Chapter 3

Elizabeth

My knee bounced uncontrollably as I sat in the chair just outside of Dr. Martin's office. My advisor had been a huge part of my success, and was undeniably my biggest fan and my strongest supporter, but that didn't mean that the woman didn't intimidate the hell out of me. She did.

A million thoughts ran through my mind, but I forced myself to focus on the simple fact that I'd graduated at the top of my class for my M.D., and I could do anything I put my mind to. Dr. Martin would make sure that I was paired up with a top surgeon for my residency, and would continue to take care of me. She had promised as much the last time we spoke. It was time to share the good news with her, and talk through who she felt was the best match to become my mentor.

"Elizabeth?" She poked her head out of the open door of her office. "Come on in."

Her dark hair was in a loose bun, her makeup beautifully on-point, and her slacks and button-down shirt professional. She was stunning, and I couldn't help but feel mousey in front of her. I had too much of my father in me to feel petite or feminine.

"Thanks for seeing me today." I sat down and pulled the letter from my portfolio that was clasped tightly in my hands. "I have good news."

"So I've heard." She smiled and extended her hand. "Let me see it anyway. This is the fun part."

"I agree. I was so nervous that I would have to move to another part of town, or even to another city. St. Mark's is so busy, and hard to get into." I moved back in my chair a little, but kept my posture and forced myself to keep my chin in the air. Dr. Martin's loyalty was hard- earned, and she expected the best of all of us, every moment of every day. There was no rest in medicine.

"Well, St. Mark's only takes the best of the best, and then a few whose daddies pay a pretty penny to get them in there. We know how hard you've worked. It's well-earned, Elizabeth." She set the paper down and leaned back as a smile lifted her lips. "I've been thinking a lot about this moment."

"Why is that?" I brushed my hands down my black slacks, but kept my attention fully on her.

"Because we had a department meeting last week to talk about our top M.D. grads, and of course your name came up. Most of us had an inkling that you would get the residency with St. Mark’s." She tapped the table as her expression tightened just a little. "What we couldn't agree upon was your mentor."

"Oh." I lifted my eyebrow as confusion rolled through me. "I thought that you were the one to determine who I'd be working under for my residency."

"I usually am, but with your high marks and your strong personality, the Dean of Medicine wanted to discuss options." She shrugged. "It's rare that he gets involved, but it’s a good thing. It's impressive, and telling of your future. You're going to be quite successful if you just keep your nose to the grindstone."

"I plan on doing just that. Tell me who I've been assigned to. Please." I smiled.

She nodded before pulling out a pair of glasses and perching them on her nose. "I wanted to have you work with Peter Fallwell. He's a brilliant neurologist, but your specialty is going to be cardiology. The dean believes you should work for Aiden Crawford."

"I'm not familiar with either of them. Should I be?" I relaxed a little as she leaned back again.

"Yes and no. Dr. Fallwell is new to the area, so I thought it might be good for you to meet someone from another part of the world. You've grown up here and gotten all your degrees here. It just seemed a healthy option. You don't have to work in neurology to have your mentor there, but you know that."

"Yes, ma'am." I pressed my hands to my thighs and leaned forward a little. "Do you have a bio or CV on Doctor Crawford?"

"I do, but let me warn you," she bent over and pulled a folder out of her bottom drawer. "The man is a pain in the ass."

I held my tongue and nodded as I accepted the file on him. It wasn't a shot of his face, but only the top of his head. He had on goggles and was in the middle of surgery. It was hard to tell if he was attractive, but by the regal slope of his nose, his broad shoulders, and tanned skin, I could imagine him to be anything I wanted him to be.

"When I say pain in the ass, I mean it." She got up and walked to her window, pulling up the blinds as she continued. "Think of the one person in your life who is the most annoying, self-centered, drive-you-batty, pain in the ass." She glanced over at me. "Got that person in your mind?"

"Yep." I had no problem conjuring up Jackson. He would be great with someone else, but I was so far over us it was mind-numbing.

"Multiply that by ten thousand and there you have Aiden." She shrugged and leaned against the wall closest to her. "He's impossibly good-looking, which he ignores. That part is good, I suppose."

"Then what's the issue? Does he lack humility?"

"Oh no. He's quite grateful, though unyielding. His opinion is the only valid one. Everyone is stupid compared to him, but he'll never say that. He just makes you feel it." She walked back to her chair and dropped down. "But, you won’t find a better teacher, mentor, or cardiologist. He's brilliant."

I wanted to press her on the part where this man was supposed to make me want to take a long walk off a short bridge, but I didn't. She obviously had a weird hang-up with him.

"I'm good with whomever you decide I need to be paired up with. I trust your judgment." I locked gazes with her again.

"I know you do." Her expression softened. "I'm going to set you up with Dr. Crawford, because just like you trust me, I trust the dean. He obviously knows what he's doing, and he thinks the pairing would be good for both of you."

Odd.

"Does he know Dr. Crawford?" I stood up as she did. My time was almost over from what I could tell.

"Yes. His son and Aiden went to med school together." She picked up the letter and handed it back to me. "Just stun him with your brilliance, and don't put up with an ounce of his shit if he slings it around. Got it?"

"Of course. I'll remain respectful and do my best to make you proud." I smiled and tucked the letter back into my portfolio file.

"I know you will, but this time around... don't try to make me or anyone else proud. This is only for you. This three years is for you to take in all you can. It will refine you and change you. It will make you not only into the woman you're meant to be, but the doctor we all want to give our trust to."

I walked around to her side of the desk as she extended her arms to me and gave me a warm hug.

"Thank you for all of this. For everything." I fought back tears. She'd been in my life for the last six years, directing my every step.

"No. Thank you. You've been a delight and a joy." She moved back and gripped my upper arms gently. "We're all proud of you. Just stick to your guns and use your own judgment with everything you encounter. It's not all black and white. It's mostly gray."

I nodded. "I've learned that while here at NYU."

"Good. Then we've done our jobs well." She let out a quick sigh and nodded to the door. "Get out of here and mind your p's and q's around Dr. Crawford."

"Absolutely." I walked to the door, but paused before walking out. "Where is his M.D. from?"

"Harvard, and he was valedictorian, but don't let that intimidate you." She smirked.

"Right." I laughed and walked out into the hall as my heartbeat quickened. I was headed toward a new adventure, a new journey, and, whereas I was completely thrilled, I was also terrified.

Good thing Stephanie would be there with me.