Chapter 176
Ella rushed to the club specified by their business partner with Megan.
The partner greeted them warmly and respectfully escorted her into the private room.
But she never expected that the room would be already filled with people sitting in a circle.
All men.
They all wore well-tailored suits, radiating the confident aura unique to successful people.
Especially Joshua, sitting near the head of the table. Since returning from his serious injury, he seemed to pay particular attention to his image management. His beard was cleanly shaved, his eyebrows were thick and defined, and his features were striking.
At 38 years old, wearing a custom-made suit, he exuded an air of nobility and elegance, with an imposing presence.
The moment she saw him, Ella turned to leave.
The partner quickly stopped her, looking eager to please. "Ms. Garcia, please come in."
The men in the private room also came forward one after another, politely shaking hands with Ella and introducing themselves.
Under these circumstances, Ella couldn't very well choose to leave.
After all, her current position and the recognition she received from the company's board members all depended on the support of these partners.
She suppressed her displeasure, adjusted her expression, and shook hands with each person.
Then she was arranged to sit at the head of the table.
And right next to her was Joshua.
After Ella sat down, Joshua stood up to shake her hand. "Ms. Garcia, pleasure to meet you."
Ella felt extremely awkward, but she couldn't show Joshua an attitude in front of so many people.
She knew what was appropriate in different situations.
Otherwise, how could these partners trust her?
She smiled and took Joshua's hand. "Mr. Thomas, I've heard so much about you."
"Not at all. Ms. Garcia is a true industry legend. I really admire you."
"Thank you." Ella withdrew her hand and sat down. The partners raised their glasses to drink together, chatting and laughing.
Someone suddenly turned their attention to Ella and Joshua, asking curiously, "I remember the Lewis Group and the Thomas Group have many collaborative projects. Mr. Thomas and Ms. Garcia should have known each other for a while, right?"
Someone else chimed in, "I heard the two families have been friends for generations. By all accounts, you two should be quite familiar with each other. Why do you look like strangers?"
Only close relatives and good friends knew about Ella and Joshua's situation.
These people in the business world had no idea what was really going on.
Ella saw everyone's eyes on her. Just as she was struggling to figure out how to explain to everyone, Joshua said, "Our two families have indeed always had a good relationship, but when I was at the company, Ms. Garcia hadn't returned to the Lewis family yet."
"Everyone should know that Ms. Garcia only returned to the Lewis family not long ago, right? Plus, I've been away from the company for the past few years due to personal matters, so I've had less contact with Ms. Garcia."
This explanation was reasonable, and everyone nodded in understanding.
Then they raised their glasses again, wishing that the cooperation between the two companies would go further, so they could benefit from it too.
Ella didn't drink alcohol.
She used to be allergic to alcohol, and every time she drank, her body would feel terrible.
But later, when she became CEO, she had to attend business dinners, and there were so many banquets she simply couldn't refuse.
Plus, being young and beautiful, some partners with bad intentions would try to get her drunk.
Gradually, she adapted to drinking, and her body became immune to alcohol, losing all sensitivity to it.
Now with no one to drink for her, and her assistants and secretaries arranged to go next door, she could only drink herself.
But just as she raised the glass to her lips, Joshua reached out to stop her, directly taking her glass away.
"I heard Ms. Garcia doesn't drink. Never mind, I'll do it."
This action immediately drew laughter and disapproval from the others.
Someone laughed, "Mr. Thomas, who says Ms. Garcia can't drink? Your intentions are a bit too obvious."
"Exactly. Ms. Garcia is married, with two kids already."
The partners knew Ella quite well.
Ella often brought her children to the office, and sometimes to events too.
But no one knew who the children's father was.
When people asked, Ella avoided the topic.
Joshua coming up and immediately drinking for her—what else could it mean except that he was interested in her?
Joshua smiled slightly, looking at everyone's speculation about him. He didn't avoid it at all, holding the glass he took from Ella and drinking it all in one go.
After finishing, he smiled and said, "You can think whatever you want. Maybe it's exactly what you're thinking."
He wanted everyone to know that he had feelings for Ella.
Since Ella didn't want his company, he would manage it for the children first, and he could also use the company's cooperation to have more contact with Ella.
From now on, he was going to start his plan to win back his wife.
Hearing this, everyone looked embarrassed.
They were a bit shocked by Joshua's behavior.
So Mr. Thomas really had his eye on Ms. Garcia?
