ARIA’S POV
Aria was in the middle of reviewing patient files at her new desk at Mount Sinai Hospital. ER when her phone rang. Director Morrison’s na flashed on the screen, and she felt a flutter of anxiety. It had only been a few days since she’d officially started, and a call from the director was never routine.
"Director Morrison," she answered professionally. "How can I help you?"
"Aria, do you have a mont? I need to speak with you about sothing... delicate."
The flutter of anxiety beca a full knot. "Of course. Should I co to your office?"
"No, this conversation is better had privately. Over the phone." He paused, and Aria could hear the discomfort in his voice. "Aria, has Damien offended anyone lately? Anyone powerful or influential?"
The question caught her completely off guard. "I....what? Why are you asking that?"
Morrison sighed heavily. "Because it seems that Damien has offended soone, and now that they know you’re associated with him, they want to make things difficult for you. For your position here."
Aria’s grip tightened on her phone. "What are you talking about? Who contacted you?"
"That’s the thing...I don’t know exactly who. Three days ago, I received a call requesting a consultation. dical advice for a family mber, supposedly. We arranged dinner to discuss it. But when I arrived....." Morrison paused again. "It beca very clear very quickly that there was no family mber. No dical consultation. It was a setup."
"A setup for what?"
"To discuss you. Your relationship with Damien Blackwood. Your position here at the hospital. The man....and I won’t na him because I’m not certain of his motives.....suggested that your presence here could be... problematic. That Damien’s enemies might target the hospital as a way to get to him through you."
Aria felt ice forming in her veins. Harold. It had to be Harold Ashford.
"What exactly did this person want?" she asked, keeping her voice steady.
"He suggested that I make things difficult for you. Nothing overt....just scheduling conflicts, challenging assignnts, the kind of pressure that might encourage you to resign. He even implied that if I could find a reason to terminate your employnt, it would be appreciated."
"And?" Aria’s voice was sharper than she intended. "Are you calling to tell you’re going to do what he asked?"
"No!" Morrison said imdiately. "Absolutely not. Aria, you’re an excellent doctor. You earned this position through rit, and I’m not going to sabotage your career because so powerful man has a vendetta against your boyfriend. I’m calling to warn you. To let you know that soone is actively trying to undermine you here."
Relief washed through her, followed imdiately by anger. "Did this person offer you anything? Money? Influence?"
"He implied connections. Suggested that cooperation would be rembered favorably. But Aria, I’ve been in this profession for thirty years. I’ve dealt with wealthy patients trying to buy favors and all manner of ethical compromises. I don’t play those gas."
"Thank you. Thank you for telling and for not.....for not letting them pressure you."
"Of course. But Aria, you need to understand the position this puts you in. If this person is willing to approach directly, he’s probably approaching others as well. Nurses, administrators, other doctors. He’s building a campaign to make your work environnt hostile."
"I understand. I’ll discuss this with Damien. We’ll figure out how to handle it."
"Be careful. Whoever this is, he has resources and he’s not afraid to use them. And Aria? If things beco too difficult here, if the pressure becos too much....don’t sacrifice your safety or wellbeing for this position. There are other hospitals. Other opportunities."
"I appreciate that. But I’m not running from this. I earned this position, and I’m not letting anyone drive out of it."
"That’s the spirit. Just....be smart about it. Docunt everything. If anyone harasses you or creates problems, report it imdiately. I’ll support you however I can, but I can only protect you from so much."
"I understand. Thank you, Director Morrison."
"You’re a good doctor, Aria. This hospital is better with you here. I’m not going to let outside pressure change that."
They ended the call, and Aria sat staring at her phone, processing everything she’d just learned.
Harold Ashford was going after her career. Not through Damien’s company, where Damien had power and influence. But through her hospital, where she was more vulnerable.
It was clever. Insidious. The kind of attack designed to hurt her without directly threatening Damien’s business interests.
And it put her in an impossible position.
If she told Damien, he’d go a killing spree. Would probably destroy Harold so completely that there’d be collateral damage she couldn’t predict. The man had already tortured Harold’s daughter. What would he do to Harold himself?
But if she didn’t tell him, if she tried to handle this on her own....she’d be hiding things from him again. Keeping secrets. Exactly what had destroyed their trust the first ti.
Aria leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling of her small office.
The smart thing would be to tell Damien imdiately.
But the smart thing would also make her dependent on him. Would prove that she couldn’t fight her own battles. That she needed his protection, his power, his intervention in every aspect of her life.
And that was exactly the kind of dynamic her mother had warned her about. The kind that turned love into control. Protection into prison.
She thought about Morrison’s warning. About Harold potentially approaching other staff mbers. About the hostile work environnt being built around her.
She thought about Damien’s possessiveness. About how he’d react to learning that soone was targeting her career. About the darkness she’d seen in that warehouse.
And she thought about the woman she wanted to be. Strong. Independent. Capable of handling her own problems.
But was handling Harold Ashford on her own even possible? The man had resources, connections, decades of experience in corporate warfare. What did she have? Hacking skills, painter and dical knowledge?
Although....
Aria sat forward suddenly, her mind racing.
She did have skills Harold probably wasn’t counting on. She could dig into his communications. Could find evidence of his threats against her. Could potentially turn his own tactics against him.
It would be risky. Illegal, definitely. But effective.
And it would prove to herself.....and to Damien....that she wasn’t helpless. That she could protect herself when necessary.
Her phone buzzed. A text from Damien: It went well. See you tonight.
She stared at the ssage, her thumb hovering over the keyboard.
She could tell him right now.
And he’d handle it. Would probably have Harold destroyed by the end of the business day.
But he’d also see her as soone who needed constant protection. Soone who couldn’t function without his intervention.
Or she could say nothing. Could handle this herself. Prove that she was strong enough to fight her own battles.
But that would be keeping secrets again. Hiding things. Exactly what had broken their trust before.
Aria closed her eyes, torn between two equally problematic options.
Tell him and risk becoming dependent. Or handle it herself and risk breaking his trust.
Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: Don’t let his protection beco a cage. Don’t let loving him an losing yourself.
But Damien’s words were there too: I will destroy anyone who threatens you. That’s not going to change.
What was the right answer? What was the line between accepting help and becoming helpless? Between independence and foolish pride?
She didn’t know. Couldn’t see clearly through the ss of emotions and fears and competing needs.
So for now.....for this mont.....she made a decision that was probably wrong but felt necessary.
She wouldn’t tell him yet. Would give herself twenty-four hours to assess the situation. To see if she could gather evidence against Harold on her own. To prove to herself that she was capable before running to Damien for rescue.
Twenty-four hours. That was all.
And if she couldn’t handle it in that ti, she’d tell him everything.
And then....if necessary....she’d let Damien destroy Harold Ashford the way only he knew how.
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