Chapter Five
Taking advantage of the strategically placed mirror in the hotel lobby, Ethan adjusted the knot of his tie and the cuffs of his shirt. First impressions mattered and in situations like this. Sweating the details made all the difference. Not that he had much to worry about, overall. After all, this slate gray suit was bespoke and specifically tailored to fit him perfectly. Since he went to his first tailor when he was sixteen, it’d impressed upon him how those slight adjustments and nips and tucks could make someone look like a million bucks. As far as he was concerned, his suits weren’t luxuries but a wise investment. And he definitely wanted to dress to impress tonight.
He was at the Shepherd Wade Hotel after the first rounds of interviews for the Raskin Fellowship. The committee had arranged for a mixer slash reception to meet and get to know all the applicants in a “less formal” setting. But everyone knew it was a major schmoozing and networking opportunity. Making a good impression on the committee members at this event could tip the scales.
He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes before the ballroom door opened. Just enough time to refresh himself on the main talking points he wanted to make.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The last voice he expected, a belligerent accusatory voice, interrupted his calm and mental prep time.
Surely it wasn’t her. But he turned around slowly, and sure enough, there she was.
Dr. Bethany Lee, in a black dress, plain pumps, and department store earrings stood in front of him with a fierce frown. While a part of him had reveled in the idea of besting Bethany for the Fellowship, the reality that she was official competition was throwing him for a loop. But he quickly regained his equilibrium.
“The same reason you’re here,” he drawled. For some reason, his blood began pumping at the prospect of another sparring match with her. Somehow these back-and-forths had been the most fun he’d had in…months.
Something was seriously wrong with him.
“You can’t be,” Bethany insisted, crossing her arms defensively.
“I think you’ll find I can,” Ethan returned. “But I had no idea you’re applying for the Fellowship as well.”
“What could you possibly want with the Raskin Fellowship? There’s no way you actually need the money. Some poor boys at your former prep school can’t afford their designer suits so you’re magnanimously stepping in to fill in the gap?”
Where did she get these outrageous ideas from?
“I’m surprised you’re making any observations or judgment about someone else’s fashion and dress.” He raised a brow. If she was going to make personal remarks, so was he. Though in all fairness, she made the black dress and accessories work. In her own unique way. She looked cute, even. He was well aware that not everyone could afford the level of wardrobe he could and it shouldn’t count against her. She was only doing the best she could.
Bethany flushed and crossed her arms again. “Maybe some of us have better things to do than waste money on expensive clothes. And think that money could go to better use.”
“We all make our choices in life,” he agreed. Extending an olive branch, he asked, “How is your friend Jaya? And little Priyanka?” True to her word, Priyanka and her mother had come to the hospital and joined him for lunch, where he ate the most delicious grilled vegetables, onion bhajis, homemade spiced potato chips, and garlic naan chicken salad sandwich he’d ever had. The chocolate cupcakes were also an unexpected and delightful bonus. He’d thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the girl, and answering a barrage of questions, while Jaya had tried her best to rein in her daughter. Though he’d gotten some strange looks from the other nurses and doctors.
Bethany heaved a sigh. “They’re fine,” she muttered, but then relented. “It’s been a week and a half and Pri’s still talking about it. You’ve made another conquest. Jaya swears Pri has a crush.” Her tone was reluctant in the extreme.
“Never let it be said I don’t have a way with the ladies,” he quipped. Honestly when he’d ever cared to make an effort, he’d never had problems finding female company if that was what he wanted. Now that he thought about it, it had been ages since he’d felt the urge to ask someone on a date. Odd.
Oh well. Never mind—just as well. He had work to keep him busy, and besides, even if he was interested in a relationship at the moment, the Fellowship would swallow any and all free time he had. The whole thing was moot. Surely.
“Well, Priyanka is young. Not her fault she isn’t the best judge of character,” Bethany responded tartly.
“Here’s hoping the committee members are as easily persuadable as a lovely four-year-old.”
“No doubt you think you’ll have all of them falling at your feet in no time.”
Ethan shrugged modestly. He couldn’t help it if people tended to respond positively to him, and he’d always had an ability to win people over. And he’d never even read Dale Carnegie’s book. Some people were just born with it.
“It’s all for a good cause,” he pointed out. “Every applicant, you included, have just as much of a chance.” But he was still going to win, of course.
Bethany rolled her eyes. “As if you care about that.”
