Chapter 179 We're Not Leaving
Thanks to Curtis, she successfully met with Damian.
Curtis repeated the name of a niche restaurant in a certain alley across the street, afraid that Ashley would forget, deliberately speaking slowly.
Ashley didn't expect that they were while abroad, Damian was not as reliable as depending on a foreign friend.
Ashley, with the help of a local driver guiding the way, navigated the winding roads to reach Damian's location. It was a Western-style restaurant with a Baroque flair. The exterior featured lush greenery with vines and plants covering the walls, giving the impression of a small house nestled in a verdant oasis.
Ashley pushed the door open and found that there were only two customers in the dining hall.
Damian sat leisurely by the window like a host, with a cup of tea neatly placed on the table that was covered with a white tablecloth. He was looking at his phone with lowered eyes as he scrolled through work documents, occasionally tapping the screen.
Curtis couldn't sit still, looking around, hoping to see Ashley soon.
"Ashley!" Curtis exclaimed in excitement.
With the sound of the door opening, he quickly stood up. At such a close distance, he could clearly see her beautiful face.
The hasty encounter last time, replayed in Curtis's mind, had already turned Ashley into a Venus-like goddess in his mind. Upon closer inspection today, he realized that his romanticized imagination couldn't compare to the real person.
Ashley was uncomfortable with Curtis's excessive enthusiasm, she didn't even know the young man's name. "Hello, may I ask how to address you?" she asked, perplexed.
Curtis introduced himself and even took the initiative to pull out a chair for her, displaying the demeanor of a true Eirondia gentleman.
It was all-natural, like a gentle spring rain.
Ashley sat down and placed her bag. Without further ado, she asked, "How did Mr. Hearst's business in M City go?"
She meant that if he had other arrangements, they could make the meeting more concise. But in Damian's understanding, was Ashley trying to drive him away so soon after less than a minute of meeting them?
After approving the documents, Damian put down his phone. His sharp gaze, like that of a hawk, directly met Ashley's gentle eyes. He said in a demanding tone, "Tell me about the first trial."
Ashley had already written about these and sent them to his work email. Still, due to the client's request, she had to comply.
She patiently explained, "Although we have evidence to support the several charges we are accusing, the defendant's lawyer insists that the procedures were legal and part of the company's normal financial losses, refusing to admit guilt. The judicial system in Eirondia also has a presumption of innocence trial method..."
Damian interrupted her, "With so much evidence, how can you give the other party a chance to claim innocence? I doubt your business capabilities."
Their conversation was quick, which was a great challenge for Curtis, who had limited understanding and proficiency in foreign languages. He could only understand a few words in a sentence, especially when it involved legal terms. He was like a fool.
Unable to understand the content, he could only observe their expressions. Damian seemed very angry, while Ashley appeared somewhat restrained.
Was this the expected reaction from both sides in a collaboration?
Ashley took a deep breath and calmly said, "The outcome of the first trial is inconclusive. We are still presenting evidence and preparing for the second trial. Additionally, we suspect that the individuals involved in this case are not limited to the defendant himself."
Finally hearing what he wanted, Damian leisurely asked, "How so?"
Ashley further explain, "The defendant is the CFO of a subsidiary, who indeed wields great power and authority to transfer funds but to cover their tracks effectively, they would need someone with great influence to operate for them covertly. I suspect he has other accomplices."
If Damian hadn't urgently pressed for answers, she wouldn't have voiced her suspicions so quickly.
Judging by Damian's reaction, he probably agreed with her speculation.
Ashley continued, "Therefore, we plan to track the defendant. If he has accomplices, they will surely contact him in secret to discuss possible solutions or leave Eirondia discreetly. We are not pressuring him to confess in court, as we fear he might flee Eirondia, making it like finding a needle in a haystack to locate him again."
Damian picked up his teacup and savored it. He questioned as he thought things over, "So, you're suggesting exposing this mastermind behind the scenes?"
With Curtis present, Ashley was unsure of his language proficiency and worried that if she said too much, it might lead to a breach of confidentiality if he overheard. However, considering Damian's caution and vigilance, if he were concerned about interference from others, he wouldn't have asked about it in public.
Ashley confidently replied, "Exactly. Since he currently refuses to admit guilt and the authorities haven't taken coercive measures, we can only bide our time. He is currently concealing money from KM Road and won't stay calm for long."
Damian played with his water glass as if he had everything under control.
Ashley couldn't quite grasp what was going through his mind.
After a brief silence, he said, "Is someone following him now? A private detective?"
Even though Eirondia may be a city littered with detective agencies, not everyone who goes there becomes a detective. Ashley thought he might watched too many movies to even think that way.
She revealed, "It's someone from our team, Mr. Moretti's assistant."
In these few days of interaction, Ashley found that Mr. Moretti was good at selecting talents. His secretary Cheryl was observant and efficient, while his assistant Janet was quiet, meticulous, and excelled at covert investigations and tracking, a perfect blend of detective and senior assistant.
Damian nodded in acknowledgment, and said, "If your speculation is correct, anomalies should be discovered soon. Those who have done wrong won't rest easy."
The waiter brought over the same Earl Grey tea. Still, the tea set was more exquisite and elegant, with pure white enamel carved with intricate patterns, reminiscent of the luxurious court items from the Henry era.
Yes, this was Damian's exclusive restaurant.
Ashley remarked, "The taste is excellent. Mr. Hearst made a good choice."
Damian didn't seem to appreciate her compliment. "Anything else?" he said, impatiently.
Ashley cleared her throat, puzzled. She bluntly replied, "What else does Mr. Hearst want to know? I told you everything I know."
She was completely honest about her work.
Damian rhythmically tapped the porcelain with his fingers, and one could tell from the rhythm how much emotion was contained in the taps.
He impatiently answered, "Nothing."
Ashley waited for a while, thinking he might elaborate, but it was just that.
Curtis couldn't understand the conversation between the two at all and couldn't contain his impatience. "Can you two speak the local language? Or can we talk while eating?" he asked them.
Damian's hostility didn't diminish, but he acquiesced to Curtis's suggestion.
The head chef brought out the appetizers, one dish after another, serving them with great respect as if he was attending to a prince.
Ashley held her knife and fork as she nonchalantly inquired, "Does Mr. Hearst often come here?"
Damian lost his appetite; his tastes were bland, and he felt uncomfortable inside. He had rushed to M City after hours of driving, not just to hear a few work reports.
But Ashley had nothing else to talk to him about.
Was she unaware of the sensational news spread in the media, or did she simply not care?
Damian aloofly replied, "Not often."
With each sentence, he was aiming to end the conversation. Ashley didn't know whether to respond or not. She hesitated and took a few bites. "When will Mr. Hearst return home?" she simply inquired.
Great. Not only was she indifferent, but she also seemed to find him bothersome, wanting to send him back home quickly in one fell swoop.
Damian set down his fork, the silverware clinking against the porcelain, making a pleasant sound. "We're not leaving. Do you have any objections, Ashley?" he stated, defiantly.
