Chapter 231 Be Careful or I'll Tell Jennifer
The sudden assault caught James completely off guard. His muscles tensed instinctively as he reacted with surprising force, slamming back against the attacker and pinning them against the wall. In one fluid motion, he pressed his right foot against their legs and used his right arm to pin their chest, effectively immobilizing them.
James wasn't just skilled in medicine; martial arts were second nature to him. Being caught off guard was a rarity. However, emerging from the crowded hallway, he had momentarily let his guard down. He hadn't sensed any potential threats nearby and wasn't on high alert. This lapse in vigilance gave the assailant the element of surprise.
But something wasn't right.
"Ouch! James, are you insane?!"
That was definitely a woman's voice.
'And why did the chest beneath his arm feel so… soft?' he thought, feeling something was off.
James's eyes focused, and he found himself staring into a pair of furious, incredibly beautiful eyes. The woman was stunning, her features normally composed, now flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
'Oh, no. It was Harmony.'
Panic seized James, amplified by the realization that his arm was still pressing against her chest, the pressure deforming its shape. This was beyond awkward!
The unexpected turn of events short-circuited his brain. He froze, unsure what to do next.
As the initial shock wore off, Harmony registered the full implications of the situation. Her eyes widened as she looked down and saw his hand on her chest. A tremor ran through her.
'He was actually… groping me?' she found both nervous and excited.
Their eyes locked for five excruciating seconds, Harmony's face turning a deeper shade of crimson with each passing moment.
"James!" she spat, her voice laced with fury.
The sound of his name snapped James back to reality. He released Harmony instantly, stammering. "Misunderstanding! This is all a big misunderstanding!"
Harmony straightened her wrinkled clothes, her voice tight with indignation. "Misunderstanding? You had your hand on my chest for a good minute, and you call it a misunderstanding? Have you no shame?"
"I… I didn't mean to. How about I… press it back into shape?" James blurted out, his cheeks burning with shame. His brain-to-mouth filter had apparently malfunctioned.
Harmony's eyes widened further. "Are you mocking me now?" she hissed.
"No! Of course not!" James exclaimed, mortified.
If it had been any other woman, he wouldn't be this flustered, even if he had accidentally touched her inappropriately. But this was Harmony, Jennifer's close friend. And they were at a high-profile conference, surrounded by media and cameras. He had just excelled in the previous session, gaining recognition. If anyone saw this… it would be disastrous.
Headlines flashed before his eyes: "Disgrace at East-West Medicine Conference: Traditional Medicine Practitioner Caught Groping Judge!"
His reputation would be tarnished, but the real damage would be with Jennifer. He shuddered at the thought.
He glanced around frantically, relieved to find their corner secluded.
Harmony, mirroring his anxiety, also looked around nervously. She had seen his panicked reaction and understood the potential consequences.
Adjusting her clothes once more, she fixed James with a steely glare. "You'd better watch yourself," she warned. "Or I'll tell Jennifer you assaulted me."
He wanted to point out that she was the one who had initiated the "assault," but he thought better of it.
Seeing her anger subside slightly, he quickly changed the subject. "What did you want anyway?"
Harmony opened her mouth to answer, but the sound of approaching footsteps made her pause. She shot James a warning look and pretended to be engrossed in a phone call.
James, initially confused, quickly caught on. Harmony was just as worried about appearances as he was.
"Dr. Smith! It's you!"
Two men rounded the corner, their faces breaking into enthusiastic smiles upon recognizing James. They approached him like starstruck fans.
James returned their greetings with a polite nod and a smile.
"We're rooting for you, Dr. Smith! Make traditional medicine proud!"
"Thank you. I'll do my best," James replied graciously.
Once they were gone, he turned back to Harmony. They moved further down the hallway, finding a more private spot.
"So, what did you want?" he asked again.
The color had returned to Harmony's face, though a faint blush lingered.
"You did well back there," she said, her tone softer now.
"Thanks," James acknowledged. He couldn't deny he had performed well.
Harmony shot him a playful glare. "Not a hint of modesty, huh?"
"Is that all you came to say? To mock me?" James retorted, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I'm not that bored," Harmony said, rolling her eyes. Then, with feigned nonchalance, she added, "Don't stress too much about the next round. Just do your best. I'm rooting for you."
Her words, despite her casual delivery, warmed him. Beneath that prickly exterior, Harmony had a kind heart.
"Don't worry. I won't," James said, a confident smile spreading across his face. "The next round is where I shine. I won't lose."
Harmony stared at him, her heart skipping a beat. She quickly masked her reaction, resorting to playful teasing. "Of course, of course. Just don't get completely humiliated by the modern doctors. They have some tricks up their sleeves."
"Don't worry, I've got this," James assured her.
Then, as if remembering something important, he blurted out, "And about earlier… I really am sorry. I didn't mean to grab you like that."
After the words left his mouth, he wished he could crawl under a rock and disappear, regretting bringing it up on his own Why did he bring it up again?
As expected, Harmony's face transformed. The blush returned full force, and she glared at him, a mixture of anger and embarrassment in her eyes.
Knowing he had messed up royally, James didn't wait for her to unleash her fury. He turned and fled, calling out over his shoulder, "I, uh, I gotta go! See you later!"
Without looking back to gauge her reaction, he practically sprinted away.
"You idiot!" Harmony shouted after him, her foot tapping in a mixture of frustration and amusement.
She watched his retreating figure for a moment before finally entering the restroom. As she did, the memory of being pressed against the wall, of his hand on her chest, flashed through her mind. To her surprise, it wasn't an entirely unpleasant memory. A slow smile spread across her face, and she muttered under her breath. "Coward."
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