“Mr. Grace, I do not appreciate your choice of words. You mother is a sick woman, and I have been dealing with these outbursts for days. If you would like her to be able to go home, I suggest you and your brothers keep your issues outside of this hospital. I have no tolerance for this behavior. May I suggest you leave to cool off?” I raise my eyebrows at him to get the point across. He is infuriated, and I could care less. He looks at his mother, who is smiling like a child who was just given candy.
“Grant, please give me a moment with Hannah.” He looks at her and his eyes soften. He turns to me and walks closer than needed. Was he was trying to make a point? What, to intimidate me? Now that’s not going to work.
“Hannah, I think he likes you.” She almost laughs this.
“Mrs. Grace, all of your sons are lovely, but I have no interest in any of them. It would not be professional of me.”
I turn to walk out and I hear her say, “Give it time, honey. You’ll come around.” I roll my eyes and keep on walking.
The four of them are standing outside her room waiting for me. Grant immediately walks away when he sees me. Good, piss off, asshole, I think as I watch him retreat down the hallway. The other three smile. What the hell is going on here? Aiden looks amused.
“Thank you, Hannah. I don’t think anyone has ever stood up to my brother like that before.” He smiles, putting his fingers to his lips. Oh, his mouth, his perfect lips. I could just bite them. Where in the hell did that come from? They all look at me as if I had said that out loud. He licks, then bites his bottom lip, and I find this distracting. I finally speak.
“I don’t see the big deal about your brother, Mr. Grace. He is human like the rest of us. He’s allowed to have his moments, just not in front of your mother. My main concern is your mother and her health, and I will not tolerate this childish behavior.” They smile in unison.
Aiden steps forward.
“Hannah, I apologize for any frustration I have caused you or my mother. I will personally make sure nothing happens again. Grant, on the other hand, will do everything in his power now to piss you off.” He smiles, and they go back into his mother’s room. I have never in my career met such a complicated family. The normal family would walk on eggshells around their sick parent, bending over backward to make her happy. These four grown men have issues. I hear my name being paged to the director’s office. Today is going to be one of those days. I shake my head and make my way to the elevators.
As I step into the director’s office, I see Annabelle, his assistant, looking worried and busy.
“Hey, Annabelle, is he ready for me?”
“Oh, Hannah, please go right in.” What the hell could he want? I make my way into his office, and when I open the door, I see him. That fucking rat asshole Grant is sitting in front of the director’s desk. They both rise as I enter. I walk right over to the director and shake his hand.
“Director Winterfield.” I almost want to look at Grant and stick my tongue out at him.
“Hannah.” We all sit down. “Mr. Grace has had some concerns about his mother’s care. You have been treating her correct?” He nods at me knowingly, and I take over.
“Yes, Director, Dr. Mitchell did her triple bypass early Monday morning. I have looked after her since, per her request. She is doing very well, and we are expecting a full recovery.” He begins to write something down. Grant is sitting back in his chair, looking happy. Smug bastard. He is trying to get me fired. This asshole thinks he is so powerful. Two can play at this game.
“Director, may I suggest you go and speak with Mrs. Grace? She is a lovely woman. I am sure she will be able to fill in the blanks.” I give Grant a cold look.
“I will consider that, Hannah. Mr. Grace, would you please excuse us? I would like to talk to Hannah for a moment.” Grant stands up and shakes the director’s hand, then gives me a sharp look. I want to laugh. Sorry, buddy, this one isn’t going to work; he’s family, so back off. I smile back sweetly, batting my eyelashes at him, and he pauses, his expression cold. Then he is out the door.
“Shit, Hannah, what is going on here?” My father-in-law Richard, takes off his glasses and rubs between his eyes as he leans back in his chair.
“Richard, I have no idea what is up his ass. Grant and his brothers were fighting in his mother’s room, and I asked them to leave. I can assure you I was professional. He cursed me out. He is an arrogant little prick who always gets his way.” I lean back into my seat, crossing my arms over my chest. I feel like an angry teenager.
“I had a feeling he was overreacting, but we need to tread lightly around him. He has made a substantial contribution to this hospital, and he is threatening to withdraw from a proposal he has made. He has offered to give us the funding to redo the emergency room.”