Ethan saw her brows furrow and the mental debate happening in her head. “Fine. What exactly do you plan to do with the money if you win? Which you won’t by the way—it’s mine,” she said, her bravado returning. Or bravada?
“I plan to donate it to the 1l5th Street Clinic. I volunteer there two weekends a month and it is a more than worthy recipient.”
The satisfaction he got from her dropped jaw and furrowed brow probably said nothing good about him. But he was forced to admit that Bethany rallied admirably.
“Noblesse oblige no doubt. Who knew there was any sort of conscience under those designer suits.” Her jaw jutted out and her eyes flashed.
“I even bring cake for everyone. Good advice from Marie Antoinette,” he agreed. Nonsense of course, but if that was what she was determined to think of him, why bother to disabuse her of the notion? “You seem to have a deep fixation on my wardrobe. If you want, I’m happy to introduce you to the tailor I use here in New York.” If she was any sort of fashionista, her wardrobe definitely didn’t reflect it.
“Well, I’m donating to the hospital,” Bethany blurted. “I’m trying to save everyone’s jobs. Not that you’re worried. No doubt you’ll land on your feet.”
Ethan raised a brow. He wasn’t as oblivious and above it all as she thought. He and Ash had talked several times about the budget cuts and how foolish and shortsighted city and state officials were for underfunding the ER. It served a vital role in the community.
“Every bit helps, I’m sure. Are you ready to meet the fellowship committee members?”
Bethany pulled her shoulders back and straightened herself up to every inch of her five-foot frame. Adorable really.
Adorable? Maybe he’d tied his tie too tight.
“Of course I am. I’m sure you think you have this in the bag, but forget it. It’s mine. I want it more, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win. You don’t stand a chance against The Bethany Way.”
“The Bethany Way?” he asked, intrigued and amused despite himself.
“My life motto. If you go for something, give it everything you’ve got. And never ever stop until you win.”
“Fascinating,” he murmured. He checked his watch again. “We should make our way to the reception. Doors open in a few minutes.”
“Prepare to go down, Wu.”
Despite her words, he saw the slightest flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Her fingers were also tapping at her thigh.
The great Dr. Lee wasn’t as confident as she’d like everyone to think.
“No need to be nervous,” he said in an effort to assure her. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
Which was clearly the exact wrong thing to say because what he got in response was a deep, stubborn frown.
“I don’t need your condescending and patronizing attitude,” she snapped.
“Why are you so defensive?”
“I’m not defensive, just goal-oriented. And I don’t need your help. I got this. If I need wardrobe advice, I’ll ask you.” She turned around to give him a full 360 view of her outfit. He tried not to notice how it showed off delightfully shapely legs.
“Unless you want to get it out of your system now. Come on, let me have it.” Her attitude screamed “bring it on”, complete with the hand gestures that dared him to do his worst.
Okay, enough was enough. This antagonism had been simmering between them for almost four years and he was tired of it. Professional rivalry, good-natured banter and ribbing were one thing. But the way she constantly painted him as the absolute villain was too much. He wanted answers. He deserved some answers.
Ethan swiveled his head to make sure they had relative privacy then leaned toward her. “Can you please tell me what your problem is?”
“Right now, the only problem I have is you. You’re in my way and I don’t want to be late. You take your time and fiddle some more in front of the mirror. God forbid if your Windsor knot isn’t perfect or if your cuff links aren’t polished to a sheen high enough to blind people.” She crossed her arms and arched her brow.
What on earth? “Why are you so obsessed with my wardrobe?” Besides, everyone knew a half-Windsor was the way to go. A full Windsor could come off too formal. This evening’s reception was business casual, a full Windsor would be too much.
“Get real,” Bethany scoffed. “I couldn’t care less. As if I spend my precious time thinking about you.” She tilted up her chin and threw her shoulders back. “Besides, you started this.”
“I started this?” The woman was becoming more confusing by the minute.
“Yes, don’t you remember? The day we met when we were on our way to O’Briain’s.”
“All I remember is we were having a perfectly nice conversation and you left in a snit for reasons passing understanding.”
Bethany’s jaw dropped, her eyes bugged out and she huffed in outrage. “Excuse me? I have never in my life ever been in a snit. That’s demeaning. And no reason? I was totally justified being pissed, and you know it. You know what you did.”
He threw up his hands. “What exactly did I do that was so out of order?”
