Chapter 102 The Ex Meets the New FlameAn Unexpected Encounter at Home

After puttingAs Ashley replaced the bottle back, Ashley couldn't help but puzzle over it on, her way downstairs. Damian'smind was awash with questions. She descended the staircase, her thoughts consumed by the enigma that was Damian. His heart had always seemed so strong; he bullied and overpowered others.appeared unassailable, his demeanor domineering. Who could stresspossibly rattle him out?

?Could it be something like a matter of inheritance issues relatedlinked to KM Road? The Hearst family had a lot of peoplewas extensive, and the current patriarch was still KM Road's chairman. While Damian held the chairman's seat. Although Damian was the CEO position, ascending, his ascension to the very toppinnacle of the corporate pyramid dependedhierarchy was contingent on Anthony Hearst's wishes.

decision.His numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives numbered in the dozens, each potentially eyeing were potential contenders for the throne.

And as forthen there was the issue of his depression...

Damian washad always preachingbeen her mentor, dispensing wisdom and life lessons, acting as her guru. Could it be that he hadn't figured himself out yet?

Lost in thought, she descended the stairs, her mind wandering so freely that she accidentally kicked the leg of was still grappling with his own identity?Engrossed in her thoughts, she misjudged her step and collided with the coffee table, recoilingwincing in pain.

Damian had noticedbeen observing her from the momentsince she began walking downstarted her descent, her mind obviously elsewhere, practically brainless. "What are you thinking about?"

clearly preoccupied. "What's on your mind?" he asked.Rubbing her sore foot, Ashley winced in pain, rubbing her foot for a moment before it subsided somewhat.replied, "Nothing much, just tired in the middle of the night."

feeling a bit weary."She tossed thehis clothes at him – she couldn't be expected, not feeling obliged to helpassist him dress, could she?

Fortunatelyin dressing.To her relief, Damian hadexhibited some decencydecorum and smoothlyeffortlessly slipped into thehis pajamas.

MaybePerhaps it was the fatigue clouding her judgmentexhaustion, but Ashley noticed how elegantly Damian dressed.found herself admiring Damian's elegant manner of dressing. Even athe simple movement, like act of sliding his arms into the sleeves, seemed to carryexude an air of regalaristocratic grace.

No wonder, considering doubt, a result of the royal etiquette training paid forfunded by Thethe Hearst family's generous salary.

"Where are the documents?" he asked.

inquired."In the study."

"So, am I going to fetchretrieving them, or are we both going upstairs?"

Damian shotglanced at her a glance. "You think you can just gowaltz into the study?"

Ashley was at a loss for words.

taken aback.Indeed, while a bedroom might contain somehouse personal itemsbelongings, the study was likeakin to a military fortress – not a place for just anyone to enter boldly.

to be entered without permission."What are you waiting for? WantDo you want me to carry you?"

Ashley had thoughtassumed he would getretrieve the documents himself and was slow to take themrespond. Following him tointo the study, the door swung open, revealing a decorshe was greeted by a room of stunning simplicity and grandeur, alongcomplete with an exaggerateda floor-to-ceiling window that framedshowcasing the glittering starry sky outside.
.Damian surecertainly knew how to treatindulge himself right.

.He firedpowered up his laptop, pulling up some files. "Come take a look."

ObedientlyObligingly, Ashley made her way overapproached, standing behind Damian. The English letters on the screen blurred before her eyes, so she inched forward.causing her to lean in closer. By the time she finished reading, her chin hoveredwas hovering just above the top of Damian's head.

The close proximity allowed her to catch the fresh scent of his recently washed hair.

What she didn't realize was how close she wasUnbeknownst to her, her chest was gently pressing against Damian's back. Every smallEach slight movement she made translated into created a subtle friction, sending waves of sensation coursing through his blood.

him.For Damian found, it torturous.

was a form of exquisite torture.Ashley took a step back. "I've got the gist of it. The lawsuit shouldn't be too tough; we just need to present the evidence and claim damages. The tricky part is dealing with two British executives; our laws need to be revised. If we want to handle it here, we'll need to invoke the extradition treaty, which is a bit of a hassle."

