---

“I kept wishing for this day to arrive, so it could be done and over, but now that it is…” Ava shrugged.

Aleksander drew her into his arms. “I feel the same way. Now, we do something and put those doctors in their place.”

She sent him a cool, fierce smile. “Let’s break some eggs.”

While she did so—literally—and Aleksander made coffee, it struck him that it might have been any morning.

Two people in love—and that was new and fresh and energizing—fixing breakfast.

She placed eggs, fruit, and slices of whole wheat bread she’d toasted on two plates.

“Is it sexist for me to say I love watching you cook breakfast, especially in that robe?”

“It would be sexist if you expected or demanded it.” Slowly, she trailed her fingers down the side of the robe. “Enjoying it just shows you have good taste.”

“That’s what I thought.” He smiled at her. “But with all that political correctness around…”

“You can be as incorrect with me as you like, Mr. Maximilian, I will still love you,”—she sat on his lap and planted a kiss on his mouth—“in fact, I think I will love you more.”

Ava started feeling ill the minute the elevator started its long descent from Aleksander’s penthouse. By the time their driver parked at the hospital garage, she was downright queasy. And when she reached the floor where the meeting would be held, she was quite convinced she would throw up.

Somehow she managed to keep the contents of her stomach where they belonged, but as they winded further into the corridor, she was filled with an intense sense of apprehension.

No, not apprehension. Doom.

“Look, you have nothing to worry about,” Markus said to Ava as they waited outside the hospital boardroom for the hearing to begin. “Yes, ethics violations were made. But you—”

“Then I have something to worry about,” Ava said, pacing the hallway. “And I understand that the Blackthorn Corporation has made substantial donations to the hospital over the years. But that doesn’t make what I did right.”

She glanced at Aleksander, who was nodding, looking grave. She knew exactly what he was thinking.

“It’s not your fault,” she said to him, taking his hand. “If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I would still do everything the same.”

The double doors to the boardroom opened, and Dr. Wang stood there, her face solemn. “Good morning, doctor,” she said, her voice low and somber. She nodded at the men. “Mr. Blackthorn, Mr. Maximilian. Please come in.”

They stepped inside the boardroom to a large, stark black table that took up much of the room. At the very end sat Dr. Cullen and Dr. Follett. Dr. Wang sat between them as Markus placed his briefcase on the table across from them. Aleksander pulled out a chair for Ava. After she sat—at the very edge of it, he noticed—he took a place beside her.

“Let’s begin,” Dr. Wang said when they were all seated.

“Before we do,” Aleksander began, pushing away from the table and leaning over it, toward them. “Let me just say that this is complete and utter bullshit. She’s the best doctor you ever had.”

“Alek,” Ava said softly, but his compliment and his defense of her warmed her heart.

“I assure you, sir, that the claims aren’t—er, bullshit,” Dr. Cullen said, straightening his tie. “The investigation has revealed some very surprising information about the doctor.”

Aleksander crossed his arms, surveying each of the doctors with a sour face, and sat back down in his seat, murmuring, “This is unbelievable.”

Dr. Wang stared at him for a moment, and then continued, “Doctor, you have some very serious allegations placed against you. We have seen evidence that you not only violated the code of ethics regarding transfer of hospital files to your private email, not only did you engage in a romantic relationship with your patient’s father, but you also asked your co-workers to keep quiet about this activity.”

Oh God. Sydney. Ava laced her fingers in front of her and heaved a breath, hoping she hadn’t jeopardized her career, as well.

Dr. Follett looked at the pink diamond ring on Ava’s left hand, and added, “Is it true that you and Mr. Maximilian are engaged?”

She nodded. “Married, actually.”

Without the hint of a smile, Dr. Follett said, coldly, “Congratulations, Dr. Larsen.”

“The correct name is Maximilian, Doctor Ava Maximilian,” Aleksander put in, his voice gruff. “I met my wife before she took this assignment.”

Before Ava could add anything, Markus piped in, “As a member in good standing of this hospital’s board, I move that these allegations be dismissed as they are entirely without merit. Dr. Maximilian puts her whole heart and soul into her job, which sometimes involves skirting the line of what is ethical. But it doesn’t negate the fact that she is a damn fine doctor and this hospital is lucky to have her.”

