"Jillian, I need you to take a leave of absence."
My nails dug into my palms. I tried to defend myself. "Dr. Crane, that post is fabricated. And right now is a critical period for my career advancement..."
The director, Howard Crane, sighed. "You think I don't know it's fake? The hospital switchboard has been flooded with calls since this morning. People are demanding an explanation. As for your evaluation, it will have to wait another five years."
Tears stung at the corners of my eyes. I had already waited five years for that evaluation. How much longer could I possibly wait?
It was not hard to guess who was behind the post. This was Georgina's style through and through. She wanted to make sure I never recovered from this.
I swallowed the bitterness and forced myself to accept it, then walked out of the office.
A patient's family member was waiting right outside, face twisted with rage. She raised her hand and slapped me across the face.
"A doctor with your kind of personal life has no business being in this hospital! Someone just told me the only reason you've been so attentive to my father is that you're after his retirement savings!
"And here I actually believed you genuinely cared about the elderly. I had no idea your intentions were this disgusting!"
The family members who had once been tearfully grateful to me now stared at me with nothing but contempt and revulsion.
Through the crowd, the two people responsible for all of it walked toward me hand in hand. Sean and Georgina wore matching sneers. Sean spoke first, his voice cold.
"Gina tried to warn you. She said it was for your own good, but you refused to listen. Now, you're reaping what you sowed. You deserve every bit of this."
Georgina looked at me with eyes full of triumph and raised her voice for the crowd, her tone dripping with righteous authority. "People like her get what's coming to them! Don't worry, everyone. I'll make sure she's held accountable! I'll help get this gold digger thrown out of this hospital for good. And permanently blacklisted!"
Thunderous applause erupted around her.
Sean lifted his chin and looked down at me. "Gina already reached out to those three other sugar daddies on your phone and told them everything. They all said they're coming here in person to confront you. We've formed a victims' coalition and hired a lawyer. Just sit tight and wait for the legal papers."
I almost thought I had misheard. They had contacted my father, my eldest brother, Elliot, and my second brother, Fabian, and told them to come here to sue me?
Georgina saw the shock on my face and took it for fear. She kept pouring fuel on the fire. "Let me tell you something. I've handled countless cases like yours. These rich men are the worst when it comes to making someone's life a living hell.
"When they're done with you, they'll tear your reputation to shreds and toss you into some private estate to be used as entertainment. You'll rot in there for the rest of your life! They're on their way. Just you wait!"
I curved my lips into a slow, knowing smile. "Sure. When they get here, make sure none of you run."
Less than five minutes later, a middle-aged man walked into the hospital flanked by two younger men. Over a dozen bodyguards cleared the way ahead of them, and the air around them was anything but friendly.
Georgina put on her most ingratiating smile and rushed forward to greet the man at the front.
"You must be Mr. Norris? The fake socialite is right here! We've already taught her a little lesson ahead of your arrival! The rest is up to you, of course. After all, you guys are the real victims here!"
The man stopped. He raised his hand and slapped Georgina hard across the face, his voice laced with ice. "So you're the one who's been slandering my daughter?"
