Chapter 33

"Hey, wait for me!" Cuddy exclaimed as House went to the hospital.

He turned to her: "What are you doing? I'm the disabled person, not you. Well, at least physically… but this slit skirt is really sexy. Especially when you have to stride" he added with a mischievous grin.

"House, you're a jerk"

"Thank you, I take it as a compliment." House replied and opened the door to let Cuddy past.

"Follow me to my office"

"Yes, Madam" House said and bowed.

Cuddy rolled her eyes and began to head to her office. The woman on the front desk of the hospital looked at them and wondered who this man was.

"Good morning, Dr. Cuddy"

"Good morning, Anabel. This is Dr. House, the head of the Diagnostic Department." Cuddy replied and introduced House. She could see Anabel's reaction as she said House and she knew that the whole hospital would be filled with rumors about them and that they would have to face suspicious and curious looks. But what could she do?

"Good morning" House said. He was about to add something but Cuddy's look prevented him to do it. He followed her to her office. "I didn't know that your boss was philanthropist."

"House, please, refrain from making any comment about Anabel if you want to keep your job."

"Why? Don't tell me this … creature is a good point to attract patient here! To Halloween she can be a good attraction but "

"She's Barrow's favorite niece." Cuddy said and turned suddenly around. House stared at her surprised but didn't say anything. "And she had a serious accident. So please, don't make fun of her."

"The resemblance isn't striking…"

Cuddy opened the door of her office and stopped as she saw Barrow and Jay.

"Ah, Dr. Cuddy. I missed you. I hope you had a great weekend" Jay said with a bright smile and mentally undressed her.

"Good morning, Mr. Jay, Mr. Barrow." Cuddy replied quite coldly.

"Good morning, Dr. House. I'm glad to see you." Barrow said and shook House's hand.

"Morning, Mr. Barrow."

"Ah, you're the famous Dr. House" Jay said and turned to House. "I'm Mr. Jay, the"

"I know who you are." House cut him off. "You're a" but he couldn't end his sentence.

"Well, maybe you can tell us why you're here" Cuddy added fast. House gave her a dirty look but she didn't want any problem with Jay and she knew House. To avoid any trouble she had to cut him off before he said something probably relevant and funny but also offensive and Barrow's words came back to her: his heart is made of stone. Try to stay out of his way as much as possible. And Cuddy could easily believe that Jay was dangerous, especially if someone upset him and House was exactly this kind of guy.

"Yes, I should have told you, I'm sorry, Dr. Cuddy." Barrow said and came to her rescue. He felt the tension between Jay and House and Barrow didn't want that the conversation became heated. "I didn't know if Dr. House would have talked to you" Barrow made a short pause and looked at Cuddy straight in the eyes "and I wanted to tell you that he is now the head of our new department, the Diagnostic Department."

"And I wanted to welcome Dr. House" Jay added smarmy.

"You shouldn't have, I'm not easily impressionable" House replied ironically.

Jay stiffened and wanted to answer back but he saw Cuddy and remembered her story with House. He didn't know until he came here this morning that Barrow hired House. And he wasn't really happy about it. He was even angry. On the other hand he knew House's reputation and they needed something "uncommon" to improve their benefits. And House could be one solution. Among others of course, but probably the best one. Jay knew what happened between Cuddy and House and how it ended, but he wasn't stupid. He could feel that they still had feelings for each other. If he wanted Cuddy, he had to play a tight game. Robert wasn't a worthy opponent, House was. And somehow, Jay was finally happy that House was here. His victory would be all the greater. Jay was of course convinced that he would win Cuddy. It couldn't be otherwise.

"I guess that Dr. House needs a team to work with and an office, that's why I'm also here this morning. I took the liberty of making the former break room of the nurses into an office and I'm sure it will suit you." Barrow said to House. "Follow me, I'm gonna show you."

"And what about my team?"

"The management committee agreed to let you one week to hire your team"

"I need at least three fellows."

"You would have them."

House nodded satisfied and a little surprised. He hadn't expected this much attentions and it made him suspicious.

"So now if you would like to follow me" Barrow added and waved to him.

House gave Cuddy a quick look and turned to Jay: "Don't you come with us, Mr. Jay? I'm sure you have great advice for me."

"Not now, Dr. House. I have to talk to Dr. Cuddy about a project. But I'm sure that we'll find time later to talk."

House stared at him and nodded. He didn't like this guy. He was sly and his desire for Cuddy was too obvious. But for the moment House had to see his office and to hire his new team. Jay wasn't stupid and he wouldn't do anything at the hospital that could annoy Cuddy.