TheThe residual warmth on his back felt like a lingering heat on his back felt like a still burning memory. Clearing his throat, Damian fakedfeigned a cough. "KM Road will bring in a couple of lawyers, too. You can discuss the prosecution plan with them in person."

So, the case had nothing to do with her firm?

Did Damian hold such a low opinionthink so little of them?

Ashley nodded. "Sure, the legal eagles from KM Road slayare formidable in any territory. With them involved, it'll be easier to tap intonavigate international waters."

With that, she yawned; the long night had her eyelids wrestling with each other.

struggling to stay open.Damian shut down his computer. "Rest now."

Grateful for the reprieverespite, Ashley replied, "It is late; I should head home to sleep and we can reconvene tomorrow."

His expression hardened. "Go back now? Who are you trying to impress? It's not like this house can't accommodate you."

Ashley was flustered. "This is your place. It wouldn't be proper for a single man and woman."

"If you're up to no good, fleeing to the ends of the earth won't washabsolve you clean."

.""There's still such a thing as decency. Besides, Damian, you're currently seeing a Bezos heiress. Imagine the PR nightmare if paparazzi caught another woman with you."

Though no one dared to gossip about Damian.

He tapped his temple with his left hand, looking atgiving her with a sad gazemelancholic look. "There are spare toiletries in the bathroom. Keep arguing and see if I don't throw you out."

Frustrated and unable to retaliatewithout a retort, Ashley found herself stuck with him for the night.

For crying out loud, whoWho could she evenpossibly complain to?

Damian tookclaimed the mainmaster bedroom. Ashley valiantly resisted and, in a show of defiance, barricaded herself in the guest room.

She must'vemust have been exhausted. Wrappedutterly drained. Enveloped in the men'sman's bathrobe he provided, she slept soundlyhad offered, she succumbed to a deep, peaceful slumber that lasted until morning.

When Ashley opened her eyes, she reached fordawn.Upon awakening, Ashley's hand instinctively sought the remote and clicked, clicking the curtains open. A strange landscapeAn unfamiliar vista greeted her, and it took her two secondsa moment for recognition to register.

Thisdawn.She was in Damian's house.

Her clothes were still onclothing remained untouched, and the door was securely locked. Ashley breathed aA sigh of relief.
Ashley escaped Ashley's lips. Carefully, she eased the door open and prepared to slip into her clothes and sneak away, preparing to dress quietly. She tiptoed like and make her exit as stealthily as a cat burglar inunder the night.

But ascover of darkness.However, fate would have it,had other plans. As she bumped right intotiptoed out, she collided with Damian coming out ofemerging from the main bedroom.

Her tiptoedcovert stance became instantly became more awkward than a viral social media fail.

blunder."Ahem! Good morning," Ashley straightened up and forced, forcing an ungraceful smile.

Damian dangled one onto her face.Damian's arm withhung loosely at his side, a bandage partially unraveled from a night's sleep, making him look even more scruffy.

adding to his disheveled appearance. Yet, even in his unkempt state, Damian, unkept and ruffled from sleep, was still remained infuriatingly resilient.

As sheJust as Ashley was about to say somethingspeak, the doorbell rang.

Ashley glanced She cast a glance at it as if it weresignaled an enemyimpending invasion. "Who's that?"

TheIn the next momentinstant, she turned to escape backretreat to her room, but before her feetshe could carrymake her awayescape, his firm grip caught her collar. "Are you trying to hideHide for what? We didn't do anything last night."

Damn!

Their appearances would undoubtedly raise eyebrows for sure.

Damian suspicions.With his arm half-wrapped his arm around Ashley as they descended , Damian guided her down the stairs, ensuring she couldn't bolt.make a run for it. "Stay here, don't move."

