Mr. Park Lane (The Mister)

I was stunned. I liked to think I knew my employees, but Val had never said anything about her son, Oliver, having ADHD. And she’d worked tirelessly on the Calmation campaign without any kind of hint that she might not agree with it.

“I would welcome your leadership on this, Val,” I said.

“I actually have some ideas already. Because there are just pockets of opposition out there, rather than any organized anti-Calmation campaign, I think the first thing to do is create a group we can push forward as the face and voice of a unified opposition.”

“Great idea. I know who you might want to contact to start that process.” I’d put her in touch with Gerry. I’d seen his interviews; he would be a great advocate.

“Just a quick question.” Val looked up from her notes. “If we don’t have any kind of budget, where is the money coming from, and what can I spend?”

“I’m setting up a charitable arm of the company. And your budget for this anti-Calmation campaign is unlimited. Do whatever you need to do to make sure this drug isn’t approved for over-the-counter use on either side of the Atlantic.”

Murmurs through the room told me this was a welcome announcement. Maybe I wasn’t the only one who’d had second thoughts about Merdon. Maybe this would be good for everyone at Luca Brands, even if they weren’t directly involved.

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen.” Val beamed at me.

“Whatever you need from me, you have. Don’t hesitate to ask. Any questions?”

John at the back of the room raised his hand. “I think this is great and everything, but if we’ve pulled out of the Calmation campaign, then we’ve lost GCVB as a client. That’s got to mean jobs are going to be lost.”

“It’s a good question and I’m going to make an announcement to the rest of the company when we leave this meeting. We’ll have to adapt our approach when GCVB inevitably pulls their accounts. It starts with staffing the new division. Then, we’re going to go out and get new business. It will mean looking at industries beyond luxury brands. I’m open to your suggestions, and I have a few ideas myself. I’m going to do my best for you all, to make sure that no one has to leave Luca Brands if they don’t want to.” It was going to be a struggle, and I was going to have to have Genius Time on a daily basis for the foreseeable future, but Hartford had inspired me.

Hopefully Luca Brands would stop Calmation being approved by the regulator—it was the best possible outcome for vulnerable parents and children. I also hoped it would be enough to show Hartford how I listened to her. How I respected her opinion. And how much I could change in all areas of my life.

Thirty-Five

Hartford

Carrying my hospital-issued iPad, I crossed the corridor from Children’s Accident and Emergency into the break room.

“Hartford,” Jacob called out as I grabbed a coffee cup. I glanced up. “Wanna do me a favor? I hate to ask before you’ve even had a cup of coffee.”

“No problem. Better busy than bored.” Jacob was a nice guy and things had been easy between us since our date. We’d tacitly agreed there was nothing romantic between us, but both of us seemed happy to settle into collegial friendship.

“I’ve just been called into A&E to see a patient but Gerry wants to speak to me. Would you take it for me?”

“Sure. No problem. What’s the case?”

“Not sure. All I know is that it’s an eight-year-old with Down syndrome.”

I was more than happy for the distraction. I retraced my steps and headed to the desk to see which bay I was going to.

“Bay Two,” the receptionist said. “This is her chart.” She frowned at me. “No offense but I wish Dr. Cove had answered.”

I laughed. “No doubt every female would prefer Dr. Cove over me.” I flicked through the observations. Nothing out of the ordinary other than a high temperature.

I stepped around the curtain in Bay Two. “Millie?” I took a half step back when I took in the patient on the bed. She was an explosion of pink tulle and Lycra and wearing a grin as bright as sunshine.

“Hi,” I said smiling. “I see I get to treat a ballerina today.” Her leotard was a little too big and her hair a little too short for the bun it was fashioned into, but her happiness was infectious. I grinned at her.

I turned to the adult seated next to the bed. “I’m Hartford, one of the doctors. Are you mum?”

“Yes,” the slender, graceful woman replied. “Our GP told us to come in. Millie’s had a temperature since Thursday and it’s just not going away.”

I nodded and turned back to Millie. “How are you feeling?”