MY ROLE MODEL’S SON

The hospital elevator was already closing when Ava Bennett came running down the corridor. “Wait!” She hurried forward, clutching a paper cup of coffee in one hand and a stack of patient files in the other. Her shoes squeaked against the polished floor as she slipped through the narrowing doors. The elevator sensors caught her just in time. Ava stumbled inside. Unfortunately, so did her coffee. The cup tilted. A dark stream splashed across the front of the tall man's perfectly pressed white shirt. Silence. Ava froze. The man slowly looked down at his shirt. Then he looked at her. He had the kind of face that belonged on the cover of a magazine rather than inside a hospital elevator. Sharp jaw, dark hair, cold gray eyes, and an expression that suggested he had never once been impressed by an apology. Ava swallowed. “Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry.” The man glanced at the spreading coffee stain. “Do you know how much this shirt costs?” Ava shook her head. His eyes returned to hers. “More than your rent.” Her mouth fell open. “I—I didn't mean to—” “You clearly didn't.” Ava tightened her grip on the files. “I can pay for the cleaning.” Something almost resembling amusement crossed his face. “With what?” The elevator continued upward. Ava wished desperately for the doors to open. She had been at Hartwell Medical Center for less than three weeks, yet somehow she had already managed to spill coffee on the most intimidating man she had ever seen. Then she noticed the identification card clipped to his belt. DR. ETHAN HART CARDIOTHORACIC SURGERY Her stomach dropped. Hart. She knew that name. Everyone in the hospital knew it. Dr. Amelia Hart was one of the country's most respected surgeons. For five years, she had been Ava's greatest inspiration. Five years ago, Ava's mother had arrived at Hartwell with a serious heart condition. Her family had been terrified. They had been told that the operation would be complicated and risky. Dr. Amelia Hart had performed it. She had saved Ava's mother's life. That single event had changed Ava's future. She had decided to become a doctor. She had studied harder than she had ever studied before. She had worked through exhaustion, failed exams, passed others, and eventually earned an internship at Hartwell Medical Center. And now she was standing in an elevator with Dr. Amelia Hart's son. Ethan Hart. Ava had seen his photograph once, years ago, in his mother's office. The photograph had shown a younger Ethan standing beside Amelia at a medical conference. She remembered thinking he looked serious even then. The real Ethan was considerably worse. The elevator doors opened. Ethan stepped out. Ava hurried after him. “Dr. Hart.” He stopped. She nearly walked into him again. His eyebrow lifted. Ava immediately stepped back. “Sorry.” “That's becoming a habit.” She ignored the comment. “I really am sorry about your shirt.” “I know.” “I'll pay for it.” “Don't worry about it.” Ava blinked. He turned away. She thought the conversation was over. Then he looked back. “Just try not to throw anything else at me.” And with that, he walked away. Ava stood there, speechless. “Wonderful,” she whispered. Her first encounter with her role model's son couldn't possibly have gone worse. She was wrong. It could. Much worse. Three hours later, Ava sat outside the dean's office. She had been summoned without explanation. That was never good. She checked the time on her phone. 2:17 p.m. Her fingers tapped nervously against her knee. Across the hallway, two residents were discussing an upcoming surgery. Nurses hurried past with charts. A patient transport team pushed a bed toward the elevators. Everything seemed normal. Except Ava's nerves. Finally, the office door opened. “Ms. Bennett?” Ava stood. “Yes?” “Dr. Reynolds will see you now.” She entered. The dean sat behind a large wooden desk covered with folders. Dr. Reynolds was a strict woman with silver hair and an expression that could silence an entire lecture hall. Ava sat down. “Am I in trouble?” Dr. Reynolds looked at her. “That depends.” Ava's heart sank. “On what?” “Your ability to follow instructions.” “I always follow instructions.” Dr. Reynolds raised an eyebrow. Ava immediately remembered the coffee. “Usually.” The dean opened a folder. “Your academic performance is excellent.” Ava relaxed slightly. “Your clinical evaluations are also strong.” “Thank you.” “However, you still need to complete your final surgical-assistance requirement before graduation.” Ava nodded. She knew that. Her internship program required every graduating trainee to complete an intensive clinical placement under a senior surgeon. “I've been waiting for my assignment.” “You have one.” Ava smiled. “That's great.” Dr. Reynolds didn't smile back. Ava's smile disappeared. “Who am I assigned to?” The dean closed the folder. “Dr. Ethan Hart.” Ava stared at her. The room suddenly seemed very quiet. “I'm sorry?” “You heard me.” “Dr. Ethan Hart?” “Yes.” Ava's mind immediately returned to the elevator. The expensive shirt. The cold expression. The insult about her rent. She swallowed. “Is there another surgeon available?” “No.” “What about Dr. Patel?” “Full.” “Dr. Williams?” “On research leave.” “Dr. Hart's mother?” “Unavailable.” Ava lowered her eyes. “Okay.” Dr. Reynolds leaned forward. “You will assist Dr. Ethan Hart for three months.” Ava nodded slowly. “Three months.” “Correct.” “And if I don't?” The dean's expression hardened. “You fail the requirement.” Ava's stomach twisted. Failing wasn't an option. Her entire future depended on graduating. She thought about her mother. About the hospital room five years ago. About Amelia Hart walking into that room and promising that she would do everything she could. Ava had built her dream around becoming the kind of doctor Amelia Hart was. She couldn't let one difficult man destroy it. “When do I start?” “Tomorrow morning.” Ava blinked. “Tomorrow?” “Six-thirty.” She stared at the dean. “Six-thirty?” “Be early.” The next morning, Ava arrived at 6:10. She had barely slept. She had spent half the night researching Ethan Hart. His reputation was impressive. Graduated at the top of his medical class. Completed his surgical residency unusually young. Published research in several prestigious journals. Performed complicated cardiac procedures that had made international medical news. And, according to several gossip articles she immediately regretted reading, he was also a billionaire. Apparently, the Hart family owned a medical technology company as well as several private hospitals. Ava closed the webpage. None of that mattered. She was there to learn. At 6:29, she entered the surgical department. At 6:30 precisely, a familiar voice spoke behind her. “You're early.” Ava turned. Ethan stood there wearing dark surgical scrubs. No expensive shirt today. No coffee stain. Unfortunately, his expression was exactly the same. “Good morning, Dr. Hart.” His eyes moved over her. “You're my assistant?” “Yes.” He sighed. For some reason, that irritated her. “I promise I won't spill coffee on you.” His expression didn't change. “Good.” Ava handed him the folder containing her assignment. He didn't take it. “You'll follow my schedule.” “Okay.” “You'll attend every briefing.” “Okay.” “You'll prepare patient histories before rounds.” “Okay.” “You'll never interrupt me during surgery unless it's an emergency.” Ava nodded. “And one more thing.” She waited. Ethan's eyes met hers. “Don't fall for me.” Ava stared at him. For the first time, his expression revealed something close to amusement. He turned and walked toward the operating wing. Ava remained where she was. She wasn't sure whether he had been joking. She wasn't sure whether she was offended. But one thing was certain. Three months working with Ethan Hart was going to be the longest three months of her life. And judging by the look on his face when he glanced back at her, Ethan Hart seemed to know it too.