Dahlia walked down the hallway to Dr. Dale’s office with a stack of faxes in her hands. His door was slightly opened and she knocked on it before going in.

He was staring out the window when she came inside.

“Good morning." She wondered what mood he would be in this morning.

“Morning.” He still hadn’t turned to look at her. She ignored his rudeness. It had been about ten months since she’d started working around him and she was used to his mood swings. So maybe this morning it wouldn't be different from any other day of the week.

With the exception that he seemed moodier than normal.

“I have some papers for you to sign if you have time.”

“Okay.”

She frowned at that. Usually, he had something to say, to retort. It had gotten to the point where she would just shove papers in his face and ask him to sign without an explanation as to what it was. It wasn't that he wasn't reading the paperwork, she made sure that it was appropriate information and everything was in order for him to sign, but it was easier to tell him to do something rather than giving him the chance to say no.

He was oddly quiet today, though. Maybe there was something bothering him? She knew that his grandfather had been sick lately . That was something he’d mentioned in passing a couple weeks ago. She also knew that he was close to his grandfather, more so than his own parents. From what she had overheard the nurses talking among themselves, his mother was on him about something again.

It really wasn’t her business, but she also was slightly concerned at his lack of abrasiveness.

“Are you okay?”

He finally looked at her, slightly confused, but still no real spark in his eyes.

“Yeah. Why do you ask?”

“You look kind of... off? Trouble with the family?” She noticed the slight flush his cheeks got when she mentioned his family. Great, now he was either annoyed or... embarrassed?

“It’s my grandfather. He’s still sick. I guess he was at the hospital last night again.” He sighed, leaning back against his chair. He pointed at the seat in front of his desk. “Sit down for a minute. Take a break.” She eyed him curiously because he wasn’t the one to tell the nurses to take a break. He'd normally be the one asking why they weren’t moving quicker. She took the seat, holding the papers to her chest and stomach.

“I’m sorry to hear that. What have they told your family about him?”

“That his heart is failing. We knew that already. I mean, he does have a history of cardiac problems. The type of work he leads can be very stressful at times. And then he comes up with the stupidest sh—” He paused with a groan, shaking his head. “Never mind. Sorry about cursing.”

Dahlia smiled softly. “You didn’t really curse though. But what this other stupid thing you’re talking about? Can you share? Maybe you’ll feel better if you talk it out with someone. I’ll listen to you, I'm on break. Pretend I'm just another friend.” This was the kind of crap she was berating herself about last night. She could be too nice for her own good, too kind, too friendly, too naive, too forgiving.

He sighed again. “Well, there’s been an ongoing issue between my grandfather and I. You know how I've mentioned before that my dad is a doctor as well?” Dahlia nodded. “Well, the only reason he’s a doctor was because he didn’t want to deal with my grandfather’s business. He owns a large canning company in Washington. My dad went into medicine to avoid business school. I did the same thing when I graduated from high school. I tried to get the best grades possible to get into the furthest school away from my family. It worked, but now my grandpa’s coming back at me about it. He wants me to take over it.” He sighed deeply and rested his head on his hand. "We talked about it yesterday--Well, he talked to me about it because obviously I had no say in the conversation. Then he goes and starts feeling bad and my parents end  up dragging him back to the hospital last night."

“Hmm. That sounds interesting, not the hospital part, but the business thing.  But, the part I'm not understanding is why he wants you? I can see the why now, considering his health issues, but isn't there anybody else to take over?” Dahlia cocked her head, looking at Jared, trying to figure out this situation. He looked straight at her, hazel green eyes boring into hers. She looked away slightly, not quite sure why her heart had suddenly felt like it’d skipped a beat. He really did have a penetrating gaze.

“I have two brothers and a sister. It’s the same thing I asked him and he didn’t give me an answer besides that I need to focus on my life and stuff.” He scoffed. “How much more can I focus on my life? I’m already a doctor.”

“I think he just wants to keep the company in the family. Isn’t that a good thing? Maybe he can find someone he trusts to take over?” She watched Jared give a short laugh and shake his head.

“I asked the same thing. He wants me. I don’t understand why.”

“Can’t you turn him down?” Dang, and she had thought she had problems. Listening to him made her feel like she was listening to a soap opera.

“No. Well, technically yes I can. The problem is, however, that I will lose the home I live in right now—mind you, the home he gave me as a present when I finished medical school—because he would take it back and throw it on the open market for someone else to buy.” He let out what seemed like a small growl.  He laughed shortly, throwing his hands in the air. “The old man likes to play dirty even with his own family.” He looked at Dahlia again, small in the chair in front of his desk. “My damn family is all sorts of f***ed up.”

He watched her as she seemed to be analyzing the whole situation.  She was frowning slightly, eyebrows furrowed as she contemplated the information he'd given her. 

He couldn’t help but notice the way her hair fell over her shoulders. She wasn’t wearing any sort of make-up this morning and he couldn’t help but think about how young she looked. She seemed to young to be a supervisor already, but what did he know?

“Is there a way out?” She finally asked and Jared shrugged.

“There are two, but they’re not good for me. It seems pretty hopeless.”

“What are the options? Maybe there's a way out, a loop?"

“Well, say yes, take over the company but lose my freedom. Or I can also find a girl, marry her, keep my house, but be free of the company.” He frowned. Thinking about marriage made his head hurt. Where the heck would he find someone willing to marry him? He was pretty much surrounded by women all day, but he was sure that none of them would be willing to marry someone like him.

