Dr. Sterling walked into the office where Ingram and Elmira were waiting. He held a clipboard, looking pale.
Eleanor had refused to leave the hospital, lurking in the corridor like a vulture. She followed the doctor in.
"Well?" Eleanor demanded. "Tell Ingram about the risks she took."
Dr. Sterling cleared his throat. He looked at Elmira with something approaching awe. "Actually... if Ms. Moran hadn't intervened, your mother would have suffered irreversible brain damage."
Eleanor froze. "Impossible."
"Explain," Ingram said. He was sitting on the edge of the desk, arms crossed.
"It was a toxicity reaction," Dr. Sterling said. "But we couldn't figure out the source."
"It was the Royal Swallow Supplement," Elmira said quietly.
"That is a lie!" Eleanor shrieked. "That supplement costs two thousand dollars a bottle! It's pure extract!"
Elmira stood up. She walked to the whiteboard on the wall. She picked up a black marker.
She wrote a simple equation.
Ginsenosides + Digoxin = Inhibition of P-glycoprotein.
She didn't draw the complex structures, just the names.
"The supplement increases the absorption of the heart medication by 400%," Elmira said, capping the marker. The click was loud in the silent room. "You didn't supplement her diet, Eleanor. You overdosed her."
She turned to face the older woman. "Ignorance is not a defense. Especially when you fired the nutritionist who tried to warn you last week."
Ingram looked at the whiteboard. He looked at the simple, damning equation.
"Get out," Ingram said.
Eleanor looked at him. "Ingram..."
"Get out, Mother. Before I have security drag you out."
Eleanor fled.
Dr. Sterling looked at Elmira. "Where did you study? That's advanced pharmacokinetics."
"I... I spent a lot of time in libraries," Elmira said, looking away. "Self-taught."
Ingram stood up. "Thank you, Doctor. Leave us."
When the door closed, Ingram moved. He crossed the room in two strides. He backed Elmira against the desk. He placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her.
"Libraries," he repeated. His voice was low, dangerous.
"Yes," Elmira said, meeting his gaze. She didn't flinch.
"Scholarship students don't know advanced toxicology. They don't know how to leverage a corporate liability." He leaned down. His nose brushed hers. "Who are you?"
"I'm your problem," Elmira whispered. "And I just saved your most valuable asset."
Ingram stared at her. He was looking for a crack in the porcelain. He couldn't find one.
"If you are a corporate spy," he said, his breath warm on her lips, "I will destroy you."
"If you destroy me," Elmira replied, "who will save your grandmother next time?"
