Chapter 37

Once they were out of her room, Cuddy felt relieved. She was well aware of the fact that if Jay had wanted she was at his mercy. They were alone in the room and no one would have come to rescue her. She had to be very careful. On the other hand, he hadn't done anything. Maybe had he some qualms about forcing her to sleep with him? Maybe did he want her to desire him? After all, she heard a lot about him, he was certainly a womanizer, a seducer but she never heard of violence related to him. Unlike her who almost knocked him out. But it was his fault. Why did he come to her room? She imagined maybe things that didn't exist.

In the cab that drove them to the place where the symposium took place, none of them spoke. Jay was still in a bad mood because of the scratch on his forehead, he didn't look at his best and it bothered him. Lisa Cuddy was admittedly a beautiful and sexy woman, but she was a tough woman too and her resistance to his charm and sex appeal began slightly to get on his nerves. But his pride was way too high to make him give up on her.

"Here we are! I hope you will behave" he told Cuddy as they headed to the conference room.

Cuddy was about to reply something when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned over and saw... "Chase!" she exclaimed. She didn't know he would be there. "What a good surprise! I'm so happy to see you here!"

"Cuddy, nice to see you too." Chase replied smiling and hugged her. Cuddy was a little surprised but didn't show it. She caught Jay's look and it delighted her to see how jealous he was. He certainly hadn't expected that she could know some participant at the symposium and it probably thwart his plans.

"May I introduce myself?" Jay said suddenly to interrupt their reunion that was a bit too tender for him and stretched his hand. "I'm Charles Jay, one of the patrons of the Chicago hospital and Lisa's friend."

"Oh, I'm Dr. Chase, head of the Diagnostic Department in Princeton Plainsboro and former colleague of Dr. Cuddy."

"Dr. Chase is a brilliant surgeon and a great friend of mine" Cuddy added. "Are you alone here?"

"No, Foreman is here too. I think he's already in the room. We present our project and we hope to win the prize of one million dollars. Do you give a lecture?"

"Yes and I think we should go, don't let people wait for us" Jay replied a little upset and took Cuddy's arm.

"Yes, let's go and find Dr. Foreman, I'd like to introduce him to you Mr. Jay, he succeeded me as Dean of Medicine and he is a friend." Cuddy said and headed with Chase to the room where they found Foreman waiting for the conference to begin.

"Hey, Foreman, look who is here?" Chase said.

"Cuddy, I didn't know you take part in this symposium. You look good." Foreman told Cuddy and hugged her.

"I'm glad to see you, Foreman, it's been a long time" she lied. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, busy, but fine."

"He's gonna be father " Chase added with a wink.

"Really? That's such great news! Congratulations"

"Thank you, Cuddy, but not before six months." Foreman replied with a smile.

Jay looked at them wondering why the faith was so cruel with him. He never considered that Cuddy would meet friends here and he was disappointed. All his plans fell through. She'd probably want to have dinner with them and then, even if she went to the disco evening, they probably would be there too. Jay had to find something and quick. A vague idea grew in his mind. After all was not lost.

"Dr. Foreman, this is Mr. Jay, one of the patrons of my hospital, he's gonna help me to present our project."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Jay" Foreman replied and held his hand to Jay.

"Nice to meet you, Dr. Foreman."

"Cuddy, do you go to the disco evening tonight?" Chase asked suddenly with a bright smile.

"Well, do you go?" she replied smiling.

"Yes, and I'd like you to dance with me. I hope you have a nice dress because I'm the king of disco" Chase laughed and executed a dance step.

"Then I'll go partying tonight. But you really have to be a great dancer because I like dancing and if the music's good, I'm able to dance the whole night."

"It's okay for me" Chase replied with a smile and amusement in the eyes. He knew that Cuddy was a great dancer and a party girl.

Jay tried to remain calm but inside him he was boiling. To see Cuddy flirting with this guy drove him crazy. At least, Cuddy would be there at the party and he could switch to plan B to try his luck with her. It would be more difficult than he had first thought, but he wouldn't give up on her. Competition was always a great source of motivation.

