isn't going to marry a nurse.”
I blinked.
“What?”
She smiled cruelly.
“Don't pretend you haven't imagined it.”
I felt my face warm.
Not because she was right.
Because she was trying to turn my concern for a patient into something shameful.
“This conversation is over.”
I walked away.
The next morning, I reported the incident to hospital security and my supervisor.
I also documented the attempted payment.
Patricia looked furious.
“She approached you off-site?”
“Yes.”
“Did she threaten you?”
“She implied I'd regret refusing.”
Patricia stood.
“Then we're escalating this.”
That afternoon, Alessandro asked why I seemed distracted.
I hesitated.
Then told him.
His expression became frighteningly still.
“She offered you money?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Fifty thousand.”
He looked almost offended.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Don't.”
He blinked.
“Don't what?”
“Don't offer me more.”
For the first time since waking, Alessandro laughed.
It hurt his ribs.
He winced.
I immediately checked him.
“See? That's why you shouldn't laugh.”
He smiled despite the pain.
“You're impossible.”
“I've been told.”
Then his expression changed.
“Emily.”
“Yes?”
“I don't want you involved in my family's business.”
I nodded.
“Good.”
He looked surprised.
“Good?”
“I'm a nurse, Alessandro. Not your investigator.”
He smiled faintly.
“And not my employee.”
“Exactly.”
He watched me for a long moment.
Then whispered, “That's what I like about you.”
My heartbeat stumbled.
May you like
I looked down at his chart.
And pretended I hadn't heard.
