Dear Readers: Just to let you know, I'm going to be gone from Sun-Wed on a short vacation to Yosemite to do some hiking. I'll probably post when I get back on Wed, but if not, I will on Thursday. So, I decided to give you an extra chapter today.

Chapter 2

Fast Forward

"You promised."

"I said I would consider it if the opportunity ever arose. I didn't promise." I leaned back in my chair, balancing the Mojito in one hand and the remote to the television in the other.

"Oh, for God's sakes Finley, put that remote down and talk to me. You said that if I could find you a position at my hospital, you'd apply. Well, they need another surgeon as soon as possible. You're overqualified, but the hospital is keen on bringing in hot-shots to improve the surgical department's reputation. You'd be perfect for that."

"Susan, I have a good job already."

"But, you're across the country in Los Angeles and I'm here in Princeton. Come on, isn't it time you stepped out of your comfort zone and did something extraordinary? It's been three years since you broke up with Teddy. You have to see him every day—you have to see her every day. Doesn't that bother you?"

I sighed. It bothered me more than I wanted to admit, especially since they were married three months ago. I'd tried to put it behind me, the idea that my significant other who claimed he never wanted to marry anyone, suddenly dumped me after six years and ran off with a pair of double D's. Unfortunately, the double D's belonged to a surgical nurse that was often assigned to my operations. I felt like God was laughing at me.

"Of course it bothers me."

She moved her chair closer to me and leaned in giving me that cheeky grin of hers. "Oh, come on Finley; I miss you! We could have so much fun. I'm lonely. Keith might have been an ass, but at least he could be good company at times. I don't like being alone without a posse."

Keith was Susan's ex-husband. After four years of marriage and numerous affairs on his part (not to say that Susan was lilly white,) she had finally said 'enough was enough' and sent him packing. The pre-nup had been so air-tight that Keith received even less than the pre-nup provided, because, in the end, the court sided with Susan. Keith was given half of what he would have been entitled to because he violated the no-contest clause in the prenup. He walked away with $1.0 million dollars. Susan's personal trust fund was worth over fifty million, the family's trust was worth even more.

"I've got a great loft with three bedrooms. You can stay with me. We'll have a great time."

I looked at her and could tell she was serious; she desperately wanted me to join her, to keep her company and I really did want to start over.

I exhaled and looked up at the ceiling and into the future. "I'll submit my resume."

She jumped up and clapped, smiling at me as if she'd just won the lottery. As usual, Susan looked gorgeous in her gold palazzo pants and deep purple satin blouse. Despite the fact that she looked gorgeous, tasteful and ready for her closeup; the outfit had been chosen for lounging, she'd never go out in it. I sat in a pair of sweat pants, t-shirt and slippers—what I considered to be real lounging gear.

"Fantastic. Now, turn on Fox, I think that medical show is on tonight."

Susan's family had a large foundation that had already contributed over a million dollars to the Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital pediatric ward. So when Susan personally delivered my resume to her boss, it was treated as if the Holy Grail had been plopped in their laps. I had an interview lined up within a few hours.

"I was planning on leaving tomorrow for Los Angeles." I balanced the telephone receiver between my chin and shoulder as I washed up the dishes.

"Can you make it in this afternoon for an interview?" The woman who had identified herself as Lisa Cuddy, asked.

"Yes, I suppose I can. What time?"

"Let's say three?"

"Fine."

I immediately called Susan to complain of the fact that I hadn't brought any appropriate outfits for an interview.

She started laughing. "Well, if you saw Lisa Cuddy's wardrobe, you could throw on some tight lingerie and a pencil skirt and fit right in."

"What?"

"Let's just say that everyone in the hospital have named her breasts Thelma and Louise. We receive email reports on how much freedom their enjoying each day."

"Is that appropriate?"

"Who knows? She's damn good at her job so I figure the board doesn't care if she runs around naked as long as she keeps up the good work. Anyway, you're welcomed to anything in my wardrobe, but you'll probably have to swing by the mall and buy yourself a pair of shoes. Your feet are tiny."

I spent half an hour scrounging through her designer clothes and finding a suit that fit me like a glove. I dressed and then, on my way to the hospital, pulled in at Payless Shoe Stores and bought some boring, but acceptable pumps. I had a hard time finding a parking spot, but finally grabbed one in the lower forty. Hiking to the hospital, I became acutely aware of why my new shoes only cost $19.99.

The hospital was a modern brick building without anything that set it apart from most modern brick buildings. Entering, I was a little surprised to find that orange was a major influence on the designer because a lot of the walls and accents were in a bright tangerine. It wasn't that it looked bad, it's just that most hospitals choose seafoam green, boring gray or tranquil blue to keep the inmates (patients) calm. Oranges and reds tend to excite people, something you'd prefer patients weren't.

