The Billionaire in the Orange Vest
Chapter 2
By eight that morning, Clara had forgotten about Adrian Vale.
There were twelve patients waiting in emergency intake, two nurses calling in sick, and an elderly man who had somehow wandered into the pediatric wing.
Her shift had become chaos.
She didn’t notice Adrian standing behind the glass doors.
He watched quietly.
The hospital director was giving him a tour.
“This is one of our strongest departments.”
Adrian wasn’t listening.
He was watching Clara.
She moved from patient to patient without wasting a second.
She explained things twice when someone didn’t understand.
She found a blanket for an exhausted mother.
She personally checked on a patient who had been waiting longer than expected.
She didn’t know Adrian was watching.
That mattered to him.
At ten, he finally approached her.
“You were right.”
Clara looked up.
“About?”
“The third-floor elevator.”
She stared at him.
Then recognized him.
“Oh.”
Adrian smiled.
“Disappointed?”
“No.”
“Embarrassed?”
“A little.”
“Don’t be.”
She glanced around.
“Why are you still wearing that?”
He looked down at the vest.
“I forgot.”
Clara laughed.
It was the first time he’d heard it.
“You own the hospital and forgot you’re wearing a construction vest?”
“Apparently.”
She shook her head.
“You billionaires are strange.”
Adrian paused.
“You knew?”
“Your face is on the financial news every other day.”
“I thought you didn’t recognize me.”
“I recognized you eventually.”
“Eventually.”
“After I blocked you from entering your own building.”
“Technically, it wasn’t my building yet.”
She frowned.
“What?”
“The acquisition isn’t finalized.”
Clara looked at him.
“Then why did everyone call you the owner?”
“Because they assume.”
He looked toward the unfinished wing.
“The purchase depends on the inspection.”
Something about his tone made Clara curious.
“Is there a problem?”
“Maybe.”
“Construction?”
“Not exactly.”
He lowered his voice.
“Several renovation invoices don’t match the work completed.”
Clara understood.
“Someone is stealing?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then why are you investigating yourself?”
“Because I don’t trust people who know I’m coming.”
She nodded.
That answer made sense.
Before she could respond, an elderly patient called for help.
Clara turned immediately.
Adrian stepped aside.
He watched her kneel beside the man’s wheelchair.
“Mr. Harris, remember me?”
The old man smiled.
“You’re the nurse who remembers everybody.”
Clara laughed.
“Not everybody.”
“She remembers,” he insisted.
Adrian watched the exchange.
There was something unusual about Clara.
She didn’t perform kindness.
She simply did it.
Later that afternoon, Clara found a folder in the staff room.
Inside were notices about budget reductions.
Several positions were being reviewed.
Her own department was included.
She frowned.
That evening, she confronted the hospital administrator.
“Why are emergency nursing positions being cut while the renovation budget increased?”
The administrator looked uncomfortable.
“Corporate restructuring.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“ValeCare is changing things.”
Clara shook her head.
“Patients don’t care about corporate restructuring.”
The administrator sighed.
“You should be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because Mr. Vale is coming back tomorrow.”
Clara paused.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“He doesn’t like employees challenging management.”
Clara remembered Adrian’s words.
People who recognize me usually stop behaving normally.
She shrugged.
“Then he’ll have to get used to me.”
Neither of them knew Adrian was standing just outside the office.
And he had heard every word.
