Dereck answered the call, and the director asked him to come to his office, as he wanted to speak with him. Even if he didn't want to, he would have to leave that matter for later.
"We'll continue later, but this isn't over." Dereck stated and left the area.
George was left there alone and sighed, trying to calm down. He started to think about the questions he heard from his colleagues, about whether he enjoyed what Dereck did. Even though he imagined a woman there, he would never admit that what he did was pleasurable.
He waited a bit before leaving. He didn't want anyone to see him leaving after Dereck. The other man went straight to the director's office, knocked on the door, and was allowed to enter. Dereck sat down in front of the director, and for some reason, he felt a chill down his spine.
The director, a middle-aged man with graying hair and piercing eyes, was looking at him with a somewhat displeased expression.
"Dr. Clark," the director began, "I believe you can already imagine why I asked you to come to my office. You are an excellent doctor, I have no doubt about that, but this incident could bring complications for you and damage your career."
Dereck swallowed hard but wasn't understanding where the conversation was going. He was the one exposed, but the way the director spoke seemed like he was the one who committed the offense.
"Could you be clearer, sir? How could this video damage my career? The person in the video that appears with me recorded it without my authorization and even spread it around the hospital. In this context, shouldn't he be the one punished?"
The director leaned back in his chair and sighed, crossed his hands, and seemed a bit at a loss for words.
"Dr. Clark, the version he told here in this office was different."
"What did he say here?" Dereck asked incredulously.
"George stated that you were harassing him frequently and that you even threatened him, using your position as a doctor. He said he accepted out of fear of losing his job and that he recorded it as proof of what you were doing to him, but that he was not the one who spread the video."
Dereck couldn't help but smile at what he heard. He stood up, expressing his indignation.
"How could that creep say that? He was the one who approached me. He made a bet to prove I was gay. What he's saying is just to get away with what he did."
The director, seeing that Dereck was very agitated, stood up and went over to him.
"That's a lie," Dereck stated once more. "Have you ever heard that I harassed someone here? That I disrespected anyone in this hospital?"
"To be honest, I don't believe what he said. In all these years, I've never received a complaint about you. Dereck, let me ask you something: did anyone see and can confirm that he came onto you? Or do you have any way to prove that he's lying? If this goes forward, it will be an ordeal for you, it will expose you even more, and, as I said, it could damage your career. Do you understand that what I'm trying to say is that you need to be careful what you do next?"
He advised Dereck and returned to his chair, continuing his line of thought.
"If this was a bet, do you think the people involved will confirm it? He and whoever is involved in this know they could be sued for it. They will help each other, and who do you have to help you?"
That question made Dereck think. Besides the nurse who warned him that this was happening, nobody else said anything about that matter.
"So what you're suggesting is that I should just let it go and keep going as if nothing happened? As if my privacy wasn't violated, besides being exposed to ridicule by the entire hospital? How can that be fair?" Dereck questioned, his voice full of frustration.
"I know what you want is justice, what I said is for you to weigh what really matters to you and what you can lose or gain from all of this. I just presented the options to you. I'm the director of this hospital, but I don't own it; if they think that somehow a lawsuit, a scandal, could damage the hospital or its image, they won't hesitate to remove you, or both of you, from here."
Dereck was feeling extremely frustrated at that moment. Knowing that George could still get away with what he did left him with a feeling of helplessness.
"If you think you can't work with the stares, gossip, and unnecessary comments, I can get you a transfer, with a good recommendation. Think about what you want to do and tell me. If you decide to file a complaint or a lawsuit, I hope you know what you're facing and I also hope you can get enough evidence; otherwise, things could turn against you."
Dereck thanked him for the conversation and left the director's office. Instead of going to his office, he headed for the terrace, where some staff went to smoke and rest. He went to the edge of the railing, feeling the wind hit his face, closed his eyes, and wished that the wind would take away all that unpleasant feeling he was experiencing. Dereck stood like that for a long time, until he heard a voice calling him, and he turned around.
"Are you alright, sir?" The one who asked the question was the nurse who warned him about what was happening. "I didn't know you came here too."
"I don't usually come here, but I think I needed to. To tell you the truth, the hospital hallways are suffocating me."
"Were you able to resolve that matter?" the young man asked, getting closer to Dereck.
"He was clever. To tell you the truth, he accused me of harassment and threatening him to sleep with me."
"What? How can he be so shameless? I heard comments that he did that to prove you're gay. The director, or someone, should do something."
"I already spoke with the director. If I want to take it further, I would have to get proof, witnesses to allege that I didn't commit this harassment. On the one hand, he's right. How many people would be willing to get involved in this matter and say that he's lying? No one saw him talking to me and asking me out."
Dereck thought for a while as he stood there alone. Everyone was afraid of losing their jobs or getting into trouble. He understood that he was basically alone in this problem and, as the director said, his career was very important to him. He would really have to think hard about what he would do.
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