Jared Banks is nothing more than a distraction.

"Are you okay, Natalie? You seem really distracted lately."

"Yeah, I'm fine, Miles, it's just family stuff. And some things at work."

"Oh. I thought that maybe you and I were still having the same trouble seeing Marty and John together."

"I really haven't had much time to even think about those two lately."

"Really? Huh. Well, speaking of work, how are things at BE?"

"Business is fine. I mean, there are corporate raiders just about everywhere I turn lately but surprisingly enough, Jared Banks has actually been a little helpful in fighting some of them off."

"Jared Banks, huh? I thought you couldn't stand him if I'm thinking of the right guy. He's the one that lied on his resume and lied about knowing your grandfather, right? He tried to lie and charm his way in, didn't he?"

"Yep, that's him."

"Well, if you don't mind me asking, why did you hire him?"

"He's smart. And he's incredibly persistent."

"But he's not qualified and you seemed to really dislike him."

"Yeah, well…he's persistent."

"I know how persistent someone can be when they think that they really want something. Just how persistent is this Jared? He's not blackmailing you, is he?"

"Please, Jared Banks doesn't have anything on me."

"Natalie, I would really hate it if someone put you through anything like what I did to Marty. If you need any help--"

"Thank you, Miles, I appreciate that but you don't have to worry about me. Really. You know how sometimes you get a bug bite and it's constantly itching and you tell yourself not to scratch it because it's only going to make it worse but then you end up scratching it anyway because you can't stand it and need the relief? Well, Jared's like a bug bite."

"So, you hired him because he was annoying?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Is he still annoying?"

"Kinda."

"And you haven't fired him?"

"He's determined to prove himself. And he's a lot more competent than I originally thought. And he's starting to grow on me -- like a fungus. Plus, he takes my mind off of John. And Marty."

"Wait, are you and he--"

"NO! No. No, no, no, no, no--he and I aren't anything. And we're not doing anything except working together. That ship is never going to sail. As a matter of fact, there is no ship."

"Whoa, Natalie, easy; I believe you. It's just that you said he takes your mind off of John, I was only curious if you were moving on."

"Oh. Well, I'm moving on with my life and I'm getting over him. It's a lot easier than I was expecting."

"That's probably because you've got your job and your family and your, uh, bug bite to distract you."

"That I do."

"And it's only a bug bite?"

"It's only a bug bite. I just hope it doesn't spread."

She could admit that Jared had his usefulness. Heck, she could almost even thank him for getting her mind off of John. And Marty. But she wasn't going to. He'd only take it the wrong way and think that he was getting to her. But he isn't. Only in the way that he takes her mind off of all of her problems except him.