CHAPTER 35: ADORATION

The operating theatre gleamed like a futuristic shrine, its sterile surfaces catching the harsh glow of overhead LEDs and refracting them into a kaleidoscope of cold, clinical light. The air buzzed with the subtle hum of newly installed machinery, a symphony of soft whirs and electronic pulses that filled the space with an almost reverent energy.

Devon strode through the double doors, his white coat flowing behind him like a cape, the crisp fabric whispering against his broad shoulders and sculpted frame. His presence was on every eye in the room as if he were the sun pulling planets into orbit.

The theatre had been transformed into a masterpiece of modern medicine, gone were the clunky, outdated instruments, replaced by a dazzling array of cutting-edge technology that seemed to pulse with promise. Sleek surgical robots stood like mechanical titans, their articulated arms poised with precision, their holographic interfaces casting faint blue glows that danced across the polished floor.

High resolution imaging scanners lined one wall, their smooth contours gleaming like the hulls of starships, while trays of titanium tools, scalpels sharp enough to slice through anything, and retractors aligned with military precision, glinted like offerings on an altar to his skill.

Devon’s piercing blue eyes swept the room, cataloging every detail with the intensity of a predator sizing up its territory. His lips curled into a faint, self assured smirk, a silent acknowledgment of the power laid at his feet. He could already envision himself here, commanding these machines like a conductor , the robotic arms extending his reach into the delicate chaos of flesh and bone, peeling back the body’s secrets with godlike precision.

The thought sent a surge of adrenaline through him, his pulse quickening, a primal thrill that stirred something deep and hungry in his core.

Director Pierce scurried at his side in a navy suit that clung to his slight frame, his hair slicked back with the sheen of overzealous grooming. His face was a canvas of obsequious delight, his grin so wide it seemed to stretch the limits of his sallow cheeks, his eyes glinting with the fervor of a man who knew his own relevance hinged on pleasing the hospital’s golden god. "Dr Devon, if I may be so bold," he began, his voice a syrupy blend of deference and calculated warmth, the familiarity a deliberate ploy to seem closer to the man who held the hospital future in his hands. "Feast your eyes on this marvel. We’ve left no stone unturned, no expense spared. That Tan Xi surgical system over there?" He waved a hand toward a robotic console that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi blockbuster, its arms gleaming with the promise of surgical miracles. "The absolute pinnacle, just as you specified. Cost a small fortune, nearly gave the board heart palpitations, but for you, Devon, it’s worth every cent. And those neuromonitoring devices?" He pointed to a cluster of sleek machines, their screens flickering with intricate data streams. "Imported from Germany, calibrated to your exact protocols, down to the microsecond. We had to pull strings, call in favors, lean on suppliers, oh, the stories I could tell! But that’s the Blissville hospital way, whatever you need, we deliver."

Pierce’s words were a torrent of flattery, each syllable dripping with the kind of sycophancy that could lubricate entire bureaucracies. He paced alongside Devon, his hands gesticulating with theatrical flair, as if he were unveiling a masterpiece rather than hospital equipment. "You’re the lifeblood of this place, Devon, the beating heart. Without you, we’d be just another middling facility, scraping by on outdated tech and fading prestige. But with you? We’re a beacon, a global leader. You’re rewriting what’s possible in surgery, and we’re damn lucky to have you." He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial hush, though the room was far from empty. "Yvonne Sinclair, she’s practically your personal cheerleader on the board. You should hear her at meetings, Devon. ’Devon is a genius,’ she says, pounding the table. ’A visionary, the kind of talent that comes once in a century. We need to give him everything, budgets, resources, the moon if he asks for it.’ She’s got the board eating out of her hand, pushing your agenda like it’s a holy crusade. And she’s right, you know. You want a new wing? A research lab? A private jet to fly in specialists? Name it, and we’ll make it happen. Money’s no object for a man of your caliber."

The ass-kissing was a performance, blatant and unapologetic, delivered with the polish of a man who’d spent his career currying favor with those above him. Pierce’s eyes gleamed with the desperation of a parasite clinging to a host, his smile a calculated plea to keep Devon tethered to the hospital at all cost.

Devon’s expression remained impassive, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips, barely concealing his amusement. He knew the game, Pierce was probably feeding off his reputation, his skill, his ability to draw funding and fame to the hospital. Let him grovel, Devon thought. It suited him, this fawning devotion, and it gave Devon leverage after all.

The theatre buzzed with activity, a constellation of staff orbiting the new equipment like devotees tending a sacred site. Nurses in crisp teal scrubs adjusted monitors, their fingers dancing over touchscreens with practiced ease, but their eyes kept darting to Devon, their smiles bright and eager, as if his mere presence elevated the room’s gravity.

A young technician, his badge reading "Elliot," paused mid-calibration, his hands trembling slightly as he caught Devon’s glance. His face split into a grin, boyish and reverent, as he murmured, "Dr Devon, it’s an honor to work with your specs." Nearby, two nurses, one with a cascade of auburn curls, the other with a sharp bob, exchanged a glance, their lips curving into coy, conspiratorial smiles. "He’s unreal," the curly-haired one whispered, her voice low but not low enough, her cheeks flushing as she added, "Brilliant and... God, have you seen him?" The other nurse giggled, her eyes flicking to Devon’s broad frame, her gaze lingering on the way his coat hugged his shoulders, hinting at the power beneath.

Their admiration wasn’t just professional, it was laced with a hunger and lust as they stared at him.