Despite her having a family and children, he was planning to pursue her openly?
Although the partners were unhappy about it.
But he was Joshua.
Even though he'd been away from the business world for a few years, upon his return, he was still a force to be reckoned with. Who dared question his methods?
So no one dared say anything more.
Ella was very unhappy. She took the glass herself, filled it up, and said coldly, "I can drink. I don't need anyone to do it for me. Everyone, thank you for your support over the years. This glass, I toast to all of you."
She really found Joshua's behavior a bit disgusting. Ella raised her glass and drank it all in one go.
As soon as she spoke, the partners immediately raised their glasses with smiles, and the lively conversation resumed in the private room.
Only Joshua seemed to be left out, sitting there expressionless, staring at Ella without blinking as she discussed project matters with the person next to her.
Was this composed and graceful Ella still the Ella he knew?
Even though the dinner was all men and Ella was in a somewhat dangerous environment, the men here all seemed to respect her.
It seemed like only he didn't respect Ella, deliberately flirting with her in front of so many people.
This version of himself not only wouldn't gain Ella's approval but would also damage his own reputation.
Joshua realized his mistake and raised his glass to apologize to everyone.
Throughout the dinner, everyone drank quite a bit.
The door opened, and assistants and secretaries came in to help them up.
Ella had also drunk a lot and felt dizzy.
Megan came over to support her, looking worried. "Ms. Garcia, are you okay?"
Ella waved her hand and instructed, "Take me home."
The two had just gotten in the car when Joshua also got in, shamelessly saying, "I came alone today. Let me catch a ride with you. I'll also take the opportunity to visit my children at the Lewis family."
Megan was in the driver's seat.
Seeing Joshua suddenly get in the car, she looked at Ella with difficulty.
Seeing Ms. Garcia leaning back against the seat, looking uncomfortable, without even the strength to speak, and thinking about Mr. Thomas and Ms. Garcia's relationship, she couldn't very well refuse, so she could only drive away.
On the way, Ella felt nauseous and almost threw up several times.
Joshua saw this and handed her water and a towel, gently patting her back. He couldn't help scolding, "You obviously can't drink that much. Why did you have to show off?"
Ella perked up her ears and heard Joshua's voice.
She turned her head and saw that it really was Joshua sitting next to her. She got a bit angry and looked at Megan, who was driving.
"Why is he in my car?"
Megan was driving and didn't know how to explain.
She thought that when Mr. Thomas got in the car, Ms. Garcia didn't say anything, which meant she was allowing him to come along with them.
But now Ms. Garcia was just noticing Mr. Thomas's presence?
"I had no one to pick me up, so I'm catching a ride with you." Joshua supported her as he explained. "And I wanted to go back with you to see the kids. Are you okay?"
Ella pushed his hand away, her head spinning and dizzy, looking disgusted. "Can't you call a cab yourself? Joshua, what exactly are you trying to do? Is this fun for you?"
She really didn't understand Joshua.
He deliberately attended the dinner she had already scheduled, and deliberately got in her car to go home with her.
Did he think that just by showing up in front of her, she would soften?
He was thinking too much.
In this lifetime, she would never put any man in her heart again.
"I know I'm bothering you, but you also know I just came back to work. Some relationships still need your help to establish." Joshua could see Ella's disgust toward him.
Although he felt a bit down inside, he could bear it.
As long as he could go back and see the children, even if Ella scolded him or hit him, he would accept it.
"Someone as capable as you still needs me to help establish relationships?" Ella tilted her head to look at him. Because she'd been drinking, her little face was flushed, her eyes hazy, her features in disarray.
"Joshua, you're doing this on purpose. I'm telling you clearly, no matter what you do, I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore."
"From now on, if you barge into my life like you did today again, I..."
She raised her hand, wanting to slap him.
But her stomach churned violently, and she couldn't hold it in anymore. She threw up all over Joshua.
Megan was startled and quickly handed over water and tissues, asking Joshua, "I'm really sorry, Mr. Thomas. Please help deal with this. Although Ms. Garcia can drink, her tolerance is really poor. She throws up every time she drinks."
Joshua looked at the mess all over himself.
Watched as Ella continued to throw up on him.
He suppressed his former germaphobia and waited for Ella to finish.
Then he brought water to her lips. "Rinse your mouth."
Ella took a sip of water and threw it all up again.
Still on Joshua.
Joshua pulled out tissues to wipe her lips, then took off his suit jacket to use as a rag to clean the mess on his legs.
