Chapter 7 Nathan
NATHAN
Nathan hadn’t felt this lost since he’d gone to his first appointment as an actual doctor rather than just a medical student.
Then, he’d had his years of medical training to guide him, but now, he was feeling his way through a completely new situation without any previous training.
He had no idea how to handle his newfound fame.
And although what he really wanted was to politely tell the charming and persuasive woman sitting across from him to just leave and forget all about this, he wasn’t sure that was the right move.
After all, he really did want what was best for his patients. If he could make enough money through interviews or videos on social media to cover a few more staff salaries and an expansion, he couldn’t turn that down.
Instinctively, he reached for his glasses, but he stopped himself from taking them off for yet another polishing.
Instead, he met Zoe’s eyes across the desk.
There was the slightest worried furrow in her brow, but she still looked confident.
She was experienced. She’d even worked with other doctors.
They weren’t doctors Nathan wanted to emulate, but her experience would surely mean that she wasn’t going to be in his way around the clinic, and that she really could do what she said she could.
“If you were my patient,” he said, “I’d ask you to trust me to tell you what was best. I’d want your faith that I could help you get better — even if that meant a shot or an x-ray or a hospital stay or something else you didn’t want to do.”
Confusion drifted across Zoe’s soft brown eyes. Then her expression cleared, and she smiled that charming smile.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
Nathan nodded. “I suppose I am. Since you’re the professional here, I’m going to give you my trust that you know the way out of this situation and that you’ll guide me where I want to go.”
“I appreciate your trust.”
“Then, what do you suggest?”
“A TV show,” Zoe said. Nathan’s heart sank and his hand twitched towards his glasses, but he kept his gaze trained on her.
“A reality-TV show?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “You would be our star — a young doctor in a rural Vermont town who puts his patients’ needs first. We’ll show the audience who the ‘Hottest Doctor Alive’ really is.”
“No.” Nathan shook his head. The last thing he wanted was to be followed around by a camera crew, probably for weeks on end.
He’d seen enough reality shows in his time to know that they were based on drama, scandal, and plot twists.
There was very little drama in his life and no scandals at all.
The last plot twist he’d experienced had been finding out that a patient he’d thought had a sprained ankle actually had a hairline fracture — which, while unfortunate for the patient, wasn’t exactly exciting TV material.
“Just no?” Zoe’s eyes narrowed. “You just said you were going to trust me to show you the way forward.”
“Yes, but not if I think you’re making a mistake. I’ll do some short videos maybe, or Facebook posts.”
Zoe ran a hand over her hair, smoothing the strands back into her bun. “Hardly anyone uses Facebook anymore.”
“Then I’ll put the posts on Instagram.” Nathan crossed his arms. “But I’m not doing a reality show.”
“Listen for a minute.” Zoe leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her legs, as though being nearer to him would convince him of her opinion.
“I’m suggesting the show for a reason. The money and exposure you’d gain from doing it would be plenty to help your practice, and you can get it over with in a set amount of time — unlike social media, which you need to keep adding to constantly.
Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to show what your clinic and your life are like and introduce the world to the important work you do. ”
Nathan took a deep breath. Maybe Zoe was right.
Maybe a long format, like a show, would give him more of a chance to show the problems his clinic faced.
He’d also have the opportunity to show that he was just a normal small-town doctor trying to do the best he could for his patients.
There was still one major problem, though.
“I don’t think my work is interesting enough for a reality show. I don’t have a lot of drama in my life.”
“Leave that to me.” Zoe smiled. “My job is making things interesting for viewers, and you can count on me to make that happen.”
Nathan wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that, but he had just said that he’d rely on her to show him the way. “Fine. I guess I’m willing to consider the show.”
“Great.” Zoe relaxed a little. “You won’t regret it.”
Nathan wasn’t so sure about that, either.
“What’s the next step?” he asked.
“We’ll put together a pitch,” Zoe explained. “I’ll shadow you for a week or two, do a few interviews, take some photos and videos, and put together a short teaser for the show. Then we’ll see which television networks are interested.”
