Chapter 146 A Bit Unethical
"She's no match for me. Besides, this is between her and me. Please don't interfere." Ashley said.
In just a few days, Ashley was afraid of Hendrix, he was an action-taker and a big mouth. She was very worried that if things continued like this, soon the entire high society of Rochester City would know about their involvement.
Hendrix remarked, "From what I remember, Trinity doesn't seem like the type to pick fights proactively. I don't particularly like her personality, but it's not so bad to the point of being unbearable unless you two have deep-seated grievances."
Hendrix had another frightening aspect; as a lawyer, he could always see through the surface to the essence of the problem.
However, Ashley didn't think their relationship had reached a level where privacy could be discussed. Changing the subject once again, she asked, "Hendrix, is the police department still investigating? Are they still looking at the evidence?"
Thinking that she didn't want to discuss certain topics that might violate her privacy, Hendrix decided not to press further. He might find it easier to ask Trinity for information instead, "Sure, but when looking at the evidence, you owe me a meal. So, that's two meals in total, remember that."
Ashley admired his quick emotional shift and said, "Remember, make a list later, and I'll try to accommodate your preferences as much as possible."
Hendrix's thin lips curved into a smile, "I will."
After examining the evidence and handing it over to the forensic experts, as the sky darkened, dusk slowly descended.
Hendrix thought since it was getting late, why not have another dinner and take a stroll? This way, not only would Ashley owe him three meals, but he could also walk and chat with her under the moonlight.
However, Ashley's phone rang.
The name on the caller ID brought her immense joy. She said, "Amelia, I've been thinking about you for days. You could at least send me a message."
Amelia, on the other hand, spoke painfully, "Don't remind me; I'm so busy right now. The TV show from last time is about to premiere, so I've been having script meetings every day to coordinate promotion. These past few days have been spent arranging costumes and props, and I finally managed to take my promotional photos today. I haven't slept in over 24 hours, and when I finally managed to doze off, guess what? I dreamt about you."
Ashley couldn't directly feel the hardships of the entertainment industry, but she responded with sympathy, "Are you done with work? I can bring some food over to see you."
Upon hearing this, Hendrix's expression became somewhat unpleasant.
Amelia said, "I'm on my way home; I just ordered two beef burgers and vegetable salads. Will you come and eat with me?"
The vegetable salad from that restaurant was Amelia's favorite. She indulged in it when she was under a lot of stress and feeling down.
"Alright, I'll come over and bring some of your favorite fruits," Ashley responded.
"Sounds good," Amelia agreed.
After reaching an agreement, Ashley apologized, "Hendrix, sorry, I have plans with my friend; let's call it a day. See you at the law firm tomorrow."
Hendrix sighed, "You have a great talent for forgetting favors. I was counting on you to treat me to dinner; even if you owe me, you can slowly repay me in the future."
Ashley suspected that ever since her company went bankrupt, she had developed a tendency to owe debts easily, and everyone around her seemed to be her creditor.
Ashley hurriedly left, heading in the opposite direction of the parking lot.
While waiting for a taxi, her phone rang again.
This time, the number made her feel a headache.
After much struggle, she answered, "Hi, Damian."
Damian had been called back home by his grandfather today, just receiving a verbal scolding and standing in the yard to catch some air.
The injuries on his face were still mending, and the gusts of wind brushing against them caused a twinge of discomfort. "Ashley, did you just exhaust my usefulness and then cast me aside?" Damian questioned.
It had been a whole day, and he hadn't heard a thank you from her, and there were no messages on WhatsApp or phone calls. Was the time they spent together at the crime scene yesterday just a dream?
Ashley was a bit frightened by the question, "Sorry, Damian, I've been busy until now; I just came out from the police department."
Damian mocked gently, "You have time to go to a sushi restaurant but don't have time to thank the person who helped you?"
Ashley thought, 'Did Trinity report to him so quickly? The name really suits her.'
Ashley couldn't guess how Trinity had portrayed her to Damian, what she had added, and to what extent.
