New Course 10

"Honestly, I'm bothered. Can I see you?"

I chuckled at his request. He had just left a few minutes ago, and now he wanted to see me. We were not teens anymore to not be able to contain our excitement. Before I could answer, the door to our lounge opened. The ER nurse then peeped in and smiled as soon as I looked up.

"Dr. Red, you are requested to go to the chairman's office right now."

'What? Why?" I pulled my brows together as I asked her. Ever since I started to serve in this institution, I had never met the chairman. There was the HR Department anyway, and the chief of clinics.

"The executive secretary did not say anything else, doc."

I nodded and stood up to get my white coat inside my room. Our chairman was a doctor and I heard he didn't want to see us in our casual clothes once we were in the hospital premises. I wondered what he wanted from me. Though he only had the title of a chairman, we knew that he and his family solely owned the institution.

"Sean, I'll call you back. The chairman wants me at his office," I hurriedly put him aside, not even allowing him to say goodbye.

I walked down the corridors toward the separate building where the chairman held his office. My heartbeats were dubbing faster than my footsteps, ringing in my ears. I was really wondering why he wanted to see me. Did I do something wrong? Or, had the news about Eric reached his attention? Did it affect the image of the hospital? I didn't even think many people knew about it.

I took a deep breath before I knocked on the door. The secretary opened up for me and ushered me inside.

"Good morning, doc. The chairman is waiting for you," she said with a smile that calmed down my nerves.

I only replied with a smile because she proceeded right away to the next door that led to the chairman's office and held it open for me. I was yet from the doorstep when I saw the chairman nodding at me. His hair was already white, accentuating the wrinkles on his forehead and in his cheeks. Nevertheless, he still looked authoritative and respectable.

"Good morning, Dr. Nelson," he said, extending his hand to mine while bending his body over his desk.

"Good morning, Dr. Fabella," I greeted back, trying to let out a smile.

"Please sit down, dear," he said, gesturing a hand for me to sit down on the chair across him.

The loud thuds of my heartbeat almost choked me as I felt it striking my throat. His authoritative aura kept me more agitated.

"I'd be straight to the point, Dr. Nelson. As you may have known, I am the principal shareholder of this hospital for many years, but now I am selling my full share to my co-shareholder. I already have a few years left in this world and none of my family takes interest in this business."

I stared at him. wondering what he wanted to point out. Why would I care about shares and business? I didn't know a thing about that.

"Dr. Nelson, you're appointed to be my successor--the new chairwoman."

I froze in my seat and my eyes rounded as it stuck on him. He smiled at me and chuckled afterward, watching my expression as I was absorbed in and out of shock.

"Of all people, why me, Dr. Fabella?" It took me an eternity to fumble some words to voice out my confusion.

"Because we know your potentials and we believe in your capabilities. We have also reviewed your credentials and have found out about your academic and clinical excellence."

"Thank you, chairman, but running an institution is a completely different story. Not me, please."

Dr. Fabella watched me with amusement as I cast him my begging eyes. "Someone higher than me has the final say. My task is to inform you but the appointment comes from him and the board."

I shook my head vigorously. Whoever was that someone must have thought I had business and management skills. I wouldn't dare; I would die of shame in case I fail.

"How did it come up for all of you to choose me, doc? I know there are many others out there who are more capable than me, and that there may be many of them aspiring for this position."

"Dear, tell all of that to our boss. As for the screening, of course, we held evaluation sessions."

I could not believe my ears and eyes. I was still too young to accept this responsibility. I must talk to that one whom Dr. Fabella referred to as someone who had the final say.

"Doc, how could I meet this someone you call your boss?"

"I'll set the appointment with him, then my secretary will inform you."

My mind was in a mess when I left the chairman's office. That would mean I would be sitting on his desk if I would accept the responsibility. The thought shuddered me, sending goosebumps all over my body.

I remembered Sean, so I pulled out my phone from my bag and called him up. "Sean, I'm sorry for cutting you off."

"It's alright. How's your meeting with the chairman?"

I made an audible sigh before I answered. "He must be out of his mind."

Sean laughed, even before I could tell him about the whole story.

"Your chairman is a very capable person," he said after his wave of laughter. He said as if he knew him well.

"I know. I don't even expect he would make a stupid decision," I grumbled. He had no idea at all how he suddenly scared me with his news.

"Let's talk about that later."

"Okay."

I dropped the call as I already reached the emergency room. There were already a few patients who were lying at the beds, waiting for my arrival. The interns had already assessed them and took their history, while the nurses took their vital signs and hooked them to an intravenous line. I checked them all and wrote my orders on the chart. As I was about to write my signature on the chart of the last patient I attended, the siren of a coming ambulance had me staring into the emergency room entrance.