Convergence

CHAPTER FOUR

Emily

I didn’t sleep well that night.

Something felt… off.

Not wrong exactly.

Just unsettled.

Like something was about to happen, and I was the only one who didn’t know what it was. Like being kept in the dark.

I could just feel it.

The next morning came too quickly.

Before I knew it, I was already at the airport.

Grandma insisted on coming with me, even though I told her not to stress herself.

“You just got here and now you’re leaving again,” she complained softly.

“I’ll be back,” I said, forcing a smile.

I hugged her tightly.

Maybe a little tighter than usual.

“I’ll call you when I land.”

“You better.”

I nodded, then turned before she could see the hesitation on my face.

Because for some reason…

I didn’t feel like I was just going back to work.

It felt bigger than that.

The flight was quiet.

Too quiet.

Which meant my thoughts were loud.

Tristan crossed my mind.

Again.

Just this time without an ounce of respect to the thought of him.

Then Seth.

Unfortunately.

I frowned, shifting in my seat.

Why was I even thinking about him?

Because of the outreach?

Or because of the way our last interaction?.

I shut my eyes.

No.

Absolutely not.

I wasn’t doing this.

“Ma’am.”

The driver's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked up.

We were already at the airport entrance in New York.

That was fast.

I immediately saw Xena. She walked towards me smiling.

“Welcome back,” she said, taking my bag.

“Thank you. Let’s go straight to my place then, then from there we shall head to the hospital.”

Her expression shifted slightly.

That caught my attention.

“Is everything ready?” I asked.

“Yes, ma’am… but…”

I stopped walking.

“But what?”

She hesitated.

That alone told me everything I needed to know.

Something was definitely wrong.

“The board is already waiting,” she said carefully. “And… they insisted the meeting starts immediately after you arrive.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Since when do they rush me?”

No answer.

Just silence.

That made it worse.

I conceited and left for the hospital even though I don't feel comfortable wearing this outfit to work.

Gifted Hands Hospital stood exactly as I left it.

Tall.

Imposing.

A legacy.

My legacy.

I didn’t pause to admire it as always.

I walked straight in.

The staff greeted me as I passed, but I barely registered any of it.

My mind was already in that meeting room.

When I stepped inside—

I froze.

This wasn’t right.

The atmosphere felt… heavy.

Different.

And then I saw them.

Not just my board members.

Strangers.

Well-dressed.

Powerful-looking.

And at the center of it all—

A man I recognized instantly.

Snr. Mr. Hernandez.

Seth's father.

My eyes flickered briefly across the room.

And for a split second—

I wondered if Seth was here too.

But he wasn’t.

Good.

One less problem.

I straightened my posture and walked in fully.

“Good afternoon,” I said, my voice calm despite the questions rising inside me.

All eyes turned to me.

“Miss DelaRosa,” one of my directors said. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?” I replied coolly, taking my seat.

Silence followed.

Tense.

Expectant.

I leaned back slightly.

“Let’s not waste time. What’s so urgent that it couldn’t wait?”

A brief exchange of glances passed between them.

Then—

Mr. Hernandez spoke.

“This concerns your late father.”

My fingers tightened slightly on the armrest.

There it was.

That feeling again.

I kept my face neutral.

“Go on.”

He nodded once.

“Years ago, before his passing, your father entered into a binding agreement with my family.”

My heartbeat slowed.

Dangerously calm.

“What kind of agreement?”

Another pause.

Like they were all waiting for something.

Or bracing for my reaction.

Then he said it.

“Our hospitals are to merge.”

The words landed.

Heavy.

Final.

For a second, I thought I misheard him.

Then I let out a small, disbelieving laugh.

“You’re joking.”

No one laughed.

My smile faded.

“You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

I leaned forward slowly, my eyes locking onto his.

“With all due respect… no.”

The room shifted.

Tension spiked instantly.

“That decision is not yours to make,” one of the directors said carefully.

I turned to him.

“Last I checked, I am the president of Gifted Hands Hospital.”

“And this agreement predates your presidency,” another added.

I exhaled sharply.

Now I was getting irritated.

“So let me get this straight,” I said. “A decision was made years ago, without my consent, and now I’m expected to just… accept it?”

“It was your father’s wish.”

That hit differently.

But I didn’t let it show.

“My father is not here to explain his reasons,” I replied. “And until I understand them, nothing is happening.”

Silence.

Then Mr. Hernandez spoke again.

Calm.

Controlled.

“But the agreement has already been activated.”

That made me pause.

“What does that mean?”

“It means,” he said, “whether you agree or not… the process has already begun.”

My chest tightened.

For the first time since I walked in—

I felt it.

Loss of control.

And I hated it.

I didn’t know what this meant yet.

Not fully.

But one thing was certain.

This wasn’t just about hospitals.

And whatever my father had started—

Was about to pull me into something I wasn’t prepared for.