Perfect Rivals.... Amy Ruttan

CHAPTER FOUR

      FLO’S PULSE THUNDERED in her ears. She didn’t like crowds too much. Crowds like this just reminded her of junior high school when she’d been a sickly girl sitting off on the sidelines but wanting to be part of the action. Her mom had taught her to be strong, but that was usually in a one-on-one situation. There were a lot of people in this room. People who weren’t doctors.

      Stand her in front of a bunch of other surgeons, doctors and nurses in a conference setting and she was fine. Press? That was new territory. Especially given the fact that she was on the arm of the hottest man in the room.

      And usually good-looking men didn’t get to her, either. James Rothsberg was in the room and Flo had always found him attractive, with his golden blond hair, deep blue eyes and athletic frame. So what was it about Dr. Nathaniel King that made her feel so nervous?

      Probably because you’ve never kissed James Rothsberg and have no desire to do so.

      Whereas Nate King. Oh, yeah, she’d been fighting that craving since he’d first got off the helicopter.

      Get a grip on yourself.

      Freya was talking, but Flo really couldn’t focus on what she was saying. She was talking about The Hollywood Hills Clinic and initiatives with the Bright Hope Clinic. Flo glanced over and could see a petite woman with mahogany hair and hazel eyes smiling and nodding at everything that Freya was saying, and Flo recognized her as Mila Brightman, who ran the Bright Hope Clinic, but it was the look that James was shooting at Mila that caught Flo’s attention immediately. There was underlying tension there, something Flo recognized as akin to her own feelings regarding Nate and their shared passionate kiss.

      Flo couldn’t help but wonder if there was something going on between James and Mila. James was usually so reserved in press conferences, so detached and cool, but this was different. Something was bubbling just under the surface of James Rothsberg.

      Just like something was threatening to bubble out from her.

      You can do this. Just stay focused.

      All she had to do was keep reminding herself that as soon as Nate found out about her health condition, about how she had almost died from chronic kidney failure as a child because of complications from her premature birth and spending a month in a NICU, he’d turn tail and run. Like all of them did.

      “And as part of the Bright Hope Clinic’s collaboration with The Hollywood Hills Clinic, we’re pleased to announce that our dream team of Dr. Florence Chiu and Dr. Nathaniel King, two of the best transplant surgeons in the country, will be taking on Eva Martinez’s case while they continue to provide care to Kyle Francis.” Freya motioned for Flo to get up and approach the microphone.

      You can do this.

      There was a round of applause and as soon as she got to the microphone she was hammered by a loud din of questions being asked rapid-fire. James stood up and bent over the microphone.

      “Please, one question at a time. I’m sure Dr. Chiu would be more than happy to answer all your questions.” His tone was such that his word wouldn’t be challenged. The din quieted down and he stepped away, leaving Flo up there by herself.

      “You, sir. What’s your question?” Flo pointed to a balding, pudgy man in the front row.

      “Photographs of you and Dr. King have arisen that gives rise to questions about the state of security at The Hollywood Hills Clinic. Patients are wondering if their privacy will be protected and whether their doctors’ focus will be on them, or will it be solely on who to hop into bed with next?”

      Flo could feel her cheeks burning with a flame of embarrassment. “I can assure you that my focus is solely on my patients’ care.”

      Nate stood up. “Dr. Chiu and I are in a committed relationship. We went on the rooftop after a successful surgery involving Mr. Francis and got carried away. Are you telling me that you’ve never got carried away celebrating with your significant other before?”

      Nate then flashed a dazzling smile to the audience, which had them all laughing.

      Oh, he was good.

      “That still doesn’t address the privacy and security concerns,” the balding reporter called.

      “The picture was snapped by a paparazzo from an office window across from the clinic. We can’t control what happens outside our perimeters, but he was not able to get any photographs inside our facility, neither was he able to take photographs of our patients,” Freya said.

      “What about the paramedic that leaked the information?” another reporter asked.

      “My understanding is he’s been reprimanded and he will not be allowed back on The Hollywood Hills Clinic property in a capacity where he’ll have access to confidential health information,” James said brusquely.

      Once they were satisfied another reporter stepped forward. “How long have you and Dr. King been in a relationship?”

      “For a couple of months. We met to discuss Mr. Francis’s care while our patient was in California to shoot a movie.”

      Nate nodded and touched the small of her back. Just the simple touch made goose pimples break out on her skin. Good thing he couldn’t feel them.

      “Can you tell us a little bit about Mr. Francis’s procedure?”

      “Of course. Mr. Francis is in congestive heart failure, but because he’s been in heart failure for some time, this has put a strain on his already weak lungs. Mr. Francis had a pre-existing struggle with asthma for many years. Because his lungs are so damaged by the extra strain his heart is causing, he will require a heart and lung transplant. We were hoping to perform a domino procedure, but now that Mr. Francis is on a left ventricular assist device, he is no longer a candidate. We will have to wait for a set of lungs and a heart that matches Mr. Francis’s blood type, but the LVAD will prolong his life while he waits.”

      Nate gave her a thumbs-up and Flo gave an inward sigh of relief. She sat back down next to Nate and he took her hand and held it. It was reassuring and made her feel good, but then she remembered this was all an act.

      He’d pretty much said that he wasn’t interested in her and that their kiss had been a mistake.

      That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it?

      “Now, if there are no more questions we’ll conclude this press conference,” Freya said. “Please make sure you take the statement with you. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you all for coming.”

      Flo took another deep breath.

      “See, that wasn’t too bad,” Nate said, but he didn’t let go of her hand as the journalists filtered out of the room slowly.

      “No. It wasn’t.” She let go of his hand and got up to leave, but Freya and James were talking to the side and motioned for her over.

      Oh, no. Now what?

      “Good job, Flo,” Freya said.

      James nodded. “Yes. You handled that well.”

      “Thank you.”

      “I think that will help salvage the reputation of The Hollywood Hills Clinic and help reinforce our joint effort with the Bright Hope Clinic.”

      “I think it will,” Mila said, joining them and extending a hand to take Flo’s. “Dr. Mila Brightman. A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Chiu. I’m so pleased that you and Dr. King will be working on Eva Martinez’s case.”

      “It will be a pleasure to do so,” Flo responded.

      “All this good publicity for the clinic will put my mind at ease,” said Freya.

      “A good thing, given your condition—” James cut off abruptly at the sharp stare from his sister and the