"And what about you, Foreman?"

"You can count on me to be there. After all we all need to have fun."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to open the conference about hospital and economy. I'll now hand over to Dr. Foreman and Dr. Chase from Princeton Plainsboro." A man said and invited Foreman and Chase to come on the stage. Their talk was clear and precise, well-argued and interesting. They answered a few questions and handed over to Cuddy and Jay. Jay was confident and relaxed, he liked talking and he excelled in public speaking. In spite of his scratch, he was attractive and his tone of voice was warm and charming. Cuddy could see how the public was under his spell. Then it was her turn to speak. She was a good speaker too and like Jay, she knew how to captivate her audience and she allowed herself to make some jokes which made the public laugh. Once she ended her speech, she and Jay answered a few questions. They were quite satisfied with their performance when Foreman raised his hand.

"Can you tell us in what your project is innovative? We already have a Diagnostic Department at Princeton Plainsboro and this for many years."

Jay shot Foreman a dirty look and answered: "Our Diagnostic Department is innovative because it will work as a formative Department."

Cuddy looked puzzled at Jay. She didn't understand what he meant and she worried about it. He never mentioned anything about formation. She knew Jay and she also knew that if he had the slightest opportunity to bother House he would do it.

"Can you explain it?" Chase asked intrigued.

"You work at Princeton Plainsboro, don't you?"

"Yes"

"So you probably worked with Dr. House who is one of the precursors of the Diagnostic Department." Jay said and stared at Chase and Foreman, then scanned the audience and added: "Dr. House is now working with us in Chicago and he runs our new Diagnostic Department. He works with three doctors who constitute the tenured team in charge of the department and to this team will come one or two students in medicine for a semester or two. They can so learn how to work in such a medical department and will be able later to help developing such department in other hospitals. Because I think that such medical departments will become more and more important in the future. That's why our project is innovative." After a few seconds of silence he added: "Was I clear enough? Is there other question?" Nobody raised the hand and the organizer came back on the stage: "Thank you very much Mr. Jay, Dr. Cuddy. Now I'll hand over to Dr. Brighton from Los Angeles." There were five other lectures before the day ended.

"I remind you of our Symposium evening at the Palace club tonight with a self-serve buffet followed by a great disco party. I hope to see you there. Have a nice evening. See you tomorrow for the prize giving" the organizer said and everybody went out.

"Cuddy, what about meeting at … 19.30 at the reception of the hotel?" Chase said. "So we can go together to the party."

"With pleasure."

"Dr. Cuddy, I thought we" Jay began to say but was cut off by Foreman.

"Of course you can join us, Mr. Jay"

"That's a great idea" Cuddy said and frowned to Chase and Foreman. She didn't want to spend more time than necessary with Jay. Why did they invite him to join them?

"Well, in this case… " Jay replied with a smile.

"Okay, so see you at the reception." Chase said. And they all headed to their room. Fortunately, Jay was at the first floor and Cuddy at the second floor, just like Chase and Foreman. She could go quietly and relieved to her room. Just before she opened the door of her room, she turned to them: "I'm really happy that you're here. Your presence is a great relief for me."

"Don't worry, Cuddy. If you need something, just knock at room 233" Chase said with a smile.

"Or at room 231" Foreman added.

Cuddy looked at them surprised. Oh, you…"

"Yes, your room is between ours." Chase ended Cuddy's sentence.

She gave them a suspicious look and said: "Thank you."

"You're welcome, and don't worry about Jay, we'll stay with you." Chase added with a wink. "We're gonna dance the whole night."

"When did you decide to come to this symposium?" she asked suddenly, beginning to understand House's sentence about a solution.

"Foreman read an article in a medical review and he thought that one million dollars was a good motivation to be a part of it." Chase replied and looked at Foreman. Cuddy turned to him.

"Really? I'm surprised because I didn't see your name on the list of the participant."

"You probably didn't notice it" Foreman said a little embarrassed.