"What did you hear?" she asked.
Damian was a premium member at the sushi restaurant. He had taken Ashley there once, and perhaps the owner wanted to strike up a conversation to improve relations, so he mentioned seeing Miss Astor and Hendrix dining inside.
Damian didn't reply to the message but was visibly upset for a while.
"I've warned you to stay away from Hendrix, didn't you hear me?" he said coldly.
"We were discussing work, nothing else. If someone spreads rumors, I'm not afraid," Ashley replied.
Damian's tone grew colder and more distant as if the Swiss snow-capped mountains had moved behind him, "I hope you can be this tough tomorrow as well."
Then, the call ended.
Ashley also clenched her phone in frustration, feeling a lot of pent-up emotions.
She was growing increasingly tired of men.
Arriving at Amelia's place with fruits in hand, Ashley finally relaxed her body.
After removing her makeup, Amelia lamented, "Staying up late ages a person. Look at the pimples on my face; they weren't there yesterday, and now three have popped up."
Ashley squinted, "Where? I don't see them."
Amelia sank into the sofa, crossed her legs, and scrutinized Ashley's face. "Why do you look thinner again?" Amelia asked.
I was opening a box. Ashley handed Amelia a pair of disposable gloves and said, "I took on a criminal case, and research has made me lose hair. Can I not be thin?"
Taking an apple, Amelia asked, "You haven't handled a criminal case before, right? It seems quite challenging. Are you confident?"
There were details about her work that she couldn't share even with her best friend. Taking a bite of beef, with a hint of sweetness and spiciness on her lips, Ashley replied, "It's challenging and demanding, with a particularly strong opponent, so I have to work harder."
Amelia, not quite familiar with the rules of her industry, could only cheer on from the sidelines: "Let me tell you something really disgusting. Do you remember Christian's girlfriend?"
Ashley remembers it clearly; the spectacular performance at the mountaintop camping trip was still deeply ingrained in her memory. She asked, "Do you fight?"
"What fight? After the last lesson, I now control my fists. She got dumped by Christian, and a few days ago, she was acting all high and mighty as if she was about to become a socialite. These days, she's been scolded by the producers, the directors, and the agents, making her look very bad." Amelia replied.
Ashley tossed the apple core into the trash. "People in your industry are so practical, always gravitating towards whoever is in power. Aren't you feeling smug?" Ashley asked.
"I'm still keeping a low profile. I'm just afraid of being set up by others. When will I finally win the Best Actress award and leave those people behind?" Amelia said.
Soon, the vegetable salad and pizza were delivered.
Amelia eagerly unpacked them, the strong taste of pickled vegetables filling the living room, "This taste, I've been waiting for you." Amelia said happily.
Ashley opened her portion, "Aren't you afraid of your agent checking up on you?"
"Since I got this role, my agent has been incredibly gentle with me. Isn't that reality?" Amelia said.
"Indeed," Ashley replied.
As they ate, Ashley said, "Our Deputy Director is back. We've met before."
With a mouthful of food, Amelia asked, "Is he your former lover?"
Stirring the ingredients, Ashley replied, "I first met him in the United States about three years ago, but he claims he noticed me from the first year, and also, when he returned to the country, his girlfriend was at our law firm. Suddenly, they broke up, and he turned around to confess to me, saying he wanted to pursue me."
"A typical playboy! Be careful; men like him, with their cunning and patience, often appear as predators. Besides, he's a lawyer with more schemes than a hornet's nest." Amelia said.
Amelia didn't have much experience in love, but she had played various roles and seen all kinds of tabloid news in the entertainment industry, making her somewhat of an expert.
"Is there a way to make him back off without affecting work?" Ashley asked.
Setting aside the food, Amelia thought for a moment, "Didn't you say he had a former girlfriend? When dealing with bad men, it's best not to get directly involved. You might end up in a mess. You can use his ex-girlfriend to create a scene, ideally making him too embarrassed to stay. Don't leave because leaving means losing!" Amelia said.
Ashley sniffed, "You are a bit wicked."
