I didn’t say anything before because
I wasn’t sure where things were going with her, and, personal feelings
completely aside, I think she’s ideal for the job.”
“So do the rest of us, as you know, but you also know
company policy, Ben.”
He laughed a quiet, humorless sound. “I know it, but company
policy is for the Chicago center. I understand the rules will apply as is for
Homewood as well, but there is no policy regarding involvement between
coworkers at separate facilities. And no one but you and the other three board
members have the ability to do the same damage that Paul and his wife did all
those years ago.”
His dad’s mouth twitched, amused. “You have a point, but if
the board starts turning a blind eye just because there’s a gray area where
this is concerned…”
“Your employees will think you’re stepping into the
twenty-first century.”
“They already do without an amendment to the standing rule.
We’re ahead of our field in preventative therapies as well as treatments for
some of the most debilitating diseases. We have a generous employee benefits
package, full coverage insurance. We offer more paid sick and vacation time
than a lot of companies I know about.”
“So what will it hurt if you do away with the rule?”
Tracy studied him a moment. “No one but you has questioned
it until now.”
“No. No one has questioned it out loud. It’s archaic and
unnecessary.”
His dad stood up and came around the desk, shaking his head
but smiling. “I can’t do away with a rule because you’re dating someone we want
to hire. You and I both know everyone would scream favoritism if it suddenly
vanished for you.”
“Anyone who would already is. You’ve made it clear from the
day I graduated and started working here that your spot on the board is going
to be mine someday.” He took a deep breath and raised his hands. “Dad, I didn’t
come here to fight. I came here to tell you I’m in love with her, and to ask if
there’s any way we can work around that without ruining her chance of getting a
job she both wants and deserves.”
Tracy smiled a little nostalgically. Ben could see he’d hit
a nerve.
“Love, you say?” he drawled. Suddenly they were not doctor
to doctor, boss to subordinate—they were a dad and his son.
“I have to admit I’m relieved this didn’t happen sooner.” He
ran his hands through his hair and paced to the windows overlooking the street.
“She’s all I think about when I’m not working. And even when I am working she pops into my head all the damn time. I’d have never made it through
school if she hadn’t quit and disappeared.”
Because he was sure, from the moment she’d stepped out of
Jude and Petra’s house before their date the night before, that she was it for
him. Always had been, always would be. For that matter, if he’d been paying
closer attention, he might have realized it the second he recognized it was her
he’d been admiring at the key party that first night.
“Maybe there was more than one reason that happened,” Dad
said.
Ben gave him a look over his shoulder.
He grinned. “You don’t believe in fate, so don’t give me
that serendipity crap.”
“I do believe you were meant to become the best doctor you
could, and you wouldn’t have been able to do it if she’s that big of a
distraction.”
He had a point. When Ben thought she’d just taken off
without giving him a second thought, he’d been motivated him to put that
fleeting notion of having a real girlfriend out of his mind. If he’d had any
idea she was as interested as he now knew she was, his focus would have been
divided. And probably not evenly.
“I have to admit you make a pretty good case regarding
policy.” His dad sat on the front corner of his desk. “But you’re a couple of
hours too late. She came in to see me earlier and took herself out of the
running.”
Ben went still. He was sure he hadn’t heard right. “Rachel
was here
I wasn’t sure where things were going with her, and, personal feelings
completely aside, I think she’s ideal for the job.”
“So do the rest of us, as you know, but you also know
company policy, Ben.”
He laughed a quiet, humorless sound. “I know it, but company
policy is for the Chicago center. I understand the rules will apply as is for
Homewood as well, but there is no policy regarding involvement between
coworkers at separate facilities. And no one but you and the other three board
members have the ability to do the same damage that Paul and his wife did all
those years ago.”
His dad’s mouth twitched, amused. “You have a point, but if
the board starts turning a blind eye just because there’s a gray area where
this is concerned…”
“Your employees will think you’re stepping into the
twenty-first century.”
“They already do without an amendment to the standing rule.
We’re ahead of our field in preventative therapies as well as treatments for
some of the most debilitating diseases. We have a generous employee benefits
package, full coverage insurance. We offer more paid sick and vacation time
than a lot of companies I know about.”
“So what will it hurt if you do away with the rule?”
Tracy studied him a moment. “No one but you has questioned
it until now.”
“No. No one has questioned it out loud. It’s archaic and
unnecessary.”
His dad stood up and came around the desk, shaking his head
but smiling. “I can’t do away with a rule because you’re dating someone we want
to hire. You and I both know everyone would scream favoritism if it suddenly
vanished for you.”
“Anyone who would already is. You’ve made it clear from the
day I graduated and started working here that your spot on the board is going
to be mine someday.” He took a deep breath and raised his hands. “Dad, I didn’t
come here to fight. I came here to tell you I’m in love with her, and to ask if
there’s any way we can work around that without ruining her chance of getting a
job she both wants and deserves.”
Tracy smiled a little nostalgically. Ben could see he’d hit
a nerve.
“Love, you say?” he drawled. Suddenly they were not doctor
to doctor, boss to subordinate—they were a dad and his son.
“I have to admit I’m relieved this didn’t happen sooner.” He
ran his hands through his hair and paced to the windows overlooking the street.
“She’s all I think about when I’m not working. And even when I am working she pops into my head all the damn time. I’d have never made it through
school if she hadn’t quit and disappeared.”
Because he was sure, from the moment she’d stepped out of
Jude and Petra’s house before their date the night before, that she was it for
him. Always had been, always would be. For that matter, if he’d been paying
closer attention, he might have realized it the second he recognized it was her
he’d been admiring at the key party that first night.
“Maybe there was more than one reason that happened,” Dad
said.
Ben gave him a look over his shoulder.
He grinned. “You don’t believe in fate, so don’t give me
that serendipity crap.”
“I do believe you were meant to become the best doctor you
could, and you wouldn’t have been able to do it if she’s that big of a
distraction.”
He had a point. When Ben thought she’d just taken off
without giving him a second thought, he’d been motivated him to put that
fleeting notion of having a real girlfriend out of his mind. If he’d had any
idea she was as interested as he now knew she was, his focus would have been
divided. And probably not evenly.
“I have to admit you make a pretty good case regarding
policy.” His dad sat on the front corner of his desk. “But you’re a couple of
hours too late. She came in to see me earlier and took herself out of the
running.”
Ben went still. He was sure he hadn’t heard right. “Rachel
was here
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