Novel Titanic
Chapter 38
Chapter 38
38. Make it right.
The look on everyone’s faces is incomprehensibly stunned the moment I re-enter the hospital with its director in tow. The nurses at the reception all stand up as they see him approach, and Clara’s face pales.
I feel a little bit guilty about what I had done. I know that I am misusing a power that I have on hand. But what choice have I been left with? Ever since I entered this world, I’ve tried to treat people with compassion and kindness. But it only backfired on me and made me look like a right idiot. Now, it seems, that the wisest way was to treat people the same way they treated me.
“Who is the nurse manning the reception front desk today?” Pat demands as soon as we come to a stand in front of the reception table.
The nurses look at one another and Clara takes a step forward.
“I am at the front desk sir,” she says in a voice that is close to shivering.
I tamp down the feeling of guilt. My friend is in the ER getting treated after being shot. I cannot afford guilt.
“Nurse Clara, isn’t it?” The director asks and Clara nods.
“Well, Nurse Clara, care to tell me why you refused to put down Mr Greyson as the accounted of the shooting patient that was just brought in?”
Clara swallows. “Sir, Mr. Greyson was making a scene.”
“Was he now?” the director takes a step forward, tell me, Nurse, do you know who this man is?”
The nurse shakes her head mutely.
“This is Jace Greyson. Doesn’t his surname ring any bells? He is the son, the only son, and heir, of Joseph Greyson. Yes, the owner of Greyson Consolidated, multi-billionaire, a household name in this city.”
Suddenly it feels like everyone in the hospital is looking at me, staring with astonishment. I try my hardest not to shift from foot to foot out of awkwardness. Perhaps calling Pat was not the brightest idea…
Nurse Clara’s lips part, “he was making a scene, sir…”
“Jace Greyson would never make a scene unless he was provoked,” the director growls and turns to the other nurses. “Tell me, is this the truth? Was Mr. Greyson making a scene? Was he threatening the nurses? Was he disturbing the process of the hospital?”
The nurses look at one another. Finally, one of them steps forward.
“No, sir,” meekly, she stated, “I hate to talk ill of my workmates, but the young man over there only wanted his friend’s hospital bill to be taken care of. He was very polite in the beginning.”
“So? Why was he thrown out of the hospital if he was polite? I was under the expression that my staff knew the basic conduct of customer care and interaction, but now I wonder, did I hire a group of babies. to do the job of grown adults?” condescension drips from his voice as he sneers. “Tell me the truth and truth only, from the beginning to the end. Lie to me again, and I will fire you on the spot. Nurse Clara, why did you call the security guards on Mr. Greyson?” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Nurse Clara, who is now as white as a bedsheet, mumbles the whole incident from start to finish. She doesn’t gloss over her behavior, nor on mine. She hangs her head in what looks like deep shame.
You could hear a pin drop in the reception while she talks, so her voice carries through the hall. At the end of the testimony, Pat Wright looks pissed.
“Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you were getting me into?” He screams at the nurse “Oh my god, you should all be glad that Mr. Greyson had the tact and compassion to contact me personally rather than go to his lawyers Do you know how many lawsuits your needlessly cruel behavior could’ve spawned? Gross negligence of a patient’s needs, legal discrimination, assault I’m not a lawyer, so those are the ones I can name off the top of my head And there are many, many more. We could’ve been sued into oblivion by Joseph Greyson if Jace had told him about this ”
“I-I am so sorry, sir. I was acting stupidly, I did not realize the depth of my actions it’s just been a long shift, and I…I was n-not in the best m-mind, I’m s-so sorry The nurse stammers, looking frightened I can’t handle the guilt, not anymore. I hate the fact that she left me with no choice because I do not enjoy. seeing people be reduced to quivering messes like this. Why the hell couldn’t she just put my name down to be charged? It’s not like I’m using her freaking money. It’s not like she had a reason to refuse me, even personally. I didn’t even know who she was!
“Sorry doesn’t cut it, Nurse. Pack your stuff, you’re done”
“Sir?” Nurse Clara looks terrified, “No, sir, please tears of humiliation and desperation spring to her eyes, “I promise this will not happen again, it was a mistake.
“Well, I cannot afford to have a nurse who is prone to mistakes” Pat declares, crossing his arms, “If you have the same arrogance and discrimination when dealing with patients, then I do not want a nurse like you in my hospital at all. So, pack your stuff and pay a visit to HR to get the post-discharge procedures done.”
I can’t let this go on anymore. I only wanted Pat to come here and make the nurse see sense, not get her fired from her job.
“Um, Pat, can we talk about this for a moment?” I finally raise my voice, “In private, please
Pat turns to me, “Of course, Mr. Greyson. We’re done here, anyway. Let’s go to my office. And don’t worry. about your friend, all necessary operations will be taken care of.”
“Thank you,” I reply.
As we leave the reception, I turn back to glance over my shoulder just in time to see Nurse Clara break. down on a fit of tears.
Fuck. I have to make this right.