Chapter 30

Emily's POV
　　"Andy, it's me. I was trying to call Susan, she's been having some relationship problems with Kevin lately. But I accidentally dialed your number."
　　"Oh, come on, baby, it breaks my heart when you say things like that. I've been away from you all day. Don't you miss me and Kate?"
　　Andre's voice sounded a little sad and I scrambled to explain that I had been missing him and Kate all day, but I didn't dare call for fear of disturbing them.
　　"Andy. How are you today? What time is Grandpa's funeral?"
　　"Jane and I are in charge of arranging the accommodation for the guests today. We had a busy day. Grandpa's funeral is on Wednesday morning, and I've booked a flight for that afternoon. I'll be back as soon as the funeral is over. How was your work today? Did it go well?"
　　"I'm fine. I went shopping with Susan at the mall today and bought a lot of clothes."
　　I talked to Andre and Kate for a while longer, as we all had things that needed to be done tomorrow, so I hung up and started to sleep.
　　Andre's voice calmed my restless heart and I no longer felt difficulty sleeping. So the next day I woke up feeling like I was full of energy.
　　"Emily, come here! Drop what you're doing and come with me to meet with a client."
　　I arrived at the office in the morning and had been working for less than half an hour when Fiona called me to her.
　　I knew by now that Fiona wasn't going to give me meaningful work, but she was my supervisor. I had to grab my work permit and backpack and follow her out of the office.
　　"I'm going to see the director of this hospital. You stay here and observe how many patients choose this hospital. Here's a questionnaire you need to ask patients and find out how satisfied they are with this hospital, which will help us decide how much to invest in this hospital."
　　I took the questionnaire Fiona handed me. I didn't understand how completing them would help with the amount of investment, and Fiona had no intention of answering my questions for me. After I took the forms she went straight to the elevator to the top floor of the hospital.
　　I carefully stood in the lobby to keep track of how many patients came to register each hour and then stopped some patients who didn't seem very anxious to ask how satisfied they were with the hospital.
　　I felt some patients looking at me with strange eyes. I also found such behavior a bit puzzling, but I had to complete the work Fiona had arranged.
　　"Miss. What are you doing?"
　　A nurse lady noticed my actions, stopped me from asking other patients about their behavior, and asked me the purpose of doing so.
　　"I am an employee of the VA. My supervisor instructed me to survey patient satisfaction with the hospital, which has something to do with the amount of investment our company decides to give the hospital."
　　I used what Fiona told me to explain my current behavior to the nurse, but she didn't believe me and even looked at me with derision after I said those words.
　　"I've never heard of anyone wanting to invest for our hospital. You must be someone sent by another hospital to pry into our news!"
　　I frowned.
　　Fiona had just clearly taken the elevator to the top floor to go talk to the hospital director about a partnership. Why did this nurse say that no one had invested in their hospital?
　　"No. I'm an employee of VA. You may not know about the investment as an employee, but my supervisor has already gone upstairs to talk to your director about the cooperation."
　　"Miss. I advise you not to lie. There is nothing in this hospital that I don't know about. I don't know why your superior went to see our dean, but I'm sure our hospital never needs anyone's investment!"
　　The nurse looked at me very seriously. She looked very sure that I was a spy sent by another hospital to cause trouble. She wouldn't believe me even after I explained many times and even called the hospital security.
　　"Get rid of her. She's a spy sent by another hospital to cause trouble!"
　　"Wait! I do work for an investment company! My supervisor is upstairs! I'll call her now to prove my identity."
　　I realized that something was wrong and hurriedly took out my cell phone to call Fiona, but the phone showed that Fiona's phone was off.
　　I tried several more times with the same result. I heard the nurse standing in front of me grunt, and she looked at me smugly with the look on her face that she had guessed the answer correctly.
　　"Miss. Where is your supervisor? You said she's upstairs, so why isn't she answering her phone? How about you tell me what floor she's on and I'll take you to her?"
　　"Why don't you believe me? I'm an employee of VA! I have a work permit! I'll find it right now and show you!"
