Chapter 141 Implicitly Insulting
She was still a beat slow, feeling the tingling of skin contact on her ankle. When she looked again, his clean and slender hands had easily taken off her high heels.
Ashley asked for the second time, "What are you doing?"
There were more questions in her mind than just this one. She also wanted to ask Damian why he suddenly came over. Wasn't he supposed to be at the celebration party for the legal department? Even if he didn't go in person, he shouldn't be meeting her at this time and place.
The situation was very strange, and the atmosphere was eerie.
Before she could hear Damian's answer, she heard a crisp sound.
Damian held the high heels in one hand and forcefully slammed them on the cement floor, breaking the delicate heels.
Surprised and annoyed, Ashley opened her mouth, wanting to curse, "Damian, if you have emotions, say it. What's the meaning of ruining my shoes? I just declined to attend the celebration party for your company's legal department. Doesn't that violate the cooperation agreement?"
Damian tossed the broken heel aside and handed her the cleaned shoe, "Didn't you say your feet were tired?"
Did she say that?
Even if she had that thought, she would endure and wait until she got home to change into a comfortable pair of shoes rather than simply and rudely destroying the heels.
Ashley asked, "Do you think this looks good? You've damaged the shoes."
Damian skillfully took off the second shoe, the same action, followed by another crisp sound.
Damian asked, "Are the shoes more important, or are your feet more important?"
Ashley was very angry, "Fine, I don't want to argue, but I must make it clear. Firstly, I do feel a bit tired standing and waiting for someone, but not to the point of collapsing. Secondly, I can buy a lightweight pair in the city center and change into them without having to ruin the shoes."
Thirdly, she had to testify in court today, so she deliberately wore the new shoes Amelia gave her, which were currently her most expensive and decent pair, and they are now ruined.
Damian said, "Wasting a minute on self-pity is too much. Also, we're not going to the city center to shop next."
Ashley sneered, "Damian, are you used to commanding others? Do you see everyone as your subordinates who want to be commanders? My schedule doesn't seem to be under your control."
Damian stood up, hands in his pockets, looking down at her, "A pair of shoes can make you lose control of your emotions. Is that your mental resilience? Are you sure you can handle being a lawyer for a multinational corporation in your current state?"
Ashley wanted to pick up the broken heel and stab it into his heart. She had emotional management skills, but not for deliberate provocations from certain people.
With anger, she forcefully put on the shoes. Her feet were comfortable, but she was now 2 inches shorter, standing next to Damian, looking like a dwarf.
If Damian's goal was to establish absolute height superiority, he had achieved it.
Ignoring the resentment in her eyes, Damian took a step towards the car and said, "Get in."
Rarely he didn't ask her to drive.
Ashley didn't miss the opportunity for irony. "You just won a lawsuit, and now you dare to drive your car? Aren't you afraid the heat hasn't died down, and you'll be searched?"
Damian leaned into the driver's seat, turned the key, and the Rolls-Royce engine roared wild. "So I have to thank you for upholding legal justice and testifying for me," Damian said.
Half an hour later, Ashley understood how he expressed his gratitude.
Damian took her to Cloud ManHearston.
Last time, the four of them had a trap-filled dinner here, the atmosphere as stiff as granite.
Returning here again, Ashley couldn't help but recall the recent embarrassment.
Ashley asked in confusion, "Damian, what's the meaning of this?"
As the sun slowly descended in the west, the twilight pierced through the screens and pavilions, embellishing the bamboo groves and corridors. No tall buildings were blocking the view, and everything reflected light like silk.
The room was deliberately decorated with porcelain, reflecting the sunset and emitting a colorful glow. Entering it felt like entering a dreamland.
In the quiet dining area, only Damian, who had arrived first, stood in front of a gauze screen with his slender figure. From Ashley's perspective, he looked like a silhouette painting, hazy and beautiful, like a dream.
Ashley was very surprised to see Damian's beautiful appearance.
Damian pulled out a chair, sat down, and assumed the posture of a host, saying, "Coming to a restaurant, of course, is for dining."
Ashley pulled out the chair opposite and said, "There's no need for such formality for a regular meal. If you have something to say, say it directly. We are acquaintances, aware of each other's temperaments and personalities. Concealment is pointless, don't you think?"
Damian crossed his long legs, looking at Ashley with narrowed eyes. Her slender face was adorned with just the right amount of collagen, her skin matching her age, white, clean, and plump, tempting to pinch!
Damian said, "I see you've developed a suspicious habit from being a lawyer for so long. You seem to think everyone has ulterior motives. Just having a meal, are you concocting conspiracies and dramas in your mind? Don't overestimate yourself. Even if I did have something to discuss, I wouldn't bring you all the way here. It's not that I'm afraid of trouble, but I don't want to ruin this place that I'll frequent in the future."
Ashley suspected that Damian had a public speaker among his family tutors. He could speak continuously for a long time, with a hint of sarcasm in every sentence.
Ashley said, "Ashamed, I'm not fit to be a lawyer. I'm not as eloquent as you, not as good at judging people as you, and certainly not as good at cursing as you."
Damian's thin lips slightly parted, but he didn't respond further.
The head chef personally served meticulously cooked dishes, half of Damian's favorites and half to Ashley's taste.
Ashley picked up a piece of steak with her fork and said to him, "Thank you for remembering what I like to eat."
Damian replied, "You should thank the chef. Everyone who comes here has their preferences stored in their minds."
Ashley nodded and smiled at the chef standing beside her, "Thank you. In fact, I enjoy every dish you prepare."
Even though he was just a chef, he wasn't overly humble. The head chef said, "Miss Astor, if you like the food, feel free to come often."
Come often? She didn't have that much face. Without a special appointment, she was afraid she wouldn't even be allowed in the door.
As the food settled in her stomach, her tension eased, and the atmosphere seemed to relax a bit.
Damian said, "Let's talk about the case you're investigating tonight."
Ashley replied, "The first rule of professional ethics is not to disclose a client's secrets without permission."
Damian sneered, "Is this your first time handling a murder case?"
Not wanting to be looked down upon, Ashley retorted, "Are you considering a career change to become a lawyer? Should I recommend you?"
After finishing his meal, Damian elegantly wiped his mouth and said, "Even if I were to change careers one day, I would do better than you."
After finishing her last sip of soup and setting down her bowl and chopsticks, Ashley decided to stay a bit longer with Damian. She was afraid of doing something even she would fear, "Since you have no other instructions, thank you for the meal. I'll consider it as attending your celebration party. I'll take a taxi back on my own, so there is no need for you to accompany me."
"Where are you going? Back to the alley to reconstruct the crime scene?" Damian remarked.
