The VIP

Jessica was starving. It was almost 2 pm and she didn't have lunch yet. It was a busy day at the hospital and she had to attend to patients back to back with no breaks all morning. She finally made it to her office and pushed away some research articles to the side of her desk to make room for her lunch. She took out her sushi platter and made a wasabi-soy sauce dip with her preferred ratio. She scrolled through her phone and found the next episode of her Korean drama. Just before she was about to dig in and press play, her phone rang. She glanced at the Caller ID and rolled her eyes before answering.

"Dr. Wong, you have a VIP patient in Suite #2. You're needed there ASAP."

"Coming," Jessica replied before hanging up.

'They just have the best timing don't they.' She stared at her untouched lunch and quickly stuffed two pieces in her mouth before making her way to the highest floor of the hospital.

'I wonder what the issue is this time... Paper cut? Broken fingernail? Hair loss? Maybe someone fainted?' She took over the VIP trauma cases 6 months ago only to realize 'trauma' is defined differently to these patients. Paper cuts apparently warranted an overnight stay at the hospital and a week of bed rest. She rather sees patients with 'real' trauma cases than write a doctor's note for a paper cut but it was too late to back out. She has no seniority in the hospital and no one else was willing to take over the role.

Jessica exited the elevator and scanned her thumb before the doors to the VIP ward opened. She passed by the security guards and greeted the front desk staff before making her way to the nurses' lounge.

"So what do you have for me today?" She asked as she tied her black hair back in a messy bun.

A nurse handed her a tablet with the medical profile of the patient. The nurse briefly introduced the patient saying, "A 32-year-old Asian male came in with a non-penetrating gun wound to the abdomen. Vitals stable. BP 120/75..."

Jessica's eyes lit up as she was briefed about the case. 'Oh, this is more like it! Something interesting came in.' She continued listening while scrolling through the patient's medical file. The corner of her mouth slightly curved up for a split second but she quickly recovered her cold poker face as she walked over to Suite #2.

The VIP ward of Cambridge Grace Hospital took up the entire top floor. It included 20 large suites decorated like the inside of a five-star hotel. Patients pay an immense price for the top-notch service and privacy. A private elevator is used to access the floor and the operating rooms are equipped with the latest medical technology. The ward was launched a year ago and many elites have opted for the service.

Jessica was about to step into the suite when the bodyguard outside extended his arm to stop her and shoved a stack of papers in her face. "Sign this before going in." The bodyguard had a stern face with angular features. He had a large built and stood over 6 feet tall.

She briefly glanced at the 20+ page document and threw it back at the bodyguard's face. "Your Boss is bleeding with a bullet in him and you want to delay his medical care? I'm not reading that and I'm not signing it. Don't worry, I'll respect patient-doctor confidentiality. Just let me in."

The bodyguard didn't flinch and stayed put, obstructing Jessica from entering. Annoyed and hungry, she used her left hand and gave the bodyguard a hard push. The bodyguard almost toppled over, not expecting the strength behind the push from the doctor. 'Oh shoot, too much force,' Jessica thought as she quickly grabbed the bodyguard's wrist to prevent him from falling while simultaneously sliding herself into the suite. As she passed through the doors, she put her right hand in the pocket of her white coat and tapped a code on her phone.

There were two additional bodyguards in the room and a man sitting on the couch typing away on a laptop. A man was lying on the hospital bed with gauze lazily wrapped around his lower abdomen with blood seeping through.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Wong. I'm surprised you're still holding up over there. Let me take a look." She walked to his bedside and examined the wound. She couldn't help but notice multiple scars and bullet wounds framing his perfectly chiselled abs. "I'm going to have to bring you to the OR and get your wound treated..."

"He has a meeting at 4 pm. You have a little over an hour," the man on the couch interrupted her.