Stealing The Heart Of The CEO

Episode 4:Breaking Boundaries

As the early morning sun filtered through the curtains of my lavish penthouse, I woke up to the distant sounds of traffic and the usual buzz of the city down below.

Despite the charged atmosphere, there was a significant sense of emptiness in the air.

The heavy dose of reality and the unpleasant reminder of my unfortunate background made for a terrible night's sleep.

I slipped into a sleek designer outfit, my attire as impeccable as my surgical skills. I also had my office stocked with a walk-in wardrobe just so, in case I do sleep in at the hospital, I can always wash up and change my attire for the day.

Carrie or Cassie or whatever his name is, may have crossed a boundary with his psychoanalysis… but he wasn’t far off. I’ve always been better off on my own. Why would it matter if I’m alone and by myself? Why am I even bothered by it?

It’s 9 am. Work resumes by 8, but with my name on the building, I have always been flexible with my work hours.

I’ve also warned everyone off from entering my office until after 10 am unless there is an emergency. I remember when I’d wake up early every morning and devoured book after book just so I could prove worthy of my family name…

10 Years ago

“Did the results come in already?” Logan asked inquisitively. To my knowledge, it had, but I was too nervous to check it. I had given it my all and wasn’t sure it was enough. I could stall it for as long as I could and give myself peace but… I had better rip the band-aid and get it over with. (Pun intended)

“You need at least a 264 in MCAT in order to get accepted into medical school,” he added.

“Yes, I’m very familiar with the requirements, and if at all, I want to even be noticed at a prestigious school like, John Hopkins," I exhaled. "I'm going to have to score higher than that, you know,” I said, plopping down on my beat-up bed.

“Noticed by the school… or by your parents?”

That question hit hard. I couldn’t admit that to him, but it also wouldn’t take a genius to notice that I’d been actively trying for their approval.

I looked away, my gaze fixed on the peeling paint of my dorm room walls. Admitting my desperation for my parents' approval felt like an admission of failure. Yet, it was a truth I could not ignore.

"I... I want to make them proud," I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I've spent my whole life trying to meet their expectations, trying to prove that I'm worth something at least."

Logan's steady presence was a comfort. He understood the weight I carried, the pressure to excel in a world where perfection was the only currency that mattered.

"Hey," he said, softly, moving to sit beside me on the bed. "You're already worth so much, even without their validation. You're brilliant, driven, and you've got a heart that's set on helping people. That's what matters."

His words were a balm to my wounded soul. For the first time, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I didn't need to constantly strive for an unattainable standard.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself up from the bed. "Alright, I can't avoid it forever. Let's check those results."

****

I got home later that evening, dazed. I had seen the result, but didn’t know if it was good enough for them. The air felt dry as I approached the doorpost.

I could always just call over the phone and tell them what I had. I think part of me wanted to see their face, their reactions as they looked at me with pride on their faces.

I forced myself to walk through the door, fighting the gnawing anxiety.

As I passed the spacious living room and kitchen, the house seemed deserted to me. It's merely a flight of stairs up to my room.

The place felt discarded; devoid of humans… until…

“That’s my baby girl,” my father’s deep voice growled in excitement. “That is wonderful news."

“I’m so proud of you, Olivia. You keep surprising us with your growth,” I heard my mum say as well.

At first, I had assumed my dad must have seen me coming and announced that, but Mum mentioning Liv’s name ruined the moment. Was she with them out on the balcony? I wondered.

That question was soon answered when I heard a voice come from their phone speaker, but it wasn’t audible for me to make out what she said. Regardless, I kept eavesdropping to hear what else she'd done to earn our parent’s pride.

“We’ve got a lot planned for you to celebrate,” I heard my mum say, beaming.

“And if there is any other thing that you would like, we are ready to get it for you,” my father chipped in.

Olivia's voice calls from the speaker again. I couldn’t hear properly, so I edged closer again. I could see their expressions as they were called. Their faces suddenly twisted into a frown, then dad sighed, shaking his head.

“You really want to involve your sister?” Mum said, condescendingly. “She’s nothing but a mood killer. You know that?”

Olivia’s voice came from the speakers again.

“Feel free to let her know, but be wise about it. One doesn’t invite a hyena to a feast without expecting hostility.” He concluded, grimly.

My heart sank. Is that what they think of me?

“Do whatever you think is good, baby,” my mum said again, regaining her smile. “You’re the greatest blessing of this household."

The realization stung, a painful reminder of where I stood in their eyes.

I felt like an intruder in my own home, a ghost haunting the scenes of another's success.

The emptiness of the house seemed to echo my own hollow feelings, a stark contrast to the jubilation emanating from the balcony.

I left them to their conversation after hearing all I needed to hear.

The letter containing my result was clenched tightly in my hand. I wonder why I keep trying to earn their love. It’s not as though what I have here would trump whatever they are celebrating my younger sister for.

I passed by the kitchen again and paused for a moment, looking at the crumpled piece of paper in my hands.

After a moment of deliberation, I decided to leave the letter on the kitchen counter.

If they ever notice it and check it out, they’ll see how well or how badly I did, and I won’t have to watch their indifference to my own accomplishments.

Although, if you ask me, 366 is not a terrible score to have on the MCATs.

****

Present day

Logan's voice on the phone pulled me from my thoughts. "Your house is finished. When would you be available to come take a look… or are you planning on sleeping at the office again?" he stated, matter-of-factly.

I acknowledged the news with a reserved tone. "Thank you, Logan, I'll head over to take a look."

I put the phone back in my pocket and turned my attention back to the new patient that had been brought in earlier this afternoon.

“Mr. Jerry, is it?” I asked, thin-lipped.

“I’m too young to be a mister,” the young boy chuckled.

The boy’s mother, who had been sitting by him, shared a small chuckle, clearly not meeting the eyes, but an instinctive response to the boy’s chatter.

Whatever it is that was wrong with this child must be so bad, it had rattled the mother so badly.

As I continued my examination, it became clear that whatever ailed this boy was indeed serious. What I would give for a simple surgery today. I’m not very interested in sharing bad news, especially with a hopeful mother at the end of today.

I might seem so cold, but kids have a special pull on this beating rock I call a heart.

“Have you been to a hospital before this one? Were you given a diagnosis?” I asked the mother.

“No, doctor," she responded, her eyes pleading. “My boy recently became prone to fainting. He is always out of breath and his…”

“Fingers are rounded and swollen,” I completed the mother’s thought.

She nodded her head fearfully.

“We’ll take the kid into surgery immediately. It is apparent that your child may have holes in his chest, and we will need to patch it,” I said, assertively.

“There are holes in my chest?” The boy asked tentatively. I could tell the fear slowly creeping in, but what could I say to make it better?

“Yes baby, but this nice doctor is going to close it right up just like your Lego toy puzzle. Then you’d be good as new," the mum said, smiling wholesomely at him.

I could fix it. The hole and the two’s happiness.

But I couldn’t do it without another pair of steady hands. Just by listening to the heartbeat alone, I could tell this lad had more holes in his heart than the open sockets at the ICU.

Just the challenge I needed to kick-start the day.