"You look so hot when you are wearing the lab coat. Not that you don't look hot without them, of course." Cuddy rolled her eyes playfully at Ethan. "Breathe in before I wack your head with this stethoscope." The man chuckled and a flirtatious smile spread on his lips. "Is that how you treat a patient?" Cuddy's eyes glints, eyes narrowing, and face inching close to Ethan. "Only those who can't keep their mouth shut." She can feel his soft chortle as the stethoscope landed on the left side of his chest. "Will you let me see the files you arranged for me for our contract?" He seems really eager to know everything, especially if it involves the woman of his interest.
The door slammed open and House nodded at Cuddy. "Got a moment?" Remembering the details— how annoyingly close a 'patient' and the doctor— before he close the door, face crunching in the most uncomfortable way he could ever emit. "Dr. Cuddy, if this continue, I may reconsider tying the knots with you." Grant smirks. The Dean of Medicine's unsure if her childhood friend is serious about it. "Sorry, Ethan. This won't take a while." Is all she could mutter before she throw a hiss at House.
"What now?" His eyes landed on every muscles that is flexing on Cuddy's face at the moment. Her nose is flared, eyes squinting, and lips twisted in the most uneasy way. "Are you frustrated that your time with prince charming is getting interrupted?" He leans in, scrutinizing the Dean's reaction. "If you want an answer on who he is, it is not your business. I know you won't stop pestering me unless you get your curiosity assuaged. Now, to get over all of that. Yes, I knew the guy. I was in sixth grade and he's in ninth. He owns a billion dollar company and that's the reason why he is in New Jersey. Can I go back now on getting my two million dollars donation from this man?" Cuddy hissed, arms crossing on her chest that inadvertently invited House in admiring the view.
"Interesting. You don't want to argue because you are aware that this moment won't get to be repeated any time soon. Which indicate that progression of the relationship is off the chart. You like him. He likes you. But there is no guarantee that you two will label your relationship as more than friends." Cuddy gritted her teeth and gulp. House feel himself falling down to a hollow pit though, like he is being sucked by a massive black hole. Everything he stated is right and yet he is not happy about it. The possibility of Cuddy wanting another man is not sitting well on his lane.
"You are wrong." The two averted their heated gaze to Ethan, who is now closing the door of the examination room. "Lis, grab your things. Let's head for our lunch." Cuddy nodded hesitatingly before shooting a warning glance at House, communicating through their own telepathic way. Worrying now plagues her mind. What if the whole deal became a fiasco? She can only hope for the best.
When she is finally out of the frame, Ethan loomed over House. "You are scared, Dr. House." The doctor's face twisted as if he just ate something sour. "B-B-Because a tall rich bully is going to take away the poor cripple's cane?" House manage to deliver in a full sarcastic manner. "You are seeing my intention as a threat. I don't blame you, of course. Lisa's beauty and intelligence made several men through the years fell for her, hard." Ethan softly recalled the days where he often intervenes with Cuddy's stubborn suitors. There's an instance where he became a shoulder to cry for the woman when things get bad about her personal relations. Now, all he could feel is regret and determination. He cannot waste this only chance with her. If he messed up before due to his cowardice, Ethan will make sure that everything will go fine now.
"Oh please, we all know she droves them away because she prioritize yelling at people underneath her." Ethan playfully chortle and once again, House did not like his smugness. "How I wish you people see the Lisa that I know."
Cuddy on the other hand tidies her table and stare at them for a while. She do not want to take advantage of her deal with Ethan. He may be an asset but personal and business relation must not overlap with one another. Cuddy always have principles and values; she likes to conform to them whenever it is required.
It's not like the board already know of the two million dollars, maybe she can still back out on the agreement. She slightly jumped when a voice speaks. "Hey, where you up to?" She smiled at Wilson who's hands inside his pocket and a soft expression is masking his face.
"I have a lunch with the donor. I have to make a quick decision about it though." Cuddy sigh and bit her lips, contemplating her judgement. "What is it about?" The Dean of Medicine make herself comfortable to the couch near the entrance of her office, Wilson followed, paralleling her. "I know that House already told you about Ethan."
"Woah, I did not know he has a name." He joked and Cuddy continued. "Well, I prepared an almost perfect presentation when a donor seize the rest of my schedule for a day. I talked to their supervisor and they informed me that the donor is very interested in investing two million dollar in PPTH. Of course, I am delighted to hear such offer and their condition is not that demanding. They wanted a tour around the hospital and they failed to mention that this transaction may have an ulterior possibility of my childhood friend just wanting to catch up with me is statistically high." Every words that left her mouth hung in the air and Wilson just blinked and switch his position on the settee.
"Maybe you are just looking at the situation on its pessimistic side. Is it the feelings talking or what?" Cuddy glared at him and sulk. "I actually have no idea. I wanted to just be over with this. I don't think I am ready to be in a relationship unless it is business. I have a lot of things to do but I do want to spend my time with Ethan, thinking about the hospital. It's been so long. I am planning to terminate the deal between us and just enjoy this day with him." She glances at her wristwatch and make herself presentable after rising from the couch.
"You can see this scenario as an advantage Cuddy. Don't stress over this. Usually, you are more of a kill two birds in one stone."
"Hey. What took you so long?" Ethan asked and take in Cuddy's beauty. Her sophisticated and revealing shirt that flawlessly wrap around her body. Then, the tight pencil skirt that encapsulates her sexy figure. From the curls of her dark hair that he desires to wake up in every morning, strands of her hair is all over him. Her piercing blue eyes that he always got lost when he dared to see. He keeps hitting himself in the head for letting go a wonderful woman like her. You cannot find an identical woman like Cuddy.
"Honestly?" His heart flutters at Cuddy's unintentional cuteness and he nodded. At first, Ethan did not want to reveal his identity to the woman. He is frightened that everything changed between them but his courage pushes him and convinced the man out of him to face this.
"Well, I don't feel good about our arrangement. It's like you bought my time with your money." He just wanted to capture those pretty lips of her. Imagine how much House contain himself whenever he is around Cuddy. Speaking of House, he is so full of himself that he predicted what will happen on their lunches and small talks, in which Ethan dislikes. He will make sure to prove him wrong though.
"Ah. Of course, I understand. Remember Lis, I am not doing this because I wanted to go on a date with you. I truly want to be part of a good cause. I tasked my supervisor to search for a promising foundation in New Jersey. Guess what? The most prestigious and suitable institution is the Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. I got surprised to learn that you are the Dean of Medicine of the hospital and of course I did not hesitate to accept Johnson's proposal." Cuddy only smile at his sincerity. "Do you believe me now, partypants?" He wiggled his brows and Cuddy lightly hit his side.
"Are we going to eat now or not?"
Lol. I apologize if there were many errors. I am not good at writing and I just wanted to express my ideas and share them to people who wanted the same interest as mine. Thank you so much for reading and please, if you have any suggestions, pray tell. I hope you like this one. Idk if I'll continue this. This is just a mere idea that popped into my mind when I decided to sleep. I haven't edited this so apologies if there is incorrect grammar here and there. Also, don't be shy to share your ideas. I love reading them. Thank you for taking time to read this!