Chapter 14 Asco Signs the Contract

• I visited more than a dozen private clinics, but none of them seemed suitable.
• Either the salary was too low or they had poor patient flow.
• Finally, I came across a private general hospital that was hiring.
• The salary and benefits mentioned in the advertisement were quite enticing, but I wasn't sure if it was just a gimmick.
• There were various job positions available, and after a quick review, I chose one that seemed to match my qualifications the most.
• I had a phone call with the hospital's manager, who was a woman. We scheduled a job interview at 2.00PM.
• I wandered around the vicinity until it was time, then promptly appeared at the hospital.
• I also did some research in advance, and I found out that this hospital had no connection with the Winter Medical Group. The owner of the hospital was also from a different province.
• The person who conducted the interview was the same manager I had contacted before, and after seeing her name tag, I addressed her as Heidi Matthews.
• I retrieved my digital resume from my phone and handed it over to her.
• She didn't ask me to introduce myself but instead looked through my resume.
• "You seem to have a diverse skill set. Your major is in surgery, but there's also traditional medicine listed under your skills?"
• "I transitioned from traditional medicine to modern medicine. During my university application, I originally applied for traditional medicine."
• "As you know, traditional medicine is often associated with age. Combined with the fact that fewer people nowadays are interested in it, it has become a niche field."
• The fast pace of modern life and the preference for modern medicine by most people were the reasons why traditional medicine had lost its appeal.
• This was also one of the reasons why modern medicine could dominate most of the domestic market.
• I used bloodletting therapy from the traditional medicine method, which involved acupuncture and bloodletting, to save the elderly man this morning.
• Traditional medicine was a skill passed down from our ancestors, and its existence for thousands of years was not without reason.
• "Do you have a traditional medicine certificate?"
• "Yes, of course!" I took out the certificate from my purse. I usually carried these documents with me, and now it was the perfect opportunity to use them.
• After examining my credentials, Heidi nodded approvingly and seemed quite satisfied.
• "You have such diverse skills and even studied abroad. Why would you choose a small-scale hospital like ours?"
• I didn't know how to answer her question; there seemed to be a trap lying in wait. It felt like she was praising me, but her words also seemed a bit probing.
• "You're too kind, Heidi. Your hospital has made a name for itself in Monreso, and that's a testament to your strength. There's a saying that fine fowl perches only on a fine tree, right?"
• My response struck a chord with Heidi, and she nodded contentedly.
• "Excellent! Your qualifications meet our requirements perfectly. I hope that we can progress together in our future collaboration. I also hope that you can help our hospital grow."
• She stood up and shook my hand.
• I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.
• I didn't even need to ask about the salary and benefits as the advertisement covered that. It should be followed as per the advertisement.
• Afterward, I had to sign a contract, and if it wasn't as I hoped, I could just leave.
• That day, Heidi arranged for me to work in the dermatology department, which she felt was suitable for me.
• She was quite straightforward in her work style. After confirming my employment, she explained my job responsibilities and plans clearly.
• I didn't need to worry about anything.
• "Miss Landon, you can leave after completing the entry procedures. Let me know when you're available to start, and I'll arrange for you to assist the head physician in the clinic to get familiar with your position."
• "Thank you for your help, Heidi!"
• After a brief exchange, I went to the Human Resources Department to complete the entry procedures.
• To integrate into the team quickly, I went to the department and greeted the other doctors and nurses.
• Everyone was very friendly.
• However, the head physician didn't seem to show any emotions because of my arrival.
• He was a man in his forties and looked very stern.
• I heard from other doctors that he was particularly strict and prone to yelling at the slightest mistake.
• So, I had to be careful and not get on his bad side.
• In any case, the job matter was resolved smoothly, which relieved me of my worries.
• Now, the only thing I looked forward to was the good news from Sean.
• Once I had dealt with the tasks at hand, I could come to work.
• With a job secured, my mood improved significantly. The next task was to find a place to rent.
• I couldn't keep staying in a hotel. It was too expensive. Even the cheap ones cost tens per day and it made my heart ache.
• So, I started searching for an apartment again.
• While strolling through the streets, the annoying Ian called me.
• "Robyn, where are you?"
• "I..."
• "Never mind. I don't care where you are. I expect you to appear in my office within half an hour."
• After speaking, he hung up the phone abruptly.
• Damn it!
• Who did he think he was, summoning me as he pleased? I was not someone he could order around, but what could I do? He had leverage over me.
• I was helpless and anxious as I quickly hailed a cab and headed to the Winter Medical Group headquarters.
• I arrived at Ian's office and saw him sitting on the couch while smoking a cigar leisurely.
• When he saw me, he put out the cigar in the ashtray and walked straight toward me.
• "Robyn, I've seen countless women, and I've never misjudged anyone. Yet, you always seem to defy my expectations."
• Hah. He finally realized that I wasn't like the other women around him. Did he think he could easily read my mind?
• Then, he changed his tone and asked, "Who were you with last night?"
• I frowned as I was annoyed that he was still bothered by the lie I told him.
• I calmly replied, "Mr. Winter, you urgently summoned me here just to ask who I was with last night?"
• He seemed a bit unnatural and I could sense a hint of disappointment.
• "Yes. It's apparent what happened... I shouldn't have wasted my time asking you."
• Ian seemed to have something hidden in his words, and I couldn't understand what he was trying to say.
• "Mr. Winter, you don't seem like yourself, hesitating and beating around the bush."
• He gradually approached me while revealing that disgusting smirk. "Robyn, why bother? Do you know that just an hour ago, Asco's representative came and signed the land purchase contract directly?"
• Huh?
• I must have misheard.
• Did Asco agree to sell the land to the Winter Medical Group? But I haven't even met Timothy yet.
• Could it be that Sean had already persuaded Timothy?
• I was in disbelief!
• Or perhaps Ian had some ulterior motive?
• "Mr. Winter, I apologize if my words have offended you, but there's no need to play such a big joke on me, right?"
• He gradually approached me, and I stepped back until I was against the wall.
• "Do you think I'm joking? Don't you have any idea what you did?" He touched my head, and his eyes looked misty.
• "But I haven't done anything..." I tried to move away from him. He seemed to be getting a bit out of control and his mind was not clear.
• Upon seeing me dodging, he became even more manic. He turned around and locked the office door.
• Then, he rushed toward me and hugged me tightly.
• He murmured, "Stop pretending. If you can give yourself to him, why can't you give yourself to me?"
• "Do you know, even though you're as repugnant as that woman, I've been attracted to you since the first time I saw you..."
• I felt a mix of despair and absurdity in my heart after hearing his words.
• "Mr. Winter, have you been smoking too much and deprived of oxygen? When did I give myself to anyone?" As I shouted, I struggled to break free from his grasp.
• He paid no attention to that and threw me on the couch.
• Then, he pounced on me.
• He started kissing my neck and kept trying to unbutton my clothes.
• It looked like he was about to succeed...
• Slap!
• I landed a resounding slap on his face. It was even louder than the one I gave him last time.
• He was surprised, but his eyes were now filled with anger as if he wanted to tear me apart.
• However, I wouldn't give him the chance. I looked him in the eye and said, "Mr. Winter, I don't know why Asco suddenly came to sign the contract with you, but if you think I slept with Timothy to make it happen, you're trampling on my dignity."
• The slap didn't seem to wake him up, but my words seemed to bring him back to his senses.