Heartbeat 2

I hadn’t expected him to walk into my office looking like he owned the world—then again, I should’ve. After all, James Hawke was a billionaire tech mogul. If there was anyone who was used to having the world at his feet, it was him.

“Dr. Matthews?” His voice was smooth, confident, with just a hint of arrogance that seemed to hang in the air, like a perfume I wasn’t sure I wanted to breathe in.

I stood up from my desk, offering my hand in a professional greeting, but I could tell from the moment his sharp eyes landed on me that he wasn’t interested in pleasantries. He looked at me with a mix of curiosity and annoyance—as though he had already made up his mind about me, despite knowing nothing about who I was or what I did.

“Mr. Hawke,” I said, keeping my tone steady and neutral. “I’m Dr. Olivia Matthews. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He shook my hand, his grip firm but not overpowering, and his eyes locked onto mine. There was an intensity to his gaze, but I’d learned long ago not to be intimidated by people like him. Men who thought their wealth and status gave them power over everyone they met.

“I hope you can fix me, Dr. Matthews,” he said, sitting down without waiting for an invitation. “I’m not exactly in the habit of letting my health slow me down.”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms as I leaned back against the desk. "Mr. Hawke, I’ll do my best to help you. But I’d appreciate it if you understood that a heart condition isn’t something that can be fixed with the same speed you’d expect from your tech company. It requires patience, care, and commitment."

His lips twitched into what I could only describe as a smirk, as though my words were nothing more than a challenge for him to overcome. “Patience. Care. Commitment,” he repeated, as though savoring the sound of the words. “That sounds... nice. But I’m more about efficiency, results. I don’t have time to play the waiting game, Dr. Matthews.”

I held his gaze, unflinching. I had no room for ego in my practice, especially not when lives were on the line. “The heart doesn’t work on your timetable, Mr. Hawke. If you want to survive this, you’ll need to listen to my recommendations and follow through. I won’t sugarcoat the truth for you.”

He leaned back in the chair, his fingers tapping against the armrests, a small frown tugging at the corners of his lips. “So, what are you telling me? That I need to slow down, take a step back, and become some kind of patient little lamb? Because that’s not me, Dr. Matthews. I built my empire by staying ahead of the curve. I don’t have time to lay back and wait for a miracle.”

“I’m not asking you to lay back, Mr. Hawke. I’m asking you to trust me with your treatment plan,” I said, keeping my tone even but firm. “You can’t continue living your life as if your heart is invincible. It’s fragile. And right now, it’s on the verge of breaking down if you don’t take it seriously.”

There was a pause as James’s expression shifted. I could see his mind working, calculating, assessing. I didn’t doubt that in his world, he was always the one calling the shots. But in this room, in this moment, I was the one in control. He may have built a tech empire, but I held the knowledge that could either save or take away his life.

“I’m not someone who’s used to being told what to do,” James finally said, his voice cool. “I’m used to making the decisions.”

“I’m not here to make decisions for you, Mr. Hawke. I’m here to give you the facts, and it’s up to you to act on them,” I said, my patience starting to wear thin. “If you choose to ignore the severity of your condition, you’ll be playing a dangerous game. But if you want my help, then you need to accept the reality of the situation.”

I could see his jaw tighten as he stared at me, as though trying to gauge how much of what I was saying was bluff and how much was real. I could sense the tension in the room, the undeniable clash of two people with very different views on the world. James Hawke was used to being in charge. He didn’t want to admit that his health was something beyond his control, something that couldn’t be solved with money or influence.

“I didn’t come here for a lecture, Dr. Matthews,” he said, his voice still calm but laced with a quiet irritation. “I came here because I was told you were the best cardiologist in the city. And I don’t have time for someone who can’t keep up with me.”

I didn’t flinch at his words. In fact, they only made me more resolute. I had heard it all before—people like him, people with too much power, too much money, who thought they could buy their way out of anything. But health was different. It wasn’t something you could control with a checkbook.

“You may be the best at what you do, Mr. Hawke, but this is not your realm. Here, we rely on science, not arrogance,” I replied, my voice steady, each word carefully chosen. “You’re right about one thing: you don’t have time to waste. So if you’re serious about getting better, then I suggest you listen carefully to what I have to say.”

There was another long silence between us as he considered my words. I could tell he wasn’t used to being challenged, especially not in the way I had challenged him. But I wasn’t about to back down.

Finally, he spoke again, his tone softer but still carrying an edge of defiance. “What’s the plan, then? What do I need to do?”

I was momentarily caught off guard by the change in his demeanor. The arrogance was still there, but there was a flicker of vulnerability behind his words—a recognition that he was, in fact, human, after all. I wasn’t sure if he was just trying to save face or if he was truly beginning to realize the gravity of the situation, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“First, I’ll need to conduct a full assessment of your health, Mr. Hawke,” I said, laying out the next steps of his treatment plan. “We’ll need to run a series of tests, including an ECG, an echocardiogram, and a stress test. After that, I’ll determine whether you need surgery or a more conservative treatment approach.”

James nodded, but I could still see the skepticism in his eyes. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of slowing down or letting someone else take charge of his life. But he had no other choice. If he wanted to live, he had to face the reality of his condition. No amount of wealth or power could change that.

“Fine,” he said, standing up and adjusting his jacket. “I’ll do the tests. But don’t expect me to sit back and wait around for some magic cure. I’m not that kind of guy.”

I stood as well, holding my ground. “I never said it would be easy, Mr. Hawke. But I do promise you this: I’ll do everything in my power to help you recover. But you need to be willing to work with me, not against me.”

He gave a curt nod, then turned to leave, his footsteps echoing in the hallway. As he disappeared through the door, I allowed myself a moment to breathe.

The tension had been palpable, but it hadn’t been unexpected. People like James—men who had achieved everything they set out to do—often had the hardest time relinquishing control, especially when it came to something as unpredictable as their health. But I wasn’t here to coddle him or make him feel comfortable. I was here to save his life.

If he could learn to trust me, maybe we could get through this together. If not... well, then I’d have to let his choices play out, no matter how difficult that might be.

Either way, I wasn’t going to let him walk away from this with anything less than the truth. That, at least, was something I could offer.