Chapter 405 Receipt of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
After getting Samantha's call, James rushed to the train station.
Last night, James had jokingly asked Samantha to handle things, but she took it seriously. She greeted the Virgil couple in the morning, packed her stuff, and headed to Glowing Oasis.
She hadn't contacted James on her way, wanting to surprise him and not bother him to pick her up.
It wasn't until things went south that she called James.
While driving, James wondered what had happened to Samantha. Halfway there, Gerald called.
"James, where are you? Busy today?"
James replied with a smile, "I'm on my way to the train station to pick someone up. What's up, Mr. Rivera?"
"It's not me, but Dr. Fields has been trying to reach you. You haven't been answering his calls."
Gerald chuckled, "He asked me to check if you're still mad at him and avoiding him."
"Dr. Fields has been trying to reach me?" James was puzzled. "I had no idea."
Gerald was surprised. "You didn't know? Dr. Fields called you several times on this number."
James slapped his forehead. "I get it now. I've been blocking a number from Stardust City, thinking it was from some real estate agent."
"I'm really sorry. Please apologize to Dr. Fields for me. I had no idea it was his number."
"Besides, if anyone should be mad about the ninth injection incident, it should be him. I played a trick on him, not the other way around."
James felt guilty. "I'll contact him later to apologize in person."
Although he didn't know why Daryl was looking for him, James knew he couldn't ignore someone of Daryl's stature and experience.
Moreover, regarding the ninth injection incident, James and Trevor had almost scared Daryl to death. James felt he owed him an apology.
"James, no need to be so formal. As long as you're not mad, it's all good. I'm the one who should apologize for disturbing you."
Daryl's hearty laugh came through the phone, "I was wondering if you're free for lunch? I've set up a table at River View Tower and would love for you to join us."
He was clearly with Gerald.
"Dr. Fields, you're too kind. I'm free today." James hesitated, "But I need to pick up a friend from Dragon & Phoenix Jewelry Store later."
"Bring them along. The more, the merrier." Daryl's laugh was loud and clear. "James, it's settled then. Lunch at River View Tower. See you there."
James smiled, "Alright, see you there."
After hanging up, James turned the steering wheel. Half an hour later, he arrived at Glowing Oasis train station.
Scanning the surrounding billboards, he spotted the Dragon & Phoenix Jewelry Store.
James parked the car and ran over.
Soon, he saw the delicate and serene Samantha under a sun umbrella in the jewelry store's rest area.
Dressed in a simple white shirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, she looked stunning in the sunlight.
She bit her lip lightly, standing next to a table with an open box containing dozens of gemstone fragments.
James ran over. "Samantha, what happened?"
Seeing James, Samantha beamed with joy but then lowered her head.
"James, I'm sorry for the trouble. Can you lend me some money?"
She looked very guilty. "I'll work hard to pay you back."
James was taken aback. "Lend you money? What for?"
Samantha explained, "I came out of the train station and passed by here. Someone bumped into me, and I accidentally tripped a woman."
"Her gemstones fell to the ground and shattered."
"The person who bumped into me ran away immediately. I tried to chase them, but she stopped me."
"She had just bought the gemstones, and they broke. The receipt and certificate are still there. Even though it wasn't intentional, I should take some responsibility."
Samantha didn't mention that she had come to the jewelry store to buy a small gemstone as a gift for James, not wanting to burden him.
James thought it was something serious. He picked up the fragments from the box. "How much?"
He also considered if this was a scam.
"Not much, just two hundred..." Before Samantha could finish, a woman in the jewelry store's lobby spoke up, "I don't cheat or steal. Just pay the original price."
"If you don't trust the price, you can ask inside the store or check the surveillance footage."
The woman continued, "I spent two hundred thousand dollars on these."
James turned around, surprised, "Mrs. Howard? Uncle Bruce? Coralie?"
The elegant woman was none other than Marigold, with Bruce and Coralie by her side.
