Another hour crawled by before Kimberly finally sashayed in while wearing stilettos, a full set of acrylic nails, and makeup caked on like she was headed to a photo shoot.

Diane had been pacing herself into a fury. The second she saw Kimberly, she grabbed the gurney to wheel Joseph toward the operating room. "Good! She's here! Let's get him in now!"

Kimberly yanked the gurney to a stop and blinked, all innocence. "Wait, I thought I was supposed to operate on him?"

Diane fought the urge to roll her eyes and gave Kimberly a once-over. "How are you going to operate dressed like that? You don't even have a license. You're just an intern who got here through connections. If anything goes wrong with Joseph, can you take the responsibility?"

The attending, who had been trying to talk sense into Joseph, couldn't hold back. "Dr. Parker hasn't performed a single case here. Letting her take the lead is extremely risky. It could cost him more than his legs!"

I chimed in, pretending to persuade him too. "They're right. Operating rooms are sterile. I've never seen a surgeon in heels and a manicure. Joseph, think this through. You're risking not only your chance to walk but your life!"

Kimberly pursed her lips, her voice carrying a note of hurt. "Joseph, I rushed over because I was worried about you. That's why I didn't change. Nora looks down on me. If none of you want me, then let someone else take it! If I can't be permanent..."

Before she could finish, a slap landed on my face. My cheek burned while Joseph glared at me with cold disgust.

"Cut the jealous act! Kimberly's about to be made permanent, and you're not standing in the way this time!"

I covered my burning cheek, my gaze darkening into quiet scorn.

He thought I was standing in the way, but I was only letting things run their course. This time, I wanted him treated by Kimberly even more than he did.

Diane snapped, fury blazing in her eyes, "If she were good enough to go permanent, she wouldn't need to use you as a stepping stone! Look at her! What part of her looks like a surgeon?"

Joseph remained unmoved. "She rushed here because she was worried about me. That's why she didn't change. This is just a leg operation. Even if it isn't perfectly sterile, it won't matter. Kimberly is handling my legs, and I trust her. Nothing you say will change my mind!"

He snatched the new consent form from the nurse, scrawled his signature, and slapped it down. "I've already signed it! If anyone gets in the way, I would rather lose my legs than let someone else touch them!"

At that, Kimberly dropped the pout and shot me a smug look. She whisked the gurney out of Diane's hands and sashayed toward the operating room with Joseph in tow.

There was nothing the surgical team could do except accept Kimberly as primary and scrub in behind her.

Three hours later, a scream ripped down the corridor, and the operating room doors finally swung open.