Chapter 2
Eleanor's POV
They had no idea this surgery was about to be so much more than just difficult.
They had no idea that next Tuesday, the Chief of Surgery was bringing the board and a top specialist from overseas to observe, unannounced.
We'd see how they explained this one.
I turned toward the door. "I'll go get started on the pre-op assessment. Bella, get ready."
I stepped out of the office, and the smell of antiseptic in the hallway felt oddly refreshing.
The next morning, the department held its pre-op briefing in the conference room, right on schedule.
Doctors and nurses packed the room. The projector displayed the imaging for Tuesday's patient, a complex aortic valve case.
Adrian sat at the head of the table, cleared his throat, and said, "About Tuesday's surgery. After discussion, the department has decided to switch the lead from Eleanor to Bella. Eleanor will serve as first assist and support Bella through the procedure."
The room went dead silent.
A few seconds later, it erupted.
"Wait, Bella's leading?"
"She almost botched a routine bypass last month. You're telling me she's ready for a valve replacement?"
"How did Eleanor even agree to this? That's completely irresponsible."
The head nurse and another nurse sat off to the side, murmuring to each other, but they didn't bother hiding the doubt in their eyes, all of it aimed at Bella.
Bella sat next to Adrian, her face flushed red, the smugness from earlier long gone. She bit her lip, eyes welling up, looking like she'd been wronged beyond belief.
Adrian's face darkened. He slammed his hand on the table. "That's enough! This is the department's decision. We're a teaching hospital. We owe young doctors the chance to grow. Bella's improved a lot lately, everyone's seen it. Why shouldn't she lead?"
He was defending her, but there wasn't much conviction behind it.
In medicine, skill was the only thing that mattered, and everyone in that room knew exactly how far Bella's skill went.
Sensing the room turning against her, Bella got to her feet, her voice shaking. "If nobody trusts me, then... then maybe I shouldn't lead. Eleanor, maybe it should just be you."
She played the victim, looking at me like she needed saving, pushing me to speak up for her.
I sat there and watched the whole performance, sneering inwardly.
Backing down wasn't an option.
I stood, faced the room, my expression steady and sure.
"Everyone, settle down." I raised my voice so it carried. "I understand the concerns about safety, but they're not necessary."
I walked over to Bella and set my hands on her shoulders, guiding her back into her seat.
"Bella's still early in her career, but she works harder than anyone I know. Even Adrian couldn't stop praising her simulator work last week. And medicine only moves forward when people take on real challenges. I trust her skills, and I trust Adrian's judgment. As first assist, I'll be right there with her the whole time. Nobody needs to worry."
The room went quiet again.
The best surgeon in the department had just backed her. What else was there to say?
Adrian looked at me, admiration and relief written all over his face. He thought I'd finally learned to fall in line, to bend for the sake of the bigger picture.
"Good. Since Eleanor's on board, this is settled." Adrian closed the discussion. "Bella, don't overthink it. Just go in there and do the work."
Bella had nowhere left to go. She forced out a smile that looked more like a wince. "Thank you, Eleanor. Thank you, Adrian. I won't let anyone down."
After the meeting broke up, Bella caught up to me, grabbing my sleeve. Her voice had a nervous edge to it. "Eleanor, about Tuesday. You have to help me. I'm scared."
I patted her hand gently. "Don't worry, Bella. You're the one leading. The whole room will be following your call. Just remember, you're the future of this field."
Nine a.m. Tuesday. Operating Room One.
The patient's chest was already open, the heart beating in plain view. The bypass machine hummed steadily, and the room sat thick with tension.
Bella stood at the lead position, scalpel in hand, sweat gathering along her forehead.
The circulating nurse had already wiped her brow three times, but her hands still shook.
