Chapter 3: Unbreaking the Ice

"Just look at her face," spat Cristina Yang casting a discreet glance up at Meredith Grey. "She's gloating, looking down on us as if she owned us!"

"Which she practically does," reminded Sloan. "I don't have a problem with being owned by her. and she has a sexy friend." He pointed at Addie. "Ouch!"

Izzie hit him with a chart. "That sexy friend is probably the first one of many who'll come here and steal our jobs! Show some solidarity!"

"I won't let some Dr. Model babe rule me around," swore Cristina. "I mean, what right does she have to do that? I would accept Shepherd or Hahn, or Bailey but not her!"

"She's playing in your field, Shepherd," remarked Alex Karev. "You'll be able to tell if she's any good."

Derek nodded slowly. That was his last hope. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but the situation proved to be a bad blow. He came to Seattle to eventually become the Chief. True, Webber only promised him that he would be in the first line but… He was so sure of the victory! Then, a tiny arrogant woman came over and snatched it away from him. A woman several years his junior, with lesser experience and high-street manner. And she was a neurosurgeon, which bewildered him enormously but also kept his spirits up. He would look with an eagle eye for any slip-ups, any mistakes…

If only she wasn't so… well, there wasn't a better word to put it – hot. Derek found it irksome. He hated her guts but felt attracted to her at the same time. His eyes wandered to her form on their own accord; his and probably every other male's in the vicinity.

"You ask me," Cristina started venomously, " that Chief was using a different body part for thinking than his brain when he was making the decision."

"Don't say that," George O'Malley finally spoke up. "You're insulting the Chief, the Chiefs I mean; the old Chief and the new Chief. They just met personally for the first time this morning; I was there."

"You like her, dude?" snorted Alex. "You don't stand a chance."

George tried to remain cool and prevent the color from rising on his cheeks. "It's just that we are a team now. We're all on the same side. We've got to help each other."

"The problem is, O'Malley," said silently Derek. "That she's not part of the team."

"Yeah, she's a foreign body in the eye," backed him up Cristina. "I won't call her Chief."

"Me neither," piped Izzie. "You have to earn to be the Chief. It's not only the matter of appointment."

The others agreed in silence, except for George, in whose opinion Meredith Grey had already earned that right. She won the competition convincing Dr. Webber and the board alike. It was enough of an argument for him and should be enough for everybody else.

The occasion to put into practice what Meredith promised to Addie came later that evening.

There was a short knock on the door to her office and Meredith didn't even open her mouth to call "come in" when Derek Shepherd himself strode into her office.

This very moment, Meredith Grey was positive she had never seen an equally impressive man. His manly jaw covered with stubble, the dark curls on his scalp, the blue pools of his eyes and the broad shoulders… Meredith noted to herself that she would have a nice view of his backside when he would be walking out of her office.

What Derek shepherd wanted was just to hand in the required report as fast as possible and save himself the humiliation of the encounter.

"I've brought the report concerning my department." Damn it! She looked so enticing and provocative even when she was buttoned up to her neck. And he called Mark a manwhore… Judging by what he wanted to do with her, he wasn't any better.

"Thank you," Meredith gave him a radiant smile.

He nodded and turned to leave.

"Dr. Shepherd," called Meredith after him, still smiling.

She realized how similar they were. As Addie put it, they shared "the common passion for neuro". They were equally ambitious, and successful. His files told Meredith he finished med school at the top of his class, just like her. She knew that he was the runner-up in the competition, and she had professional respect for him.

When she sent in her candidature, she didn't even dream of actually getting the job. She wanted to try her chances and to make her name known on the opposite coast. However, she won, and at that moment, she was doubly proud that she won over such a man.

"Dr. Shepherd," Meredith. "I'd like to tell you that I appreciate the chance of working here, especially beating such a tough competition as you and your colleagues. I know you'd be sitting here behind this desk if it hadn't been for me."

Derek couldn't believe his ears. She was mocking him, shoving her triumph over him straight into his face.

"I wouldn't be sitting, I would be doing my job," replied coldly.

His comment worked like a bucket of cold water on Meredith. She was so wrong about him! What an obnoxious type, to ditch her like that when she was complimenting him! There was nothing good about him after all, except the package. Besides, he wasn't so good-looking after all. The Big Apple was full of hotter men. Addie was absolutely right about the nose.

"I'm getting to it," Meredith's icy voice could make the hell freeze. "I'm going to study your report right away. I'll contact you tomorrow with my suggestions on how to improve the running of the department."

Derek forced himself not to show any signs of his anger. How dared she?

"Can't wait." He headed to the door when he was halted once again by her voice.

"Dr. Shepherd," she said sweetly. "The next time you come to my office, wait until I let you in. I don't know what the practice was like before but now you and the rest of the staff will abide the manners while referring to your superior," she emphasized the last word. "You're free to go. Goodnight, Dr. Shepherd."

Derek turned his back to her and left without another word. Meredith knew she hit him to the core. There was nothing worse for an arrogant ass than punctured pride.

Meredith's eyes inadvertently travelled down his retreating form and she slapped herself on the forehead when she registered what she was looking at. Perfect ass has perfect ass, just perfect…