HP Inspired
let's see if we can use our
context clues to recognize the characters.
All creds to JK
Mondays were dreadful indeed, but this morning I found myself with a little pep in my step.
Even though I hadn't gotten much sleep last night, I was too busy working on creating a compelling presentation.
Lighthouse Hospital was a second home to me, considering I spent majority of my hours here. An its patients well; they were like family. Which is why I was working so hard to get funding for them.
Truly, I was perplexed when someone mentioned how they didn't have a playroom for the children in the pediatric ward. Hospitals weren't the most welcoming to children.
At the very least these fools could see reason especially when it came to making the kids more comfortable.
"Miss Hayes, they're ready for you now." Melissa says, hanging up her phone with a clack.
"Thank you so much, wish me luck." I gleamed excitedly while also bursting with nerves.
"You won't need it knock em dead." Her encouragement gave me the strength to open up the glass double doors.
I had only been in the board of directors room a couple of times and still it took my breath away. The windows were wide overlooking the city skyscrapers. The walls were a stylish grey that appeared metal if you were to quickly glance over it.
Golden plaques of awards and accolades fluttered the walls. Surrounding a statue of Mr. Lighthouse himself, who passed away years ago.
My astonishment at the scenery in front of me was short lived as I remembered its inhabitants.
Ahead of me was a mahogany wooden table that was in the shape of an oval, and it held ten chairs in which men filled. They all got my gears turning with some of the careless decisions that they made concerning this hospital.
However, there was one amongst them that got them turning expeditiously while also fucking rusting at the same time.
And that was Winston Levingston.
For someone at the age of forty-six he was handsome that was no doubt with a sculptured jawline and pristine cheekbones to match.
He had eyes that appeared like diamonds because they were an eerie sliver with a custom made all black suit they fit every muscle he had immaculately.
Yet strangely, it was his hair that drew the most conversation. People debated and gossiped about whether it was natural or not. Straight and pale, it fell down his back, secured by a tie. I could never decipher its color, though I didn't care much. The closest it resembled was platinum blonde.
The corners of his lips tugged upward slightly so slight that you'd miss it. In his piercing eyes that held my coffee ones was a smugness like no other.
Clearly he believed me to be ogling him, which I thought was ludicrous. So much so that I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.
As if I would waste my time on that treacherous, leech of a bast-
"Miss Hayes, what a pleasure it is to see you again."
The chief of surgery greeted me with a smile that outwardly appeared welcoming but I knew better.
I had been running them down for months to get this fucking meeting until they finally relented.
So I doubted seeing my face again brought any delight, but if he wanted to fake pleasantries then so be it, as long as the old coot sat and listened.
"You as well chief and to the others I extend the same greetings." I say shutting the door behind me. No one else said a mumbling word only nodding.
Pricks
"I wont be taking up much of your time today." I say strutting to the table but not being able to move as efficiently because of the sheer stockings that I wore.
I hated them but like the saying goes beauty is pain and they looked killer on my legs. I handed them folders with blueprints and ideas. Leaving them to pass them amongst themselves while I pulled up a PowerPoint. It was utterly ridiculous but I found out from past experiences that moving pictures and imagery seem to make them more agreeable.
As I begin giving my presentation I noticed that half way through some were already shutting their folders ahead of time. But still I carried on wanting to finish strong.
"Which is why I believe that creating such a thing will be more welcoming to children and-
"Are we seriously going to allow Miss Hayes to finish this utter nonsense?" I didn't even need to move my eyes from the screen in front of me to recognize who had said something.
He just had to add in his two cents
For the life of me I could not understand why they even allowed him to be on the board of directors.
You know why
Still it just showed how avaricious they all were and I could tell you right now that Mr. Levingston didn't know the first damn thing about running a hospital.
There wasn't a hospitable bone in his cold body.
"Are we seriously going to allow Mr. Levingston to rudely interrupt me during my presentation?" I answered back just as swiftly shooting him a smile that imitated the chiefs earlier.
"Clearly she doesn't understand protocol or social awareness because if she did, she would've noticed our answer thirty minutes ago."