“Have you ever tried online dating?” She said finally and he looked at her. He scowled. Had he tried online dating? No. With the way that the world was going, he was scared to think about what he could find though online dating.

“I don’t think online dating will help me in this case. Given how my grandpa’s health is slowly deteriorating, I don’t think I’ll have enough time to meet someone and convince her to marry as well.” Dahlia shrugged this time. She bit the corner of her lip, concentrating. She felt like she'd seen this somewhere on one of those Spanish novelas her mother would watch before.

“Anybody you know? Or trust well enough anyways, to help you out?” He shook his head. He really didn’t get out much. After spending time around people all day and spending almost ten years in medical school around people, the last thing he wanted to do was spend his free time around more people. Call it crazy, but he didn’t really consider trying to find a girlfriend a top priority. Maybe that’s why his grandfather thought he was weird... “Any ex-girlfriends who you might consider?”

He shook his head. No ex-girlfriends. The last time he’d been out on a date was about a year ago and it had been a total fiasco. His date had been someone a friend of his had told him he’d get along with, which he did. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was when they’d decided to head home and she’d invited him to come into her apartment; cuddle cuddle, kiss kiss and then she popped out some suspicious powder out of her bag and asked him if he wanted a snort. That had done it for him. He'd excused himself, said he had to work the next day and should be going to bed, and never called her back.

He might be single and lonely some days, but he really didn’t need an addict in his life. No thanks.

Before that, maybe within the last five years or so, he’d gone on dates, met people through friends, but it never went further than a couple kisses and making out. Well, one kind of did, but that was something he wasn’t going to mention to his nursing supervisor. Shaking himself, he looked up to find her staring at him amusedly.

“I think we just found your winner.” She was grinning widely, eyes shining mischievously. He felt his face heat up. Dammit. “Ooh, doctor. Why are you blushing?”

Jared gawked, scowling and turning to stare out the window. “Never you mind.” She continued to study him, with a slight smirk on her lips.

“How about whoever you were thinking about now?” Dahlia pointed the papers at him, rolled up. “From the beginning, make it a business arrangement. Let them know what’s up. Maybe along the way, they’ll even fall for you. Two birds, one stone.”

“I don’t need a girlfriend though,” he muttered, resting his head on a hand. “Women are crazy.” She scoffed, tossing her hair back over her shoulder.

“Some women are crazy. Not all of them,” Dahlia made sure to point. She liked to think she wasn’t one of those. She told herself she’d never be one of those. Almost happen, never would repeat something like that again. She looked at Jared over the top of her glasses. He looked pretty tired and glum. “Hey, doctor… I don’t mean to be nosy, but are you sure you’re not…Not into women? Which is none of my business, you can like whoever you want. I just think it would be better to tell your grandpa if you weren’t. Maybe you wouldn’t have to deal with all this craziness.”

Jared snorted at her comment, feeling heat rising from his neck to fill his entire face. He shook his head with a morose grin, “Nope. Not gay, Dahlia. Believe me, I like women. Just not interested right now.”

“Okay. I was just saying.” She shrugged. “Women are complicated, but not everyone is cra—”

“Knock Knock! Hi Jared!”

They both turned towards the door where two tall women were standing. One was a tall, curvy blonde with smoky eye makeup and a dress that would’ve looked work-appropriate if it hadn’t ended above her knees. She was very beautiful. The other one was also tall, but brunette. She was wearing a more demure pencil skirt, but when she took a step, Dahlia saw the slit on the inside showed her entire freaking leg up to her thigh. Well, then.

“Caitlyn!” Jared exclaimed, standing up to greet them, and for the first time since she’d been speaking to him she saw the way that his eyes shined. Okay then.

He went over to hug the brunette and she made a show to kiss both his cheeks, leaving behind a red stain from her lipstick. Dahlia wasn’t sure if she should say hello or leave or... Jared remembered her sitting there, looking a little out of sorts. Dahlia forced herself to not look so surprised.

“Caitlyn, this is the new nursing supervisor, Dahlia. Dahlia, this is one of my older friends, Caitlyn. She works with one of the pharmacies as a rep.” He pointed at Dahlia with hand, and she couldn’t help but notice the way Caitlyn’s smile didn’t quite meet her words.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Dahlia.” Dahlia answered with a smile.

“Hello, nice to meet you,” She said simply, turning immediately back to Jared. “Jared, love, this is Sherry, she is one of our new reps. I told her I wanted her to meet you to get to know you since she’ll probably be working for some of the clients I work with as well.” Wow. Well, she completely ignored Dahlia after that, almost as if she wasn’t there at all. Awkward.

“Hello, nice to meet you,” He said with one of those boyish grins of his, the type he reserved for very good days. Apparently, today was one of those days. The blonde tossed her hair to the side, shaking hands with him, giving a crooked flirty smile. Rolling her eyes, Dahlia discreetly left the room.

Ugh. Men. Men were stupid.

And yet, she couldn't help herself from feeling hurt at his actions. She had completely been ignored for the taller more beautiful woman in the room and it brought back painful memories of growing up, being the tomboy in every group setting she could think of. Even if the doctor didn’t mean anything to her, it still hurt to be so easily tossed aside.

It made her think that men could be so gullible, so driven by pretty appearances that it just turned their heads to mush. When the hell would she find someone that didn't act like he just did with the pretty blonde?

Shaking her head, she walked off to find another provider to give her some signatures on the faxes she had.