Chapter 38

Cuddy just got out of the shower when her cell phone rang. The screen displayed Jay. Cuddy sighed. What did he want? Bother her? She preferred to ignore the call and put her phone on the night table. She went back to the bathroom, got dressed, put on some make-up and brushed her hair. She was ready. She liked what she saw in the mirror: a woman with dark, curled hair, grey-blue eyes, dressed in a beautiful red dress with some spangle. After all, in spite of her age, she still looked good and sexy. Let's have fun tonight! She was in a mischievous mood tonight and well decided to be a sexy lady. With Chase and Foreman by her side, she felt quite safe. She went out of her room and headed to the elevator to go down to the reception. It was 7.45 pm, she was fifteen minutes late but didn't worry about it. After all to be a woman had some advantages. And to feel desired and long awaited wasn't bad.

When she arrived at the reception, the three men were already waiting for her. Chase and Foreman seemed relaxed and in a good mood. Jay was a little tensed or did she imagine it? As he saw her, his eyes shined and a bright smile came on his lips.

"Lisa, you're simply stunning!" he exclaimed and went to her. Then he turned to Chase and Foreman: "Don't you find that Lisa looks wonderful tonight?"

"As always" Chase replied with a smile and a wink.

"Thank you. Shall we go? I am hungry." Cuddy replied blushing but delighted.

The Palace club was about fifteen minutes away from the hotel and they decided to share a cab. Once at the Palace, they gave their name and headed to the room where the party took place. It was a vast room, well decorated and with lots of spotlights and two or three disco balls. The music was not too loud for the moment but the guest were well aware that it wouldn't last. There were some tables and chairs on the right side where the buffet was. Some waiters were in charge of the service of drink and Jay ordered four glasses of Champaign. He proposed a toast and they decided to eat something before all the food disappeared.

The dinner was quite enjoyable. Foreman and Chase sat next to Cuddy and Jay was in front of her. Cuddy didn't know if it was the best configuration. Of course she wasn't close to Jay and he couldn't lean over her to whisper in her ears as he did at the Charity Gala in Chicago, but she could feel the weight of his look on her, he mentally undressed her and she felt uncomfortable. She tried to ignore him but it was impossible. Why doesn't he try his luck with another woman tonight? There are plenty of nice girls here!

"Dr. Cuddy, do you have your phone with you?" Jay suddenly asked.

Cuddy looked at him, surprised. "No, I forgot it in my room. Why?"

"If I remember well, we gave the organizers of the symposium your phone number seeing as you're the Dean of Medicine. So if they already know who the winner is, they can call you. I guess they'll let you a message. Can you look at it when you'll be back at the hotel?"

"Hu yes, of course."

"Hey, don't count your chickens before they have hatched, Mr. Jay" Foreman said. "I guess that we have good chances to win the prize."

Jay stared at Foreman. He seemed to think of this possibility. "Maybe" he finally said. Cuddy was a bit disconcerted. She thought that Jay would have made fun of Foreman as he used to ridicule his rivals and she wondered what Jay plotted. But this one seemed relaxed and to enjoy the evening.

Finally it was time to dance and Cuddy was happy to stand up and to move. Of course she was dreading the slow but it wouldn't be before one hour. She danced with Chase and Foreman and they had lot of fun together. Jay danced too but he wasn't close to Cuddy which took a weight off her mind. He showed an interest in a blond woman with a white dress. They laughed and seemed to enjoy the party. Cuddy felt relieved. Jay had apparently decided to give up on her and to find another woman to hit on. Good! Cuddy was thirsty and went to the bar where she got a glass of Champaign to celebrate her freedom. Chase came to her.

"Finally, this Mr. Jay isn't that bad. I find him quite pleasant and funny."

Cuddy looked at Chase. Considering the evening until now and the dinner, Chase was right. Jay was charming and joked while they ate, he even congratulated Chase and Foreman for their project and admitted that they could win the prize, which surprised Cuddy who really would never have thought Jay was able to accept the defeat. It must be something that cheered him up, but what? Cuddy hoped it wasn't related to her but had doubts about it even if Jay was now flirting with a girl dressed in black. He would never change: he needed to look at his best, he needed to feel desired by women, he needed to seduce. Cuddy didn't mind as long as he didn't bother her. After all, if other women found him attractive and kept him busy she was satisfied. "I guess that we can find him quite charming if you're not the woman he wants or a rival in business" she finally replied with a little smile.

"I suppose you're right. Let's go dancing, Cuddy. I wanna have fun tonight and you need it too" Chase said and took her to the dance floor. The music was good and the guest had fun, the party was a success. One hour later, Cuddy needed to rest a little. And the DJ played the first slow which was another reason to go away from the dance floor, because she didn't want to dance with Jay. The further she was from him, the better she felt. She saw some people heading outside and she followed them. She arrived on a great terrace with view on the ocean. The night was clear and warm, some stars shined and the moon was wonderful. Cuddy went to the edge and gazed at the ocean. The moonlight on the waves was magic. Cuddy felt good and relaxed. Suddenly, she felt a presence in her back. She turned over and saw Jay. She jumped. He was only a few centimeters away from her and she could feel the heat of his body.