Bruce was also surprised. "James? What are you doing here?"
Marigold's face darkened, "James, who is she to you?"
She thought Samantha had called a parent or wealthy friend, but it turned out to be James, whom she disliked. This meant the two hundred thousand dollars might be lost.
Not only would Bruce not let James pay, but James also couldn't come up with that money.
"James, a poor kid like you shouldn't interfere," Marigold warned. "And don't drag Bruce into this."
Bruce was displeased. "How can you talk to him like that?"
Coralie first stared at James, then at Samantha, her eyes filled with arrogance and a hint of complexity.
She asked James, "James, is she your girlfriend?"
Samantha was startled and quickly shook her head. "No, it's not like that."
"Uncle Bruce, Aunt Marigold, her name is Samantha. She's a friend from my clinic, here to see me," James explained, surprised that the people involved were Bruce's family, dismissing the idea of a scam. "I didn't expect to run into you."
Hearing James explain their relationship, Coralie inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm really sorry for breaking your gemstones," James said, taking out his phone. "But don't worry, I'm willing to..."
"A friend? The internet is right; poor people's friends are also poor." Marigold's eyes were disdainful.
"James, since she's just a friend, don't meddle. Let her call her family and get the money."
Samantha wanted to speak, but James gently pulled her back, signaling that he would handle it.
"Sorry, she has no family. This money..." He was about to say he would pay.
Marigold's face changed, "No family? So no money?"
Then she turned to Bruce. "I told you not to go out today. Now look, the gemstones are broken, and she can't pay a cent."
"Two hundred thousand dollars gone, just like that! I could have bought two bags with that money."
"Why are we so unlucky? So many relatives and friends, and not one can help. They're all burdens."
"I don't care. I need that two hundred thousand dollars. You can get a loan." Marigold's voice rose as she shifted her angry gaze back to Samantha, "Being poor doesn't mean you don't have to pay."
James frowned. "Aunt Marigold, watch your words. I didn't say we wouldn't pay."
"Exactly, how can you talk like that?" Bruce's face turned stern.
"She can write an IOU, mortgage her passport, or pay in installments. There are many ways. Why force her to get a loan?"
"Besides, with James involved, give the girl some leeway. It's better for everyone."
"I'll handle this. James, tell your friend not to worry. She can pay it back slowly."
He turned to Marigold. "If you still want the two hundred thousand dollars, I'll transfer it to you first."
"Bruce, what are you doing?" Marigold was furious. "This is two hundred thousand dollars, not twenty. And she's just James's friend. Are you really going to be a fool?"
Bruce was firm. "I trust James and his friends."
Coralie didn't intervene in her parents' argument, but she looked at James with displeasure, thinking he was the cause of their fight.
And didn't James realize that gaining her favor was more important than defending Samantha?
As they argued, several female employees from the store came out to watch. Knowing the situation, they pointed and whispered about James and Samantha, their eyes full of disdain.
"Bruce, you're useless," Marigold was even angrier. "Your brain must be broken."
"Why are we buying gemstones? Is it for me and Coralie? No, it's to give Daryl a gift so he can treat your headaches."
"The gemstones are broken, and you're happy about it?"
"I've told you before, stop helping every poor relative. It costs us money and brings us trouble."
Marigold's words were harsh. "He even got a job through Coralie, and now he can't even pay for the damages. What a jinx."
Hearing that James's job was thanks to Coralie, the female employees laughed, thinking he was a useless man.
Bruce was also angry. "We can just buy new gemstones! Besides, I don't think that treatment is necessary."
"Uncle Bruce, Aunt Marigold, please stop arguing," James interrupted, raising his phone. "I'll pay for Samantha."
"You? With what?" Marigold laughed angrily. "You're just going to make Bruce pay."
The female employees also looked down on James, thinking he should be more independent.
At that moment, a sharp sound and an artificial voice announced: "Ms. Walsh, two hundred thousand dollars has been deposited. Please check your account."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
