The Spa

Waking up monday, I wasn't sad anymore. Just empty, like I had left a piece of myself behind. I went to the grocery store, took my mail off hold, and went to get my hair trimmed. Spent the next Tuesday doing all the mundane catch up stuff. I called work and explained I would be coming in Wednesday. I didnt feel like it but I need to stop thinking about Jack. He didnt love me, he was paid to show me a good time, and he did.

At work Beth was waiting for me in my office, \"Details,\" she said. \"Good to see you too. I had a great time, I sat on a beach and had a drink for you. I snorkled, canoed, jet skied, and ate incredible food,\" I explained. \"Ok, but what else?\" she pushed. \"Here,\" I replied handing her a gift bag with the things i bought for her. \"Thank you,\" she said opening it. I explained about the call from Casey hoping that would satisfy her, and it did for a time.

I was opening my computer when I got a call from Mr. Brooks secretary, asking me to come to a meeting in his office. I didnt even have a chance to open anything. I grabbed my macbook and headed to his office. Mr. Jury was also in the meeting, \"Did you have a good vacation?\" they asked. \"Yeah, day drinking on the beach was just what I needed,\" I answered with a smile. \"We called you here, because we have now been name the primary legal team for Lake Heron Hospital,\" Mr. Brooks told me. \"Ok,\" I replied. \"The three of us,\" he pointed out when he didnt get the response he wanted he continued, \"This is our firm's biggest client,\" he added. \"Is there a lawsuit pending?\" I asked. \"No,\" Mr. Jury answered. \"But they dont have a great rating, for being as big as they are,\" Mr. Brooks explained. \"That has to do with marketing and,\" I began but was interrupted by Mr. Brooks, \"Dont say patient care,\" he said holding up a hand. \"So what's the plan of action?\" I asked feeding into Brooks. \"Thank you, see how excited she is,\" he pointed out looking at Mr. Jury. \"We are going to tour the hospital tomorrow at 10. Clear your schedule, we will be meeting with the CEO and Board members,\" he explained. \"Anything else?\" I asked. \"Nope,\" Mr. Brooks said as we got up and went to our separate offices. This wasnt going to be a cake walk. Josh was going to completely cater to them and Chris was going to ignore everything unless something happened.

I figured the tour tomorrow required a new outfit so I left a little early and went shopping. I found a pale pink skirt that I could match with a black blouse I had at home and got it. At home, I made my self some spaghetti and glass of wine and sat down. I check my emails anxiously, I dont know what I was expecting. Maybe an email asking for my info, because Jack was trying to contact me. Or a request to come back and finish my week. It hurt a little when there was nothing there, but I needed to get over it. I pulled up the hospitals website and tried to distract myself with work. I familarized myself with the board and CEO and the hospitals missions statement. These were the details that made clients impressed and I figured Josh would be greatful for that.

The next morning I put on my cap sleeved chifon blouse, something Barbara had gotten me years ago for Christmas. Put on the pink pencil skirt I bought and black wrap around heels. Pulled my hair back into a low pony tail and grabbed my black brief case, something my parents bought me when I graduated. I grabbed coffees for the three of us on my way to work. I stopped in Chris's office first, \"Hey I got coffees,\" I said knocking. \"Oh thanks,\" he paused, \"Listen, Josh is really gonna go over board with this case,\" he said. \"I know, at dinner I familarized myself with the CEO, the board and the missions statement, which by the way needs work,\" I told him. \"You noticed that too,\" Chris said. \"Yeah, I don't think it's professional or legal to put we have the right to refuse anyone, in a missions statement. I'm curious to know if they know it's there,\" I replied.

\"Here you two are, we need to get going,\" Josh stormed in. \"I brought coffee,\" I offered. \"Thanks, let's go,\" he said taking it and heading out the door. \"Think he slept last night?\" Chris asked as we walked out. \"Doubtful, he's running on just espresso,\" I answered. We headed to the company car and climbed in. Josh proceeded to breif us on the lay out of what we would be talking about in the meeting to follow the tour, \"I think they need to rephrase their missions statement, I don't think the wording is legal at the end,\" I pointed out. \"You looked up their missions statment?\" He asked. \"Yes, and I pulled together a list of great marketing companies that we work with, some would likely do some of the marketing for free, since it's a medical facility,\" I explained. Josh just stared at Chris, \"I told you she's good,\" Chris said sipping his coffee. \"This is above and beyond, thank you Whitney,\" Josh said. \"I realize it's not in our scope to offer those things, but I think these companies would have a better grasp, than whoever was doing it before,\" I replied.