　　I was a little anxious. We were already surrounded by patients watching a good show, and security guards were watching me closely on the side ready to kick me out of the hospital at any moment.
　　This was too strange. Where was my work ID? I put it on the outside of my backpack!
　　I went to touch my work permit on the outside of my backpack but found that it had disappeared at some point. I hurriedly opened my backpack and searched through everything, but I couldn't find it.
　　I was very anxious and confused. I had put it in my backpack when I left the office, but now it was suddenly gone! My forehead started to sweat. The nurse and the security guard standing next to me were losing patience!
　　"Stop looking. Are you still trying to stall for time? You were simply sent from another hospital! Take her away now! Don't interfere with the hospital's operation!"
　　"What are you doing?! I'm not lying! You're not qualified to arrest me!"
　　The security guard immediately stepped forward to grab me after hearing her words. I panicked and stepped back, but suddenly crashed into a warm embrace.
　　"I know this lady. I am a friend who came with me." It was a man's voice.
　　He took me by the shoulders acted as if he was very close to me, and posed as my friend to prove my identity for me.
　　"Mr. Claude? Sorry! We didn't know that this young lady was your friend. We'll leave now."
　　The nurse and the security guard knew the man behind me. After learning that I was his friend, they scrambled to apologize and then returned to their respective jobs.
　　I hurriedly escaped from the man's embrace and wanted to thank him, but I noticed that the man's young and handsome face looked somewhat familiar. Then suddenly I remembered that the last time I had a drink at the club, the man I was talking to seemed to be him! Nathan Claude!
　　"You're Nathan Claude?"
　　"Yes, I'm glad you remember me, Ms. Jones." Nathan smiled and nodded his head.
　　I covered my mouth in surprise. I didn't expect to meet again after only meeting once.
　　"Please call me Emily, Mr. Claude. Thank you for helping me earlier. You saved me once again! Thank you a million times!"
　　It was only after I returned from the club and sobered up last time that I realized how dangerous my actions had been. I was very glad that I had met such a polite gentleman as Nathan, otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable to me.
　　"You're so cute, Emily. I'm so glad to meet you again. Do you have time to have lunch together?"
　　"I'm sorry, Nathan, I should have said yes. But... But I need to wait here now for my real supervisor to come out and take me back to the office. I'm still on work time... So, I'm sorry."
　　I walked out of the hospital with Nathan, and I was going to stand in front of the hospital and wait for Fiona to show up.
　　I wanted to ask her why she wasn't answering my calls.
　　"Emily. If you're sure you want to wait here for your boss, please allow me to accompany you."
　　"No, Nathan, it's too much trouble for you. You've already helped me many times. I can do it on my own. You don't have to take up your own time for me."
　　I immediately declined Nathan's offer. He had already helped me twice, and I couldn't accept his help again. It would make me feel very embarrassed.
　　"No, Emily. You don't understand. This is a hospital, and there are homeless people around here who will come for your purse. It's too dangerous for you to stand here as a girl. I have to wait with you."
　　Nathan was too much of a gentleman. His insistence made it impossible for me to refuse him, but we waited together in front of the hospital for a long time without seeing Fiona come out.
　　"Emily. I think your boss may have left. As far as I know, there are other exits from this hospital. It's getting late. Let me take you back to the office."
　　I heard Nathan's words trying to walk to the curb to get a taxi. He offered to drive me back.
　　His tone was so gentle that I finally chose to say yes to him.
　　"What are you looking for?"
　　Nathan asked me curiously when he saw me rummaging in my backpack after getting in the car.
　　I told him I was looking for my work ID. I remembered that I had put it in my backpack when I left the office, but it was now missing.
　　"Emily. If you're sure you brought your work permit out and didn't lose it and now it's gone. Have you considered that someone has taken her away?"
　　Did someone take it? It was Fiona!
　　Nathan's words reminded me. I suddenly remembered that I had reached out to help Fiona when she almost fell because she didn't stand still when we got off the bus today.
　　Was that when Fiona took my work permit?