My Secret Husband Is My Cold Boss novel Chapter 8

There was no telling how many emergency cases would roll in tonight.

Wendy followed her mentor down the hall.

Still worried, he glanced back at her after a few steps and noticed how pale she looked.

“It's a punishing field for a woman. Hang in there.”

Wendy understood what he was really saying.

There were very few female surgeons in the cardiac center.

The reason was painfully simple.

Cardiac surgeries were major operations that frequently dragged on for over a dozen hours. The physical toll was often deemed too severe for most women.

And interventional cardiology meant constant radiation exposure, making it deeply unpopular among young, unmarried women hoping to have children.

Dr. Franklin had fought tooth and nail against the administration to take Wendy on over a sea of male applicants.

He didn't want her to be looked down upon simply because of her gender.

And besides, every Chief Resident had to survive this exact same grueling trial by fire.

A woman had to climb to the very top if she ever wanted the power to change the rules.

She completely understood.

“Don't worry, Doctor.”

“I'd survive another full year as Chief Resident if you asked me to.”

The older man chuckled at her bravado.

“Keep dreaming. Even if you wanted to, I'd never allow it.”

They walked a little further.

Just before they parted ways, his tone turned deeply serious.

“Wendy, you have incredible talent. Before I retire, I want to see you secure an Associate Chief title.”

Next year, she was only slated for an attending position.

Associate Chief...

Instantly re-energized by the prospect, she nodded emphatically. “I'll make it happen.”

Satisfied, Dr. Franklin finally took his leave.

Riley was on the night shift tonight.

The Chief Resident had a private on-call room with its own bathroom.

Whenever Riley worked nights, she always crashed in Wendy's room.

Today was no exception.

When Wendy pushed open the door, her friend was busy making up the spare bed.

A spread of food was laid out on the desk.

Having barely inhaled a quick bite in the surgical cafeteria seven or eight hours ago, Wendy's stomach was completely empty.

She washed her hands, grabbed a slice of pizza, and took a massive bite. “How much was this? I'll Venmo you.”

“I didn't order it.”

Riley hopped down from the bunk bed. “Jeffery dropped it off.”

Her blatant use of 'that guy' to refer to Sampson made her stance perfectly clear.

She was deeply untrusting of the situation.

Remembering that she hadn't gotten the chance to explain his actual identity this morning, Wendy straightened up.

Her expression turned serious. “Riley, Sampson is absolutely not running a con.”

Once again, the name sounded so incredibly familiar to Riley, but she just couldn't place it.

She kept her serious face. “You can't judge a book by its cover. You've only met him once. How well do you really know him?”

Wendy laughed. “We've met before.”

“You have?”

Riley narrowed her eyes, intrigued.

Wendy nodded. “At an academic conference last year.”

Riley's brow relaxed slightly. “Wait... so he's a doctor too?”

“Cardiothoracic surgeon.”

“If I hadn't seen him before, I probably wouldn't have made such a massive mistake.”

Riley finally understood.

Her mother had specifically told Wendy that Silas was a cardiothoracic surgeon named Sanders. They shared the same last name and the exact same specialty, which was why Wendy had gotten confused.

“That is one hell of a coincidence,” she couldn't help but marvel.

But the coincidences were only just beginning.