Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

The room is so silent that you can hear a pin drop.

"In particular, a confidential file from six years ago. One we sealed for legal and ethical reasons." His eyes lock

onto mine for a split second. "We have reason to believe the file was targeted. And whoever accessed it... is

someone on staff."

The air is sucked from the room. Others gasp quietly.

"This meeting is to inform you all that an internal investigation is already underway. All logins and system access

will be monitored, and any irregularities will be dealt with swiftly. This hospital was built on trust between staff,

patients, and the system we represent. That trust has been compromised."

He pauses and looks around the room again.

"If anyone has information, now is the tto speak up. Before we find you ourselves and when we do, it won't

just end with your license being revoked!"

No one moves.

No one speaks.

He nods once. "That's all."

And just like that, he walks out.

The silence he leaves behind is deafening.

Everyone is glued to their seats. lan stands with a small smile on his face.

"Forgive the harshness from Dr. Quinn. We do have that situation, but it's not meant to threaten or make you feel

uneasy. What we are pleading for is your help. If you saw anything out of the ordinary, please don't hesitate to

reach out toor Dr. Dawson."

My eyes shoot up.

What is he talking about.

"That will be all. Thank you all." He says, and this time, everyone stands.

"What the fuck was that about?" Zayan asks, his tone irritated. "Did you know?" He checks me.

When | shake my head his face reddens in anger but | place a hand on his arm to stop him.

"Dr. Dawson, a word please." lan says and | turn to Zayan,

"You go on ahead. I'll catch up with you."

"Like hell I will. | won't let them take advantage of you being new and barely having any backing. I've got your

back. So you don't need to fear."

"Someone is feisty and ready to start a war." lan mocks Zayan as he steps closer.

"Why would you put her on the spotlight like that?" Zayan takes a step forward but | move faster and block him.

"I'm sure he has a reason." | tell Zayan quietly, though my voice wavers. I'm not sure if I'm lying to him or to

myself.

lan watches us, with his arms crossed, that ever-present half-smile on his face like he knows something the rest

of us don't.

"What? You want to land punches on me?," lan says, "You've fallen so deep huh?"

Zayan's jaw clenches. | place my hand gently against his chest to keep him grounded.

"I'll be fine," | whisper. "Givea moment."

He hesitates, his eyes locked on lan like he's memorizing his face in case he needs to ruin him later. Then with a

reluctant nod, he steps back and leaves the room, casting one final look over his shoulder.

Once we're alone, lan turns to face me.

"| used to babysit that punk!" lan scoffs, rubbing a hand down his jaw. "Now look at him. All grown up and ready

to throw fists in a hospital boardroom over you."

"I don't have tfor your games, lan. Why did you callout like that in front of everyone?" | snap, my

patience thinning.

"I know you're tired, I'm sorry about bombing you like that but it was the only way fornot to get resistance."

"Resistance from who?" I ask.

"Sboard members."

"Over what?"

"Helpingwith this case. You won't say no. Will you?" He pushes his glasses forward and I roll my eyes.

"That's not how this works, lan. Besides, why me? Zayan would be of great help." He drops the smirk, his eyes

narrowing.

"You're the only person | trust enough to find out who did it before this place turns into a courtroom circus."

"Me? | joined you recently. | have no idea what file or how your system works." | respond.

His suggestion is almost laughable but | hold back when | notice how serious he

is.

lan rarely shows this side of him but when he does...

"What is going on?" | ask.

"I'll tell you later. Meetat Alex's after your shift."

"I'm not coming to Alex's house." | cross my arms.

"Fine. Then meetat Zayans." He says and | narrow my eyes.

"You're enjoying this aren't you?"

He laughs. The seriousness from a second ago untraceable,

"Enjoying what?"

"Meetat my apartment over the weekend. Alex will have Rayen, so | can spare you stime. | haven't said

yes yet so don't get your hopes high!"

"Weekend it is."

| grip the steering wheel tighter, my knuckles turning white against the leather as

the rain begins to fall in heavy sheets, blurring my vision.

| should have waited but I'm so tired | just want to sleep in my bed.

The wipers swing furiously across the windshield, but they do little to help. My thoughts race faster than the car.

Who could have leaked the file and what file is It?

One thing that's for sure is it must be very important for Elias to address us himself.

My phone buzzes in the console and flashes, "Asshole 101"

| hesitate for a second before answering, pressing the button on the steering wheel.

"What?"

"Hi to you too."

"I'm driving, what do you want?"

"I need to ask you something about Rayen," his voice comes through, low and

patient.

"Now's not really a good time."

"Okay, I'll ask later then. But you sound tired, where are you?"

| blink through the rain.

"I'm on my way home."

"The weather is not good, Athena. You should have waited. You can barely see when it's dark."

"Alex-" Before | can release the colourful words | have for him, the sky cracks open and a bright flash of lightning

slashes across the road, blinding me.

A loud boom follows as a scream tears from my throat.

Maybe | should have waited.

My foot slams on the brake, but the tires skid on the wet road.

Fuck.

"ATHENA!" Alex's voice roars from the speaker just as | lose control.

The screeching sound is so loud | feel it pounding my brain as my car crashes into

a tree with a deafening crunch.

My head whips forward then back, pain slicing through my skull.

The phone slides to the floor. | can hear him yelling though it's now distant and

distorted.

"Athena? Athena, answerplease!"

| try to move, but my body won't cooperate. Everything hurts.

Blood. | taste blood in my mouth.

My vision starts to blur as the rain taps angrily against the windshield like a

hundred urgent knocks.

It begins to pour so heavily seeing becomes impossible