Chapter 14
Nicole couldn't help frowning when she heard this. She didn't like doctors who didn't know what was good for them either.
They had offered fifty million for the surgery fee, and this Dr. J was still refusing!
There were plenty of doctors out there. If she didn't want to earn this money, they'd let someone else have it!
"Forget it, let's find another doctor. Your grandfather's surgery can't wait any longer." Then she grabbed some papers from beside her and shoved them at Chris. "Oh, and your dad told me to give you this, the files for the Blue Ocean Design Contest. The board's breathing down our necks about this thing. It's our shot at breaking into fashion. Make sure the design team doesn't screw this up. Our whole year-end numbers are riding on this project."
The Blue Ocean Design Contest was a top international fashion design competition. Cooper Corporation was currently breaking into the high-end custom formal wear market, which was why they had brought Cynthia into the company in the first place.
The Coopers used to just make stuff in factories. They were total newbies in fashion, and if they wanted to get on the map, winning this contest was their best shot at making it big fast.
Manufacturing had been gradually declining in recent years, so the Coopers had to act quickly to transform their business.
"Okay, I'll have the design department prepare well."
After finally seeing Nicole off, Chris looked at the villa, which showed no signs of life, and his chest felt even more constricted.
In the past, every time he came home, Joanna would clean the whole place from top to bottom, spray his favorite scent, cook his favorite dishes, and wait for him on the sofa watching TV.
No matter how late it was, as long as he said in advance he was coming back, the villa would have a light on for him.
Now, without all this, he felt very uncomfortable, and even had an urge to escape from the villa.
He didn't know how long Joanna planned to keep this up.
Meanwhile, after leaving the villa, Joanna felt down too.
The tactics Chris used to threaten her were actually just those few, and when it came down to it, they were all about money.
She couldn't just sit around waiting. She should find a job.
Joanna called Luke directly.
As soon as Luke answered, he started joking, "Jo? Did you change your mind and decide to take on David's surgery?"
"No." Joanna thought about the conditions they had offered and asked, "If I bail on this surgery, you're really gonna be okay?"
"Our research institute is very capable. A little financial pressure won't affect anything! Plus, once our drug research produces results, they'll be fighting to invest in us."
Hearing him say this, Joanna felt relieved. She brought up finding work. "Luke, I'm looking for a job recently. You know I've been away for too long and don't really understand the current situation in the field. Do you have any hospitals you'd recommend?"
"Oh my god, Jo, you coming back to work is such luck for patients! There's a hospital that has a long-term partnership with our research institute. They're looking for an attending physician in orthopedics. You've definitely heard of it—St. Mary's Hospital. I'll recommend you right away!"
St. Mary's Hospital was like the holy grail for bone docs. Every med student would kill to get in there. Joanna obviously knew that, and she felt way better. "Thanks a ton, Luke. When you get back, we're definitely grabbing drinks."
Luke was excited too. "I'm going to eat you out of house and home."
After chatting briefly, they hung up.
Before long, Luke sent Joanna the contact information. She reached out, got a patient file in her inbox, and they told her she'd need to prep a mock surgery plan for the interview.
Joanna gave it a quick glance and thought it looked kinda familiar, but didn't sweat it since it wasn't rocket science. She said yes, and they locked in the interview time right away: [10 AM the day after tomorrow. Can't wait to meet you.]
[Me too.]
Getting the interview invitation, Joanna could finally sleep well tonight.
She pushed her worries aside and threw herself completely into preparing for the interview.
The next morning, Joanna put on light makeup and brought all the materials she had prepared.
When she arrived at the hospital entrance, it was close to the interview time. After explaining her purpose, she smoothly met with the head of orthopedics, Dr. Gordon.
"Hello, Joanne. I see from your resume that you haven't been involved in any medical field for three years, which is why we arranged this test."
Surgery was all about precision—you're holding a scalpel for hours on end. Joanna totally got why they were being so careful.
"Yes, I've prepared the surgery simulation. You can take a look."
Dr. Gordon smiled. "No problem, let me see it first."
He had just picked up the proposal when someone knocked on the conference room door. "Dr. Gordon, the investor from the research institute wants to schedule surgery for his..."
Before they could finish, Chris walked in.
He immediately spotted Joanna and the resume in her hand, and frowned. "Joanna, what are you doing here?"
Dr. Gordon had to put down the proposal he was halfway through and explained, "Miss Jones is here to interview for the attending physician position in orthopedics."
"Interview?" Chris scoffed. "Dr. Gordon, I don't think your hospital understands her. Joanna is just a housewife. Sure, she went to med school for a few years, but she's never actually cut anyone open. You really think someone like that deserves to waltz in as an attending? Your hospital had a solid reputation for years. You gonna throw that all away for someone like her?"
Dr. Gordon fell silent.
In fact, when he received the recommendation, he had hesitated because Joanna hadn't performed surgery in so long.
If the person recommending her hadn't vouched for her, saying Joanna was very capable, there probably wouldn't be this interview.
Joanna hadn't expected to run into Chris at her interview, and for him to put her down like this... It was just bad luck.
"Dr. Gordon, I think hiring should be about what someone can actually do. Take a look at my proposal. That'll show you what I'm capable of. If you're still not convinced, test my hands-on skills. I'll totally accept whatever you decide. But if you're gonna pass on me just because some random guy is talking trash, that doesn't sound like how you guys operate." Joanna kept it real with Dr. Gordon.
St. Mary was a good hospital, and she still wanted to fight for this opportunity.
Dr. Gordon looked at Chris, then at Joanna, and asked, "Do Mr. Cooper and Miss Jones know each other?"
Chris didn't want to admit his relationship with Joanna, so he just said "Mm."
After all, letting others know he had a wife like this would be really embarrassing!
"Dr. Gordon, I don't think there's any point in looking at Joanna's proposal. Her abilities don't meet your hospital's standards, and she can't handle the hardship of working every day. I'm St. Mary's biggest investor. Hiring for such an important position requires my approval, and I can tell you right now: I don't approve!"