I headed to the nurses' station and was told to take a seat, that Dr. Cuddy was on her way back. I was looking around when I just happened to look up to the next level and saw Susan waving and grinning at me. I waved back modestly and then folded my hands back in my lap. Within a few seconds Susan was down the stairs and sitting next to me.

"You look great. Shoes are boring, but adequate."

"They're killing me. As soon as I'm done, they're going to Good Will."

"Oh, there she is. Now, remember, you're too good for this place and she knows it."

I nodded.

Susan jumped up and disappeared as a very serious, but very petite, woman came over to greet me, hand extended. I quickly recognized that she was a fellow over-achiever who constantly felt the need to prove herself. I stood and shook her hand. I was a little surprised to find that her top was quite revealing and, from what I could see, her breasts were spaced rather wide apart. She didn't have the classic cleavage, but she was still very attractive.

"My office is over here, please follow me."

I followed her into a pleasant office that was neither spectacular nor unappealing. It was comfortable with a couch, desk, chairs and table. I was pretty sure that she would want to establish her dominance by sitting behind the desk and I wasn't disappointed. She pretended to be reviewing my resume, but I knew that a woman like Lisa Cuddy would have already committed it to memory and probably have checked out several of the past employers.

"You're at UCLA? That's a great hospital. Why do you want to leave?"

"I need a change, plus my ex and his new wife work there. It's a painful reminder of some rather bad memories."

"I see." She continued looking at the resume. "You're resume reads like a dream. You've trained with some of the best."

"Yes, I have. I also have a very good reputation myself, published numerous time, but then you know that, don't you? Dr. Cuddy, I know that you've probably talked to some of my previous employers and references. I have no doubt that they told you I'm worth every penny of what I want to be paid."

"What do you want to be paid?"

"I'm making $420,000. I'd want $435,000 and thirty days paid holiday each year."

I could see from some of the micro-movements around her eyes and lips that it was more than she had expected. But, I didn't care. I had a job, I didn't need this one. Yet, I had a feeling from what I had googled, that PPTH was trying to make a forward push into the world of transplants and I was not only a great cardiac surgeon, but quickly becoming one of the best transplant surgeons in the USA. She'd be lucky to get me because if I went private I could probably take in triple what I was asking, but then I'd have to set up an office, hire employees and pay for my malpractice insurance. I wanted to practice medicine, not be an administrator.

"Dr. Cuddy, I'm sure you recognize that I'm making a name for myself in Los Angeles. I get referrals from all over the United States. I was named the number one surgeon in Los Angeles last year and received numerous awards for my new cardiac transplant procedure. I'm worth the money, but if it's too much, don't worry, I won't be offended. And, I'll make sure that Susan and her foundation stay in your pocket."

She looked down and swallowed; a sure sign that she felt embarrassed. I had hit a nerve. She was worried about Susan's reaction if I wasn't hired.

"I need to consult with my board. We were willing to offer $375,000."

I winced. "Dr. Cuddy, for $375,000, you're going to get a third year cardiac surgeon or a very mediochre senior transplant surgeon. If you want to make your mark, you need someone like me." I paused and the grabbed my purse. "I'll let you talk to your board."

"Are you flexible on the thirty days paid vacation?"

I shook my head. "I think I'd be more flexible on the money than the time off. It's very stressful surgery, I need the downtime. I earn the downtime."

Cuddy nodded and we talked for another fifteen minutes about the future of transplant surgery and what I was doing to stay abreast of the changes. I discovered that she was an exceptional woman, well up on new innovations and which ones she should invest the hospital's resources in and which ones weren't worth the effort. I thought we left on a good note. I knew that she wanted me; I just might be too expensive for her board.

I climbed in the rental car and kicked off the damn shoes. Driving back to her place, I decided to go through MacDonalds and get a soda. As I sipped my caffeinated diet Coke and drove back to the loft, I realized that Princeton was a very pretty town with its old University, parks and green grass. California was so brown this time of year. I liked the idea of being able to lie in the tall green grass and catch fireflies at night. I also knew that outside of my little bubble of a car was enough humidity and heat to turn my hair into streaming rivulets. Heat and humidity in the summer, cold and snow in the winter…did I really want to do this?

"Well?" Susan asked as she came through the door with several plastic bags of groceries.

"I think I've got the job if she can convince the board to come up with the money."

"Money?"

I grabbed two of the bags and helped her into the kitchen. "I asked for what I'm worth and she said I was $55K over what the board wanted to pay."

"That shouldn't be a problem; the Foundation will pay that."

"I don't want you to fund my job just so I can be nearby."

"If you're really worth that much, then it's right up the Foundation's Alley. We'll reap the benefit of stealing one of the west coast's most gifted surgeons and you'll get what you asked for. Are you going to accept?"

"Probably. I think I might just enjoy moving in with you and giving you grief."

"Bravo! I can't wait."