CHAPTER 1

Princeton, New Jersey

It was 9:30AM. Having just arrived at the apartment provided for her, Ella was feeling slightly better about the situation.

Ella was shocked by the apartment. It was small, and barely had any room for her to walk around. As she first walked in, to her left was a small table with two chairs. There was a fridge, and two little tables for her to prepare meals. There was a small microwave, which sat on one of the tables.

On her right was a small couch with a TV. It had a little coffee table where she could place drinks and magazines. As she entered the far right room, there was a double bed and a small cupboard. The cupboard only had room for a few pairs of clothes, but it was enough for Ella to live on.

Sighing, she set her suitcases on the bed. Ella sat beside them, and placed her head in her hands. Sitting there for a while, Ella quickly checked the time on her watch.

It was already 9:45AM. She had to be at PPTH by 10AM. Quickly, Ella opened her suitcase and grabbed all her pre-folded clothes. She quickly shoved them in the draws of the cupboard, and sat the suitcases beside it.

She pulled out her fake medical certificate, which she still wondered how Darrin had made it. Hesitantly, she grabbed the keys for her hire car and left the apartment, locking the door behind her.

"Darrin, please don't make her do this. I love her."

"She has to. For the sake of the company."

"What company??"

"You know, mine and Zia's. You know we've been selling drugs throughout the world."

"Whatever, Darrin. Zia and Melanie are very close. Although Zia is helping you, if Melanie finds out, well you're going to be in big trouble."

"Don't speak about my sisters in that manner."

"In what manner?? I'm just warning you."

"Shut up, Ray. You're lucky you're alive here. At least my cousins got some sense to do what I say."

"Why do you need this House person's secret anyway?? How's it going to help your drug company??"

"Why would I tell you?? Just trust me, if we find out how he's so smart at medical research, we could always try it on the business perspective. We don't have to just sell drugs. We can sell Dr. House's secret. This can be the beginning of the growth of our company!!"

"Does Ella know about this??"

"Not yet. So far she doesn't even know about this business. But she will once she's done this mission, and then she won't have a way out of it. She wouldn't want to bring the police into it once she's involved."

"Miss Ella Runn??" Cuddy smiled, her door slightly open, just enough for her head to poke out.

Ella nodded. "Yeh, it's me."

Ella was wearing denim jeans and a dark blue v-neck t-shirt. She had her long, dark brown hair out. She looked casual. She liked it that way more.

"Come in, please." Cuddy said opening the door wider so Ella could enter.

Standing up, Ella entered Cuddy's office. She closed the door behind her, and sat on the seat opposite to where Cuddy was sitting.

Cuddy smiled. "Good morning, how are you??" She asked sweetly.

"Great, and you??" Ella answered, in a similar tone.

"Very good. Now you've sent in an résumé to work as a medical student??" Cuddy asked, looking at the file, as if to confirm.

Ella nodded. "Yeh, I have." She said nervously.

Cuddy looked at Ella. "I'm sorry, but I can't interview you for this job. Considering Dr. House will be your boss, you will have to have an interview with him to determine whether you will get the job." She said, her tone now more serious than before.

"That's fine." Ella said, noticing how this was getting easier for her.

Cuddy stood up. "Great then. I'll lead you to Dr. House's office, where you will get your interview."

Ella stood up, and followed Cuddy, who was now walking towards the door. As she opened the door, Cuddy stood aside, letting Ella walk through first.

As she walked through, Cuddy now behind her, Ella smiled. Now she was going to meet the all famous Dr. House.

"There you go. Good luck", Cuddy said, standing in front of House's office. She smiled sweetly at Ella.

"Thanks, Dr. Cuddy." She said, as Cuddy walked off, back to her office.

Ella took a deep breath, then knocked on the door. As she knocked, she had a chance to have a look at who House was.

House was sitting on the seat in his office, throwing a ball in the air and catching it. His feet were propped up on the table, and he looked relaxed.

Ella smiled. A relaxed Doctor was always better.

House turned to Ella. Raising his eyebrows, he looked at her for a few seconds, then went back to concentrating on the ball.

Quite insulted, and shocked, Ella hesitated. Maybe he wasn't like she thought.

After waiting for a few seconds, Ella had a thought come to mind. She had to get this job. Even if this meant having to being rude to people. Anyway, she didn't deal with people messing her around. She always got them back.

The bitchy side of Ella kicked in. She took in another deep breath, and exhaled. Ella opened the door friskily, and entered House's office.

"Hi, Dr. House." She said confidently, as she closed the door behind her. She walked up to the chair opposite House's, and sat down on it.

"Did I say you could come in??" He said, slightly annoyed, but also slightly amused by her sudden act towards him. House chucked his ball in the air.

Ella shrugged. "You knew I was there, I saw you look at me."

House caught the ball. "So is it the new custom?? If you look at someone, they're welcome to invade your privacy." House tensed his eyebrows sarcastically. "Just as long as you look at them." He continued.

Ella rolled her eyes. This guy's tough.

"Can we just get on with this interview??" Ella said, getting frustrated.

House glared at Ella. "Stuff the interview. Let's talk about you. Why else do you think you're here?? To talk about me??"

Ella sighed. What was she going to say?? A lie, or the truth?? The mixed truth.

"Well, my names Ella Runn. I'm 20, and I have a degree in medicine." Ella started.

House rolled his eyes. "Hm, very interesting. A 20 year old with a medical degree?? Either you're a real high achiever or you're lying to me. I don't like liars. They're mean." House said sarcastically, as Ella stared at him.

"I think I'm more on the high achiever side. Didn't seem to lie as a kid, wasn't my thing." Ella said, hoping he would then shut up.

"People change." House said, as he grabbed his cane. He stood up with the support from it, and headed to the door.

Opening it, he stood aside, waiting for Ella to leave. "If you're such a high achiever, then maybe tomorrow you can prove you're smarter than all the other dumb heads I've got working for me." House said, as Ella stood up.

"Thank you", she said quietly, as headed towards the door. Ella walked out of House's office. As soon as she was out, House slammed the door closed, and walked back to his desk.

Smiling, Ella walked away. She had gotten the job. He was so easy.

House sat on his seat, his legs propped up on his desk again. He grabbed his ball again, and went back to throwing it in the air and catching it. Smiling, House was impressed. Not only with Ella, but with himself.

If only she knew that he knew who she really was. She was so easy.