The Sterling-Khan Community Clinic was quiet, the waiting room empty for the lunch hour. Maya Khan sat at her desk, staring at a bank statement. The numbers blurred through her tears.
The door opened, and Julian Sterling walked in, holding two coffees. He looked tired but content, the weight of their financial ruin seemingly lifted.
“I got the lattes,” Julian smiled. “And the new ultrasound machine arrives tomorrow.”
“Take it back,” Maya said, her voice shaking.
Julian froze. “What?”
Maya slammed the statement onto the desk. “The transfer came from a shell corporation owned by Vane Tech. You lied to me, Julian. You told me it was an anonymous grant.”
“Maya, listen,” Julian pleaded, putting the coffees down. “We were drowning. The suppliers put us on hold. I did it for the clinic. I did it for *us*.”
“No,” Maya stood up, her eyes blazing. “You did it because you miss being a Sterling. You miss the easy fix. We agreed that we don’t take money from devils, Julian! Jaxson Vane is a shark, and you just sold him our integrity.”
“I saved your dream!” Julian shouted, his desperation cracking through.
“You tainted it,” Maya countered, walking to the door. “I can handle being poor, Julian. I can’t handle being bought.”
She opened the door. “Get out. I need to think about whether this partnership–and this relationship–can survive a lie this big.”