"You're certainly right" Cuddy said with a smile, "or someone asked you to. See you later" Cuddy added and went in her room.

ooooooo

Jay was walking round and round in his room, thinking. To see Chase and Cuddy together, flirting, gave him another option. Now it would be up to Cuddy. If she didn't react like he wanted her to, he would use his second option to take revenge. But he would need help. He scrolled into his cell phone until he found the number he was looking for and dialed it. A man's voice answered. Jay explained him what he wanted, they talked about two minutes and Jay hung up satisfied. Finally, the situation was going to improve despite this unexpected meeting.

Ooooooo

Once in her room, Cuddy called House.

"Kids, it's mommy" she heard him say. Then there was a silence and Rachel spoke: "Mommy! We're gonna eat crepes with chocolate!"

"That's great, Rachel. How was your day?"

"Good. But Ethan broke my tower."

"Oh, I'm sure you can build another one."

"Yes, bye mommy." Cuddy could hear her daughter running away and House said: "She's a bit busy. Don't take offense."

"House, is everything okay with the children?"

"Yup! We cook crepes and they took a bath."

"Good. Don't put them to bed too late. They need to sleep."

"Don't worry! We eat, they brush their teeth, I read them a story and day off for them. I need some peace. And there is a good film tonight."

"Okay. And what about you? Did you hire your team?"

"Well, not yet."

"House! At the end of next week, you should have your team! What are you doing?"

"Hum, let me think… take care of two kids and of their mother?"

Cuddy laughed. "Well, try to hire some fellows as soon as possible."

"I promise. How was your conference?"

"Interesting."

"That's it? Nothing else?"

"Like what?"

"I… I don't know, you were worried because of Jay. Did he behave well?"

"I guess I can say yes."

After a few seconds, House asked suspicious: "You don't tell me the truth. What happened, Cuddy?"

"Oh, I forgot that you know me better than myself."

"Cuddy, I know when you're lying and you don't tell me all the truth…"

"I almost knocked him out."

"What? Why? How?" House exclaimed surprised.

"It's a long story."

"I have plenty of time."

"Really? Because I think that you should look at Ethan. When he shouts like that, it means usually that he does silly things."

House turned to see Ethan standing on the table. He threw some flour on his sister who laughed. House went to the table, took Ethan in his arms and put him down on the floor.

"Everything's under control" he told Cuddy.

"Great. What was he doing?"

"He threw flour everywhere in the kitchen."

"You will have to clean, nice evening in sight" Cuddy replied laughing.

"Don't worry, they will help me. So why did you knock Jay out?"

"He knocked at my door and I…"

"You…?"

"I was just going out of the shower and when I saw his head I pushed the door back and hit him. Safe reflex, I guess."

"I wish I could see that. I imagine that he was furious."

"He was. Especially as he got a scratch on the forehead which disfigured him as he told me."

"Cuddy, be careful with this guy. He doesn't inspire me confidence."

"It's okay, House, I can deal with him."

"And … do you meet some people?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you know some participant?"

"Oh, you mean Chase and Foreman."

House remained silent.

"Yes, they look good and Foreman is gonna be daddy. But I guess you already knew it."

House sighed and cleared his throat. "Yes. I told you I would find a solution to help you so you won't be alone with Jay."

"Thank you, House. I really appreciate."

"You're welcome. I first thought of your mother but the last time I saw her she was rather angry at me so I thought that it would be easier to convince Chase and Foreman to go there."

"And what did you promise them in exchange?"

"One million dollars was a good motivation."

"House! We need this money too!"

"Then I hope that your lecture was better than theirs."

"And what else?"

"What do you mean by what else?"

"What did you promise them?"

"Nothing."

"House…"

"You pay their rooms."

"House!"

"I'll pay you off… in nature, is it okay?"

"I miss you, House. I wish you could be there with me."

"I miss you too, Cuddy. I'll take you at the airport tomorrow and then to the restaurant."

"With Rachel and Ethan? Are you sure it's a good idea?"

"Well, we'll see. I never say it will be a great restaurant"

Cuddy smiled. "I'm looking forward to seeing you. I have to hang up now or I'm gonna be late for the dinner. Take care, House, and good luck with the cleaning."

"Enjoy your evening, Cuddy."