Royal Pains

Painful Choices

By: Lorrie Ellis

Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own, the rights to any of the TV Show Royal Pains, or any of its characters. This story is written for entertainment only.

Chapter 1

Potential Problems

"Evan, get the lead out. We have an appointment." Hank shouted to his younger brother, and CFO of their concierge medical practice, HankMed, Inc.

"I'm coming." Evan called out as he bounded down the stairs. "Here I am."

Hank couldn't help but smile at his younger brother. He was decked out in a pair of nice linen pants, and a cool, white, cotton, short-sleeve shirt. His hair was slicked back and yes, he looked every bit the part of a CFO. "Come on, let's get going."

"Where's Divya?" Evan asked as he climbed into the car.

"She's meeting us there." Hank replied as he cranked the car.

Evan pulled out his briefcase as Hank started down the driveway. "What's that?" Hank asked as he watched Evan pull a packet of papers together.

"Oh, just the usually HankMed, Inc. client packet. I want to be sure that ChemLab has all of the information up front." He replied.

Hank nodded. "I just hope Emily doesn't show up too."

"Yeah, well if you weren't so chummy with her . . ." Evan started, emphasizing the word 'chummy'.

Hank shook his head. "Uh-uh. You can stop right there."

Evan threw up his hands. "I'm just saying."

"I know what you're 'just saying'. I'm not doing anything to hurt the company."

Evan nodded. "Just make sure you keep your head on straight, OK?"

"This is somewhat sobering." Hank laughed.

"What?" Evan asked.

"Role reversal." Hank laughed again.

Evan joined him. "I see what you mean." He closed his briefcase. "So who are we meeting anyway?

"We're supposed to meet Dr. Robert Wyman. Jill set this up; she said this could greatly benefit us and the clinic." Hank replied.

"OK. What are we in for, or do you know?" Evan asked.

"According to Jill, ChemLab is looking to more or less partner up with a clinic and maybe a concierge medical practice, much like HankMed, Inc. to filter their drugs through." Hank explained.

"You mean, they want to use our, I mean your, patients as guinea pigs?"

Hank shot Evan a mean look. "No, that's not what I mean at all. Evan, pharmaceutical companies need a test market for their products and to ChemLab, we're local. We're talking about medications that have already been approved by the FDC, not something they've just created."

"Ok, again, I'm sorry if I'm out of line. I'm just . . ."

Hank chimed in, ". . . looking out for the company, I know . . . and I appreciate it." He smiled as they pulled up to the security guard at ChemLab's front gate.

TBC