Chapter 20: THE GHOST IN WHITE

“Can I speak with you for a moment, Aris?” Dr. Craig said to Dr. Thorne, who was on his way to his office.

“I have things to do, so much paperwork to sign, and that merger I told you about, I have to be there in an hour, so whatever it is you want to say, can it wait?”

But Craig shook his head. “No, it can't. It's very important.”

Thorne knew he had no choice so he nodded, then led the way to his office.

The two men entered as Thorne closed the door before going around his desk to sit down in it, while Craig sat across the desk.

“What is it?”

“It's about Alexander.”

Thorne chuckled. “I knew it was about that man. What do you want? What do you want me to do? Did he come crying to you about what I told him this afternoon? I expected some balls on him but I guess he has none.”

“You expect him to challenge you.”

“Of course. I’m guessing he’s more of a pussy than expected.”

“Rule 6, article 7, challenging of authority is frowned upon by the medical board except when in the right. This isn’t something he would need to fight with you on. It’s something that needs methodical action. I hope you get it now.”

“That’s just a fancy language for weakness. I love a good challenge.”

“Actually, there are a few things that you need to know about that man. He got a hundred percent on his scores. He's the only person in history to do that. You and I couldn't do that.”

Thorne chuckled. “You know nothing of what I was capable of in my prime.”

“Yes, I do,” Craig countered. “I do know that you scored 97 percent. I scored 95 percent. Many greats scored 94 percent, 90 percent, 91 percent. He is the only one in history to score a hundred percent.”

“He might have cheated.”

“Come on, Thorne. Are you being serious? Then by that logic, people could claim we cheated too?”

“No. You and I are different, Craig. We are anomalies. But that man, that… that man cannot score that amount. It's impossible.”

“Fine, let's say I believe you,” Craig leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “Let us say that you're right. He cheated. Okay, fine. What happens next? Should we not give him a chance to prove that he's worthy of his hundred percent score? Now I'm hearing that you've moved the hearing up without even telling me about it.”

Thorne shrugged. “I can do whatever I want. I control 40%…”

“Yes, yes, yes. We all know that history,” Craig interrupted him. “We all know the whole bullshit story of how you own this and that. But I'm just trying to let you know that your arrogance may be the reason your company breaks down. Not because you are ruthless, not because you make the hard decision, but your arrogance. You will be the reason your hospital falls apart. If everybody starts leaving because of the way you behave, do you think there's anyone that will be left except you and your family? Do you think you and your family will be able to handle all of this?”

Thorne could see reason in what Craig was saying. But his ego was too much and he wasn't about to lose face for a newbie.

“No,” Thorne shook his head. “I'm not reinstating that man in here. His hearing is going to be this Friday, and that is it. That's the end. I don't want to hear about this again. Look, Craig, I have things to do, and you're in my way. I would suggest you move this discussion till when I am less busy. Let's say Saturday.”

Craig scoffed, looking away from him. “You mean the Saturday after the hearing has been done and you have found a way to kick him out of the hospital? You mean that Saturday?”

“Well, things always don't really work out how you expect them to work out... you need to understand this with the growing age.”

But Craig was not about to give up. He got to his feet, then narrowed his eyes at the man sitting in his seat.

“I know all the things you've been doing behind my back. I know just how dangerous you are. But sometimes, you can push a little too far and cause someone else to be even more dangerous than you. You don't know what is driving Alexander to be who he is. You don't know what is driving him to work as hard as he's working. But let me tell you something. I know when somebody is dangerous.”

Thorne chuckled in a mocking manner, leaning back in his seat. “So you think that that Alexander of a guy is dangerous?”

“I think you should be scared of him,” Craig said with a bland face. "I think that you should be afraid of someone who has no past, no history. I couldn't find anything on him, but he scored 100% on a test. If someone is that much of a ghost, don't you think you should be afraid? Because men like him don’t announce destruction. They become it."

Thorne shook within him a bit, but he smiled. “That's rubbish. There's nobody that is without a history.”

“You're correct,” Craig nodded. “But Alexander has no medical history. It means he might have been going to private lessons, doing private tutors, but somehow he was able to go through university, pass the hardest exams in the world and get his first license. This hearing is supposed to be for his second license, then we'll approve him of being out there in the world. We are supposed to be gathering the best doctors in this hospital. You are single-handedly kicking away everyone. Don't kick out Alexander  or your competition will pick him up real quick and we'll have one of the best doctors out there against us… again. Think twice, Thorne, before you go around being a thorn in people's flesh. That's all I wanted to tell you. You can go about with your day and your meeting.”

Craig then walked out of the office as Thorne stared in space for a minute or two in silence.

He picked up his phone, then called a number that was on the speed dial.

It rang twice before someone picked it up.

“Hello,” the person on the other line answered.

“I want you to find anything you can on an Alexander.”

“Oh, okay, that can be done, sir.”

“Good. I need to know who I'm dealing with, so by the end of today, give me a word on him.”

“Will do, sir. Do you have a picture? There might be multiple people with that name.”

“Sure, I'll send it through the normal secured line.”

With that, he cut the call, then sent the documents about Alexander to the person. He then leaned back and smiled.

“Let's see who you truly are, Alexander.”