Chapter 1017:
Jonah gave her a flat look. “I don’t need your approval to be here.”
A hint of anger passed over Nola’s features before she quickly masked it. “Let’s not forget my position as the deputy director. Anything related to the medical center needs to go through me,” she said, her voice steady.
Jonah didn’t bother to hide his disdain. “Come back when you’re running the place.”
As the one destined to lead Boyd Pharmaceuticals, Jonah spoke from a place…
Of unquestionable authority. Supplying nearly everything the Base Medical Center needed, Boyd Pharmaceuticals stood at the very top of their list. He held more sway than just a doctor—he was their most important partner. Not even the director dared to challenge him outright. A deputy like Nola wouldn’t stand a chance.
Color drained from Nola’s face before rushing back in angry waves. Jonah had never shown her the respect she thought she deserved. He had snubbed her for the assistant’s job, and now, to add insult to injury, he was throwing his support behind Elena, of all people. So what if he was set to inherit Boyd Pharmaceuticals? The moment she earned the title of the Healer’s protégé, tearing down Boyd Pharmaceuticals would be at the very top of her list.
Leaning forward with a threat in every word, Nola lowered her voice. “Dr. Boyd, maybe you think your last name lets you play by your own rules, but here’s a warning. If Boyd Pharmaceuticals ever crosses the Healer, you’ll be the one dealing with the fallout.”
The threat was unmistakable. To Nola, Jonah could flash his title as the successor of Boyd Pharmaceuticals all he wanted, but she had the backing—and from the Healer, no less. Crossing her was the same as going after the Healer. And if the Healer so much as hinted at it, every last Boyd Pharmaceuticals product could vanish from the market.
Morrison jumped in, eager to pile on. “Jonah, Dr. Vance is right. Dr. Vance isn’t just anyone—she’s the Healer’s protégé. If you cross her, you’re crossing the Healer. The Boyd family can’t afford that.”
Certain she had finally cornered Jonah, Nola tipped her chin up and imagined him eating his words.
Jonah, however, didn’t flinch. “You’re you, and the Healer is the Healer,” he replied, voice even and unshaken. “No one gets to speak on her behalf.”
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Not for a moment did Jonah believe Nola’s claims as the Healer’s protégé. He knew the real Healer stood at his side—Elena.
Seeing that Jonah wasn’t backing down, Nola’s expression tightened. Her voice dropped to a low hiss. “You’ll regret this, Jonah!”
A look of genuine surprise flickered across Elena’s face. Jonah, someone she barely knew, was stepping up to defend her without hesitation.
Jonah had made his point with no room for misunderstanding. Nola was simply Nola, and the Healer was the Healer. No one could speak on the Healer’s behalf.
That kind of statement caught Elena off guard, but deep down, she couldn’t help but agree with Jonah. She began to see him in a different light. Questions tugged at her curiosity. Logically speaking, only she carried the truth—Nola wasn’t the Healer’s protégé. Was Jonah truly unafraid of the consequences of blatantly disrespecting Nola, the so-called protégé in most people’s eyes?
Steady as ever, Jonah didn’t falter. “I’m not the type to make choices I’ll regret,” he answered, his voice cool and unwavering.
Nothing in Nola’s playbook could have prepared her for this. She hadn’t expected Jonah to push back, especially not just to take Elena’s side. Even dragging the Healer’s name into things hadn’t given her the power she wanted.
.
.
.