Dr. Cullen put up a hand. “But that doesn’t excuse her from following the regulations that have been set forth. If we make excuses for her, we would have to make excuses for all of our wonderful doctors. And these rules and regulations do not exist without reason. They were implemented over time for the purpose of protecting every patient in our care, as well as the staff who care for them. With all due respect, Mr. Blackthorn, the allegations are not frivolous and they are not without merit. They are beyond serious, with very even more serious ramifications.”

Markus began to speak when Dr. Follett said, “In addition to mishandling files and the romantic relationship, she deceived the hospital administration by seeking experimental treatment for the child elsewhere.”

“It was Olivia’s only chance,” Aleksander said, sucking in a breath, looking over at Ava. “Doctor Maximilian did it for me. I promised I’d do anything to make my daughter well. And she did it for me.”

She loved him, yes, and at that moment, he’d never loved her more. But if he was the reason she lost her position, he’d never forgive himself.

“And she may have overstepped her bounds by marrying me, but I don’t know if either Olivia or I would be here today without her,” he said, putting his hand over hers and squeezing it. “I thank God you sent her to me. Do you seriously think it would be better if Ava had followed every one of your damned rules at the cost of my daughter’s life? You people told me Olivia was going to die and that there was no hope for her. No hope at all. Take her home and let her die in comfort—that’s what your instructions were.”

Dr. Follett started to speak.

“I’m not done,” Aleksander interrupted, raising his palm. “I seriously want you to think about what she did, the purpose of your rules, and the outcome of my wife’s actions. Do you and the rules exist to save lives? The outcome here was that a life was saved, no thanks to you. Should I sue the hospital and the doctors responsible for negligence? Consider that as you worship at the altar of rules and regulations and prepare to sacrifice my wife.”

“For the record, Doctor Lar—Dr. Maximilian, do you admit that you’ve violated the code of ethics and regulations regarding prescribed treatments?”

Ava glanced at Markus as if he were her attorney, then turned back to Dr. Follett. “I do admit it.” She looked at Markus again.

The doctors exchanged looks across the table. Finally, Dr. Cullen cleared his throat. “Could you please leave us for a moment to deliberate?”

“Doctors,” Markus began. “I have one thing to add for your consideration before you go. You very graciously allowed Mr. Maximilian to bring in outside specialists to examine Olivia with the provision that he would not take any action or make any decisions without the approval of her care team and the administration.”

The three doctors exchanged looks before Dr. Wang answered, “Yes, we did.”

Markus nodded and, opening his suitcase, he took out the printed files of Olivia’s records Ava had given him. “One of those who came to see Olivia was a surgeon named Walter Goldenstein. It was his opinion that if he were to operate on Olivia as soon as possible, he could have possibly removed the cancer, and done so with the possibility of her retaining her sight since the tumor hadn’t reached the optical nerve. Am I correct?”

Dr. Follett straightened in his chair and gave Ava a sour look. “Yes, but it was—”

Markus raised his hand, interrupting any measly explanation the doctor could formulate. “You advised against that treatment, without telling Mr. Maximilian about it. Mr. Maximilian trusted your judgement. I just want it on the record for now, and in the event of any future legal action taken by this facility against Doctor Maximilian—or by Mr. Maximilian against this hospital and the doctor responsible for Olivia’s treatment—that this same Dr. Goldenstein did successfully cure Olivia of her cancer. But she is also blinded. For life.”

And again, the doctors exchanged looks across the table. Finally, Dr. Cullen cleared his throat. “Could you please leave us for a moment to deliberate?”

“It’s not going our way,” Aleksander said, running his hands through his hair. “This is utterly ridiculous. A witch hunt if ever I—”

“Calm down,” Markus said to his friend. “We don’t know that.”

Ava nodded, beginning to pace the hall again, her heels clicking on the freshly waxed tile floor. “They’re going to do what they have to do. It doesn’t matter what miracles I’ve performed. If they feel they need to make an example of me, they will.”

Aleksander put an arm around her, feeling just how tense she was. The next few moments would decide the fate of her career.

