Chapter 2 – Broken Dreams

Charlotte had been awake for the last half hour but did not want to disturb her lover, who was still asleep from the exertions of earlier in the afternoon. It had taken an emotionally honest conversation between Charlotte and Caitlin to finally make her realise that there was much more than her affected by what she planned to do. "How could I have been so stupid!" thought Charlotte, "I was about to throw away the most important person in my life, just because I had a dream. Well, I am going to prove to Caitlin that I can work this issue through properly and behave like a normal adult would – but we are talking about me." said Charlotte to herself. Just then, Caitlin stirred and opened her eyes, giving Charlotte a beaming smile.

"Hi lover, how do you feel?" asked Caitlin

"Absolutely fantastic. We must spend two weeks apart more often!" said Charlotte with a glint in her eye. "Ok, it's 8.00 pm, what do you want to do? Your choice" said Charlotte.

"Let's get dressed and go out for dinner to celebrate" said Caitlin

"Celebrate what? Asked Charlotte

"You and I back together, you daft eejit" said Caitlin, using the Irish word for idiot that made Charlotte roll around laughing.

It was around midnight when Charlotte and Caitlin arrived home and as both had work in the morning they decided it was definitely time to go to bed and be refreshed for the morning. Charlotte was dreading the following day as Dr Alison Newell was supposed to be doing her rounds making sure that there were no problems that needed sorting out! In other words, she was keeping a close eye on Charlotte and one false move, would start Newell on the war path against her. "I hate that bitch so much, she makes me so angry. What did I do to her in the first place? She has wanted me out of the way from day one and tried her utmost to get rid of me by having me thrown off the Physicians' Training Programme. Well, I am going to well and truly make her pay for what she has tried to do to me, call my professionalism into question over the organ donation and going hell bent on telling the hospital authorities it was me and me alone!" said a violently angry Charlotte.

"Charlotte, calm down, we'll work this out together. The more she believes she rattles you, the more she will go after you until you really do, do something you will regret" said Caitlin in a soothing tone, knowing that Charlotte was working herself up into a frenzy and would then not sleep.

By 9.00 am Charlotte was in her office preparing for her day's appointments when a knock came at the door and turning round Charlotte went calm, controlling her breathing, so as not give Newell any incentive to goad her. "Good morning Dr Beaumont, glad to see you are on time for your patients!" said Alison Newell, in an attempt to prompt Charlotte into reacting. Alison Newell had no time for Charlotte Beaumont. As far as she was concerned, Charlotte was not worthy of being called a doctor and she was going to do everything in her power to get her struck off and she believed she had the ammunition to do just that. "Good morning Dr Newell, how can I be of help?" replied a cool Charlotte.

Closing the door behind her, Alison Newell sat down in front of Charlotte and with a large grin began "Dr Beaumont, I am tired of having to sort out all your problems. You have gone too far this time and believe me I am going to get rid of you once and for all, making sure you never practice medicine again"

"What the hell are you talking about?" asked Charlotte, barely able to control her anger.

"You performed a hysterectomy on a patient, Mrs Greene, without her consent and I am going to make you pay both financially and professionally. Believe me after I have finished with you, you will not be able to practice medicine anywhere in the world" said Alison Newell, relishing her moment of triumph.

"I warned you before to think twice about questioning my professionalism. I don't give a shit that you dislike me but you are going to be sorry you started something that you can't finish." screamed Charlotte. "You have gone too far this time Newell and believe me when I say, it is the last time you will ever cross me. I am going to have my lawyers prepare an harassment case against you and when I'm finished you will be the one who is going to regret the day you ever started this vendetta!" yelled Charlotte.

"Some how, Dr Beaumont, I think it is you who is going to regret taking me on. I have great influence within this hospital and when I leave here, I am going to make sure your contract is terminated by the end of the day" said Alison Newell, getting up and leaving Charlotte's office.

Charlotte, with so much pent up anger against her nemesis, threw a glass ornament at the door. "Christ that woman is determined to fire me. I'm going to have to check all my files and see if there is something she has missed."

At that moment Terri walked into the office and realising something was terribly wrong with her best friend, tried to talk to Charlotte. "Charlotte, what the hell is going on? What did Newell want with you; your voices could be heard half way down the corridor?"

"Terri, that bitch has gone too far this time. She wants be out and has told a patient to sue me because I allegedly performed a hysterectomy without her consent. Can you get me all the files relating to Mrs Greene, please, and then come back and help me go through all the paperwork." said Charlotte.

Two hours later, Terri and Charlotte, found what they were looking for – the consent form for Mrs Greene, signed by her next of kin, allowing Charlotte to perform a hysterectomy should the need arise. "Well, Newell is going to be sorry she ever started this campaign against me. I have her now and believe me she is going to pay for what she has done." said a jubilant Charlotte.

Picking up the phone, Charlotte dialed Alison Newell's extension "Dr Newell" came the voice.

"Dr Newell, this is Dr Beaumont, I think we need a word. I am on my way up to your office" said Charlotte putting the phone down.

"Well, Dr Beaumont, the hospital lawyers are at this moment going through the motions of having you contract terminated and Mrs Greene has informed me that you will be receiving a letter regarding her case against you. All extremely watertight. By tonight you won't have a job and it will be the most satisfying day I have had in a long time." said Alison Newell, barely able to contain her joy.

"I think you had better cancel all those lawyers and instruct Mrs Greene that if she decides to sue me she is going to lose." a very gleeful Charlotte responded.

"What are you talking about? You have no case." responded Newell.

"Oh, but I have. This piece of paper in my hand, is the consent form for Mrs Greene signed by her next of kin allowing me to perform a hysterectomy if the occasion arose. So you see, Dr Newell, I didn't need the patient's consent when I already had one signed when she was admitted. Who has the last laugh now." said Charlotte as she calmly got up and left Alison Newell with broken dreams of having Charlotte Beaumont out of her life for good. She was left wondering what Charlotte would do as pay back for all the times she had tried to wreck her career and she new Charlotte Beaumont wasn't going to let sleeping dogs lie.

Chapter 3 to follow