Diamond (Rare Gems #2)(27)
Jane laughed hard. “You on a vacation? He’ll never believe that any more than anyone else that works for you would. You are not a vacation sort of person. Why don’t I tell him you’re on a business trip? It’s the truth and he’ll have to sit still until we figure out what to do about him.”
After he ended the call, he looked at Blair. “I’m going to have to tell you all what he’s like so that in the event he does make the connection to here you’ll know what to do about him.”
Blair nodded before saying anything. “I’m thinking you should have your house upgraded soon. I have a few pack members that can do the job for you as soon as the bank gives you the go ahead. Not that I don’t think you and Diamond can take him on, but I don’t want to take the chances with my family.”
Family. Thad had one now. Oh, he had a brother, but he was more of a problem than he was anything else. He told Blair he would do what it took.
“Do you think we can swing by the bank? And I need to make another stop too. I want to get Diamond a ring, and no offense to your dad, I’d rather you went with me than him.” They were still laughing when they entered the bank ten minutes later.
Chapter 9
“I just don’t understand why you want to speak to the head of the hospital.” Diamond didn’t repeat herself again to her old boss. “I can answer just about any questions you might have about working for me.”
“I’d be working for the hospital, not you.” Jan was walking just ahead of her or she might have missed her slight hobble in her step. “I said I’d come back, but speaking to him is important. And as I said before, I’ll do so alone or not at all.”
When Jan turned to her, Diamond could see the anger blazing in her eyes. There was no way she was going to work for someone like her without knowing where she stood. The woman was a tyrant, and Diamond had it on good authority from a few other nurses, they’d had enough of her as well. Time to take a stand or work at doing something else.
The brisk knock at the door had her going in behind the doctor. Mr. Cable Jansen stood up just as she closed the door behind her. Diamond didn’t move from her position at the door, thinking if this didn’t go her way, she was out of there.
“I understand you’ve gotten all your problems at home taken care of now. I’m so glad to hear that.” Diamond looked at Jan when Cable continued. “Sometimes all it takes is a few days off to settle all the turmoil that can seem so overwhelming.”
“I told Mr. Jansen that you were taking a leave. Like you told me you were.” Jan had added just enough stress in her voice to try to get Diamond to back her up. Well, she wasn’t playing her games any longer.
“There was nothing wrong at home, Mr. Jansen, I quit. Doctor Talley here was the issue.” Both he and Jan looked shocked. “I’d like to come back to work here, but there are conditions I’d very much like to discuss with you in private if possible.”
“I think I should hear this.” Jan crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her. “If you’re going to lie about me, then I should be privy to the—”
“You mean lie like you did about me leaving here? No thanks. As I said downstairs as well as on the elevator ride up here, I would like to speak to Mr. Jansen alone. That means without you present.” They both turned to look at Mr. Jansen, who seemed confused as well as a little upset. “If you’d rather not, sir, I can understand. I can work elsewhere if you have an issue with—”
“Oh no, it’s not that at all. It’s just that…perhaps you should go, Doctor Talley. If I need you, I know where to find you.” Mr. Jansen turned his back to them both, seemingly dismissing the doctor. Diamond waited for her to say something else to her, but she only turned on her heel and left the room. The door sounded hard as she slammed it behind her.
“I think we’ve made an enemy in her.” Mr. Jansen smiled. “Have a seat, Diamond…I may call you Diamond, correct?”
“Yes.” Diamond sat in the chair across from his desk and was a little disconcerted when he sat in the one next to her. “She’s a good doctor, but a bitch to the nurses.”
When he laughed, she flushed. She’d never been good at beating around the bush and apologized to him immediately. He waved her off.
“You are refreshing in your honesty. Tell me why you call her that. And for the record, I think you might be right. I’ve had a few complaints from the other nurses since you’ve quit.” He smiled gently at her. “Yes, I’m aware of you quitting. I’m glad you decided to give us another try before moving to New York.”
She didn’t even ask him how he knew. Diamond had filled out the application and they would have contacted him for her references. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the list of her “demands.”
“I think you’re going to lose a great bunch of nurses if you keep her on staff in the emergency room. We know our job for the most part.” She looked down at her notes, then up at him. “No, that’s a lie. You’ll lose some mediocre nurses if she stays down there. For the most part, you have one or two nurses on all the shifts combined that do a half-assed job, and the rest are worthless.”
“While I appreciate you being honest with me, I think you have a great deal more stored up in your mind. Tell me why this is true.” She didn’t really think that he wanted her to be honest, but thought that she’d do it anyway. What the hell did she have to lose by telling him that Jan Talley was a power junkie, and that if things didn’t go her way all the time, others would suffer?