Chapter 9 Close Instruction
Jennifer was tired of the flirtation between her and Francis. But then the hospital called with bad news: the doctor scheduled for David's surgery had been in a plane crash, and the operation would have to be postponed.
Jennifer had no choice but to seek out Francis again, though she didn't even have his contact information. She turned to her friend Mia for help. Mia had married Aaron Hill, the son of a local real estate mogul, earlier that year and was a TV host with a wide social network.
In a trendy restaurant, Jennifer picked a corner seat while waiting for Mia and even ordered her favorite cappuccino with less sugar. After listening to Jennifer's story, Mia asked with concern, "How's Mr. Brown holding up?"
"He's hanging in there, but I'm really worried about the surgery," Jennifer replied. "I heard Francis has the best success rate, so I really need your help."
Mia thought for a moment. "I've heard about Francis. He just got back to Golden Harbor and took over as the director of Riverside General Hospital. The last director almost went to jail and had to retire, so Francis stepped in. He's known for being cold and ruthless. A lot of women have tried to get close to him lately, but he's not interested in any of them." She grinned mischievously. "If you hadn't run off that day, who knows what might've happened between you two. Such a shame."
Jennifer looked at her, exasperated. "Quit joking around. I need a chance to apologize to him. Can you help me?"
Mia contacted a few friends and found out that Francis would be at a coffee tasting event that weekend. Mia got invitations through Aaron, and the couple brought Jennifer along.
As they entered, Jennifer immediately spotted Eugene and froze. Mia gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Jennifer, I didn't realize he was on the guest list too."
She shot a glare at Aaron, who quickly admitted his mistake, fearing Mia's wrath. He had only focused on fulfilling Mia's request and hadn't considered whether Eugene would be there.
Jennifer forced a smile. "It's fine."
She was there for Francis, not Eugene, and hoped Eugene wouldn't cause any trouble.
Eugene noticed them too. He assumed Jennifer had come to plead with him and quickly looked away, continuing his conversation. But when Jennifer didn't approach him, he glanced back, only to see her chatting with Francis, smiling ingratiatingly. Someone called his name, and he turned back to his conversation, but his mind kept wandering to why Jennifer was cozying up to Francis.
Francis stood at the center of the crowd, looking sharp in a navy blue suit. Jennifer, in a pink form-fitting dress with her hair in a loose bun, looked even more enchanting as she smiled beside him.
Aaron greeted Francis, who responded but let his gaze linger on Jennifer for a few extra seconds. Pretending not to recognize her, he asked, "And this is?"
Aaron quickly introduced her. "This is my wife's good friend Jennifer, a jewelry designer. She's really into coffee culture and heard Dr. Carter is an expert. Maybe you could share some tips?"
"Is that so, Ms. Brown?" Francis repeated with a hint of amusement, looking at her with a slight smile.
Jennifer blushed and extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Carter." If he wanted to pretend not to know her, she'd play along. Her goal was to make him happy and forgive her.
Francis lightly squeezed her fingertips, cool and soft, before letting go. He gestured to a table. "Why don't we start with Ms. Brown showing us her coffee brewing skills?" The crowd around them cheered, clearly aware that Jennifer was there for Francis.
Jennifer's carefully chosen outfit highlighted her natural beauty, with the dress subtly revealing her long legs. Even at this high-society event, she stood out.
Though not an expert, Jennifer had taken a few classes for this occasion, and her movements were smooth and graceful. From grinding the beans and folding the filter paper to warming the cup and blooming the grounds, she executed each step perfectly.
Francis watched her intently with a slight smile. At least she seemed to be a genuine coffee enthusiast. When Jennifer handed him the cup, he smiled and said, "Thank you, Ms. Brown. Your skillful brewing has truly brought out the best in this coffee."
The crowd applauded, impressed by the display. Meanwhile, Eugene, watching from a distance, accidentally knocked over a jar of coffee beans in his distraction. He quickly apologized to the host and offered to pay extra for the spilled beans.