Bull's Eye

Chapter 1

Divya stabbed her fork into the honeydew in her fruit salad with a little more force than was absolutely necessary, but nothing else about her demeanor suggested that she was at all uncomfortable interviewing the other young woman at the table as a replacement for her own job. Divya appeared masterfully calm, a skill that she had developed over her many years of formal family engagements and stifling Hamptons' society.

This skill was particularly useful now, because although the many other potential candidates had not passed her high standards, Divya seemed to have finally met a woman with all the pertinent criteria to become Hank's new Physician Assistant, something that simultaneously aggravated and relieved Divya. Thank God she wouldn't have to interview any more candidates for the job. She had just about given up hope when the last applicant had dragged her to McDonald's for lunch, eating three hamburgers as she explained the importance of fitness and nutrition to a dumbfounded Divya.

At least this candidate, a charming and pretty young brunette, had enough etiquette to take her interviewer to a restaurant with candles on the table, not napkin dispensers.

"Ginger, you have a very impressive résumé," said Divya. "What made you want to become a Physician Assistant?" Divya slowly sipped her glass of sparkling water as the Ginger began to chatter about inspirational professors and her unwavering desire to help people. Divya observed the woman, disappointed that the she seemed to be extremely qualified to be Hank's new PA.

Ginger Hackett had been a paramedic in Albany for a few years before she took the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which she, like Divya, had passed with flying colors. She had worked at a few hospitals in New York, but was now interested in a job as the Physician Assistant to a concierge doctor. Apparently, she wanted to work for Hank because she wanted to connect with her patients more and was fascinated by the unique opportunities that a concierge doctor business provided, but Divya had a shrewd suspicion that her interest was also due to the pay increase and the lure of the Hamptons' many beaches.

Divya knew that she should be paying closer attention to Ginger, but couldn't summon the will. Ginger's excitement seemed only to worsen Divya's melancholy. She knew that she had volunteered for it, but searching for her own replacement for HankMed was incredibly depressing. Not only was she going to leave the best job she'd ever had, she was also going to move away from her home and friends to marry a man that she was only friends with. Divya thought that she had finally made peace with her situation, but this interview was forcing her to reconsider her feelings toward the impending nuptials that would take her away from almost everything that was important to her.

Ginger seemed impervious to Divya's gloom as she cheerfully completed what would have been a very charming anecdote about the hectic life of a paramedic if Divya had been paying better attention. Divya knew that her smile did not look genuine, but Ginger didn't seem to notice. "So, what do you think, Ms. Katdare?" Ginger asked cheerfully. "Is HankMed interested in hiring me?"

Divya tried to objectively assess Ginger as a potential candidate. She had the credentials, experience, and enthusiasm necessary for the job. She was friendly and Divya could tell that she would have the compassion and good bedside manner that she needed to be a successful PA. Hank would like her; Ginger obviously was very excited about the concierge business, and seemed to be genuinely interested in HankMed's combination of medical expertise and improvisation. All of her past employers had raved about her dedication, intelligence, and charm, all of which were very important while serving the rich and famous of the Hamptons.

Evan would like Ginger as well…maybe too much. Ginger's bubbly personality and sense of humor showed even in the face of Divya's dour mood. Also, and perhaps more importantly for Evan, Ginger's gently waving mahogany hair and bigger…erm… sweaters would definitely draw Evan's attention, whether it was wanted or not. Divya tried to ignore the pang of jealousy that she felt in her stomach as she thought about Evan giving her replacement the attention that had once gone to her…but that was nonsense. Hadn't she always wanted Evan to focus on something—anything other than her personal or professional life?

Divya hadn't realized when her outlook toward Evan had changed. The usual feelings of annoyance had shifted toward ones of friendship and ease. She began to look forward to the time they would spend together instead of dreading his incessant and obnoxious commentary on everything. Naturally, she couldn't actually tell him that she valued him as anything more than an irritating coworker. Divya still had to belittle him at every possible moment, just to make sure that these feelings of camaraderie didn't progress any further.

But those stupid, unnecessary feelings already had progressed further than was safe despite all her precautions, and no amount of insulting him could halt the leap in her heart and the nausea that followed whenever she saw his insufferable smirk.

It was ridiculous. Evan and Divya were incompatible. They would never reach any sort of level past the wobbly friendship that they had established. Evan was not interested in Divya, or any woman, beyond the length of their legs or the size of their chests. And, more importantly, Divya was engaged to another man, one that was thankfully without the terrible jokes and sideburns.

Raj was also without the ability to make her palms sweat, but Divya was certain she could live with that.

Besides, Divya thought, her feelings toward Evan, whatever they were, would only serve to impair her decision-making. She needed to be completely free from bias when deciding the very future of HankMed. Divya refused to let any ridiculous notions of partiality get in the way of her choices.

She was leaving in less than two months. So what if Evan fell for this very intelligent, beautiful, and upbeat girl? Even if Divya did care about Evan's love life—which she vehemently did not—she would be on an entirely different continent in less than two months, blissfully unaware of any flirting or not-so-innocent touching between the new PA and the CFO.

"Ginger, I think that you may have a future at HankMed," smiled Divya as she twisted her napkin in her hands. "And please, call me Divya."