Oooooooo

Cuddy went to her desk and sat down. Then she told Jay: "Do you have something to add because I've got lots of work"

Jay smiled and leant over the desk, his face was twenty centimeters away from Cuddy's. "I need you, Lisa Cuddy."

Cuddy leant back in her chair to keep some distance with Jay. Being too close from him made her feel uncomfortable. "Mr. Jay, I have to run this hospital and I have no time to waste. And furthermore I've told you: I have someone in my life, so please, forget me and leave me."

"Dr. Cuddy, you misinterpreted what I meant. I need you as Dean of Medicine." Jay replied with a smile. He was delighted to see Cuddy embarrassed and therefore vulnerable which was a good thing for him. It would be easier to manipulate her so as to convince her to accept his proposition.

"Oh, I thought…

"May I know what you were thinking of?" Jay added playing with Cuddy like a cat with a mouse.

"I'm sorry. So why do you need me?"

Jay stared at her. "I'm invited to a symposium about hospital and economy and I thought that it would be a good point for me and the hospital if you come with me."

"I don't see why you need me. You are up on marketing system and on economic strategy so…"

"I'd like you to present the different medical departments of the hospital and especially the diagnostic department."

"But"

"It's brand new and I don't really know how it works, that's why I would appreciate if you accept to go with me to this symposium."

"Well, I don't know."

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it. It's in Miami and the hospital will pay your costs, of course. So, do you agree? It will be a good opportunity for you to be introduced in this world."

"Mr. Jay, you don't understand my problem. I have children and"

"That's not a good reason to refuse such a chance, Lisa. I'm sure your sister will agree to take care of them."

"Mr. Jay, we definitely don't have the same priority in life, neither in"

"You sleep with him, don't you?" Jay asked her abruptly.

"Mr. Jay, I'm not interested in your symposium"

"Yeah, it's obvious, you sleep with him. You didn't waste time, I like it. And between you and me, Robert wasn't good enough for you."

"Mr. Jay, I don't allow you to"

"But didn't you agree to have no contact with him? It could be a reason for firing you, don't you think?"

"Mr. Jay, I don't owe you any explanations, I didn't know anything about … this before Friday evening and believe me or not, I was as surprised as you. The management committee hired Dr. House because they need him and his skills and they had to annul this clause. Now I have to work, so don't let me keep you. Good bye, Mr. Jay."

Jay stared at Cuddy. She blushed a little and he found her very attractive in spite of her anger.

"Dr. Cuddy, I would really appreciate if you accept to go to Miami with me. I can assure you that it will be a business trip and nothing else."

"Really? But can you assure me that I can trust you?" she answered without missing a beat looking at him straight in the eyes.

"Dr. Cuddy, I feel offended. I guess you have formed a bad opinion on me and I don't really understand why. Did I do something that offended you?" Jay replied a bit disconcerted. He hadn't expected such an answer.

"Mr. Jay, how can I say it? Maybe your reputation as womanizer…"

"Dr. Cuddy, I thought you were a smart woman, how can you listen or pay any attention to stupid rumors spread by jealous people?!" Jay replied and pretended to be hurt.

"Mr. Jay, I didn't mean to offend you but there's something I don't get."

"I listen to you."

"Why is this symposium in Miami so important? If we ignore of course a week under the sun of Miami with – I assume – lots of fun."

"Dr. Cuddy" Jay said and came near Cuddy. Then he leant over her and whispered: "Great investors will attend to this symposium and they organize a contest between the different hospitals. The best one will get one million dollars. And I want us to win the contest." Jay waited a few second to see Cuddy's reaction and added: "That's why I want you to be there with me. You're brilliant Lisa, with you I'm sure we'll win." Jay was still very close to Cuddy, he could breathe her scent and it aroused his desire.

"Well…" Cuddy replied thinking of what Jay said. Once again he showed how much he was competitive and of course how important it was for him to win. And how dangerous he could be if something stood in his way.

"Without to mention that you're probably the sexiest Dean of Medicine… which is unquestionably a great advantage." Jay added with a wink and a smile.

"When do you need my answer?" Cuddy said and got up. She couldn't stand it anymore, Jay was way too close to her and he somehow scared her.

"Tomorrow." Jay replied a little surprised. He hadn't expected that Cuddy stood up.

"Okay, I'll think of it." She said and opened the door.

"Have a nice day, Lisa. I'm sure you'll gonna make the right decision." Jay said and left. He was a bit disappointed but well decided to seduce this amazing woman. He might have lost the first round but not the fight.