"What??? You can't be serious… I hate this kind of events!!" House yelled across Cuddy's office. "I'm not going there, no way. Tuxedos are appalling, itchy, cause rash and the bow ties hinder me from breathing regularly. Are you trying to kill me???"
"House, stop. This is important and for what I remember, you owe me this for being constantly escaping your clinic duty for at least five years." She gave him a winning smile and sat on her chair behind her table. As she searched something through the papers discarded all over her desk, she realized House still hadn't left the room. Without even looking at him she asked.
"Anything else?"
"I'm waiting for you to change your mind. And you better be sure I'll be waiting as long as possible." He said and sat on the couch pouting.
"Don't be childish. You go to the benefit, have a chit-chat with all your buddies from college, get some drink, possibly have a dance too and most likely you enjoy yourself." She had to smile at the idea of House dancing but changed her tone immediately. "Now get out of my office until I'm notifying security, okay?"
House took a deep breath as if he wanted to say something but obviously gave up on the unnecessary prolongation of the conversation. He got up and limped out of Cuddy's office but before he could close the door behind him, he heard her add something that scared him even more than the benefit itself.
"House! Make sure to be accompanied by a really nice woman…"
"What???" House said walking back to the room. "Are you crazy? Not only I will be annoyed by old school pals but also by some damn woman?"
"Well, if you choose a good one, you won't be annoyed, I believe." She said winking at him.
"Will a hooker do?" House asked winking back.
"No."
He sighed and left with a resigned look.