His partner circled around, creating a barrier that effectively isolated Immani from the rest of the room. Immani stood her ground, though her legs felt weak. Nova continued to cry against her chest, and she could feel her daughter's tears soaking through her shirt. The injustice of the moment pressed down on her like a physical weight, the guards treating her as the threat, Mara's smug expression behind them, the other patients watching in uncomfortable silence. I will not step aside, Imani declared, her voice growing stronger despite the tremble in her hands.
"That nurse just assaulted me and my infant daughter. I'm not moving anywhere." Ma'am, if you continue to be uncooperative, the guard's hand moved closer to his belt. The young mother, who had been recording, spoke up from across the room. She's telling the truth.
I got it all on video. The nurse hit her, but the guards kept their attention fixed on Immani, their stance making it clear whom they viewed as the problem. Mara had retreated behind the nurse's station, already scribbling furiously on her clipboard, no doubt crafting her version of events. With Nova still crying against her chest, Immani took a deep breath and reached for her phone with her free hand. The security guards watched her every move.
Their stance tense, she kept her voice steady as she dialed Tai's number, knowing he was waiting in the car outside. "Tai, I need you to come get Nova." Her voice cracked slightly. "There's been an incident." "What happened?"
Tai's voice carried clear concern through the speaker. "Just come now, please. Main entrance." She ended the call, keeping her eyes locked with the larger security guard. "My partner is coming to take our daughter.
Then we can discuss what happened here." Mara's smirk grew wider behind the desk. "Oh, we'll definitely be discussing what happened." I'm already documenting your aggressive behavior. Less than a minute later, Tai's tall frame appeared in the doorway.
His military training showed in how quickly he assessed the scene. the security guards, Immani's reddened cheek, the frightened patience. He moved smoothly to Immani's side, carefully taking Nova into his arms. "You okay?" he asked quietly, noting the tremor in Immani's hands as she passed their daughter to him. "I will be," she whispered. ""Take her outside. I'll handle this."" Once Nova was safely in Tai's arms, Immani's demeanor shifted.
She straightened her spine and reached for her messenger bag, pulling out her tablet with deliberate calm. The security guards exchanged uncertain glances as she began tapping through files. "Since you're so fond of documentation, Nurse Kincaid,", Immani's voice carried clearly across the waiting room. "Let's review some important paperwork." "You can save your complaints for the administration."
Mara sneered. Right now you need to leave before we have you removed. "Actually," Immani turned her tablet around, displaying a legal document with prominent letterhead. "I believe you'll find that I am the administration." The young mother who had been recording leaned forward in her chair.
Other patients set aside their magazines, the tension in the room shifting. "What are you talking about?" Mara's confidence wavered slightly. "Three days ago, Care Loop Healthcare Technologies completed its acquisition of Riverbridge Medical Group, including this birthing center. Immani swiped to display another document.
"As CEO of Care Loop, that makes me your boss—or rather, your former boss." The color drained from Mara's face. "You're lying." The board approved the merger last month. The paperwork was finalized on Tuesday.
Immani's voice remained measured, but her eyes blazed. Section 8.3 of the employee handbook covers emergency termination in cases of patient endangerment. Striking a mother holding an infant certainly qualifies. The security guards stepped back, their earlier certainty crumbling. The second nurse, who had been hovering behind Mara, slowly backed away toward the breakroom.
You can't just, Mara sputtered. "I can, and I am." Immani turned to address the security guards directly. "Please escort Nurse Kincaid off the premises immediately." "She is no longer employed here, effective this moment."
She looked around the waiting room. The same applies to all staff currently on duty who witnessed this assault and failed to intervene. A murmur rippled through the waiting room. One of the patients actually clapped before quickly stifling herself. "This is ridiculous."
Mara grabbed her phone. I'm calling Dr. Leland. "Doctor Leland no longer has authority here," Immani stated firmly. "And your access badges will be deactivated within the next five minutes." I suggest you gather your personal belongings quickly.
The larger security guard cleared his throat. "Ma'am, we'll need to verify this with—" "Check your emails," Immani cut him off. The management change notification went out this morning. Your security company contracts directly with Care Loop now. The guard pulled out his phone, scrolling quickly.
His eyebrows shot up as he found the message. He showed it to his partner, who nodded grimly. "Ms. Kincaid." The guard turned to Mara, his tone now professional but cold. Please come with us.
This is absurd. You can't just walk in here. And Mara's voice rose hysterically. "I can. I have.
And I did." Immani held up her tablet again. "Would you like me to read the specific clause that gives me this authority?" Or would you prefer to leave with some dignity intact? The young mother who had been recording stood up.
I have the whole thing on video, the assault, everything, just in case anyone needs to see it. Mara's face contorted with rage and disbelief. She looked around the waiting room, but found no allies. The other staff members had already disappeared into the breakroom, presumably gathering their things. "This isn't over," Mara hissed as the security guards moved to flank her.
You're right, Imani agreed calmly. The medical board will be very interested in reviewing your conduct and those incident reports you've been writing. We'll be examining those very carefully. The security guards began escorting Mara toward the exit. Her heels no longer clicked with authority.
They scraped against the floor as she stumbled. Her composure finally breaking. Immani remained standing in the center of the waiting room, tablet in hand, as other staff members began filing out. Some shot her angry looks, others kept their eyes down, but all of them left. The young mother with the phone approached her.
"That was amazing," she said quietly. ""Do you want a copy of the video?"" "Yes, please," Immani nodded. "Send it to this email." She wrote her address on a slip of paper, her hands finally steady. As the last of the terminated staff disappeared through the glass doors, an uneasy quiet settled over the waiting room. The remaining patients whispered among themselves, some still recording on their phones.
Immani's shoulders remained straight, but exhaustion crept into her stance as the adrenaline began to fade. A petite nurse in blue scrubs approached from a side hallway, glancing nervously over her shoulder. Her name tag read Rosa Ortega. And unlike the others, her expression held concern rather than anger. "Ms. Caldwell."
Rosa's voice was barely above a whisper. "Could I speak with you privately? Please?" Immani studied the nurse's face, searching for any sign of hostility. Finding none, she nodded.
Let's use that consultation room. She gestured to a small office nearby, its door still ajar from the recent chaos. Once inside, Rosa closed the door carefully. Her hands trembled as she reached into her scrub pocket. ""What happened to you today?"" ""It wasn't random, and it wasn't just about breastfeeding."" I had a feeling, Imani said, watching as Rosa withdrew a small flash drive. "I've been collecting evidence for months," Rosa explained, her words tumbling out in a rush.
Incident reports, patient complaints, internal memos, all buried or altered. They have a system here, especially with black mothers. She held out the drive. "They always make the mothers look crazy or unfit. You're not the first."
Immani took the flash drive, its plastic casing warm from being carried close to Rosa's body. "How long has this been going on?" Years. At least since I started here. Rosa wrung her hands.