Chapter 71 Catch Them Together
The hill there wasn't too high, and there was a nice flat area halfway up, with a pond nearby.
The pond was perfect for fishing.
In the evening, they could have a bonfire party.
There were a bunch of unique bed-and-breakfasts nearby that offered places to stay and food.
It was the perfect spot for a team-building event.
Elizabeth forwarded the event details to the secretarial department, asking them to spread the word.
The secretary quickly informed everyone, sparking a wave of excitement among the employees.
After all, nobody wanted the company they had worked at for so long to go under.
After being cooped up in the office for so long, everyone was itching to get out into nature.
Elizabeth listened to the department heads' recent work updates and then wrapped up the meeting.
Earlier on the phone, Samuel had invited her to lunch.
Elizabeth agreed.
At noon, Samuel came to pick up Elizabeth himself.
Samuel asked Elizabeth, "Ms. Jones, what do you feel like eating?"
Elizabeth replied, "I'm easy, anything works for me."
At the restaurant, the waiter led Samuel and Elizabeth to the private room Samuel had reserved.
During the meal, Elizabeth tried every dish Samuel recommended, but they didn't engage in any deep conversation. Samuel noticed she seemed a bit distracted and asked, "Ms. Jones, do you have any concerns about our collaboration?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, no issues. The company is already drafting the contract."
Samuel leaned back in his chair, observing her. He then asked, "Ms. Jones, there's an exhibition of modern and contemporary painters at the City Art Center this Sunday evening. Would you care to join me?"
Elizabeth looked up, seeming to come back to the present, and asked blankly, "Exhibition? What exhibition?"
Samuel shook his head with a resigned smile. "Am I that easy to ignore? Did you think you were dining alone?"
Elizabeth quickly waved her hand in apology. "I'm sorry. I might be a bit busy and tired. I must have been a bit distracted. My apologies."
She raised her glass. "I don't drink, so I'll toast you with juice."
Samuel smiled and shook his head. "It's alright, Ms. Jones. I'm not blaming you. A beautiful lady always has her privileges wherever she goes."
"You mentioned an art exhibition?" Elizabeth wanted to make sure she hadn't misheard. She had seen a flyer for this exhibition at school before, featuring works by her favorite artists.
"Yes. This Sunday evening, there's an art exhibition at the City Art Center. I'd like to invite you to join me. Would you give me that opportunity?"
Without hesitation, Elizabeth nodded and said, "Of course! I'll go."
Seeing her agree so readily, Samuel couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Perhaps he had indeed struck the right chord.
Meanwhile, in City Hospital.
Michael lay in a VIP room bed.
He was fully awake.
However, his body hadn't fully recovered, and after being exposed to the cold wind for so long that night, he had developed pneumonia, which gave him a stubborn high fever.
The doctor gave his opinion.
Michael needed at least a week of antibiotics.
So, he was set to receive IV treatment for several hours each day.
Luckily, his leg injury was just to the soft tissue, not the bone.
Once the stitches were out and the bandage changed, he could be moved to the internal medicine ward.
Seeing that his condition had stabilized, Mary had the bodyguards and housekeeper take him back to the Thomas Villa. She arranged for a family doctor and nurse to look after him.
After Mary left, Michael signaled the bodyguard to call Elizabeth, "Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas is back home. He's not doing well, would you like to come and see him?"
Elizabeth, holding her phone, questioned, "Won't Mrs. Mary Thomas kick me out again?"
The bodyguard replied, "Mrs. Thomas, don't worry, Mary has already left and should be at the old mansion by now."
Elizabeth struggled internally.
Should she go or not?
The bodyguard called her at Michael's behest. Was he missing her? After all, Michael got injured while saving her. It would be unreasonable not to visit him.
Elizabeth quickly packed a few things, hailed a taxi, and headed to Thomas Villa.
When the car stopped at the gate of Thomas Villa, Elizabeth got out and walked through the garden towards the main house.
The closer she got to the entrance, the more nervous she became. She was even a little afraid to see Michael.
Mary had said she was a jinx; would her presence bring bad things to Michael?
Even though she had only been away from here for a few days, it felt like forever to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth gently pushed open the glass door.
Susan saw her and greeted her with surprise, "Mrs. Thomas, you're back?"
Elizabeth nodded slightly.
Susan took out a pair of pink slippers from the shoe cabinet for her.
Elizabeth sat on the bench, changed her shoes, and stood there feeling a bit uneasy.
Susan approached her and said, "Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Thomas is upstairs. He must be very eager to see you."
Elizabeth exhaled softly and nodded, "Okay, Susan, I'll go up."
Susan helped her hang up her coat and watched her walk up the stairs.
Elizabeth reached the second floor, hesitated for a while and gently pushed open Michael's room door.
The scene she saw made her freeze at the door.
Michael was lying quietly in bed, eyes closed, as if asleep. Margaret was sitting on a stool by his bed, holding Michael's large hand in hers, quietly trimming his nails.
Margaret's face twitched with, revealing a look of happiness and contentment.
The sound of the nail clipper was particularly jarring in the quiet room.
Elizabeth's mind was in turmoil.
She felt a surge of anger rising from her chest, straight to her skull, as if it would burst through her head.
Elizabeth clenched her fists to fight down the anger, her chest heaving.
Her eyes were fixed on Margaret's hands, holding Michael's hand.
It lay there obediently in Margaret's hands, without any resistance or reluctance.
Since the bodyguard called her, it must have been at Michael's behest, which also meant that Michael wanted to see her.
But what kind of situation was this? Elizabeth stood quietly at the door, not making a sound.
Her soft-soled slippers made almost no noise as she walked.
So, Margaret, focusing in her fixing, didn't notice her standing at the door.
Michael, of course, couldn't hear or see anything.
Elizabeth didn't understand why Michael had called her there. To let her see them together in the same room?
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