Free Surrender by Melody Anne Page A

confidence then they’d see that the only right decision was to give her mother the operation she not only needed, but deserved.
    “I’m here for a meeting with Mr. Coolidge and the board members,” Ari announced to the secretary stationed on the executive floor.
    “Name, please?”
    “Arianna Harlow.”
    “They’re waiting for you now. Go through the door on the left.”
    Ari tightened her purse on her shoulder and made her way to the door. She stalled when she walked through, seeing all the exceptionally dressed men and women sitting around a large oval table. One chair was available at the end. She assumed it was for her, but she didn’t want to sit until invited.
    “Ms. Harlow. Thank you for meeting with us. Please, have a seat over there so we can get started.”
    “I appreciate you taking the time to see me,” she murmured as she made her way to the empty chair. She should lift her head and make eye-contact with each person there, but suddenly her nerves were getting the best of her.
    Each member of the board was a doctor, retired doctor, or important member of the community. They had high powered jobs, loads of cash, and Ari and her mother were nothing to them. For the first time she accepted that the outcome may not go the way she needed it to.
    “We’ve reviewed your mother’s case and we have a few questions for you.”
    Ari glanced up at the stern looking man sitting at the head of the table. The name plate before him announced him as Mr. Coolidge, who was the chairman of the board. If she could get him on her side, things would go a lot more smoothly for her. She’d done her research.
    “I’m willing to answer anything, Mr. Coolidge.”
    “Our pro-bono budget has been maxed out this month. We have many cases where patients don’t have enough insurance, or certain procedures aren’t covered. We take pride in offering more discounted surgeries than other places, but we do have to set a limit. After all, we are a business, and if everyone had free surgery we would go under. We’ve looked through your application and can see here that you aren’t currently working. How do you expect to contribute to your mother’s medical costs?”
    “I was hired for a new job yesterday with Sunstream Electronics. I have an excellent salary and very few expenses right now. I can contribute seventy percent of my earnings each month toward my mother’s care,” she answered proudly.
    “That’s a step in the right direction, but still won’t be enough. The daily stay in the hospital adds up quickly. Your mother has already been here for two weeks now and her bill is…” he paused as he flipped through some papers. “… a little over fifteen thousand. With the surgery she needs, we’re looking at a final bill of well over two-hundred thousand dollars. Even if the hospital managed to contribute funds, you’d be expected to pay well over a hundred thousand of that. Do you have a way of obtaining a loan, or possibly selling some personal property?”
    Ari’s throat closed. There was no way a bank would loan her that kind of money. She had nothing to back up the loan, no credit, and barely any work experience. Up until six months ago, she’d only been a college student. A financial institution would have to be crazy to give her the cash.
    “I’ve filled out all the forms you gave me. I haven’t heard back from the businesses yet, but expect to at any time,” she squeaked past the tightness in her throat.
    “I’m going to be honest with you, Ms. Harlow. This doesn’t look good. If we don’t have a solid plan within the next few days, we’re going to have to discharge your mother.”
    “You can’t do that! You can’t just send her away, knowing that she’ll die,” Ari begged.
    “As I told you, this is a business, Ms. Harlow. We don’t like denying treatment to anyone, but as I already told you, we can’t afford to offer surgeries to patients who can’t pay for them.”
    Ari’s heart was