She put her hands on her hips. “You made fun of my outfit and treated me like I was some inferior underling just because I didn’t grow up rich and privileged. As if I didn’t know what I was doing and had no business being there. You dismissed me out of hand.”
Ethan leaned back on his heels, gobsmacked. That was what she’d gotten from their first encounter?
“You had some choice remarks about what I was wearing as well, if I recall,” he couldn’t help but point out.
“I was just kidding around. I didn’t mean what I said. You did.”
“To set the record straight, you couldn’t be more wrong. I didn’t think any of the things you just said. Never have, never will.” Bethany Lee could be infuriating but her talent and ability had never been in question. By him or anyone she worked with. She was his biggest competition, after all. He would only pit himself against the best.
Bethany blinked in surprise, but her shoulders dropped, and her body language indicated she was finally ready to listen. Really listen.
“The only thing I was thinking that day was I’d run into a bright, attractive woman who I was having fun bantering and flirting with. At least I thought that was what we were doing. I assure you I had no idea you’d taken my words in that way.”
“Oh.”
The fight had totally left Bethany now. It was probably a mark against Ethan that he derived such petty pleasure at seeing her off her stride. But, despite her swipes to the contrary, he was only human after all.
Only he’d just confessed that he’d been attracted to her. Damn.
Never mind. The operative word were had been. As in the past. Firmly in the past.
“I didn’t know I’d misunderstood your words and actions that day.” Bethany pressed her lips together firmly and her gaze darted away.
“Apology accepted,” he replied, feeling magnanimous. Maybe this could be the start of a new beginning, and they could wipe the slate clean.
Her eyes met his and she frowned. “I didn’t apologize.”
So much for that fresh start.
Then she sighed and capitulated. “But under the circumstances, I suppose I could cut down on the wardrobe jokes and be nicer to you at work.”
“Ditto.”
“Not that much nicer,” she warned. “I have a reputation to maintain.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” he said sincerely. Honestly, the world wouldn’t make sense if they stopped exchanging barbs. He checked his watch. “We really should go in.”
Bethany squared her shoulders and for all intents and purposes looked like she was ready to enter battle.
“You should relax,” he remarked.
“Easy for you to say,” she tossed back. She opened her mouth to continue then clamped it shut.
“I thought you said you’d be nicer,” he reminded her.
“Marginally,” she shot back. Then took a deep breath. “Shit. You’re right. I’m nervous. But that’s not going to stop me.”
“I have no doubt you’ll be worthy competition,” he said, his tone sincere. Bethany was too bright, too competitive, and too driven. She always brought her A game and he’d have to do the same.
“Forget it, Wu. That fellowship is mine,” Bethany said, back to her old self. She shot him a cheeky grin.
Game on. “May the best man win.” He offered his hand and she shook it heartily.
“Oh, she will,” she assured him.
“We’ll see. Time for us to mingle and do our best to impress the committee.”
“I’ve been studying up,” she boasted as they made their way back to the ballroom.
“You’ve memorized their entire CVs, where they all went to school, and their top-five favorite hobbies?” he kidded. Surely that was overkill. He’d done basic research of course but there was an element of being yourself, surely. Trying too hard came off as desperate and unattractive. Then again, if anyone could make it work, it’d be Bethany Lee.
She came to an abrupt stop. “Of course. Why be prepared when you can be overprepared? It’s The Bethany Way.”
“Good luck,” he offered.
“Good luck. We’ll find out who made the better impression on the committee. Bet it’s me,” she teased.
It was all well and good that he and Bethany had cleared the air and come to a better understanding. But the fact remained that the Raskin Fellowship was a key part of his strategy to secure permanent residency here in America. He couldn’t afford any sort of distraction, even in the attractive form of Bethany Lee. Nothing was going to get in the way of him achieving what he’d set out to do. Not Bethany Lee, not anyone.
“We’ll see about that.” No way was he going to let her outdo him. He could network and schmooze with the best of them.
Bickering, they entered the ballroom and then went their separate ways, both on a mission. Ethan was now determined to make sure he got one on one-on-one time with every single member of the committee.
And the only reason he mentally tracked where she was all evening was to see what progress she was making with the committee so he could compare if he got a more favorable reaction. Unless he was mistaken, he was pretty sure Bethany was doing the same with him.
Which wasn’t a distraction. At all. Merely two competitors jockeying for advantage.
Right?