Chapter 2

Maya stared at the glowing screen. Her thumb hovered over the green icon, every part of her telling her to let the call go to voicemail. She wasn't in any state to talk to anyone, especially a stranger. But the silence around her felt suffocating, and the thought of being left alone with her own thoughts made her stomach twist. After much thoughts and consideration, she swiped the screen and raised the phone to her ear. "Maya Carter speaking," she said, her voice rough. She quickly cleared her throat as she stepped into the elevator. The doors chimed and closed behind her. "Dr Carter, good evening. My name is Arthur Pendelton," a deep voice replied. His tone was polished and professional, completely at odds with the chaos trying to swallow her up. "I hope I'm not calling at a bad time." Maya leaned against the mirrored wall of the elevator, watching her pale, tear streaked reflection as she descended. "I... no, it's fine, Mr Pendelton. How can I help you?" "I'm calling on behalf of the executive management of the Boston Wolves," he said smoothly. "We're expanding our internal medical division and are looking to bring on a dedicated private physician for the team." Maya blinked, briefly pulled out of her heartbreak. "The Boston Wolves? The NHL team?" "The very same," Arthur replied, a faint note of satisfaction in his voice. "We're offering an exclusive, full-time contract to oversee athlete care, handle acute trauma management on and off the ice, and travel with the team throughout the regular season and playoffs." Maya stepped out of the elevator into the apartment complex lobby, struggling to make sense of what she was hearing. "Mr Pendelton, I think you have the wrong number, or the wrong Dr Carter. I'm an emergency room resident at Massachusetts General. I'm not a sports medicine specialist." "There's no mistake, Dr Carter," Arthur said. "We're not looking for a typical sports physician to handle standard physical therapy. We already have a full staff of orthopedic specialists for that. What we need is a brilliant, high pressure clinician with extensive emergency care experience. Someone who can make split second diagnostic decisions under extreme stress, handle serious trauma, and remain calm when things get ugly." He paused briefly. "Your file was brought to our attention by Chief Medical Director Vance at Mass General. Your board scores, your ER record, and your response times during high-volume trauma cases are exemplary. Management was extremely impressed." Maya pushed through the building's heavy glass doors and stepped into the cool night. The breeze stung her bare arms. She hadn't even thought to grab a jacket, but the cold helped clear her head. "Even if that's true, I'm currently under contract with the hospital." "We're prepared to buy out the remainder of your residency obligations and offer a starting salary of four hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually," Arthur said without hesitation. "Full health benefits, a private medical expense account, complete travel accommodations, and a dedicated, fully equipped medical facility at TD Garden and the training center." Maya stopped on the sidewalk. Four hundred and fifty thousand. It was more than four times what she earned as a resident. More than enough to change her entire life. It meant financial independence. No more worrying about rent or depending on anyone. No reason to ever return to the apartment she had just walked away from. "You're serious," she breathed, her mind racing. "Entirely," Arthur replied. "And given the schedule and travel requirements, the contract also includes a fully paid luxury corporate apartment in downtown Boston. Fully furnished and available immediately." A place to live. Right now. It felt almost unreal how perfectly this call answered every desperate question running through her head. An hour ago, she had been planning a future with a man who treated her boundaries like an inconvenience. Now, a multimillion dollar sports franchise was offering her a way out. "Why me, really?" Maya asked. Her medical instincts immediately searched for the catch. "A team with the resources of the Boston Wolves could hire any top physician in the country. Why call an ER doctor at eight o'clock on a Thursday night?" "Because top sports physicians often come with egos, press connections, and established habits," Arthur answered plainly. "We need someone sharp, independent, and unaffected by celebrity. We need discretion and complete confidentiality. You have no ties to sports media, no history of working with high-profile athletes, and a reputation for being fiercely professional and stubborn when it comes to patient care." Maya took a deep breath, letting the cold air fill her lungs. The pain over Ethan was still there, heavy and deep in her chest. But beneath it, something else had begun to stir. Survival. She was a doctor. She was capable and good at what she did. And she didn't need to beg anyone for a place in this world. "I'd like to see the preliminary contract details," Maya said, her voice settling into the calm, steady tone she used in the trauma bay. "And I'll need an in-person interview before I make any commitments." "Of course," Arthur replied, a little warmth entering his voice. "We have an interview scheduled for tomorrow morning at nine at the Wolves' private training facility in Brighton. I'll email the contract outline to your personal address immediately." "Thank you, Mr Pendelton. I'll see you tomorrow." "We look forward to it, Dr Carter,” he paused. His voice changed slightly when he spoke again. "Oh, and before I let you go, there's one condition you should know about before tomorrow." Maya narrowed her eyes and pulled her purse strap tighter over her shoulder. "What condition?" "This position was created for a specific reason," Arthur said quietly. "If you're hired, your primary responsibility won't just be general team care. You'll be required to work directly, and exclusively when necessary, with our captain, Logan Blackwood."