Chapter 399 Taking Care of You
After leaving the CDC hospital, James shot a quick text to Mary and Olivia to let them know he was safe, then headed back to Leo Villa to crash.
It had been a long day, and James was feeling pretty beat.
When he got back to the villa, Clifford and Dax were there, flipping through cartoons with the remote. The scene was oddly surreal, but they seemed to be getting along just fine.
The housekeeper, Gray, was nowhere to be seen, but there was a note on the table.
Gray had to resign due to a family emergency.
James didn't pry into the details. He transferred two months' salary to Gray's account and then asked Clifford to whip up some late-night snacks.
He picked up his phone and called Samantha.
The phone rang twice before a sweet, gentle voice answered.
James cleared his throat. "Hey, it's me. Why are you still up so late?"
Samantha, recognizing James, greeted him softly, "I just finished counting the herbs. I'm about to take a shower and hit the sack."
James pressed on, "Did you eat properly today?"
"Yeah," Samantha replied cautiously. "I had noodles for breakfast, rice for lunch, and veggies for dinner."
"I also had some soup the housekeeper made, but I was too full and only drank half a bowl."
She tried to recall her meals for the day. "I also had a banana in the afternoon."
"Good, you're starting to eat meat and fruit. I was worried you were living on bread alone."
James nodded in satisfaction, then asked, "Have you missed me these past few days?"
Samantha hesitated, then stammered, "I…"
"Your hesitation tells me you haven't missed me at all. I feel so hurt."
James teased her, "I've been thinking about you all day and even called you tonight."
Hearing James sound upset, Samantha quickly responded, "No, no, I missed you…"
She was too shy to say anything more affectionate.
"Good, at least you have a conscience."
James didn't push her further and asked gently, "How have things been at JZL Medical Clinic?"
"I'm doing well. I clean, sort herbs, learn acupuncture, and read medical books every day."
Samantha was honest with James. "Brooke has been teaching me and said I have potential. She even mentioned sending me abroad for further studies."
She hoped James would be pleased with Brooke's praise.
"Are you planning to abandon me if you get the chance to go abroad?" James asked with a serious tone, "The world outside is full of temptations. JZL Medical Clinic is small and boring in comparison."
"No, no, I won't go abroad. I won't leave you." Samantha was frightened by the word "abandon" and hurriedly explained with a trembling voice:
"Please don't be mad. I won't go abroad for further studies."
James coughed, "Really?"
"Really, absolutely." Samantha, overcoming her shyness, said, "As long as you don't drive me away, I'll stay by your side."
James smiled, sensing her sincerity.
Samantha, feeling a bit guilty, added, "Please don't be mad, okay?"
"As long as I don't drive you away, you'll stay by my side?" James asked with a smile, "What if one day I can't practice medicine anymore and become poor? Will you still stay with me?"
Without hesitation, Samantha replied, "Yes."
James chuckled, "Why? I would be broke and incapable."
"To take care of you." Samantha responded softly, "If you're not capable anymore, I'll definitely stay by your side to take care of you."
"Such sweet words. Who knows if you're sincere?" James felt warmth in his heart and then said with a playful tone,
"How about this, I don't want you to study medicine for now. Come to Glowing Oasis. I need a housekeeper here."
"You can come to Leo Villa and do chores. Put your medical studies on hold so you won't leave when you become too skilled."
"What do you think?" James put on a serious face, "Are you willing to sacrifice your future to take care of me?"
Samantha softly replied, "Okay."
James laughed helplessly, "I'm just kidding! Go to bed early. I'm going to eat."
After teasing Samantha, James felt much more relaxed.
After having a late-night snack, he called Ruby and a few others to confirm there were no issues, then took a shower and went to bed.
The next morning, James woke up early, did some morning exercises, and found several missed calls on his phone. They were from a Stardust City number.
Thinking it was a spam call, he ignored it. After his shower, another call came in, and he was about to hang up when he saw it was Coralie.
He answered, "Coralie, what's up?"
"James, what's going on? You skipped work for half a day the day before yesterday and didn't show up at all yesterday. What are you doing?"
Coralie's tone was accusatory. "Do you still want this job?"
James was unfazed. "I renewed two major accounts. Didn't Mr. Murphy say I could take a week off?"
"A week off? Do you think you're a manager?"
Coralie was furious. "He was just being polite. You took it seriously? Come on, you're a new employee. Can't you put in some effort?"
James chuckled, "So his word means nothing?"
"Show some respect when you talk about him."
Coralie couldn't hold back. "And those two accounts, do you really not understand how they got renewed?"
"Calista and Anneliese were already long-time clients. Renewing their contracts wasn't difficult."
"Especially since Vance used his uncle's connections. Their renewals were guaranteed."
"Vance hired you, worried you wouldn't fit in, so he deliberately gave you those easy renewals to handle."
"That way, you'd have some achievements and could stay in the company."
"Vance sacrificed his own reputation to help you, and you think it's because of your connections?"
Coralie bluntly pointed out to James. "Have you ever thought about how you, a newcomer at Glowing Oasis, could get people to sign contracts?"
James sighed, "Mr. Murphy is really generous."
He had never seen someone so shameless.
"Stop with the irrelevant comments and get to work."
Coralie's tone was icy. "If you don't come, I'll call my dad. Once you're kicked out of the company, he won't blame me."
"Fine, fine, I'm on my way." James didn't want to worry Bruce, so he agreed immediately. "Tell Vance I thank his whole family."
After hanging up, James skipped breakfast and drove straight to Wish Group.
As soon as he entered the PR department's lobby, Coralie grabbed him and pulled him into the multifunctional conference room.
The room was filled with dozens of people, all with furrowed brows and serious expressions.
Vance sat at the head of the table.
Coralie pulled James to a corner seat.
"You all talk big about your connections and networks, but when it's time to deliver, you're all useless?" Vance slammed the table in frustration.
"Who's brave enough to collect this $20 million debt?"
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