Million Dollar Medicine

C3

The quiet streets of Ely were a far cry from the bustling life that Isla led at the clinic, and for once, she welcomed the calm. She’d been working nonstop for weeks, and today, she finally had a chance to venture into town, to grab some supplies and take a break. The small town was nestled in the Nevada desert, but its charm never failed to draw her in. She wandered through the local bookstore, stopping at a café for a quick cup of coffee.

That’s when she first noticed the young woman approaching her. The reporter was small, with wide eyes and a nervous energy that was almost contagious. She smiled brightly at Isla, her voice filled with excitement.

"Excuse me! Are you Dr. Isla Wells? I’m a reporter for Ely Tribune. I’ve heard so much about your work, and I’d love to sit down with you and chat about your medicine and your upcoming debate!"

Isla blinked, taken aback. "Debate? What debate?"

The reporter practically vibrated with enthusiasm. "The one with Dr. Nate Hayes at the upcoming medical conference in Seattle. You two have radically different views on healthcare, and people are so eager to hear what you think!"

Isla wasn’t sure how she had missed that part of the interview, but the mention of the debate and the enthusiasm radiating from the young woman made her hesitate, for only a moment. She wasn’t one to shy away from helping a young professional, especially one so clearly eager to make her mark. So she agreed to sit down for a coffee and chat for a few minutes, thinking this would be a harmless way to help the reporter get her story.

The café was quiet, and they settled into a corner booth. As the reporter asked about her holistic practices, she spoke with passion, explaining the fundamentals of her approach to healing—the balance of mind, body, and spirit, and how natural treatments could complement modern medicine rather than compete with it.

But as the conversation shifted, the reporter’s demeanor changed. She leaned forward, pulling out her phone with an almost reverent look in her eyes. "I actually have a video from Dr. Hayes' interview earlier this week. You have to see this. He—"

The reporter didn’t finish her sentence, already playing the clip. The screen lit up with the image of Nathan's confident smirk as he casually mentioned the upcoming debate and invited Isla to join him. The words stung, and before she could stop herself, a flush crept up her neck. She had missed the part where he publicly challenged her, and now, there it was, in all its media-fueled glory.

A mix of embarrassment and anger surged through Dr. Wells. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she forced herself to keep her voice steady. She couldn't let this young reporter see how rattled she was.

"Well," She began slowly, her tone cool and controlled, "I hadn’t considered his invitation seriously. It’s just a media stunt to draw attention. For someone like him, it’s all about making a show of things. I’m focused on real medicine, the kind that works. I don’t waste my time with... distractions."

The reporter’s face fell a little, but she nodded, sensing the conversation was over. She thanked Isla for the coffee and the time, but it didn’t stop the knot of frustration from tightening in her chest.

When Isla returned to the clinic property later that day, she was met by her best friend, who was already waiting for her on the porch of the ranch home that she kept on the other side of the clinic property. The familiar face was a welcome sight, and as soon as the door opened, the two of them fell into their usual rhythm.

"You saw it, didn’t you?" Dottie asked, already knowing the answer.

Isla sighed and ran a hand through her tangled hair. "Yeah. I can’t believe he’d pull something like that. It’s such a cheap stunt. And now it’s everywhere."

Dottie shook her head. "That man’s arrogance knows no bounds. You don’t need to dignify him with a response. I would even bet that it’s the only reason he said that, altercation is everything to the media"

Isla paused, thinking it over. She had already decided to not respond to this very direct call-out, but hearing Dottie say it out loud made it feel more resolute. "You’re right. It’s not worth my time. Let him think he’s won this game. I’m focused on what really matters—the patients, the work, the healing. He can have his media circus."

Her friend gave her a reassuring smile, knowing perfectly well that she was only further trying to convince herself. "Good!” she declared, “Focus on what you do best. Don’t let him drag you into his little game."

They both laughed at the idea and the whole situation. It was her night to bring drinks. After being strung out by the clinic non stop, she really needed the time to just let loose with her girl for a little while. Dottie was always the best medicine. Isla employed her at the clinic as a groundskeeper. She was all for holistic medicine but found her own calling in plants. Isla was sure that it wasn’t even because of the medicinal properties, it was because she was so fulfilled by growing things, by supporting life that gives and supports life to other things. And that inspired Isla. To her, there was no better person for the job.

Nathan sat at his large, sleek desk, reviewing a few reports from the previous day. The office was an extension of his brand: clean lines, modern furniture, and a view that screamed success. As he flipped through papers, the door to his office opened without a knock—a subtle but unmistakable sign of his PR liaison’s urgency.

“Dr. Hayes,” the young man said, his tone nervous as he entered the room. He held up his phone, the screen displaying a news headline from one of the leading medical journals. Nathan's eyes narrowed as he read the headline aloud in his mind, though he didn’t bother to voice his thoughts.

Isla Wells Calls Nathan Hayes a ‘Media w***e,’ Slams His Modern Medicine as Fake and Inauthentic

The PR liaison didn’t say anything immediately, letting the words hang in the air like a threat. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his irritation in check. But inside, his mind was already spinning.

How dare she? The audacity of this woman, calling my work “fake,” as if she knew anything about what I do.

His anger simmered, but outwardly, he remained calm, his expression, he hoped, unreadable.

“Do you have a response, sir?” The PR liaison pressed, voice just shy of pleading. “The boss needs to know what we’re saying here. It’s not a good look. We’ve got to have something ready for when this explodes.”

He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he considered the question. His response was casual, almost dismissive. “It’s not a problem. She’s declined the debate, obviously. Nothing to worry about.”

The liaison looked unconvinced, but he took a quick note on his tablet. “I’ll make sure we’re prepared for anything that comes our way, just in case.” He hesitated before adding, “We don’t want this getting out of hand.”

Once the PR liaison left, closing the door behind him, Nathan's expression hardened. He stared at the phone, now resting on his desk, the headline still glaring back at him.

That woman. The gall of her, questioning my entire career like she’s some sort of authority on what real medicine is. She doesn’t know me. She doesn’t know anything about the years I’ve spent in the field, revolutionizing treatments, modernizing practices, saving lives. Who the hell does she think she is?

But even as he stewed, a nagging thought tried to work its way into his mind. A small, irritating voice reminding him that even if she had declined the debate, there was really no telling what she might do in response. This headline was proof by itself that she didn’t like his little invitation.

Days later, he sat in the same office, distracted by the relentless notifications on his phone. He had been flipping through reports when he noticed the new press release from his PR team. He clicked on it absentmindedly, and then his eyes stopped scanning.

“We are disappointed that Dr. Isla Wells has chosen not to join us for the upcoming debate in Seattle. However, we humbly accept her decision. We respect her right to focus on her own form of healing. That said, we hope she continues to explore modern medicine in her own time.”

He read the statement again, his jaw tightening with every word. In a sudden rage, he slammed the phone down on the desk, anger rising in him like a wildfire.

What the hell were they thinking? That was the worst possible response. Dr. Wells isn’t going to let this go quietly. I can already picture the firestorm of backlash this is going to ignite. She’s going to tear us apart because of this, and I have no idea what she might do next.

He stood up abruptly, pacing the room, trying to shake off the feeling of impending doom. This wasn’t just a small blip in the media. Nathan knew that she would make sure of that.