Chapter 21

Vivian Laurent flipped through the bidding list, her fingers pausing briefly on the Roscente Group's documents.

Triple Six Realty's name sat alone at the bottom, looking particularly insignificant.

A faint smile touched her lips as a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.

The proposal she'd pulled an all-nighter to complete still carried the warmth from the printer. Rubbing her temples, Vivian walked into the hospital.

"Dr. Laurent, we're short-staffed in outpatient care." Daniel Ashcroft leaned against the doorframe, his smile not reaching his eyes.

The outpatient hall buzzed with activity.

Vivian's specialist consultation room stood empty.

She grabbed a chair and sat in the hallway instead, her gaze scanning the passing crowd like a medical scanner.

"Young man." She suddenly stopped a hurrying youth.

He frowned impatiently. "My mother's in the ER."

"Your liver shows abnormalities." Vivian stated bluntly.

The young man scoffed. "I had a perfect physical last year."

"Suit yourself." Vivian said no more.

Two hours later, the same young man rushed back drenched in sweat.

"Doctor! You're incredible!" His CT scan clearly showed liver shadows.

The hallway erupted instantly.

"Dr. Laurent, examine me next!"

"I was here first!"

A tidal wave of patients surged toward Vivian's consultation room.

Daniel Ashcroft smashed a teacup in his office.

Dusk settled heavily.

As Vivian stretched her stiff neck, the door swung open.

Ethan Roscente stood silhouetted against the fading light, his tall frame impeccably dressed in a tailored suit and perfectly knotted tie. An aura of unapproachable authority surrounded him.

Vivian's fingers paused slightly at the edge of her mask.

Their eyes locked, and the air between them froze.