Beckett was summoned just before 7 p.m.
The hospital’s fluorescent lights buzzed faintly as the late afternoon faded toward evening. Dr. Beckett’s office, cluttered with half-empty coffee cups and stacks of patient charts, felt more like a throne room where he ruled with a sneer and a touch of cruelty.
He’d barely finished dictating a note when the message came through – “Dr. Holloway wants to see you. Urgently.” No warning. No explanation.
The office door was already open when he arrived.
The director didn’t look up right away. He was sitting behind his desk, flipping through a manila folder with a hard, unreadable expression.
Beckett leaned against the doorway, posture casual. Arrogant.
“You rang?”
Dr. Holloway didn’t return the smirk. “Sit down.”
That tone. It scraped across Beckett’s nerves, but he obeyed, lounging into the chair like he owned
the place.
“This better be quick. I have a dinner reservation.”
“You won’t make it.”
Beckett raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
The director closed the folder. “You’re being reassigned.”
Beckett blinked. “Reassigned?”
“A medical outreach program,” Holloway continued, calm and cold. “Rural region. Underserved communities. You’ll fly out by sunrise.”
Beckett laughed-loud and sharp. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
“You expect me to just pack up and what? play field medic in the jungle for PR?”
The director’s voice didn’t waver. “You’re not being asked. You’re being sent.”
There was a pause.
A silence heavy with unspoken warning.
13
Chapter 17 Exuled Before Sunnse !
Beckett narrowed his eyes. “Why me?”
+25 Po
Dr. Holloway didn’t answer right away. Instead, he leaned back, arms folded. “Every year, we send someone. This year, it’s you. Consider it… character building.”
“Character building,” Beckett repeated flatly.
“I’m told the local clinics are short-staffed. No AC. No luxuries. Just real medicine. Raw and
honest. It might humble you.”
Beckett scoffed. “I’m a senior specialist.”
“You’re also a liability.”
Beckett stiffened. “Excuse me?”
Dr. Holloway stood slowly. The folder was still in his hands, but he didn’t open it again.
“You offended someone,” he said carefully. “Someone important. I don’t know the full details, and frankly, I don’t want to. What I do know is this… whoever it is, they want you gone.”
The words landed like a slap.
“They’re watching. And they’ve made it clear: they want you out before sunrise.”
Beckett’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Dr. Holloway leaned in slightly, voice dropping.
“If you want to live longer, Beckett… take the transfer and leave quietly.”
For a full second, Beckett couldn’t breathe. The air felt tight, pressing against his chest like a vice.
He stood abruptly. “This is insane.”
The director didn’t flinch. “No, Doctor. What’s insane is you thinking you’re untouchable.”
Beckett stormed out of the office, heart pounding, rage boiling just beneath his skin.
Who? Who the hell did he offend?
It wasn’t unusual for him to push boundaries. Hell, he thrived on it. Nurses, med techs, even desperate family members- he knew what they needed. And he knew what they were willing to give for it.
A promotion. A shift preference. A discount on a prescription. Even a whispered promise to “talk to billing” if things went well.
He’d had his pick of the ward.
|||
O
Chapter 17 Exiled Before Sunrise 1
25 Prots
Some nurses practically begged for it – dressed for it. And the ones who didn’t? Well, he had a way of persuading them. Most people didn’t say no when their kid’s meds were on the line.
And they never talked.
They couldn’t afford to.
But whoever pulled these strings… could.
His mind spun.
It couldn’t be those women. They had too much to lose. They were nothing – grateful, disposable playthings in his world.
But then…
His thoughts snapped to her.
Maya.
He clenched his jaw, a bitter taste rising in his throat.
She was different. Not because she was special – but because she acted like she was. Like she was too good for his attention. Too clean. Too polite.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.