She looked up at him, her blue-green eyes dark, brows knitted, and leaned into him.

He said, “Whatever happens, it doesn’t matter the outcome, I will fight for you until we get your name cleaned.”

“Alek, what’s done, is done and I don’t regret it,” she told him, just as the doors opened and Dr. Wang beckoned them back inside.

When they were once again seated, Dr. Wang said, “We don’t want you to think that we haven’t been impressed by your contributions, Dr. Maximilian. On the contrary, you’ve been an asset to this department since your arrival.”

“Nevertheless, the rules are there for a reason,” Dr. Follett spoke abruptly, quickly negating any sense of pride Dr. Wang’s compliment had planted in Ava’s head. “And it’s clear the doctor has violated them. If we excuse her for these, there is clearly nothing to stop others from disregarding our laws as well. We must maintain order, discipline, and accountability.”

Dr. Cullen sighed and shook his head at what he knew was more a matter of pride than really a punishment being meted out. “I’m sorry, Dr. Maximilian, but this is necessary.”

Ava swallowed. “I understand.”

“I hope you do. We’re not out to punish you maliciously, and as proof of that, you’ll be pleased to know that we will not be referring this case to the medical board. You will keep your license and your fellowship will be granted so you’ll able to start working as a pediatric oncology specialist. But, not at Sloan-Kettering.”

Dr. Cullen looked at Dr. Wang, who nodded, appearing remorseful as she said, “Dr. Lar—Dr. Maximilian, at this time you’ll be asked to turn in your credentials and leave the hospital at once.”

Aleksander opened his mouth to speak, but shut it when Ava clamped a hand over his.

“It’s okay. Really,” she whispered to him, reaching for her bag. She pulled out her hospital ID and pushed it across to the doctors. “If I may, can I ask what will happen to Sydney?”

Dr. Cullen replied, “She will be admonished, but she won’t be terminated.”

That anything should happen to Sydney because of her was too much. “She really had nothing to do with—”

“Thank you, Dr. Maximilian.” Dr. Wang stood, signaling the end of the discussion. “Mr. Maximilian, Mr. Blackthorn.”

Then the three of them stood and filed out. Losing her job was not something she was expecting but she felt oddly at peace.

After they closed the door, Doctor Wang looked at her watch, then at her fellow doctors. “That was quicker than I anticipated. We have twenty-two minutes until Doctor Brian Duncan’s hearing. His will take even less time. There are no mitigating circumstances and his latest indiscretion is on video.”

As they rode to the airport, Aleksander was outraged. He continued on and on about how this wasn’t the end of it, and what their next steps were. But Ava stared quietly out the window of the BMW, not saying a word.

He suspected she was numb from the shock. Or perhaps too depressed to speak. Finally he had to look over at her and ask, “What are you thinking?”

When she turned to him, she was smiling, her features calm. “I’m thinking that I’ll be all right,” she said. “We’ll be alright.”

“But you love being a doctor, Ava. And you’re a hell of a good one.”

She nodded. “There are other hospitals. This isn’t the end. Maybe this is a good thing. I’m ready for my next adventure.”

“Next adventure, huh?” he mused. “What if you started your own clinic in town?’

She looked at him. “What?”

“For children like Olivia,” he said, thinking. “To research the treatment of cancers like hers. You should. You should invite Dr. Goldenstein to practice with you. Bring his procedure into the mainstream. And Sydney and Whitney will be head nurses of your clinic. Think about it. Imagine how many children you could help.”

When the car parked in La Guardia, she was thinking about it, and very seriously.

She stepped outside, tossing the idea of all the children she could help, over and over in her mind. It was the very thing she’d gone into the profession for. She thought of all the parents who wouldn’t have to learn the heartbreaking news that there was nothing that could be done.

“That would be amazing,” she said, her mind wandering to a picture of Emma, the day before she’d said goodbye. “I always thought about starting my own practice, but I never thought I’d have a chance to do it.”

“Well, now you do.” He grinned as he waved her up the stairs of his private jet. “Come on, Olivia must be dying to get on Lake Tahoe.”

She smiled at him, and then stood on her toes, kissed him and, laughing, ran up the stairs. And I have a lot more than that.