Chapter 41 Misunderstanding Resolved
Jennifer didn't answer, just kept asking "Why?" over and over, which made Mia want to scratch her.
She pressed the glass with ice cubes against Jennifer's face, trying to sober her up, and asked anxiously, "If you don't tell me who it is, how can I help you?"
Jennifer blinked at her a few times, then said blankly, "I don't know who that woman is, or why Francis was with her."
"Francis! Oh my God!" Mia exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth and looked around. "Is it the Francis I know? When did you two get together?"
"Yes." Jennifer nodded obediently. Just as Mia was waiting for her to continue, Jennifer turned her head away. "Not telling you."
Mia was so annoyed she tapped her forehead. But Mia had her ways. She grabbed Jennifer's phone and unlocked it with her face, then searched for Francis's name.
Just then, the phone rang—it was Francis. Mia's hand shook and she almost dropped it, feeling like she'd been caught doing something wrong.
But she quickly realized Francis couldn't see her anyway, so she answered with a little smile, "Hello."
Francis could tell from that one word it wasn't Jennifer. His tone turned cold. "What's wrong with Jennifer?"
Mia sighed. "Is this Francis? I'm Mia, Jennifer's good friend. This silly girl thought you were running off with another woman, so she drank a ton and is crying and making a scene at my place."
As her good friend, Mia expressed what Jennifer couldn't say. Men like it when women get jealous over them. But the key was not making a big deal of it—just letting him know casually that she cared, making him feel loved and essential.
Sure enough, Francis's tone softened. "Why would she think that?"
Mia replied, "I don't know either. This silly girl is so drunk she can barely talk. Anyway, I can tell she's really fallen for you."
Francis paused for a moment before asking, "Where are you? I'll come get her."
Mia gave him the address. After hanging up, she stared at Jennifer for a while, shaking her head. "So Francis likes your type." She remembered when she first introduced Jennifer to Francis—it hadn't worked out, and she thought that would be the end of it.
She never expected Jennifer to have such appeal that she actually hooked Francis. And it wasn't just a one-night thing—they were living together, and Francis was calling to check on her!
No wonder Jennifer's family situation had suddenly improved and Eugene had backed off—Francis must have stepped in.
Francis arrived quickly, wearing an expensive shirt and suit, broad shoulders and narrow waist, handsome face—he drew many eyes as soon as he entered the bar.
Women in heavy makeup approached him with drinks, but he didn't spare them a glance, walking straight to Jennifer's table. The bar was noisy, which seemed to displease Francis—his expression warned people to keep their distance.
Jennifer had fallen asleep. Francis bent down and picked her up, her pink dress draping softly. Her voice was soft too.
Without even opening her eyes, she mumbled, "Francis, I'm not going home today either." Francis smiled—she was being stubborn while drunk.
Mia had drunk quite a bit but was still clearheaded. Seeing that Jennifer didn't resist Francis's embrace at all, she felt relieved. Jennifer's small, soft body fit completely in Francis's arms—they actually looked good together.
As she handed Jennifer over to him, she said seriously, "Francis, Jennifer is a good girl. She's always been serious about relationships, never plays around. If you're just looking for fun, I hope you'll find someone else and not hurt her." Though she was wary of Francis's status, she was willing to risk it for her friend.
Francis paused, his tone cool. "It's not just for fun."
Mia covered her mouth and giggled. "Good. You should take her home now."
Francis placed Jennifer in the passenger seat and buckled her seatbelt. Even drunk, she was well-behaved, carrying a fruity scent mixed with faint alcohol.
He took a breath—it smelled nice. Just as he was about to pull away, Jennifer suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck, her tone bossy. "Don't go!"
Francis was helpless. "If I don't go, who's going to drive? You?" He tried to pry her hands off, but drunk Jennifer wouldn't let go. He knew there was no reasoning with a drunk person, and feeling a bit tempted by her intoxicated state, he leaned in and kissed her moist lips. The sweet and sour fruit-flavored wine—so that was the taste.
Francis tilted her chin to deepen the kiss, sweeping away all the sweetness in her mouth as his rough tongue drew out more saliva.
Jennifer's hands went limp, resting weakly on his shoulders. But Francis didn't stop right away—he kissed her for a while longer before letting go.
Francis straightened his collar and sat in the driver's seat, glancing at the still-dazed Jennifer beside him. "I wish you were this forward when you're sober."
Jennifer didn't move around during the ride, and they made it home safely. Francis placed Jennifer in the bathtub and was calling the housekeeper to come help when Jennifer opened her eyes. "How did I get here?" As she moved, her head knocked against the tub with a crisp sound.
Francis heard it and told the housekeeper, "Never mind." He crouched down, smiling at her. "Ms. Brown, are you sober now?"
Jennifer held the back of her head, finally remembering what happened after she got drunk—she'd held onto Francis and wouldn't let him leave. She lowered her eyes to avoid looking at him, saying shyly, "I need to shower. You go out first."
"Is there any part of you I haven't touched? Do we really need to be shy? Just now someone was holding onto me and wouldn't let me leave, but now that you're sober you don't want to admit it." Francis smiled at her until her face blushed, then he got up and left, even closing the bathroom door.
After her shower, Jennifer came out wrapped in a bathrobe. Francis was sitting by the window and waved her over. She obediently sat beside him, but he pulled her into his arms with one hand, his chin rubbing against her still-damp hair. "Now can you tell me what you meant by 'running off with another woman'?"
Jennifer's eyes widened. "I never said that!"
Francis chuckled. "Then why did you get yourself drunk tonight and refuse to come home?"
Jennifer bit her lip and finally admitted, "I thought you were mad at me. You came home really late yesterday, and when I called you, a woman answered."
"Oh, Julie. I just wanted to ask her to go to an engagement party with me." Francis's tone was casual. "Eugene and Aria's engagement party. I figured you wouldn't want to go."
Jennifer felt relieved—so he wasn't angry, he was just worried she'd feel awkward. She gathered her courage and looked up at him. "I can go. Being with you is part of my job anyway."
"Okay."