"I mean look at Mr. Jackson." He gestured to the old man dozing off. It wasn't until then that he decided to spring back up to life when the one next to him tapped his shoulder.
He cleared his throat darting his eyes back and forth across the room before mumbling sorry.
"Even he realizes how tedious your worthless presentation is." He scoffed crossing his legs and throwing his folder onto the center of the table like a goddam frisbee.
"And clearly you lack decorum but who's keeping score Mr. Levingston?" I replied.
"The fact that Children are worthless to you just shows your self-centered character."
"I'll have you know my son is twenty-four and well,
why should I care?" He stated haughty as if it was the most obvious thing.
His signature sneer crossed his lips as he sat back in his chair. "And self-centered you say?" He questioned with a raised pale brow.
"Yes or are you lacking hearing?" I challenged.
"We run a business Miss. Hayes not a daycare if you're feeling motherly why not take a trip to the NICU. There's plenty of children there for you."
"You're obviously not a very good one if you can't see how building this will bring more revenue." I hissed ignoring his other comments.
"I beg your pardon?" He sat up. By then it was like a tennis match between him and I.
The both of us were at a war of comebacks while the others looked back and forth waiting for each jab. He always knew just what buttons to push to make me go off the deep end.
What vexed me to no end was the way through every insult he managed to appear calm and collective as if I was so beneath him that even my words couldn't touch him.
I didn't know why I stayed back when I already knew what their answer was.
Neither of them moved an inch to stop his reports which evidently meant that they didn't disagree.
I was getting ready to call him a pompous old mangy dog when the chief finally stepped in.
"Miss. Hayes and Mr. Levingston please settle down and let's come to an agreement." He begged pulling at his collar apprehensively. We both stopped simultaneously at the sound of his voice.
I cleared my throat shutting off the screen and grabbing my things because I was already done with this fiasco. If they weren't going to give us the funding then what further discussions should we be having?
"Miss. Hayes please wait, you know how Mr. Levingston has such a way with words."
Oh the fucking nerve
"Lighten up?" He smiled convincingly nevertheless what he said seemed more like a question than a statement. It was obvious that he didn't believe a word he said either so why the hell should I?
"I don't know about you, but the sun shines down on me just fine, good day gentlemen, perhaps you should share that advice with your bitter colleagues." I say walking out the double doors letting my black heels be the last thing that they hear.
It was until I got into the elevator that I released a breath clutching my folders against my chest.
As I remembered the heated glare in Mr. Levingston eyes and how it made my thighs clench together and my heart race. I shook my head wiling myself back together. The man had a son around the same age as me and was recently a widower.
Well I guess two years is still fresh
He was old enough to be my father.
But he didn't look it
Lastly I was in a relationship of three years with my high school sweet heart. I shouldn't be having a single sexual thought cross my mind about him.
I hated him, I hated everything about him and what he stood for which was nothing at all. The realization that I had failed began to finally sink in and it made me even angrier.
We run a business Miss Hayes not a daycare
I scoffed leaning off the wall as the elevator doors opened to my office if it was even considered as such. Honestly to me it reminded me of a cubicle from the way my desk was shaped.
The chief, Issac had offered me to a changed but I rarely spent the day here anyway because unless I was moving I didn't feel proactive.
I threw my things on my desk glancing at the invitation. Suddenly having the urge to rip it up into a million pieces but I refrained know that I must attend.
Especially now after everything that happened if I didn't show up most would think of it in bad faith.
I folded my suit covered arms across my silk button up blouse staring out the window in front of me.
It was no view compared to the one that I'd just seen but it would have to do. My thoughts were racing until I heard a knock behind me and the door opening.
Expecting it to be Melissa since she said she would pay a visit after the meeting.
"Don't even bother Mel, once that handsome bastard started listing his disagreements no one wanted to hear a thing else." I shrugged. She said nothing as I heard her close the door from behind me.
"I can promise you that I am legitimate Miss. Hayes, so I was told by my mother and father." I heard a deep voice say causing the hairs along my neck to stand to attention. I turned around swiftly almost stumbling.
"And you think I'm handsome?" His lips quirked seemingly amused.