Chapter 5 It's Him
No matter how much Jennifer tried to explain, the nurse wouldn't budge. With no choice, she went online to buy an appointment with Francis. After a long wait, someone finally contacted her, insisting on meeting in a back alley behind the hospital and demanding cash. Without much thought, Jennifer withdrew ten thousand dollars and headed to the designated spot. It was daytime, but the alley was dark and eerie. She hesitated for a moment.
"Hey, are you the one buying the appointment for the day after tomorrow? Got the money?" A short, skinny man suddenly appeared behind her.
Jennifer jumped back, eyeing the man suspiciously. "Do you really have the appointment? How did you get it?" He didn't look trustworthy.
The man cleared his throat. "I lined up at the hospital every night for two weeks to get an appointment with Dr. Carter. They say he's the best. Unfortunately, my mother passed away this morning. I need to sell the appointment to cover her funeral costs." He wiped his face, choking back tears.
Jennifer was taken aback. Despite his scruffy appearance, he seemed like a devoted son. She said softly, "I have the money. How will you transfer the appointment to me?" She opened her bag, showing a thick roll of cash.
The man's eyes lit up. He showed her a screenshot of the appointment confirmation. "I booked it with this phone number. Give me the ten thousand dollars, and I'll hand over the SIM card." He reached for her bag.
Jennifer quickly closed her bag and stepped back. "How do I know this screenshot is real?" Though ten thousand dollars wasn't much for her, she needed to ensure she could see Francis as soon as possible.
The man grinned and suddenly yanked her bag hard. Jennifer stumbled and fell to the ground, her bag ripped from her grasp.
"What are you doing?" A nearby security guard noticed the commotion and approached, shouting. The man quickly turned a corner and disappeared.
Jennifer struggled to her feet, her knees and palms scraped and stinging. "He stole my bag," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. She should have known better than to trust a stranger.
The security guard looked concerned. "Ma'am, you're hurt. Do you need help getting to the hospital?"
Jennifer bit her lip. "Thanks, but I'll manage." She limped toward the hospital, heading for the restroom to clean up. As she reached the door, she bumped into a man. He steadied her by the shoulders, but the pain in her leg made her wince.
"Sorry," the man said calmly.
Jennifer looked up. "No, it's not your fault. Thank you." Before she even saw his face, she noticed the white coat—a doctor's uniform.
The name tag on his chest read "Francis Carter." It was him! Jennifer's eyes widened with hope. "Dr. Carter, I'm Jennifer Brown. My father is a patient here. Could you please be his surgeon?" She couldn't help but notice how young and handsome he was.
Francis raised an eyebrow, looking at her with interest. "You don't remember me?"
Jennifer frowned, studying his face. She shook her head. "Dr. Carter, I'm sure this is our first meeting."
Francis leaned in close, his voice low. "Think harder. Here's a hint: Aurora Nightclub."
Jennifer froze. He was talking about the nightclub she went to last night! As memories flooded back, she realized this Francis looked a lot like the guy she spent the night with. A renowned doctor and a nightclub gigolo—she hadn't made the connection.
No, if he was a doctor, then the gigolo thing was a misunderstanding! What now? She'd offended Francis, and now she needed his help for her father's surgery. Her face showed her inner turmoil.
Sensing she recognized him, Francis let out a mocking laugh. He whispered in her ear, "Ms. Brown, you don't recognize me? You must have slept with so many men."
Jennifer's pale face turned crimson. She glared at him, her eyes welling up. "I didn't!"
She had gone to the nightclub to let loose, but she wasn't promiscuous. In fact, she was raised strictly and traditionally. At 21, she'd only had one boyfriend, Eugene, who turned out to be a jerk. But meeting Francis in such circumstances left her at a loss for words.
Francis's expression hardened. "None of my concern. But your behavior that night was an insult to any man." He turned to leave.
Jennifer quickly grabbed his sleeve, pleading, "I'm sorry! I was drunk and acted inappropriately. Please forgive me!"
Francis gripped her wrist, his voice cold. "Ms. Brown, this is a hospital, not a nightclub. Mind your behavior."
Jennifer released his sleeve, looking at him timidly. "Dr. Carter, what about my father's surgery?"
Francis replied, "I can't make exceptions, but you're welcome to book an appointment."
He walked away quickly, and Jennifer had to jog to keep up. "But Dr. Carter, your appointments are booked for a month. I'm worried my father's condition will worsen."
"Ms. Brown, you want to cut in line? What makes you so special that I should make an exception for you?" He scoffed and walked off.
Jennifer bit her lip. Not only did she have no special relationship with him, but she had also offended him, which was why he was so harsh. Suddenly, she remembered something and hurried after him. "Dr. Carter, did you see my bracelet that night? It's silver with colorful gems."
She had checked with the hotel, but the cleaning staff hadn't found it.
Francis paused briefly, then said impatiently, "I don't remember."