"Mamá, I have to go." I shouted, trying to rally my mother and daughter out of the hotel pool.
"I know mija, go, we have this taken care of." she said.
"Mami, out in half an hour." I scolded, knowing that my mother is heavily influenced by my daughters dimples and beautiful blue eyes.
"Si, si, si, vé al hospital y encargate de tu carrera. La niña y yo estamos bien."
"Katie, half an hour baby, out when both hands are on 6." I told my daughter as I pointed to the clock.
"Yes mommy, I love you!"
"Love you too, behave for abuela."
Going back into the hotel room I changed into a black blouse, a pair of jeans and a cobalt blue blazer with a pair of black stilettos and a black purse. This is just the meeting to sign my contract with Gray-Sloane Hospital in Seattle. I already had three interviews; one with Dr. Miranda Bailey, one with the GSH executives and one with Catherine Avery. That one was a little awkward and sticky given my history with Catherine.
I still can't believe that she endorsed me coming here, guilty consciences do that to a person I guess. Honestly speaking I wouldn't have even considered coming to work under Catherine Avery if it wasn't Gray Sloane. This hospital is legendary in every way possible.
Every time I walk into this building I get the chills, this is the beginning to my career again. I was in med school after high school and I was doing good until I wasn't. There was a personal situation where I found myself stonewalled, blocked from pursuing my career in medicine due to a failed relationship.
After that I enlisted in the Army and got as much of a medical education as I could. The Army helped me get through school and I worked as a stunt woman in LA for some time as well. Stunt work was so much fun and I did that until I got pregnant then I got called back to the Army as a favor when my daughter was four. I got the call from Miranda Bailey when I got back from my last tour. We've been going back and forth for months now and I finally sign the contract today.
People were staring at me but that doesn't really bother me, I know why I'm here and that's all I need to know. I spoke to the receptionist and she called Dr. Bailey, who told her where I needed to be. Doctors, interns, residents and everyone in between was running around and it felt like home to me.
"Dr. Velez, its really great to see you." Dr. Bailey said, walking out of the conference room.
"Dr. Bailey, its really great to be here. Thank you so much for this opportunity." I replied, following her inside.
"Having you here is a wonderful opportunity for everyone. You're one of the few Peds cardiac specialists in the country and you're one of the best cardiac surgeons in the states. Grey-Sloane has the best peds cardiac surgeon and this is wonderful." she said with a wide smile.
"I can't wait to get to work, this is going to be amazing."
"Here are the documents, read them over, make sure that everything is just the way we discussed it while I go get some people that I want you to meet."
"Sure, no problem."
With a smile on my face I started to look over the contract, making sure that everything was the way we agreed upon. It all looked perfect to me so I grabbed the pen in front of me enthusiastically and signed it.
"Kiara, yeah, this is Dr. Arizona Robbins, she's chief of pediatric surgery. This is Dr. Maggie Pierce, she's head cardiothoracic surgeon and this is Dr. Owen Hunt he's chief of trauma surgery." Dr. Bailey said, introducing me to them.
"Hello, I'm Kiara Velez."
"Velez, you just returned from a tour didn't you?" Dr. Hunt asked.
"Yes, you're major Owen Hunt. I heard a lot about you." I replied with a smile.
"I've heard a lot of things about you too, you're cardio." he said with an uncertain look.
"Yes, I am."
"Bailey, what's this?" Dr. Pierce asked.
"Why am I here?" Dr. Robbins asked.
"I'm guessing that you're here because I'd be working directly under you. I'm cardio but I specialize in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery." I told her.
"You're a Peds cardiac surgeon?" Dr. Pierce asked.
"Yes, I did cardio in the Army as a favor to a friend but my specialty is Peds cardio." I said.
"Bailey, what is this? Why did you bring her in?" she asked angrily.
"Dr. Pierce, is there a problem?" Bailey asked.
"Yes there is, I don't need any help in cardio. Everything is just fine the way it is." she argued.
"Did you sign the contract Dr. Velez?" Bailey asked me.
"Yes ma'am."
"Then its a done deal, Grey-Sloan now has a Peds cardiac surgeon." Bailey angrily replied.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you taking surgeries away from your team?" Dr. Robbins angrily asked.
"I don't have to give any of you an explanation and you're making a very poor show of this. It's a great thing for this hospital to have her here and I would appreciate it if the two of you would be open to this." Bailey said.
"It's nice to have you on board Dr. Velez." Hunt said.
"Thank you." I muttered.
This doesn't look good, it really doesn't. I didn't expect this kind of kick back from the chief's of department. I didn't mean to create any kind of issue here and I hope things get better with time, I just don't know what to expect.
Bailey stood in the conference room with the surgeons while I went to the cafeteria, I need something to drink. Its been a hell of a time and I wasn't paying attention to where I was going so I walked right into someone.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry." I said, holding my hands out.
"It's okay, don't worry. Are you lost?" the girl asked.
"Kind of but its complicated. I'm a new surgeon here, you're obviously a doctor or a resident."
"Surgical resident, I'm Jo Wilson. What kind of surgeon are you?" she curiously asked.
"I'm Ped's cardio, its a new position."
"I guess so because I didn't know that we were looking for it. Welcome to Grey-Sloan." Jo said, walking with me to the beverages.
"You and Hunt are the only ones that welcomed me warmly so thank you." I said.
"Who else was there?"
"Dr. Pierce and Dr. Robbins, they weren't very happy about me coming in. Sorry, I don't mean to seem bitchy to you." I said, it definitely doesn't look good.
"Don't worry, I know what its like. They'll come along, its nothing. We need new people because our surgeons are stretched thin even with us residents. I appreciate the help and I know that . . ."
"Kiara?" I heard, making me turn around.
"Great, this is all that I needed." I sighed.
"Kiki, what are you doing here?" Jackson Avery asked me.
"You two know each other?" Jo asked with a smile.
"Don't call me that, its Dr. Kiara Velez now, no thanks to you and your mom." I replied angrily.
"Well this is interesting?" she said.
"Jo, if you don't mind I'm gonna steal her." he said, grabbing my arm and pulling me away.
"Let go damn it." I growled, pulling away when we hit the hallway.
"What did you mean no thanks to me and my mom? What the hell was that?" he demanded as his mom came down the hallway.
"Oh great, this just gets better." I muttered.
"Mom, what is she talking about?" he asked.
"Jackson, I don't . . ."
"Don't lie Catherine, you know damn well what you did to me and my career. Its the only reason that you offered me any chance at all. The guilt was eating at you for some reason." I said.
"Alright, both of you in here." she said, pushing us into another office space.
"Mom, what is she talking about?" Jackson asked.
"Like you don't know." I growled.
"He doesn't, he has no idea what I did." she sighed.
"I don't believe you." I said.
"He doesn't know Kiara, I didn't tell him anything."
"What the hell did you do?"
"Yeah, tell him what you did." I told her.