With thethat command givenissued, Damian opened the door.

"Good morning, Damian."

Trinity Bezos stood there, beamingon the threshold, her face blooming like blossomingradiant as a peach treestree in full bloom after her carefulmeticulous morning prep.

routine. Her smile widenedbroadened even more when she sawfurther at the sight of Damian in his pajamas, as if the flowers were about to burst.

forth in full bloom."You're up early," Damian remarked coolly.

MovingBrushing past him, Trinity Bezos gushed, "An early breakfast is good for you. Look, I made several stomach-friendly dishes because Anthony Hearst said you like them..."

The airroom fell eerily silent.

As into an eerie silence.It was as if all the oxygen molecules were suddenlyhad been abruptly sucked out of the room.

As soon as Ashley recognized Trinity Bezos's voice, she mentally cursed. She triedattempted to dash itflee, but it was too late. In less than three seconds, she ended upfound herself frozen, exchanging lookslocked in a silent exchange with the newcomer.

Trinity Bezos was taken aback, her Bezos's face shiftingshifted from shock to anger. "What are you doing here?"

Clad in the loose fit of men's pajamas, her hair wild, and face unwashed, Ashley looked as if she screamed, "Just wokehad just woken up."

. Had she spent the night here with Damian?

There was no escape. Ashley braced herself for the grim reality and feigned nonchalance. "Good morning, Miss B."

Trinity Bezos's mouth twitched, holding back an outburst. She squeezed out through clenched teeth. "Good morning, Ms. Astor. What brings you here?"

Ignoring the sharpness in her gaze, Ashley played it off smoothly, "Discussing some work with Damian. We worked late, so I crashed here, but I slept in the guest room."

Sometimes, the more you try to explain, the worse it gets. Silence is golden.

Trinity Bezos wasn't buying a word.

"Oh really? That much collaboration with KM Road and Ashley, huh?"
Ashley murmured, "It's classified; I can't reveal any details."

Trinity clenched her fists so hard it seemed she might snap the handle of her lunchbox. Her steps toward the dining room were shaky, likely a blend of rage and frustration.

Ashley felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. She couldn't get one over on Damian, but taking it out on Trinity seemed like the next best thing.

Damian, as if nothing was amiss, said, "I'm going to freshen up before dinner."

He shot Ashley a look. "Aren't you going to brush your teeth?"

With a glare as sharp as a dagger, Ashley retorted before throwing a glance back at Trinity and said with a smirk, "Sorry, Miss Bezos, could you give me a minute? I haven't even washed my face."

Trinity was so angry she wanted to stomp her feet! Ashley was shameless, utterly shameless!

Once they were in the main bedroom, Ashley's demeanor changed faster than the turn of a page. "Damian, what's going on? Don't tell me you didn't know she was coming over this morning!"

"I can't say I didn't know. I just forgot. Grandpa mentioned something about it yesterday," Damian explained.

Ashley was fuming, rubbing her hands together as if trying to peel off her skin. "Damian, you have a real knack for stirring the pot! Do you enjoy watching the world burn? What are you, the reincarnation of Hitler?"

As Damian pulled out his toothpaste and toothbrush, he said, "Could you squeeze some out for me?"

Despite feeling like a pack of wolves howling inside her, angry as a starved tiger, Ashley still managed to squeeze the toothpaste onto his brush. "What now? Your new flame brings you breakfast with love, only to find you and your... ex-wife tangled in the sheets. Imagine if she runs to your grandfather with this. Do you think you can still hold your CEO title, Damian?"

After Damian finished brushing and rinsing, spitting the mouthwash with a refreshed air, he coolly replied, "Losing my CEO position won't do you any good. First off, that lawsuit in the UK would definitely slip through your fingers. We are on the same team now, aboard the same battleship. You know what to do; there is no need for me to spell it out."