"Wonderful, isn't it?" he said and waved at the landscape.

"Yes, the nature is beautiful" Cuddy replied and turned away. She couldn't stand his gaze.

"If you want, I can show you other great places, more quiet. I know Miami quite well and I'm sure you'll like the place I just think of."

"That's nice of you, but I'm fine here."

"With all these people around?"

Cuddy looked around and saw many couples who kissed or hugged each other tenderly. Fortunately they were a few other people who smoked or drank and joked together.

"Yes, people are happy and I find the atmosphere pleasant."

Jay looked at her straight in the eyes. He could see determination and a glint of challenge too. And it pleased him very much. Lisa Cuddy was really a very interesting woman. "Do you really like this… romantic atmosphere with all these people kissing?" he asked amused and decided to provoke her.

Cuddy replied joking: "Oh really? I didn't notice it. But if you say it…"

Jay shrugged. "Do you really enjoy the evening, Lisa?"

"Yes, the music is good."

"Lisa, I…" Jay began to say and stared at her intensely. Cuddy was like hypnotized and didn't react immediately when he leant over and kissed her. It was only a few seconds, but it was too much for her and once she got her mind back and realized what was happening, she pushed him back, but it was too late. He got what he wanted. She was about to tell him how odious his behavior was but he cut her off. "I… I'm sorry, Dr. Cuddy, I didn't mean to…. I never intended to… kiss you, I'm so sorry. I guess I drank too much and with all these people around us... I beg you to accept my apologies. I guess I should go back to the hotel right now. I'm terribly sorry, Dr. Cuddy." He said contrite. And he left her. Cuddy was disconcerted. What does it mean? Was he honest? He seemed to be but…or was he disappointed by the kiss, by the fact that I didn't kiss him back. Did he think I would give into it?

"Cuddy! Everything's okay?" Chase came and asked her.

"Yes, I just admired the landscape." She lied.

"Great, do you wanna dance? The slow session is over."

"With pleasure."

One hour later, Foreman and Cuddy were on the terrace sipping a cocktail and admiring the ocean. Suddenly, Foreman asked: "And… what about House? How is he doing?"

Cuddy looked at him, a little surprised by the question. "Fine, he's doing fine. He got a job at the hospital as Head of our new Department of Diagnostic Medicine, as Jay said, and "

"And what about you, Cuddy? How do you feel?"

"What … what do you mean?"

"House loves you, he did all he could to get back at you, but… what about you? Did you succeed to forgive him?"

"I… I'm happy to get him back in my life. As crazy as it can seem, I still love him." After a while, she added: "I know that it sounds like a cliché but I really think that we're made for each other. I know there will be hard times, I know he will bother me and make silly things, but… the few months we lived … separated made me understand how much I love him and how much I need him in my life." Another moment of silence and then she said: "And Rachel and Ethan have the right to have a father, they need House too. Even if House refuses to admit that he gets on well with children, he does and the kids know it. They have fun together."

Foreman stared at Cuddy. "Cuddy, there is a question I'd like to ask you but…"

"Ask and you'll see if I answer you" she replied with a smile.

"You adopted Rachel, but … "

"Ethan?"

"Yes."

Cuddy took a deep breath before she answered: "Ethan is my son, and … he's House's son."

Foreman looked at her surprised. "But I thought you couldn't"

"I know. Just imagine what shock it was for me when I learned of my pregnancy. But it was real, I was going to have a baby. And House was the father. Isn't it ironical when you consider what happened then?"

"But you broke up without telling him…"

"I didn't know I was pregnant when we broke up and after… "

"I understand."

"But everything's fine now. We build a family and I've never been happier than now." She replied with a smile.

"That's great. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you. And what about you? You're gonna be father soon."

"Yes. Jessica is a lawyer and we met when the hospital hired her. House is not in Princeton Plainsboro anymore but we still have patients that sue the hospital for anything and everything, but you know it." Foreman replied with a smile.

"Oh yes. And what about Chase? Does he like being the head of the Department of Diagnostic Medicine?"

"Yes, he does. And like House he's ready to break the rules if needed. But he's not a jerk like House can be. Patients like him. He has three fellows working with him and sometimes I join them for the pleasure."

"You miss the time you were a doctor, don't you?"

"I'm still a doctor, but… yes, you're right, as Dean I have lots of paperwork and it's not easy and interesting every day."

"I know" she laughed.

"What about going back to the hotel?"

"I agree. Let's go find Chase"

In the meantime, Chase met a young woman and decided to stay a little longer at the party.

"I hope it doesn't bother you, Cuddy. I know that we promised House to watch over you…"

"Don't worry, Chase, Foreman will go back to the hotel with me."

"Where is Jay? Do you want to wait for him?" Foreman asked Cuddy.

"I saw him with a blond woman and then on the phone but…" Chase said looking around him.

"No, it's okay, he's certainly already at the hotel, he left the party one hour ago. Let's go, I'm tired and I need to sleep."