Plus, the car was small, and the smell was strong.
He looked at Megan. "Pull over. We'll take a cab back, and you can take the car to get it cleaned."
Megan was still a bit worried. "But Ms. Garcia will be angry."
"What's she got to be angry about? You can handle this condition, but I can see she's about to suffocate." Joshua's attitude was firm.
Megan had no choice but to pull the car over and reminded him, "Mr. Thomas, no matter what, you must get Ms. Garcia home. Ms. Garcia has to go home every day to be with the kids, or they'll worry about her."
"I know." Joshua put his arm around Ella, opened the car door, and carried her out.
The air outside was indeed much more comfortable.
Ella was drunk, but not to the point of losing her senses. She tilted her head and saw that the person next to her was still Joshua, so she struggled again. "What are you doing? Let me go."
It was already eight o'clock at night.
The street was busy with people coming and going.
Probably because Ella had just thrown up, they both had a strong, unpleasant smell, and the alcohol smell was also pungent.
Passersby couldn't help but look at them twice, but they all held their breath and quickly walked away.
This was also Joshua's first time being so disliked by people on the street.
Seeing Ella still struggling in his arms, he simply picked her up in a princess carry and went to the roadside to hail a cab.
Ella still wouldn't comply, patting his face and shouting, "I told you to let me go. Joshua, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Even if you gave me your life right now, I still wouldn't get back together with you."
"I don't love you. I don't like you at all. Whatever you do is a waste of effort."
Joshua kept quiet and didn't respond.
Although hearing these words hurt and made him sad.
But he didn't care at all.
Having survived near death and come back, he only wanted to make it up to Ella and the children.
As for the rest, he didn't hope for anything.
Maybe the smell on them was too strong—the taxis weren't willing to take them.
Joshua had never used a ride-hailing app and didn't know how to. Unable to flag down a taxi, he simply carried Ella and started walking.
From here to the Lewis family was at least another five kilometers.
Ella struggled for a while, exhausting her strength, and her stomach started feeling bad again.
She felt like she was going to throw up again and quickly patted Joshua's hand. "Put me down. I need to throw up."
Joshua put her down. Ella quickly rushed to the side of a landscaped area to vomit, feeling like all her internal organs were about to come out.
There happened to be a pharmacy and a convenience store nearby. Joshua didn't dare leave Ella alone on the roadside, so he paid a passerby to help him buy hangover medicine, water, and tissues.
After getting the water and tissues, he carefully wiped Ella clean.
Then he fed her the medicine. After finally throwing up everything in her stomach and taking the hangover medicine, Ella felt even more lightheaded,.
Her whole body felt like it was floating, and she couldn't even stand up.
Joshua had no choice but to carry her on his back.
This time Ella didn't refuse.
She lay limply on Joshua's back, her chin resting on his shoulder, breathing weakly.
"Who are you? I'm telling you, get me back to the Lewis family right now, or I'll call the police."
As her mind gradually lost consciousness, Ella used her last bit of awareness to warn the person carrying her.
Joshua adjusted her position on his back and patiently replied, "Your kids' dad."
Ella tilted her head to look at him again.
The lights were dim, and the noise around them affected her ability to recognize a person.
Plus, she could only see half of Joshua's face.
Still worried about falling into the hands of a bad person, Ella grabbed Joshua's head and turned it toward herself. "Let me see who you are."
Joshua turned his head to look at her.
Ella's little face was still flushed, her eyes could barely stay open, yet she looked very alert.
He smiled. "Can you see clearly now?"
Ella could see clearly. It really was Joshua.
Without hesitation, she slapped him. "Who told you to carry me? Put me down."
Joshua didn't put her down and continued walking forward, carrying her.
How could Ella know that Joshua wasn't feeling well either at this moment? His legs had just recovered, and now they were bearing dozens of pounds of weight.
He was in pain but forcing himself to endure it, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Yet he still patiently and gently told the person on his back, "If I put you down, you can't walk, and the taxis won't take us because they think we smell bad."
"Ella, just stay put. I'll get you home safely."
It was just that after getting her home, he didn't know if his legs would still be able to stand.
Ella quieted down.
She didn't have the strength to struggle anymore either.
Tonight, she probably knew she was safe, and somehow her heart felt at ease.
So when she was drinking, she had been a bit reckless.
Now, lying on Joshua's back, somehow, memories of her childhood moments with Joshua floated through her mind.