Ruined By His Ring

New York's Infamous Queen slumps at her birthday party: Could this be her last?

"Why do we have a queen?" Vivian looked up at me and decided I wasn't worth her response, returning to her phone.

"It makes absolutely no sense to fawn over some self-acclaimed queen who has done nothing but steal funds." I logged out of the page angrily. This sort of news isn't worth publishing.

"Could you keep your voice down?" Vivian hushed, looking around fearfully. "People talk, Melly. This is hardly the place for that."

Marietta Salvatore was a name everyone feared. She was just a spindly old woman but for some reason, her deeds and power earned her the title of Queen of New York.

"Whatcha you worried about? That men in black would suddenly pop out and arrest us because I said she's not a queen? Stop dreaming, Viv." I finished the cup of coffee in one last gulp. I had no time for society gossip.

Straightening my lab coat, I was about to leave before Viv held me back.

"Will you attend Doctor James's birthday party tonight?"

I hated it when Viv was so inconsiderate and selfish. She was too shallow-minded for my liking and despite all I had done to change her, she was still the same.

"Can you listen to yourself, Vivian? I told you earlier today that I had discovered that glioblastoma manipulates the immune system and-"

"And no other doctor has found that out." She spat out, making my anger rise.

"I don't care if other doctors have found it out. None of them did that during their residency. I'm going to provide a cure within a year, Viv. I will."

I walked out on her because I had wasted more than enough time already. I needed to be present for a cardiac surgery, not like it mattered to me.

Most doctors frowned at my intelligence. They were so jealous that they would reject my advice and the truth I rubbed in their face. But I didn't care. By the time I was done with my research, they would lick my feet in praise.

"Doctor Hilbert? Thank goodness I found you! An AE patient was just wheeled in. Really critical. I was asked to get you."

I looked at the young doctor, sweating profusely like he had run a marathon. Nothing ticked me off like incompetent doctors.

"So, if I wasn't here, what would have happened?"

"Um...I don't know! But you really need to get there! We're losing him. He's a sixteen-year-old!"

"For the love of God! Can you guys learn not to depend on me? I have a lot to achieve, the last thing I need is something as insignificant as this surgery." I grumbled as I followed him.

"We could run while you complain." He spat out. I noted the disdain in his voice but kept silent.

I knew how much they all hated me. But that was the problem with success. They had probably seen my future success and couldn't stand the thought of a simple girl overshadowing them.

"She's here!" I relished in their sighs of relief as the crowd of useless doctors parted ways for me, creating a path to the theater.

***

Two hours later, I walked out of the theater majestically, basking in the claps around me.

"Melanie! That was great. I mean it's not the cure to brain cancer yet, but saving a kid that all the contents of his brain splattered on the pavement? In two hours? No, that's very commendable." My supervisor beamed as he stared at me with admiration.

Saving me the terror of lecturing him on big dreams, my phone rang. It was Mum.

"I've said this several times, Ma. Stop calling me when I'm at work. I'm saving lives here, not grocery shopping!"

"Hey, baby! If you-"

"Whatever you want me to do, you can always ask Bianca! She's going to be dead soon so she needs to stop with the excuses of being weak." I hung up immediately.

The thought of my sister lying about, pretending to die at any moment sickens me. Thousands of sicklers worked daily and carried out a normal life. She was just being pathetic.

"Don't you think you were a tad bit..." I shot the blabbering man a look.

"Of course! She's your Mum and you can speak to her anyhow that suits you."

"I'm glad you understand, Doctor." I walked into my cubicle in my office, to see Viv seated there, judging me with her eyes.

"What? Don't tell me that they're waiting for me to start the cardiac surgery. I'm not tired, but my shift is over and I need to get back to my research."

"Because nothing else matters in this hospital."

"Exactly. You're the only one that understands me. His surgery should be rescheduled for tomorrow. I have more important matters." I slipped into the changing room.

I could overhear Viv making a call with her boyfriend. My heart twinged as it reminded me of how lonely I was. With just Viv as a friend, with not a hint of romance, my life was the perfect description of a loner.

But all these were a sacrifice for success.

"I have to go. See you tomorrow." I left the hospital, ignoring the looks and whispering around me. I would soon join the American Cancer Society, leaving behind this pathetic hospital.

I drove towards my parent's house. Despite my mother's nagging and buttering up around me, I loved her to bits. I dialed her number but she wasn't answering.

"Typical Mum," I muttered. I considered calling my father, but I was almost home, and we weren't so close after Bianca's near-death experience in March.

As I neared the house, I saw the first sign that something was up; Two black SUVs and a Tesla lined our driveway. Their plate number, the familiar three-chain symbol every American was familiar with. My parents were standing with two men in black while the rest, dressed like SWAT, surrounded them.

"Mum! Dad!" I screamed as I ran out of the car. My sister, Bianca quickly turned to me with a cruel smile.

"That's her!" She squeaked. One of the men who held my father released him abruptly. Their attention is on me.

The other man walked up to me, a few of the soldiers encircling me. He opened the door to the nearest SUV.

"Doctor Melanie Ayra Hilbert. Please come with us."