“So, it’s possible that no one will be interested?” Nathan asked. He wasn’t sure whether he felt hopeful at the prospect that he might not have to go through with this, or worried that it would be a failure and he’d miss the chance to improve the clinic.
“Sure, that’s always possible,” Zoe admitted.
“But I seriously doubt it. I’ve worked on television pitches before, so I know what the executives like.
More than that, there’s a lot of interest about you, so as long as we get something together relatively quickly, we have a great chance of getting picked up. ”
“Right.” Nathan’s heart sank. Logically, he knew this was a good thing, but the thought of actually being on television was deeply unpleasant. He gave in and started polishing his glasses. “How much do I need to pay you?”
“Nothing.” Zoe held up her hands. “I get paid on commission based on how much you end up making. I’ll draw up a contract and go through it with you, but it’s very typical for this kind of collaboration.”
That was good, at least. Nathan wouldn’t have to dig himself into debt trying to make this work.
“All right.” He slipped his glasses back on. “I guess we’re doing this.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Zoe got to her feet and held out a hand.
Nathan stood to shake it, her small hand completely enveloped in his.
Still holding his hand with hers, she lifted her gaze to his.
She was a lot shorter than him, a difference that became very apparent when they were standing so close together. “You’re making the right choice.”
“I hope so.” Nathan released her hand. “So, what’s next?”
“I’ll go back to New York briefly to get my equipment, write up your contract, and set up a few preliminary meetings with networks,” Zoe explained.
She put her laptop back in her bag and swung the bag over her shoulder.
“Then, around the beginning of next week, I’ll be back in Islingburn and we can get started with the pitch. ”
“You’re leaving now?” Nathan’s heart skipped a beat in a strange way at the thought of her going. “What am I going to do if media and looky-loos start swarming the clinic again?”
“Tell the media you already have a contract with a PR professional and refer them to me,” Zoe said, handing over her card. “Tell the looky-loos the same thing. I’ll handle all of it.”
“Okay.” Nathan bit his lip. “I just… I have to admit, I feel a little strange about working with you when I don’t know anything about you. Here in Islingburn, almost everyone knows everyone else.”
Zoe’s lips quirked in a smile. It was different from the charming PR smile she normally wore — it looked more amused.
“Really?” she asked. Nathan got the feeling she was teasing him, but he didn’t back down.
“Really. How about we grab dinner together tonight and get to know each other a little?”
Zoe lifted her gaze to his again. Her brown eyes were wide, and she was still smiling that amused smile.
“Sorry, but I’m not going on a date with you.
You are my client — even if you’re also the ‘Hottest Doctor Alive.’” She winked, then turned on her heel and left.
Nathan stood beside his desk, reeling. He hadn’t been asking for a date.
Had he? He’d just wanted to know a little more about the woman he’d spend the next weeks, possibly months, working closely with.
No, he definitely hadn’t been asking for a date.
Zoe was charming and intelligent and, yes, gorgeous, but she was also distant and clearly didn’t see eye to eye with him on his professional priorities.
They were very different people. Plus, asking her out would have been just as inappropriate as one of his patients asking him out.
Nathan let out a breath and sank back into his chair. For better or for worse, he’d just agreed to work with a woman he hardly knew on a television pitch he didn’t want to make. Nathan couldn’t help feeling like he was making a huge mistake.
He glanced at the picture of his parents on the desk, and his heart constricted.
Would his father have been proud of him now?
Almost definitely not. Alexander had always prioritized hard work, honesty, and loyalty.
Chasing fame by starring in a reality-TV show didn’t feel particularly hardworking, honest, or loyal.
“Sorry, Dad. I promise I’m trying to do the right thing.”
The picture didn’t answer.
With a sigh, Nathan got to his feet and left the office. Next week, Zoe would be back to start turning his life into a reality show, or at least a pitch for one. Until then, he was going to try his best to forget about this whole mess.