Chapter 109: Joshua Hosts a Birthday Party for Ava
At noon, a patient suddenly had a critical condition and was rushed into the operating room. Ava couldn't leave, so she called Joshua before entering the OR.
"Hello, Joshua."
"What's up, canceling on me?" Joshua seemed to have expected this and asked casually.
Ava rubbed her forehead helplessly. "I'm really sorry. A patient had a sudden emergency and I can't leave. I have to go into surgery."
"Okay." Joshua, looking down at his documents, responded flatly. He glanced at his watch and asked, "What about tonight?"
"The department is planning a dinner together."
"To celebrate your birthday?"
Ava paused. "You actually remember today's my birthday?"
Joshua was quiet for two seconds, then asked, "Have you decided on a place?"
"It's a bit rushed, not yet."
"Okay, I'll arrange it."
Ava was caught off guard by Joshua's words for two seconds. "No need..."
Before she could finish, Joshua's low voice came through again. "Go do your surgery. I'll arrange everything and send it to your phone."
It was as if Joshua hadn't heard what she said.
Ava rubbed her forehead. The OR was pressing her urgently, so without thinking much, she gave a quick response and went straight into the operating room.
The surgery lasted five hours. As soon as Ava came out of the OR, she saw Samuel standing properly to the side.
Seeing Ava come out, Samuel stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Ms. Davis, you've worked hard. Mr. Thomas has already sent the address for your birthday dinner tonight to your phone. Mr. Thomas has an important meeting and can't leave right now, so he asked me to take you to the hotel first."
Ava was still holding her mask. After Samuel's words, probably because she had just finished surgery, her brain hadn't quite caught up yet, and she stared at Samuel blankly.
Samuel felt a bit at a loss being looked at like this by Ava.
"...What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly. Could you say it again?" Ava asked apologetically.
Samuel swallowed. So she just didn't hear clearly. He thought he had said something wrong that upset Ava.
Samuel patiently repeated everything again.
Ava took out her phone to look at the address Joshua sent her, and her eyes couldn't help but widen.
"Veridian Heights?"
Veridian Heights, Silverlight City's most famous seven-star hotel, located in the most expensive area, magnificent and incredibly luxurious.
She was just having a small birthday with colleagues—was this really necessary? It was too much.
Ava rubbed her forehead helplessly. "It's just a small birthday. This is too much. Tell him to cancel it. I'll make my own reservation."
"Not too much! Mr. Thomas cares a lot about Ms. Davis's birthday. Mr. Thomas has already arranged everything. If Ms. Davis doesn't go, I won't know how to explain when I get back."
Samuel said seriously, deliberately emphasizing the words "cares a lot."
Ava pursed her lips and decided to call Joshua herself.
"What's wrong?" Joshua's deep, magnetic voice came through the phone.
Ava pressed her lips together. "Veridian Heights is too much..."
"Too much?" Joshua leaned back in his office chair, his long fingers tapping the desk rhythmically.
Below him, a group of people sat in complete silence.
Ava nodded. "Yes, it's just a small birthday. There's no need to be so grand."
"You don't like it? We can change the place, though the setup might not be ready in time." Joshua said casually. "Where would you like? I'll have them change it now."
Ava was at a loss for words. Any place Joshua chose probably wouldn't be low-key. "Don't arrange anything. I'll make my own reservation."
"I missed your previous birthdays. Won't you even give me a chance to make up for it?" Joshua asked.
Ava sighed. "I don't need any compensation."
Ava walked to the window holding her phone. She lowered her head slightly, and the clean glass reflected Ava's somewhat tired expression.
She didn't need the compensation he mentioned. What happened before was in the past. She didn't want to dwell on it. Having Finn and Cleo by her side now was good enough.
A brief silence followed.
Then Ava heard Joshua sigh softly. "What a shame."
"What's a shame?"
"It's a shame Samuel and his team spent all afternoon setting things up. If you don't go, it'll all be wasted. All those decorations will be thrown in the trash without any use. Isn't that a shame, don't you think?"
Joshua's slightly raised tone carried a hint of indulgence and affection.
In the conference room, only Joshua's magnetic voice could be heard.
The executives below exchanged glances. Their usually reserved and aloof Joshua was actually using such a gentle, indulgent tone, patiently persuading a woman.
Was this real?
Who was this woman?
Ava really couldn't handle this. Hearing him put it that way, she felt it really would be quite wasteful. Since he'd said this much, if she refused again, she'd seem ungrateful.
Ava let out a soft sigh.
Veridian Heights it was then. Sure, it was high-profile and a bit grand, but everything else was better than other hotels. What reason did she have to refuse? Besides, she hadn't booked another private room yet, so this saved her the trouble.
"Okay, thanks. How much was it? I'll send you the money." A private room at Veridian Heights naturally wouldn't be cheap. Although Joshua wasn't short on money, Ava didn't want to owe him.
"Veridian Heights is my property. Are you saying I'm helping you with your birthday party and then charging you for it?" Joshua asked with a low chuckle.
"Alright, if you feel you owe me, just treat me to a meal later." Joshua said casually, then added, "Something you cook yourself. Deal?"
Ava stopped arguing with him and nodded. "Okay."