My Secret Husband Is My Cold Boss novel Chapter 59

"Do you think she actually knows something?"

Hearing the breakdown of the intense interrogation, Riley practically had a heart attack on the spot.

"I mean, why else would she intentionally drop that last comment?"

Wendy shook her head, genuinely unsure. "I have no idea."

"But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Not every Chief Resident was guaranteed an Attending position after stepping down.

Securing the coveted title required waiting for the board to authorize an open slot.

Wendy had hit the jackpot; Cardiology had explicitly approved a single Attending vacancy this year.

The brutal interview process would kick off right after the holidays.

Riley clasped her hands in a desperate prayer. "Please, God, let there be absolutely zero drama before you lock in that promotion."

Wendy was far more pragmatic. "I'm just focused on getting through the week."

The week?

Right now, her only priority was surviving the massive departmental getaway this weekend.

The joint cardiology-cardiothoracic retreat was being aggressively organized by the assistants to Director Zachary and Dr. Franklin, who had already forced everyone into a massive group chat.

The two senior doctors were only footing the enormous bill; they had wisely opted out of partying with the young staff.

Staying behind also meant they could cover any apocalyptic hospital emergencies, allowing the rest of the team to actually relax.

They had booked the luxurious, newly opened Cloudridge Resort & Spa just outside the city.

While scrolling through the finalized room assignments, Wendy immediately spotted Sampson's name on the roster.

Riley saw it too, practically choking on her coffee as she slapped a hand over her mouth. "Didn't you swear he wasn't going?"

He literally hadn't made a decision last night; who knew what compelled him to randomly RSVP yes today.

"Does it even matter?" Wendy shrugged. "It's not like we're going to bump into each other anyway."

The two departments were massive and would likely stick to their own heavily segregated cliques.

And obviously, the men's and women's thermal pools were entirely separate facilities.

Riley's mind instantly spiraled straight into the gutter. "Yeah, the public pools are split. But those ultra-luxurious private suites? Totally shared."

The room was practically empty, so she tucked herself into an isolated corner to deal with the call.

"It honestly wasn't a big deal anyway."

"It is a huge deal," Kimberly's voice cracked with guilt.

"I've just been so consumed with setting up Wyatt's blind dates..."

Kimberly abruptly stopped mid-sentence, brutally remembering that her daughter absolutely despised hearing that name.

Frantically pivoting, she rushed out, "Come home for dinner this Sunday. The whole family wants to celebrate your achievement."

For the first time all week, Wendy felt a massive wave of gratitude for the mandatory retreat; it handed her the ultimate, ironclad excuse.

"I can't this weekend, Mom. The department is forcing us on a team-building trip."

Hearing an actual, legitimate professional excuse, Kimberly let out a massive sigh of relief.

Normally, Wendy just gave cold, flat rejections. This time, she actually sounded apologetic, meaning the ice was finally thawing.

Desperate to capitalize on the momentum, Kimberly pushed forward. "Then just move back in with us! I'll send the driver to pack up your things tonight."

"I know you want your independence, and finding a decent apartment is a nightmare. Just stay here while I help you hunt for a nice place right near the hospital..."