The car pulled up, \"Showtime,\" Josh said. We got out and we were met by they CEO and a few board members. We all shook hands, the CEO was late fourties and a retired doctor, David Canmore. A three board members joined us one doctor, Steven Blackburn and two registered nurses, Matt Hayes and Linda Duffy. \"I realize we are a bit younger than most, but after the previous CEO and board members tanked our ratings, I made sure I had board members who had a personal investment into this hospital,\" David explained. We nodded and went in, we walked around meeting staff and seeing all the updating they were doing. \"The first major overhaul was our computer system, we needed something better than the dinosaur we did have. All charting and even telemedicine is being implimented where ever possible,\" Dave pointed out as we walked by the nurses station in the ICU wing. \"Laboratory and Radiology got to date equipment as well, I don't know how they were working before,\" Dr. Blackburn had pointed out. We saw the cafeteria which also was in the process of updating, \"We will have to close the eat in part for a week to replace the carpet in here, that's happening next week,\" David pointed out. \"Shall we head to the conferance room?\" He asked. We nodded and headed to the third floor where most of the offices were held.

The conference room was also freshly painted with new windows that were open slightly for air, but you could still smell the fresh paint. The wall that held the big screen TV, was all brick, the table was a long log that was turned into a table top. It was very industrial but light touches the walls were a pale grey, rather than typical conference room lighting in the ceiling they opted for simple but nice fish bowl with an edison light in it. The art was very organic but calming wood pieces. I could see their attention to detail extended not only to their patients but their employees, wanting them to feel comfortable in all rooms of the hospital. We took our seats, \"I've asked the new cooks in the kitchen to whip us up a quick lunch after the patient's lunch,\" David told us. \"We appriciate the tour,\" Josh began, \"Mrs. River's has taken the liberty of putting a list together a few marketing companies that could help revamp your missions statement and website. The highlighted ones could be willing to do this for free, because of the hospital,\" Mr. Brooks explained pushing the paper across the table to David. \"So Dr. Canmore, what can we do for you?\" Mr. Jury asked cocking his head to one side. \"Dave please,\" he said with a pause, \"I see you've figured out I have an ulterior motive for having you tour the hospital. I had a new accounting firm look over the books and I want to go after the old accounting firm and the old CEO for money imbesilment,\" he stated plainly. The three of us breifly shared a look, \"How much are we talking?\" Mr. Jury asked calmly. Dave sighed, \"Roughly two or three million,\" he answered. Josh sat up straight in his chair, \"Do you have anyone else who could testify to discrepencies?\" he questioned. \"I have a person in payroll and the old CEO's secretary,\" Dave replied. Josh looked at Chris, \"We can get a few things going, like getting the CEO's bank statments, this could get messy,\" Chris pointed out. \"If we can recover our reputation and any of that money, we could really get back to what this hospital was built for, patient care,\" he explained.

We had a nice lunch, the food was great. We talked about all the renovations they would be doing, the patients rooms were next to be fully upgraded. They had painted and redone the electrical work, but they wanted new bed and newer equiment for the rooms. It was a heavy meeting and I was greatful to get back in the car and head back to the office. \"We need to jump on this right away,\" Josh said. \"Whitney when we get back, I want you to file a subpoena for bank records for everyone at the accounting firm and the CEO and his wife,\" Josh finished. \"His wife?\" I asked. \"He could've been getting around taxes by gifting her money, or he could be hiding it in an account under her name,\" he paused, \"Better include any children or elderly parents, if this guy knows anything he's going to be hiding the money somewhere,\" Josh added. \"Josh calm down, let's look into the accounting firm first, then we can file,\" Chris said a little annoied. \"I'll draft it so you can file if you need to,\" I assured.

I spent the last few hours of work, working on the subpoena. I took it to Josh's office when I was done, the light was still on so I knocked. \"Yeah, come in,\" he called. \"You're still here,\" I said. \"Yeah, I'll probably be here till eight. I need to figure out which course of action I need to take. This has the potential to be a huge case,\" he told me. \"Yeah, here's that subpoena,\" I said. \"Oh thanks, just put it over there,\" he replied pointing to a chair. \"Have you eaten since lunch?\" I asked. \"I'll grab something on my way home,\" He assured. \"Good night,\" I said. \"Good night,\" he responded still typing. I turned to leave, \"And Whitney, thanks for your work today,\" he told me. I nodded and walked out.

On my way home I stopped at the little taco truck across the street, I ordered two tacos and beans and rice and brought it back to Josh's office. I knocked again, \"Yeah,\" he called out again. I opened the door, \"Here, best taco's in Chicago,\" I told him with a smile. \"You didn't have to,\" he began stopping his work. I put the covered plate on his desk, \"Just eat it,\" I joked. He smiled, \"See you tomorrow,\" I said and walked out. Something Madame's Island taught me, caring about other people, helps them care.